In 2 Thessalonians 2, the apostle Paul warned all believers that Jesus would not return and the saints would not be gathered to meet Christ until an apostasy developed which would oppose God.¹

Paul refers to this apostasy as "the man of sin" and "the son of perdition" (v.3). who would take God's position by sitting in the temple of God and proclaiming himself to be God (v.4) ! This "mystery of iniquity" was already at work in Paul's day (v.7), but it would not be revealed until a later time. When Jesus returns he is to slay and destroy the apostasy so that the Kingdom of God can be established (v.8).

Notice how Paul's description of "the man of sin" related to certain characteristics of the beast in Daniel and Revelation. All three accounts speak of a power which would arise, related to the Roman Empire, that would oppose God and the true believers. This power would continue to exist until Jesus returns to destroy it for ever.

Footnote:

The only actual occurrences of the word "antichrist" in the Bible are found in John's letters.

"By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit which confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, {3} and every spirit which does not confess Jesus is not of God. This is the spirit of antichrist, of which you heard that it was coming, and now it is in the world already." (1 John 4:2-3)

"For many deceivers have gone out into the world, men who will not acknowledge the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh; such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist." (2 John 1:7)

According to the inspired words of John, everyone who does not acknowledge that Jesus Christ came "in the flesh" is a member of antichrist! John wrote these words because there were people in his day claiming that Jesus was a spirit who only used a body for 33 years and then discarded the body when he died¹. Tragically, there are still people today who believe and teach that Jesus was a pre-existing spirit who took on a body for his life on earth and then left the body when it was killed. The apostle John says that this is antichrist teaching because it separates Jesus from his body and teaches that Jesus did not really come "in the flesh'', since according to these people, he could exist without the body.

The truth of the matter is that Jesus was born of a human mother, with God as his father (Luke 1:34,35; 2 John 3). Because his mother was human, Jesus inherited a nature like ours which can be tempted to sin (Matthew 4:4, Hebrews 2:14-18; 4:15), and like everyone since the days of Adam he inherited mortality (Romans 5:12-14). The body of Jesus was exactly like ours and he could no more leave his body than we can leave our own. When the body of Jesus died, Jesus himself died and remained dead for three days (Acts 2:23-32; Matthew 16:21). After that, Jesus (including his body) was resurrected and his body was changed to flesh and spirit instead of flesh and blood (Luke 24:36-43; Acts 2:24,32). Jesus himself said after his resurrection:

"See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have." (Luke 24:39)

In this way, the Bible explains to us that Jesus Christ did actually come "in the flesh". God warns us in his Word that to separate Jesus from his flesh is deadly wrong, for this is the teaching of antichrist.

Notice how the Bible uses "antichrist" to describe anyone who does not teach that Jesus Christ really came "in the flesh''. There actually is no such thing in the Bible as one "future Antichrist", because antichrists were already in existence during John's day and many more arose during the following centuries. Antichrists are also in existence NOW since there are many false prophets today who do not teach that Jesus Christ came "in the flesh". Therefore, it is completely unbiblical to speak of one "future Antichrist" and this alone should teach us to beware of the "future Antichrist" theory.

Footnote:

When the topic of the "future Antichrist'' arises, its supporters sometimes refer to the 70 weeks prophecy in Daniel 9 for Scriptural proof. However, a close examination of this passage will prove otherwise. In verse 24, six things are mentioned that would be accomplished during the 70 weeks. Notice how all six relate to the work of Jesus Christ. In fact, the fulfillment of each event by Jesus is mentioned by New Testament writers in the following passages:

1. To finish the transgression - Matthew 23:32,38.
2. To put an end to sin offerings - Hebrews 10:11-14.
3. To atone for iniquity - Hebrews 10:1-4,12-14.
4. To bring in everlasting righteousness - Romans 2:7;
   1 Corinthians 1:30
5. To seal both vision and prophet - John 6:27.
6. To anoint a Most Holy One - Acts 10:38.

The fact that these six things were accomplished by Jesus should be no surprise because verse 25 of Daniel 9 refers to the coming of "Messiah the Prince" after seven weeks, and sixty-two weeks, or a total of sixty-nine weeks. Here, once again we apply the principle of one day representing one year, as has been previously shown to be done with many time periods in Bible prophecy (see footnote 2 in chapter 9). The 69 weeks represent 69 "weeks of years" (RSV) or 483 years. These 483 years began in 456 BC with a decree by Artaxerxes to "restore and build Jerusalem" (see Nehemiah 2:1-10), and ended in 27 AD when Jesus Christ began his public ministry and was anointed with the Holy Spirit at his baptism.

