The Dragon is a picture of Satan (Rev. 12:9), who in Revelation 13:1 imitates what God did in Genesis 1:27. But what sort of imitation does Satan produce? It is not genuine, but counterfeit. . . . Now Satan is a counterfeiter. He counterfeits God the Father by producing a counterfeit “son,” the Beast. The Beast is clearly a counterfeit of Christ the Son. Satan aspires to be God and to control everything for himself. He has a plan, analogous to the Father’s plan. He will work out his plan through his executor, the Beast.

Is there then a counterfeit of the Holy Spirit as well? Yes there is, in Revelation 13:11-18. Another beast comes out of the earth (13:11). This beast is later identified as “the false prophet” (16:13). The False Prophet works “miraculous signs” (13:13), reminiscent of the miraculous signs worked by the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts. Through miraculous signs, the Holy Spirit draws people to worship Christ. Analogously, the False Prophet promotes worship of the Beast (13:12). As “another Counselor,” the Holy Spirit has the authority of Christ (John 14:16, 18). Similarly, the False Prophet “exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf” (Rev. 13:12). The Holy Spirit guides us into the truth (John 16:13). The False Prophet deceives (Rev. 13:14).

The Dragon, the Beast, and the False Prophet, therefore, form a kind of counterfeit trinity. They are linked together as a threesome when they organize people for the final battle (Rev. 16:13).

Vern S. Poythress, The Returning King: A Guide to the Book of Revelation, 18-19.