How do you catholics feel about the anitchrist being the Catholic Church (Pope)?

Question

Revelations 17:4
3Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. 4The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. 5This title was written on her forehead:
MYSTERY
BABYLON THE GREAT
THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES
AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 6I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus.

Doesn't the pope wear purple and scarlett?, with that gold gliterry hat?

Its as clear as day that it is the pope, but what does everyone else think? BE CLEAR!!

as I can see no one wants to admit it!!! ITS SO CLEAR

Answer 1

There is better evedence to point to the papal system.

Luther was not the first person to 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.

Answer 2

This is a myth that has been passed down from the reformation. Ever since Martin Luther called the Pope the anti-christ after he was excommunicated. It is impossible for a position to be refered to as the anti-christ, as it specifically says that the anti-christ is a man.

Now that Protestantism has been in a state of separation from the Church for several centuries, psychological pressures have eased, and many Protestants today recognize the absurdity of the papal Antichrist theory and reject those portions of their confessional writings that endorse it.

Most Christians are and always have been members of the Catholic Church. The pope and the Catholic Church are too central to historic Christianity to be dismissed as simply an accident. They must have some part in God’s plan. But if they are not the Antichrist and the Whore of Babylon, then the logical alternative is to recognize them as the Vicar of Christ and the Bride of Christ—the very realization that drove the early Reformers to the papal Antichrist theory.

Answer 3

I suppose pride in this singular honour would best describe the feeling. Is there anything the Pope can't do? Amazingly He is the Holy See, the conduit to God Almighty on earth; and somehow He's also able to fulfill the obligations set down in a skewed prophecy written thousands of years ago, what a multi tasker! I wonder if they Pope would grant me a Papal Bull ( an indulgence that allows for the direct assent into Heaven ) if I trade some of my Saintly relics to the Vatican. Thank you for asking this well thought out question, I found the sub text particularly entertaining.

Answer 4

Considering that the Catholic Church compiled the Bible, it seems pretty unlikely they would include a book that condemns them.

Revelation is not about the future, it's about events contemporary to the writer. The antichrist was Nero. The woman sitting on the scarlet beast was Pharisatic Judaism, which early Christians (and other Jews) rightly considered to be a puppet of Rome. The scarlet beast was Rome itself, which was responsible for destruction of the temple in the late 1st century and mass killings associated with the attempted Sadducee uprising.

Answer 5

The pope is the Antichrist. He wants all of us obeying him alone, never giving us a chance to think for ourselves. He's the guy that still does not let women become priests because none of the Apostles were women. He tells us what can't watch or read. He is so political, trying to control all of the politics around him. Down with the pope!

Answer 6

The Anti-Christ will be of Middle Eastern descent! These verses are talking about the Last Days Compromised Church--not a particular belief system or denomination.Try reading the Bible and researching before asking controversial questions such as these. Okay?

Answer 7

I'm not catholic, but this simply doesn't make sense. Yeah, we've all heard it before, but it doesn't fit. The woman is a city, a very wealthy city, and a very non-christian city, so it would be more likely a muslim city. I say muslim because that's the only group I know of who lops off heads, which Revelations states very clearly will be happening to christians. Don't think the pope is gonna be lopping off christian heads.

Answer 8

It's a stretch at best. The Bible also says that the anti-Christ will claim to be the Messiah and the Catholic church has never done that. I've heard a ton of arguments for this, but I don't think the papacy is our anti-Christ. Time will tell.

Answer 9

I suppose the biggest flaw with your whole arguement might be the fact the pope is a man not a woman.

Answer 10

I agree. This text IS talking about the Catholic Church, but your evidence is weak.

watch this video
http://www.amazingfacts.org/resources/video/MPVideo/mp13.asx

more topics covered at this site
http://www.amazingfacts.org/items/storacle_lessons.asp?tTitle=Millennium%20of%20Prophecy



The book of Revelation is a prophetic book so we have to use prophetic symbols given by God.

There are 2 women talked about in Revelation, Babylon and the woman dressed in white.



What does a woman symbolize Bible prophecy?

