THE TRUTH ABOUT “ANTICHRIST”

“Let no one deceive you by any means; for the day of the Lord will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the MAN OF SIN is revealed, the son of perdition.” ——2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

ANTICHRIST HAS COME!!!!

Christian teachers of many different denominations speak of a mysterious character who is to appear as the Lord Jesus’ second advent nears. That character is known as “ANTICHRIST,” one who exalts himself as God in the temple of God. Theories on whom and what the antichrist is are numerous. It seems that every time a new world leader rises to power many begin to speculate that he could be the one. In recent years, this title has been applied by some to the likes of Mikhail Gorbachev, Momar Kadafy, Sadam Hussein, the Ayatollah Kohmeni, and Presidents’ Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and now, Donald Trump. However, as their prominence declines a new wave of speculation begins on who the antichrist might be.

The conventional wisdom goes as follows. Sometime either before or after the Christian church is “raptured,” a word not found in the Bible, a character so charming, so intelligent will appear in Israel and deceive just about the entire world into worshipping him. He will openly display a literal number of 666 on his hand and his forehead. People will offer animal sacrifices to him in a rebuilt Jewish temple where the old one, in biblical times, once stood. All of this is to occur at lightning speed, keep in mind. Some say that he will rule the entire world in just three and a half years from the time he appears on the scene.

This view, when you give it serious thought, is downright absurd. In these times of higher criticism of the Bible and anything to do with the very concept God, is it reasonable to assume that more than just a handful of fanatics would believe a human being was God in the flesh? This concept, while sincerely held to by many good people, is another case of great error falling upon Bible students when they fail to recognize the distinction between symbolic scriptures and literal scriptures.

Yes antichrist is real, yes antichrist has caused great harm upon the Lord’s people, however antichrist is not an individual man, but an organized system represented by its head. The antichrist and its evil tyranny have been with us for almost seventeen hundred years under the direction of the ROMAN CATHOLIC POPE. It is important to remember that no individual pope is the “Man of Sin” mentioned by the Apostle Paul. It is the system of dogma brought about by the big lie of “apostolic succession” which gave birth to the false doctrines invented by those holding the office of Pope. This system has led to some of the most evil deeds ever done to human beings by other human beings. Roman Catholic Popes over the centuries have ordered the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of men, women, and children. They have burned people at the stake, boiled them in oil, roasted them over slow fires, crushed skulls, beheaded, hanged maimed, bound people to torture racks, etc. THIS WAS ALL DONE IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST. What were these “heretics” crimes you might ask? They were true Christians who refused to embrace the numerous unscriptural doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church. They refused to bow down and worship the Pope as the Vicar of Christ. These martyred saints were willing to die rather than turn away from the precious doctrines given to the Lord’s people through the scriptures. Many more were executed for simply possessing a Bible. For much of the “dark ages,” by decree of the Pope, it was a crime punishable by death to own one!

Keep in mind the information on this page is in no way an indictment of individual Catholics. Many Catholics are dedicated people with an honest love for God. This is why the Lord has attempted over the centuries to call them out of this spiritual Babylon. Revelations 18:4 “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and her plagues.” Keep in mind that they are still the Lords people, but unless they depart from “her,” many of them will partake in her plagues. According to verse five “for her sins have reached to heaven.”

SEEDS OF ANTICHRIST

In the scripture citation at the top of the page, the Apostle Paul speaks of a “falling away” from sound doctrine before the day of the Lord would commence. In essence, the spirit of antichrist had taken hold even in the early church. During the first two centuries after the death of the apostles, the Christian church began to gain acceptance in pagan Rome. It seems that over time, in an effort to gain greater membership, the Church of Rome began to compromise on doctrine in order to make the faith more attractive to pagans. Many Roman Catholic rituals have their seeds in paganism. The worship of the Virgin Mary is nowhere to be found in the teachings of Jesus Christ or the apostles. This doctrine seems to have come from the pagan worship of the goddess Isis. There have been found carved images dating back to ancient Babylon showing mother and child god-type figures which were objects of worship. We are instructed in the Bible that the Heavenly Father and He alone is to be the object of our prayers. Matthew 6:9. Yet, Roman Catholics are instructed to not only offer prayers to the Virgin Mary, but also to numerous others that the popes have decreed to be “saints.” The halls of the Vatican and Catholic churches all over the world are filled with these idols. Statues to these so called “saints” are prominently displayed in all their cathedrals. This is why the antichrist is considered the antitypical Babylon. In the book of Revelations, this system is described as “MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT” Revelations 17:5. The word Babylon stands for confusion. What greater confusion is there than the various false doctrines and conflicting creeds of papacy? The act of confession participated in by members of the church is in direct conflict with the words of Paul in 1 Timothy 2:6. “For there is one God and ONE mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all.” According to church tradition the priest who hears confession is acting as a go between to God on your behalf. This is an abomination before the throne of God. We are told directly by Jesus Christ to “call no man Father” yet, one of the many titles of the Pope is the “Holy Father.” The concept of the “Holy Trinity” or a triune godhead can be found in numerous pagan concepts of god. Can anyone find infants being baptized in the scriptures? Many other traditions of the Church of Rome are in no way scriptural. Space does not permit us to get into all of them. However, the greatest abomination of all is the papal doctrine of “Holy Communion” which attempts to replace the perfect sacrifice of Jesus.