During the seventieth week of years, Jesus the Messiah was "cut off" or crucified in 30 AD as verse 26 predicted¹. The Jews were then given a 40 year trial period to see if they would repent of their wicked deeds. As a nation, the Jews still rejected Jesus as their Messiah at the end of 40 years, so God then sent "the people (Roman army) of the Prince (Jesus) that shall come'' (v.26) into Jerusalem to "destroy the city and the sanctuary." This occurred in 70 AD when the Roman army entered Jerusalem and destroyed both the city and the temple. The Roman army was referred to as "the people of the Prince" because Jesus used that army in carrying out God's will to humble the Jews for their rejection of the Christ. The parable of the marriage feast in Matthew 22:1-14 is in agreement with this principle. In this parable, the King's (God's) marriage feast for his son (Jesus) was made light of by the people (the Jews) and they slew the King's servants (the prophets), so the King "sent forth his armies (the Roman armies), and destroyed those murderers (the Jews) and burned up their city (Jerusalem)."

Continuing in Daniel 9 at verse 27, we find that Jesus did confirm the Abrahamic Covenant² during the seventieth week of years, the same in which he was crucified. Sacrifice and oblation were made to cease, because after Jesus' death there was no longer any need to sacrifice for sins. Israel has been desolate since the days the Roman army destroyed the city. Jesus himself said of the Jews before his death:

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! {38} Behold, your house is forsaken and desolate. {39} For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." (Matthew 23:37-39)

Only recently have we seen the beginning of the consummation as the Jews are establishing themselves in Israel today. Very shortly the desolation will be over and Israel will again turn to Jesus and say, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.''

So when we examine the seventy-weeks prophecy of Daniel 9 in detail, we find there is no support, nor any mention of the "future Antichrist" that is so popular in Christianity today. There is also no justification for separating the seventieth week from the previous sixty-nine, and placing its fulfillment at the second coming of Jesus Christ, some 2,000 years after the fulfillment of the first sixty-nine weeks. The "future Antichrist" theory relies heavily upon inserting a 2,000 year gap between the fulfillment of the sixty-ninth and seventieth weeks, however, the Bible makes no mention of this gap. By reading through the entire ninth chapter of Daniel, it becomes evident that this prophecy of the seventy-weeks was given to the Jews of Daniel's time who were in captivity in Babylon, to encourage them concerning the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the coming of Messiah, both of which happened many centuries ago.

Footnotes:

1. Once it is admitted that the coming Prince in Daniel 9:25 is Jesus Christ, we have no alternative but to accept he is also the Prince who is to come in the next verse (v.26). There is no indication in Daniel's prophecy that he is speaking of two different princes in these two verses so we should accept he is referring to the same person, Jesus Christ. This becomes a problem for those who accept the "future Antichrist" theory because in order to fit this prophecy of Daniel 9 into the "future Antichrist'' concept, they must distinguish between the two princes and claim they are two different people. The first Prince is taken to be Jesus and in the very next verse they try to make that Prince to be the "future Antichrist". Once again this is an indication to what extent one must twist and misinterpret Scripture to support the "future Antichrist" theory.

Now that we have looked at the major passages in Scripture that refer to an apostate religious system, let's put all the characteristics together to see if we can identify the great false Church today. Daniel 7, Revelation 12 and 13, 2 Thessalonians 2, and 1 & 2 John all speak of the development of a wicked religious system that would oppose God and the true believers, and teach false doctrines. According to these passages of Scripture, the false religion and its leader will:

1. Arise out of the Roman Empire, Daniel's fourth beast (Daniel 7:7-27; Revelation 13:1-4; 2 Thessalonians 2:7).
2. Be a world power for 1260 years (Daniel 7: 19-25; Revelation 13:7-8).
3. Take his seat in the temple of God and proclaim himself to be God (2 Thessalonians 2:4).
4. Blaspheme God (Daniel 7:25; Revelation 13:6; 2 Thessalonians 2:4).
5. Teach that Jesus did not come in the flesh (1 John 4:1-4; 2 John 7).
6. Persecute the true believers (Daniel 7:21,25; Revelation 13:7).
7. Be overthrown by Christ (Daniel 7:22,26-27; 2 Thessalonians 3:8).

