A Study By
Gary Ray Branscome
Although the Bible warns us that many antichrists will arise, it also warns of
one specific deceiver who stands out from the rest, and clearly identifies that
great destroyer of souls with Rome (Matthew 24:15,24, 1 John 2:18,22, 1 John
4:3, Revelation 17:18).
In his letter to the Thessalonians, the Apostle Paul
predicted that one, “Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is
called God, or that is worshiped” would someday sit “in the temple
of God, showing himself that he is God” (2Thessalonians 2:4).
That prophesy was fulfilled a few centuries later as
popes began to sit in God's temple, taking to themselves worship and honor that
belongs only to God. In fact, the pope still takes to himself titles that
belong to God, claims to be (and is officially designated as) God on earth, and
until the early part of the twentieth century, required all who came before him
to kiss his feet.
According to Pope Innocent III, “The Pope
holds the place of the True God.” The Canon Law [in the gloss]
denominates the Pope, “Our Lord God,” and the canonists say that,
“The Pope is the one God who has all power in heaven and in earth.”
Pope Pius XII had a medal struck depicting himself as the “Savior of
The idea that the Pope is the Antichrist spoken of
in scripture was voiced by Catholic Christians long before the Lutheran
Reformation. In fact, before the bishop in
As a result, at the Synod of
In regard to the Pope's claim to be the Vicar (or
substitute) of Christ on earth, it is interesting to know that in the Greek
language the word “anti,” which is used in the Greek New Testament
as a prefix in the word antichrist, can sometimes mean
“substitute.” In fact, in Matthew
Keeping in mind what Paul said about the Antichrist in 2Thessalonians 2:4, let
us take a careful look at some of the things revealed in the Book of
Revelation.
In reading the book of Revelation, it is important to understand that it gives
us a literal description of a vision, or series of visions, that John saw, not
historical events (Revelation 1:10). For that reason, even though those visions
have a prophetic significance, interpreters who regard them as a description of
historical events have departed from the literal meaning of the words. In order
to avoid that error, we must let Scripture interpret itself. And, Scripture
tells us in many places that the vision is symbolic (Revelation
For example, in chapter 17 we encounter a woman who is called “Mystery
In chapter twelve, John describes a woman who is clothed with the sun, and
travailing in birth. When we look to what the Bible says elsewhere for clues as
to who she might be, we find a very similar prophesy in the Book of Isaiah. In
both accounts a woman (who is portrayed as the mother of believers) brings
forth a “man child” [Christ] (Compare Isaiah 66:7-10, with
Revelation 12:1-5,17, see also Mark
We next see the devil described as a great red dragon, who begins by trying to
destroy Christ, and after Christ is caught up to the throne of God, persecutes
the woman [the church], and makes war on her seed [believers] (Revelation
12:3,4,9,13,17). In other words, working first through Herod and then through
the Jewish leaders, the devil does his best to destroy Christ. Then, after
Christ ascends unto heaven (verse 5), he begins to persecute the Christian
church, and make war on believers (verses 13 and 17). Furthermore, we know from
the book of Acts that Satan worked through the Jews to carry out that
persecution. [Acts 4:17,18, Acts 7:57-60, Acts 8:1-3, Acts 9:1-2, Acts 13:50,
Acts 14:19, Acts 20:3, Acts 21:27-30, Acts 23:12.]
In chapter thirteen, John describes a great beast that carries forward Satan's
war on Christian believers (verses 1-7). When we search the Scriptures for
clues as to the identity of that beast, we find that it is similar to a beast
(usually identified with
When
Going a little further in chapter thirteen, John describes a false prophet, who
looks like a lamb but speaks the words of Satan (Revelation
This false prophet then makes everyone receive a mark, and if you understand
the gospel you should understand what that mark is, for only unbelief damns
(verse 18). The reference to the right hand and forehead is a reference to the
law, and thus to works righteousness (verse 16, Deuteronomy 6:8 and
Chapter fourteen begins with a vision of a great multitude (144,000) who have been redeemed (verse 3). This multitude follows Jesus
(the Bible) rather than the church of Rome (verse 4).
And, the fact that they are without guile tells us that they do not rationalize
sin, or deceive themselves concerning their own righteousness (Psalm 32:2, John
1:47, Luke 18:11). This multitude represents the first fruits of that great
restoration of the gospel that took place at the time of the reformation (verse
4). In verse 6, John sees an angel who has the everlasting gospel to preach.
While some see that angel as a reference to Martin Luther, it is clear that God
was at work during the time of the reformation. So much so, that Luther
marveled at how fast the gospel spread, and commented that it seemed as if the
angels in heaven were spreading the good news.
Following
the restoration of the gospel, a second angel proclaims “
In light of what has been revealed up to this point, we can view the bloodshed
described at the end of chapter fourteen as a reference to the bloody religious
wars that followed the Reformation. Wars in which the pope sought to bring the
nations that had turned to the gospel, back under his authority (Revelation
14:9,10,20). While war is always a horrible thing,
during that time of turmoil God was able to reap a mighty harvest of souls
(verse 15) as millions became adamant in their devotion to the gospel, and
opposition to the false gospel of
While chapters fifteen and sixteen describe God's ongoing wrath against Babylon
[Rome], in the thirteenth verse of chapter sixteen, we are told that John saw
three unclean spirits come out of the mouth of the dragon (Satan), the beast
(Rome), and the false prophet (the pope) (Revelation 15:6-7, Revelation
16:2,6,13). Those unclean spirits then work to turn the world against God, and
that is what we see happening in the world today. In regard to this prophesy,
it is interesting to learn that the founder of the Luciferian
order of Illuminati (Adam Weishaupt) came out of the church of Rome (he was trained by the Jesuits). After the
order of Illuminati was outlawed, its former members played a part in bringing
the communist movement into existence. At present, many of the Catholic
clergy are involved in communism, and they have even created a “theology
of liberation” which they use to justify their atrocities.
Now, in order to put things in perspective, I want to make it clear that I know
many Catholics who are anti-Communist. Nevertheless, they complain about
Communist activity on the part of some of their clergy. Of course, that is no
surprise, for I see the Papacy [not the Catholic congregations, but the Papacy
that controls them] and the Communist Party as two arms of Satan's attack on
believers. Both are hostile to the gospel, both have burned Bibles, and both
have killed Christians.
Around the world, we see governments growing more hostile to Christianity. The
persecution of Christians is becoming more common. And, even in the
· NOTE: This essay was written prior to the fall of
Communism in
Although many people think that the Papacy has
changed and is no longer hostile to the gospel, it has never admitted that it
was wrong, or retracted the curse that the council of Trent placed on everyone
who believes that we are saved through trust in God’s mercy in Christ.
Instead, God has stripped it of political power. However, it is doing all that
it can to regain political power, and is openly hostile to the gospel in
countries where its influence is strong.
1- Who do the canonists
say that the Pope is?
2- What void did the bishop of
3- Bishop Arnulf referred to the Pope as what?
4- What is the Book Of Revelation a description of?
5- At the time of John’s vision, what city reigned over the kings of the
earth?
6- How is the devil described in chapter twelve?
7- What is the significance of the mark, name, and number of the beast?
8- What is the significance of the words “without guile”?
9- What do chapters 15 and 16 of the Book Of
Revelation describe?
10- What organization trained Adam Weishaupt?
11- What is the “theology of liberation” used to justify?
12- What do the Papacy and the Communist Party have in
common?
13- In what two chapters contain the phrase “
14- Who will destroy the last Pope?
15- Has the Papacy changed?