THE LITTLE HORN ——Daniel 7:8

One of the most prophetic books in the Bible has to be the book of Daniel. Upon proper understanding of Daniel’s dreams, as well as his future visions, this book is a sheer blessing to study. Daniel foretold the birth of antichrist in his vision found in chapter seven. This vision deals with four symbolic beasts and their various characteristics. Most Bible scholars have concluded that each of the four beasts represent one of the four great “universal empires” of world history. 1-Babylon 2-The Medes & the Persians 3-The Grecians 4-The Romans. It is what Daniel writes of the fourth beast that clearly refers to papacy. This beast possessed ten horns which represents the various powerful nations that sprang up as a result of the Roman Empire. When Daniel was considering this beast another little horn began to come up among the others. “A little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words.” Daniel 7:8. This “little one” clearly is the papal dominion that grew out of the pagan Roman Empire. Later on in the chapter when speaking about the “other horn,” Daniel writes in verse 20 and 21 “and about the ten horns which were on his head, and about the other horn which came up, before which three fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke pompous words, who’s appearance was greater than the others. I was watching, as the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them.”

“THE ABOMNATION THAT MAKETH IT DESOLATE” ——Matthew 24:15 and Daniel 12:11

THE DAILY SACRIFICE TAKEN AWAY

There are many biblical references that describe what to look for in identifying the antichrist. However, the most critical one is the “abomination of desolation” spoken of by both Jesus and Daniel the prophet. Many biblical scholars have mistaken an event in which the Roman army set up an altar, inside the Jewish Temple in Israel, to offer sacrifices to their false gods, as this abomination. In doing this, some claim that this is the taking away the “daily sacrifice” spoken of in the prophecy. In a strictly literal sense, the Romans did put an end to the sacrifices being offered daily in the temple. However, when the Bible speaks of the “daily sacrifice” it is obvious that the prophet and the Lord Jesus were speaking of something far greater. We know from the scriptures that Jesus Christ, by dying on the cross for all mankind, put an end to the Jewish law. According to Paul those sacrifices were mere pictures of greater sacrifices to come. According to Hebrews 10:10 the offering of the body of Jesus Christ was offered “once for all.” In verse 12 we are told that Christ’s death was offered as the “ONE” sacrifice for sin forever.

In tracing the history of the Roman Church, we find that around the year 539 AD when the “mass” ritual was established, the very sacrifice given by Jesus was taken away from those professing to be Christians. What is it about the Catholic mass that takes away the “one sacrifice for sins forever?” On the night before his crucifixion, Jesus ate the Passover supper with his apostles. We are told that he blessed a loaf of bread and later a cup of wine and had each one of his apostles consume portions. The Lord Jesus instructed his followers to “do this in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19- This was meant to be a memorial to be practiced yearly, on the anniversary of this “last supper.” It was never meant to be used as a sacrifice for sins. Papacy, “the man of sin,” took this solemn memorial and made it into a doctrine of devils. In the tradition of ancient Babylon and paganism, which had a similar ritual in which the people were told they were eating pieces of their pagan god, the Church of Rome instituted the “sacrament” called communion. Contrary to the Lord’s instructions, they began to offer up the ceremony of bread and wine on an everyday basis. In addition, the Vatican decreed that this was not just a memorial, but the literal eating and drinking of the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Catholic doctrine tells us that when this is done during the mass, it is the same as Christ’s death on the cross. This according to Catholicism is required on a regular basis to obtain forgiveness for sin. Whenever possible this sacrament is offered to those who are close to death.