When we look through the pages of history we find that no religious system fits this description except the Roman Catholic Church with its leader, the Pope. Consider the following evidence:

1. The Church rose out of the Roman Empire in 320 AD when the Roman Emperor Constantine became converted to Catholicism and with him, the majority of the Roman world.
   
   
2. The Church gained support and rose to be a great world power for 1260 years with its Pope ruling like an emperor, during the years 606-1866 AD.¹
   
   
3. The leaders of the Church (the Popes) have taken their seat in what they call the "temple of God" (actually St. Peter's in Rome), and proclaimed themselves to be God on earth. The very title "Pope" comes from the Latin word "papa" which means "father"², and Jesus warned us to "call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven." (Matthew 23:9). Thus the Popes and priests have taken upon themselves a title which only God deserves.
   
   
4. The Popes have not only blasphemed God by allowing themselves to be called "Pope", but have also allowed and encouraged such titles as "our Lord God the Pope"³, "the Holy Father"⁴, and the "Vicar of Christ"⁵ to be used of themselves. The Roman Catholic Priests are also blasphemers of God in that the very name which they like to be called (''Father'') is specifically forbidden by Jesus Christ to be used of any man on earth because God is our Father (Matthew 23:9). Furthermore, according to a decree from the Council of Trent, priests are to be "called not only angels, but also God"⁶, which blasphemes the God of heaven all the more!
   
   
5. The Church has believed and taught for centuries the incarnation of Christ, and that the Son of God had a pre-existence as a spirit. These two doctrines of the Church separate Christ from his body of flesh and their end result is that the Son of God did not come "in the flesh."
   
   
6. For centuries the Church persecuted, tormented and even killed thousands of the people who would not join. There were times when it tortured and slaughtered anyone found reading the Bible. When men began translating the Bible into the common language of the people, the Church called them heretics and sought to burn or drown them. The pages of history are full of examples of men and women who were persecuted, tortured and even killed by the Church as it made "war on the saints and conquered them."⁷
   
   
7. The Church and its leaders remain to be overthrown by Jesus when he returns. Since Jesus has not returned yet, we cannot look to history for the fulfillment of this event. But we know from the Word of God that the false religious system must be destroyed so that Jesus can replace it with his own system and establish the Kingdom of God.

For a more detailed account of how closely the Roman Catholic Church fits the characteristics in Scripture of the great apostate Church, the reader is encouraged to look into some of the many books available on the history of the papal Church.⁸

Footnotes:

1. Robert Fleming, The Rise and Fall of Rome Papal, (London: Houlston & Stoneman. Paternoster Row, 1849), pp. 45-46. (First edition printed in 1701 ) . Grattan Guiness, Light For the Last Days, (London: Morgan & Scott, 1918), pp. 207-208. E.B. Elliott, Horae Apocalypticae, (London: Seeley's, 1851), Vol. IV., pp. 276-280.

2. Webster's Third New International Dictionary, (William Benton, 1971), Vol. II, p. 1765.

3. Canon Law, Extravagans, quoted in F. Walker et all., Watchman! What of the Night?, (Bristol: F. Walker, The Dawn, 1942), p. 51

4. Henry Halley, Bible Handbook, (Chicago, 1956), p. 880.

5. Loraine Boettner, Roman Catholicism, (Philadelphia, The Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, 1962), p. 127.

6. Ibid., p. 51.

7. The Rise and Fall of Rome Papal, p. 34. Cardinal Lepicier, The Stability and Progress of Dogma, (1910), p. 202. Bible Handbook, p. 898. Charles Gulston, No Greater Heritage, (London: The Paternoster Press, 1960), p. 210.

Once we know the identity of the apostate system, we can go back and take another look at Revelation 13 with more understanding. The beast of the sea represents a later development of the Roman Empire after the Dragon of chapter 12. At the end of the fifth century the western section of the Roman Empire began breaking up and was divided into 10 barbaric nations (the 10 horns of v. 1). The seven heads (v.l) represent seven forms of government¹ which ruled the empire throughout its existence. The sixth form of government (the sixth head), which was Roman Imperialism, was wounded (v.3) when the Gothic people captured and ruled the empire from about 490-530 AD. This ''mortal wound'' was healed when the Goths were overthrown and a Roman Emperor again took the throne. At that time, the military power of the empire (the dragon), which was centered in Constantinople, gave its authority (v.4) to the new Roman Emperor.

