Determining The False Prophet:
The role of the endtime false prophet is associated with the dragon (Satan) and the 1st beast (world kingdom)...
Rev 16:13
13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
(KJV)
At Christ's coming, notice what happens to that beast and the false prophet...
Rev 19:20
20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
(KJV)
1. Note what that "false prophet" does.
2. Per Rev.13:11-17, who is the one that does that deceiving by miracles, and causes the mark of the beast? The "another beast", a second beast, the one who speaks as a "dragon" (Satan per Rev.12:9 and 20:2).
3. At Christ's coming, the beast and false prophet both... go into the "lake of fire".
4. Notice the "dragon" (Satan) does not go into the "lake of fire" at Christ's coming, but at the end of Christ's thousand years reign (Rev.20:10).
5. If the "false prophet" is a flesh born man, then how is he pre-judged to perish in the "lake of fire" before the time of God's Great White Throne Judgment that's set for the END... of Christ's future thousand years reign???
ANSWER:
The "false prophet" and "beast" are ROLES for the end of this world just prior to Christ's return. Satan is that "false prophet", as also he is the "another beast" and "dragon" of Revelation 13:11-17. (The 1st beast is Satan's world kingdom on earth per Rev.13:1-2; it's the "beast" of Rev.19 that goes into the "lake of fire" at Christ's coming).
At Rev.12:7-17, we are shown that "dragon" IS... just another title for Satan, the Devil himself. We are shown there how he is to be cast down... to this earth, with his angels, and those on earth are given a WOE because of his being cast down to earth among us. That means the Devil is coming to our earthly dimension, here on earth, in person. And his angels that rebelled with him are coming here with him. That's why it's going to be a time of great tribulation upon this earth that no man has ever seen before, nor ever will again.