Everybody knows about the Biblical account of an end times Antichrist, but few today
realise that that Antichrist is already here, in the Vatican, the Pope of Rome.
He
proposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, all that is
worshipped, so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he
is God.
2 Thessalonians 2 verse 4.
Historic Protestant Christianity has proclaimed the dynasty of the papacy and
the succession of the popes to be the Antichrist, prophesied about in Holy
Scripture.
While the title Pope is simply the English for the word Papa, which means father of
fathers, Jesus explicitly says, And call no man your father upon the
earth, for one is your father which is in heaven.
Matthew chapter 23 and verse 9.
The Latin equivalent of the Greek word anti is vicarious, from which comes the
word vicar.
So the Pope's title as vicar of Christ, by translation, is actually Antichrist.
The word anti in New Testament Greek, along with its Latin equivalent vicarious,
doesn't just mean against, but in the place of, or the substitute of.
And the Pope of Rome is not only against Christ by his foul doctrine and immoral
living, but assumes the place of Christ by presuming himself the head of the church,
a position that the Scripture gives to the Lord Jesus Christ alone.
And this is no minority view.
This is part of historic Orthodox Christian doctrine.
Did you know that the Westminster Confession of Faith, first published in
1646, and has had for over 350 years a Presbyterian witness, states, There is no
other head of the church but the Lord Jesus Christ.
Nor can the Pope of Rome in any sense be the head thereof.
But is that Antichrist, that man of sin and son of perdition, that exalteth
himself in the church against Christ and all that is called God?
Both Baptist and Congregational Confessions of Faith carry the exact same
view.
And also John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, said that the Pope is
the son of perdition, as he has caused the death of numberless multitudes,
both of his opposers and his followers, destroyed innumerable souls, and will
himself perish everlastingly.
And the translators of the 1611 King James Version wrote in their preface that the
work had given, quote, such a blow unto that man of sin as will not be healed,
end quote, referring to the Roman pontiff.
But let's hear for a moment from the Popes themselves.
Pope Pius X said this, The Pope is not simply the representative of Christ.
On the contrary, he is Jesus Christ himself, under the veil of the flesh.
Does the Pope speak?
It is Jesus Christ who is speaking.
Hence, when anyone speaks of the Pope, it is not necessary to examine,
but to obey.
More recently, in 1984, Pope John Paul II said, Don't go to God for forgiveness.
Come to me, contradicting what the Bible says about confessing our sins to God
alone.
And most recently, the current Pope, Pope Francis, has this year declared,
Jesus is my teacher and my pastor, but God the Father, Abba, is the light and
the creator.
This is my being.
Do you think we are very far apart?
The Pope is not a great Christian leader.
He is not a pious follower of Jesus.
He is not Father of Fathers.
But as Martin Luther said, The Pope is the masked and incarnate devil, because he is
the Antichrist.