The comparison of parts of this beast to a leopard, bear and lion (v.2) indicate that the influences of these previous human empires would be found in this Roman dominion and that it would encompass the geographical areas of the former empires. The mouth which was given to the beast (v.5) represents the Papacy (the line of Popes) which did the official speaking for the empire. By command of the Papacy, the Catholic Church persecuted everyone who would not join, especially those who protested against its false teachings. The Papacy had this authority over the Roman world for 42 months, which is the same period as 1260 days. Using the principle that one day represents one year, the 1260 days equal 1260 years, beginning about 606 AD when the Papacy first received world political power, until 1866 when it lost that power.

Footnote:

Some time about 800 AD, the Roman world underwent a major change when the Holy Roman Empire was formed, and this is depicted in symbol as the beast of the earth (Revelation 13:11). The Holy Roman Empire had two rulers (the two horns), the emperor who ruled the government, and the Pope who ruled the Church. At first they shared the power, but eventually the Papacy took over the political power and the emperor was reduced to a puppet. This take over by the Papacy is represented as "the image of the beast" of the sea because, in effect, the Pope revived the old Roman Imperialism with himself as the emperor. For many years the Pope had control over those who could buy and sell, and he sought the death of anyone who would not worship him. The priests of the Church marked all its members with a cross (the mark of the beast) on their foreheads, and the priests themselves are marked with a cross on their right hands when they are ordained.

The number 666 corresponds to the numerical value of the Greek word "lateinos" which means "the Latin (man)".¹ This is the word referred to because Latin not only related to the Roman Empire, but has specific reference to the Roman Catholic Church itself. Latin was the common language of the Roman Empire and was later adopted by the Church as its official language for hundreds of years. Therefore, "lateinos" was an appropriate word to describe the Empire in general, and more especially the Roman Catholic Church itself.

Footnote:

Now that we have looked at the prophetic picture in Daniel and Revelation we can put all the pieces together in one illustration.

In the final vision of the apostate Church in Revelation 17, John was shown not only one harlot church, but an entire family, as is depicted in the phrase "Mother of Harlots'' (v.5). This infers that there would be other churches besides the Catholic Mother which would go astray from God. We find the fulfillment of this prophecy in the general movement among Protestant Churches today to turn back to the teachings of the Catholic Church.

During the 16th century, the Protestants broke away from the Catholic Church over disagreements on specific doctrines. Protestant leaders at that time, such as William Tyndale, John Calvin, Martin Luther, John Knox, and many others, recognized the true identity of the harlot church as revealed in Revelation. They publicly denounced the Papal system which often resulted in the persecution, torture, and even death of these Protestants. Since the Catholic Church was so openly exposed it needed a new interpretation of Revelation which would apply the symbols to someone else, and thereby take the heat off the Papal system.

The first one to come up with the solution was Ribera, a Spanish Jesuit Priest, who published his Apocalyptic Commentary in 1585 AD. Ribera solved the problem by applying the majority of Revelation to a seven year period in the future, just before the second advent of Jesus Christ, during which a "future Antichrist' would rule for 3-1/2 years.¹ This interpretation purposely left the Papal Church out of the picture and allowed Protestants to once again look favorably upon the Catholic system.

At first, the Protestants recognized the error of Ribera's interpretation, but gradually through the years this GREAT DELUSION of a "future Antichrist'' begun by Ribera has swept through many Churches. Today we find that Protestants have blindly accepted this "future Antichrist" lie without realizing the background of its origin. They no longer know the true identity of the harlot system, but have drastically changed their beliefs so that they are moving back toward the teachings of the Catholic Church which they originally denounced, and are seeking to become associated again with their Mother. Thus the final state of Christianity before the second coming of Jesus Christ is symbolized as a family of harlots who have gone astray from God and his word.

Footnote:

The signs of the times today prove beyond any doubt that Jesus Christ will soon return to establish his Father's kingdom. The rebirth of the nation of Israel, the return of the Jews to their land, the economic uncertainties of Russia, the decline in morals of the people, and the many world problems are all pointing to the end of this age. These are exciting days for all Bible students which should cause us to read and study the word of God so that we will know and understand the events related to Christ's second coming and welcome him when he does return.