During the dark ages many good Christian people were executed for refusing to recognize the “Holy Communion” as anything more than a symbolic memorial. The doctrine of the mass and this blasphemous ritual performed by priests is the very “abomination of desolation” spoken of in the Holy Bible.

POMPOUS WORDS OF BLASPHEMY —–Daniel 7:25 and Revelation 13:5

“And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies.”

No other religious institution has spoken greater words of blasphemy against God than the papacy. The entire premise of the office is a great sin against God. According to church doctrine, the pope serves in the role of “Christ on earth.” The official title is The Vicar of Christ, meaning one who stands in the place of Jesus. In a book titled, “The Pope the Vicar of Christ, the head of the Church” written by Monsignor Capel, a celebrated catholic writer from the 19th century, there are no less than sixty two titles that the church applies to the pope. Before we consider these titles let us read the words of St. Bernard, a catholic hero from the dark ages, “None except GOD is like the pope, in heaven or on earth.”

“WHO OPPOSES AND EXALTS HIMSELF ABOVE ALL THAT IS CALLED GOD” ——2 Thessalonians 2:4

Papal titles which confirm the identity of antichrist.

“Most Divine of all Heads.” “Holy Father of Fathers.” Pontiff Supreme Over Prelates.” “Overseer of the Christian Religion.” “Pastor of Pastors.” “Christ by Unction.” “Abraham by Patriachate.” “Melchisedec in Order.” “Moses in Authority.” “Samuel in the Judicial Office.” “High Priest, Supreme Bishop.” “Heir to the Apostles; Peter in Power.” “Key-bearer of the Kingdom of Heaven.” “Pontiff Appointed with Plenitude of Power.” “Vicar of Christ.” “Vicar of the Son of God.” “Sovereign Priest.” “Head of all the Holy Churches.” “Chief of the Universal Church.” “Bishop of Bishops.” “Ruler of the House of the Lord.” “Apostolic Lord and Father of Fathers.” “Chief Pastor and Teacher.” “Physician of Souls.” “Rock against which the proud gates of hell prevail not.” “Infallible Pope.” “Head of All the Holy Priests of God.”

“Here is wisdom. Let him with understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, his number is 666” —–Revelation 13:18

There have been many interpretations of the meaning of the mysterious number mentioned in the scriptures which confirm the identity of antichrist. Most are downright comical while others are creative to say the least. However, the identity of 666 according to the scriptures comes from the “number of his name.” Revelation 13:17 Based on the fact that the scriptures inform us that the man’s number is to be “calculated” this tells us that there must be a reasonable way to figure this out. Bible scholars did just this more than one hundred years ago. Over the centuries popes have worn various costumes for their numerous pompous occasions. He has worn several crowns of various shapes. On one of these crowns the Latin words “VICARIVS FILII DEI” appears.

Latin is the official language of papacy and is used to some degree in all mass services. When we take the Latin title of Vicarivs Filii Dei, which means Vicar of the Son of God, and add together the roman numerals that are part of the Latin spelling, we clearly can count the number 666! See for yourself below.

V = 5 I = 1 C = 100 A = 0 R = 0 I = 1 V = 5 S = 0

F = 0 I = 1 L = 50 I = 1 I = 1

D = 500 E = 0 I = 1

VICARIVS FILII DEI – Vicar of The Son of God = 666

This is simply astounding and is conclusive proof that the Bible is the inspired word of God. With or without the crown as icing on the cake, the very fact that this is a papal title clearly shows that this is the correct meaning of the mysterious 666.

From the Roman Catholic publication “Our Sunday Visitor” April 18, 1915, in the weekly question and answer section there was this question from a reader, “What are the letters suppose to be in the Pope’s crown, and what do they signify?” Answer: —-“The letters inscribed in the Pope’s miter are these: Vicarius Filli Dei, which is the Latin for Vicar of the Son of God. ”

DRUNK WITH THE BLOOD OF THE SAINTS ——Revelation 17:6

The woman spoken of as the great persecutor of the saints is clearly the Catholic Church. Among the claims of papacy is that the church is the “Mother Church,” in effect she say’s “I sit as a queen, and am no widow, and will see no sorrow.” Revelation 18:5. As we have shown in this article the Church of Rome is the “Mother of Harlots.” Revelation 17:5. She is the first of many systems of false religion that have flourished since the death of the apostles. Considering this, can the “Man of Sin” be any other but the Roman Pontiff?

