Luther was not the first person to make the claim that the pope is the anti-Christ. John Wycliffe came to the same conclusion some 200 years before Luther did. Unlike Luther, Wycliffe had everything to loose and nothing to gain from proclaiming this, but he did it anyway because that is what he believed. Let us examine the facts.
What is the beast (the anti-Christ)? It is a religious power that rises out of Europe after the fall of Rome (and 3 of the tribes of the fallen empire are taken out) that acts as sovereign nation. It has much wealth and wants to change the laws of God.
"And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. “(Daniel 7:24 - 25 KJV)
The history of Europe settles the matter. There were 10 kingdoms that formed directly after the fall of Rome. After three kingdoms were taken out (the Vandals, Lombards, and Huns), the "Bishop of Rome" rose to power and formed what we now know as the Roman Catholic Church and this position is now known as the pope. With this power, the pope has changed God's times and laws. Many Christians no longer observe the Sabbath (God's time and God’s law) because the pope has instituted Sunday worship; the Roman Catechism even has a different set of Ten Commandments in it than the Bible's. It is also obvious that this kingdom represented by the little horn is different from all the others. The Vatican is a nation that has great wealth (the little horn wares an expensive crown earlier in Daniel chapter 7) but is very small (like a little horn among big ones) and is wholly ruled by a religious leader unlike any other nation in Europe today. The Vatican is a nation because the USA has an ambassador to the Vatican.
There are even more clues to point to the papal system as being the anti-Christ.
"And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast." (Revelation 13:3 KJV)
The pope was taken out of power and made prisoner (wounded) in 1798 by Napoleon. But, the pope was miraculously healed from his deadly wound in 1929, by Premier Mussolini if Italy who gave the pope all his power back!
The whole world has wondered after the pope. Just look at everyone that attended the funeral of the late John Paul II - leaders of almost every nation in the world!
Also, we find this of the anti-Christ. " And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. (Revelation 13:5 - 6 KJV)
What is blasphemy? "The act of claiming for oneself the attributes and rights of God." (American Heritage Dictionary)
Does the pope blaspheme?
"Against this background of love towards Holy Church, 'the pillar and bulwark of the truth' (1 Tim 3:15), we readily understand the devotion of Saint Francis of Assisi for 'the Lord Pope', the daughterly outspokenness of Saint Catherine of Siena towards the one whom she called 'sweet Christ on earth'" (Pope John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation VITA CONSECRATA, (On The Consecrated Life And Its Mission In The Church And In The World), March 25, 1996.)
"The Pope is of so great dignity, and so exalted that he is not a mere man, but as it were God. and the vicar of God." (Ferraris Ecclesiastical dictionary)
"All names which in the Scriptures are applied to Christ, by virtue of which it is established that He is over the church, all the same names are applied to the Pope." (On the Authority of the Councils, book 2, chapter 17)
"The Pope and God are the same, so he has all power in Heaven and earth." (Pope Pius V, quoted in Barclay, Chapter XXVII, p. 218, "Cities Petrus Bertanous")
"The Pope takes the place of Jesus Christ on earth...by divine right the Pope has supreme and full power in faith, in morals over each and every pastor and his flock. He is the true vicar, the head of the entire church, the father and teacher of all Christians. He is the infallible ruler, the founder of dogmas, the author of and the judge of councils; the universal ruler of truth, the arbiter of the world, the supreme judge of heaven and earth, the judge of all, being judged by no one, God himself on earth." (Quoted in the New York Catechism)
""To believe that our Lord God the Pope has not the power to decree as he is decreed, is to be deemed heretical." (the Gloss "Extravagantes" o.f Pope John XXII *** inter, Tit. XIV, Cap. IV. Ad Callem Sexti Decretalium, Paris, 1685)
I would say he dose!
I think the papal system matches up with the anti-Christ too much to be a coincidence.
2006-07-08 17:28:42
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answer #1
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answered by dee 4
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First off, this question is asked entirely too much. Second there is more than one Antichrist. The word antichrist is only mentioned in the bible 4 times, buy St. John in his first and second letters. It is never mentioned in Revelation, is not Satan, and has nothing to do with 666. Though an Antichrist could certainly be spawn of Satan.
According to 1John,(2:18, 2:22 & 4:3 ) the antichrist is anyone who is not a Christian. in 2John 7 it says:"For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an Antichrist."
According to St. John, evey Atheist, Jew, Muslim, Agnostic, Buddist, non-Christian are antichrist. These are his words, not mine. Don't shoot the messanger.
I would highly recommend reading 1John & 2John. Both are very short and will answer many of your questions in a Christian point of view. If you are not a Christian, then your question is retorical, for you would not personally beleive in an antichrist either.
2006-07-03 04:35:28
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answer #2
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answered by mslorikoch 5
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A person of stature with a false guise of compassion and sympathy. He will emulate caring while his own intentions are all for his own dark desires. Someone who is known probably better THROUGHOUT the world and FOLLOWED by more people than any other man throughout history. Yet not imaginary, but, very real in the flesh. Maybe someone who claims they are the true Christ and that this IS the second coming. He may be sitting in chair #999, depending on the angle you view it from. And just when he's got enough people awed by his magnificence, His true identity will be revealed. However, not ALL of humanity will be bushwhacked by this guy. There will be skeptics, and those skeptics will be right. But that will only be in the final days. For more, go to my 360 page and give me an answer to the question on my blog. Or not. Sometimes it seems to me that I can feel his presence in the world now. But when it all happens, you better ask God to forgive your sins, and then put your head between your legs and kiss your a$$ goodbye.
2006-07-03 04:12:40
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answer #3
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answered by Rollover Mikey 6
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666 has nothing to do with the Anti Christ, and it is a calculation or sum of Mankind not a man. Ant-Christs were here beefier Jesus Crucifixion, and there are many the Mark is a Stigma. of those Anti_Christs
2006-07-03 03:51:45
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answer #4
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answered by kritikos43 5
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Most Christians are acting like Anti-Christ. Just look at Pat Robertson...do you think Jesus would approve taunting a man in coma with stroke or asking for assassinationof a leader of a country?
2006-07-03 03:54:04
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answer #5
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answered by dude 4
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Steven Patrick Morrissey
2006-07-03 03:50:46
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answer #6
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answered by PHIG 3
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I think someone like Oprah Winfrey will be the antiChrist. She has world power, distorts the truth in most everything she says, and is very likable. I'm not saying she IS the anti-christ...just that it will be someone with very similar characteristics.
2006-07-03 03:48:55
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answer #7
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answered by lori 2
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Why are people so stupid? There are many antichrist, they are walking breathing and living amongst you. I find it really funny that so many proclaimed Christians can not even anwer this question correctly. I only read 3 correct answer out of 38.
2006-07-03 04:42:14
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answer #8
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answered by Anonymous
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if there is an empty chair 666, that would be appropriate and scary. i hope I live to see it. we all have to die but to die at the end of the world would really be special. then evryone goes with me. c'mon lets go
2006-07-03 03:49:18
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answer #9
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answered by Anonymous
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really the one who would be the anti-christ would be Bush. He is ruining our country and the world with every breathe he takes.
I think they will find that the real anti-Christ's are all the religious righteous freaks that run our religions are really working for the evil anyways
2006-07-03 03:52:46
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answer #10
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answered by jlimages 3
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We have already met him...in many forms.
Hitler.
Bundy.
Stalin.
plus, 666 is not related to religion. it is a pagan belief - the numbers were code for a tyrant king that once ruled. the code was used to communicate of this bad man without threat of losing your life.
2006-07-03 03:50:43
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answer #11
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answered by Anonymous
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