Roman Catholic history often refers to the centuries of papal persecution as “crusades” or “holy wars.” In truth these were nothing more than religious genocides. Consider the deeds of Fredrick, the emperor of Germany, in AD 1224. At the popes command he sentenced heretics of every description alive to the flames and their property confiscated unless they became persecutors of non-Catholics. Among the victims of papal genocide were the Waldeness, Albigenes, Wycliffites, and Huguenots. The thing that all of these groups had in common was their rejection of the papal doctrines of purgatory, image worship, invocation of saints, Virgin Mary worship, Holy Communion, celibacy of the clergy, indulgences, etc. These groups stood for reformation long before the days of Martin Luther. When Lavaur was invaded in the year 1211, the Governor was hanged on a gibbet, his wife thrown into a well and crushed with stones. The people, without discrimination, were put to death. Four hundred were burned alive! The nation of Languedoc was devastated, its cities were burned and its people swept away by fire and sword. It is estimated that one hundred thousand Albigenses fell in one day, their bodies heaped together and burned. These kinds of persecutions went on at a steady pace for over a thousand years.

In Luther’s time, a great persecution of friends of the reformation was carried out by people like Emperor Charles V of Germany, the King of Spain, and the Netherlands. Upon papal orders, followers of Luther were beheaded and women burned alive. The Duke of Alva boasted of the execution of 18,000 Protestants in six weeks. Historian Paolo reckons the number killed in the Netherlands at 50,000; Groitus gives the list of Belgic martyrs at 100,000. The massacre at Orange in AD 1562, done by an Italian Army sent by Pope Pius IV, who commanded them to kill men, women, and children, was accomplished with horrid cruelty. The defenseless heretics were slain with the sword, thrown from cliffs, thrown on points of hooks and daggers, hanged, roasted over slow fires, and exposed to shame and torture of every description. The papal siege of Paris on August the 24th 1572, was just as heinous. This carnival of death lasted seven days. The city flowed with blood, as the king and queen gazed with extreme satisfaction. During this week as many as 10,000 were killed in the name of the pope. Following this, special messengers were sent out to surrounding provinces. These soldiers had orders to kill every Huguenot. The number slain was estimated to be from 25,000 to 70,000. The pope issued commemorative medals of these genocides. The pope’s face was on one side of the coin and on the other, representation of a destroying angel from heaven, bearing a sword and a cross. The angel is chasing horrified Huguenots, men, women, and children with terror in their eyes. Under this are the words “ugonottorum strages” meaning the slaughter of the Huguenots 1572!

“He shall speak pompous words against the most high, Shall persecute the saints of the most high, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and a half a time.” Daniel 7:25

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF ANTICHRIST

As for the final conclusive evidence that the papacy is the true antichrist, the scriptures even offers a material description of antichrist. We are told in Revelation 17:9 the woman sits upon “seven mountains.” The city of Rome sits on SEVEN HILLS. Rome is often referred to by tourists as the “seven hilled city.” We are told in Revelation 17:4 that the woman would be arrayed in “purple and scarlet.” These are the colors of the robes often worn by papacy and their underlings. We are also told that the woman is covered with jewels and precious stones. The popes in solemn ceremonies are often arrayed in precious stones. In her hand is a “golden cup” filled with abominations. That golden cup is the cup in which the wine and wafers are held as the Priest performs the “holy communion,” which takes away the “daily sacrifice.”

KINGS OF THE EARTH COMMITTED FORNICATION WITH HER ——Revelation 18:9

Jesus Christ, during his discussion with Pontius Pilate, boldly stated, “My kingdom is not of this world.” He instructed his followers to put all worldly desires behind and to set their sights on his Father’s kingdom. Starting with papacy and later on with the reformation churches, Christendom has sought out and obtained political power. During papacy’s pinnacle of power “she” had absolute authority over some of the most powerful earthly governments on earth. These nations willingly committed “fornication” with her. They tortured for “her,” they murdered for “her,” and were more than eager to become her fornicating lover. As a result they have and will in the future share in her plagues. You see this “fornication” being practiced not only by papacy, but by her daughters, the Protestant sects, who spend much of their time fighting for political power and worldly stature. Many religious organizations such as The Moral Majority, The Christian Coalition, The National Council of Churches, and many others in spite of some good intentions, end up only using the gospel of Jesus to promote a political agenda. These groups, along with the world’s largest Christian ministries, become consumed with raising money and often fall into serious corruption. Televangelists who scam good people out of millions of dollars are clearly the daughters of the “mother harlot” of Revelations.

While papacy is clearly on its last leg, the President of the United States as well as other world leaders still seeks its approval in some of their policies. This fornication is another way of clearly identifying antichrist. Christians are to be separate from politics and a desire for worldly power. This is not the promise of our Lord Jesus and his apostles, who rejected the very idea of obtaining earthly political power. That is for a future time when Jesus and the church set up the true kingdom of God upon this earth. The current worldly governments are the governments of Satan, “the god of this world.”

THE MARK OF THE BEAST —–Revelation 13:17

Many have assumed that the mysterious 666 is the “mark of the beast” as mentioned in this verse. However, when we read carefully the number 666 is “the number of his (antichrist’s) name.” The mark of the beast has to be something unique about him so that millions are deceived by it. What is the one major erroneous doctrine that both the Catholics and Protestants agree upon one hundred percent? While major improvements were made after the Reformation undertaken by Luther and his followers, many of the old errors of antichrist still remained. The most errant is the doctrine of the “Holy Trinity,” the idea that Jesus Christ is his own Father and God is His own Son. That the so called “Holy Ghost” is the third being in this godhead. As we have shown on the web site, “The Trinity, Satan’s False Doctrine,” (see the link attached to this page) this sinful doctrine came about as a result of antichrist trying to please the pagans that were considering embracing Christianity. Whether the denomination be Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, Lutheran, or Roman Catholic etc. they all teach that Jesus Christ was not what he said he was, “the beginning of the creation of God” Revelation 3:14, but God himself.

KEEPING THE NATIONS IN IGNORANCE

There are many things wrong with the works of antichrist. While the church claims to have a deep care for the needy of the world, their very doctrines keep millions in ignorance and poverty. How many times have you seen the present Pope, John Paul II, travel to poverty stricken third world nations urging those living in squalor to obey his command forbidding the use of birth control? Nations all over the globe from South America, to Poland, to the Philippines, are filled with huge families that have no chance of ever escaping poverty. Many of these poor souls see the pope as a god type figure. When he visits them they are often seen wailing in frenzied tears, just by laying their eyes upon him.

Even more evidence that this papal office is the very antichrist mentioned in the Bible is the fact that millions upon millions of Roman Catholics are ignorant of their own church history. When you point out “her” grievous atrocities more often than not they think you are lying to them. This is a direct fulfillment of what Jesus Christ said in Matthew 24:5, when speaking of the things that will happen before he can return, “take heed, for many will come in MY name saying, I am the Christ, and will deceive many.” Papacy and her daughters come to you in the name of Christ and lead millions into the Babylon (confusion) of false doctrines.

“BABYLON THE GREAT IS FALLEN” —–Revelation 18:2

We are told in the scriptures that this “harlot” will be destroyed. This great city is to be ultimately vanished from the face of the earth in “one hour.” While the Roman Catholic Church and its popes still have great worldly stature, “her” once domination of the kings of the earth has been on a steady decline. This decline began in 1799 when Napoleon captured the pope and took him prisoner to France. Napoleon ordered the pope to crown him king of the whole world. As the pope began to place the crown on his head, Napoleon ripped it out of his hands and proclaimed that he would crown himself. By the late 1870’s papacy’s civil power in Italy had been fully taken away by the nation’s government. However, this has not stopped antichrist from speaking those “pompous” words of “blasphemy.” In spite of this we can all rejoice in knowing that the harlot’s days are numbered upon the earth as the bright shining of the Lord’s imminent kingdom draws near. The same fate awaits “her” daughters, the Protestant sects who continue to advance many of her false doctrines and continue in “her” hypocritical spirit of false righteousness. These ministries that are using the gospel only for the purpose of obtaining riches, those who “devour widows houses,” are just as guilty in the eyes of the Heavenly Father.

CONCLUSION

It is essential that we repeat what was written at the start of this article that the facts presented in this page are in no way a condemnation of any individual. Millions of people have been deceived by antichrist just as the scriptures promised they would be. Keep in mind that there are many good people inside the Catholic Church. Some of the works of dedicated servants such as Mother Teresa, of Calcutta and various other servants of the church are indeed noble. The works of sincere Catholics on behalf of the poor, the sick, and the orphaned have provided society a great service. They are not to be blamed for the sins of their founders, those who symbolically drank the blood of the saints of God. All in the proper heart condition will have a place in God’s earthly kingdom, the time of the “restitution of all things” mentioned in Acts 3:21. The time when the “eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.” Isaiah 35th chapter.