"I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman." Jeremiah 6:2

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her Ephesians 5:25

One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb." Revelation 21:9

I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. 2Corinthians 11:2

The book of Hosea

From these we see that a woman in prophecy represents a church



So there are 2 women in Revelation and they both represent a church, which churches do they represent?

Obviously since the dragon (Satan) hates the women clothed in light she must be God's Church. And the Revelation 17:4 says that she has a "cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:" She obviously must be against God


What are the qualities of the woman of Revelation 17:4?
A. She is guilty of blasphemy (verse 3).
B. She is called the Mother (verse 5).
C. She has harlot daughters who also are fallen (verse 5).
D. She persecuted and martyred the saints (verse 6).
E. She sits upon "seven mountains" (verse 9).
F. She ruled over the "kings of the earth" (verse 18).



Ok so what Church system is Revelation 17 talking about?

"This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits." Revelation 17:9

"The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth." Revelation 17:18


What city ruled the world during the time the Apostle John wrote the book of Revelation?

Rome.


Is Rome based on 7 hills?

Yes, they are Palatine Capitoline, Quirinal, Viminal, Esquiline, Caelin, and Aventine.


What church is based in Rome?


Is there any more evidence that this church is the Roman Catholic Church?

Let’s look at these one at a time

A)
What is blasphemy?

Elevating yourself to the level of God
John 10:33
The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

Claiming to for give sins
Luke 5:21
And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?

Basically claiming the prerogatives

Has the Catholic Church done this?
The popes have elevated themselves
"We [the popes] hold upon this earth the place of God Almighty."2 Here is another startling statement about the pope: "Thou art another God on earth."
Pope Leo XIII

"The pope is not only the representative of Jesus Christ, but he is Jesus Christ, Himself, hidden under the veil of flesh." Catholic National, July 1895

They also claim to be the vicar of Christ (to stand in the place of Christ) it is an official title of the Pope, and they use it when referring to him
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Apq4q5fvUMQCOBvdtGMNF2_sy6IX?qid=20060618105351AAUJXjU


Catholic priests claim to forgive sins
Catholic catechism: "Does the Priest truly forgive the sins, or does he only declare that they are remitted? The Priest does really and truly forgive the sins in virtue of the power given to him by Christ."


B) What Church did basically all protestant denominations come out of?

The church of Rome


C) She has Harlot Daughters

see above, many Christian denominations have left the Catholic Church but still hold doctrines that are not biblical, mixing God’s word with false doctrine


D) Persecution of the Saints

in the Inqusition more than 50 million people died during the dark ages (a conservative estimate)


E) What city sits on 7 hills

Rome


F) Rules over the Kings

During the dark ages all kings were subject to the Church in Rome. Even today the UN convenes to listen to the Pope. The Pope was instrumental in ending Communist Russia with Ronald Reagan.


Revelation 14:8 says
A second angel followed and said, "Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great, which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries."

What adulteries can a Church make?
Mixing the truths of the Bible with Pagan worship.


Has the Catholic Church done this?
They tried to change the day of worship to Sunday with no scriptural evidence. They did this because they used to worship the Sun god on that day

“You may read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and you will not find a single line authorizing the sanctification of Sunday. The Scriptures enforce the religious observance of Saturday, a day we never sanctify.” - James Cardinal Gibbons

“Perhaps the boldest thing, the most revolutionary change the Church ever did happened in the first century(actually 200yrs later). The holy day, the Sabbath , was changed from Saturday to Sunday… not from any directions noted in the Scriptures, but from the Church’s sense of its own power… People who think that the Scriptures should be the sole authority should logically become Seventh Day Adventists, and keep Saturday holy.” –Saint Catherine Catholic Church Sentinel, May 21. 1995

They brought idols into the Church. The statue of St. Peter in St. Peter’s basilica is actually older than Peter, it was taken from the temple of Jupiter.

Has the world participated in these actions?

_________________________________________

"The only Conundrum here is the heresy that is 7th Day Adventism." - Veritatum17

personal attacks does not change what the Bible says, because that is where my information comes from... the Bible

But since you disagree explain this
1) Using the Bible only, what does a woman in Prophecy represent?

2) What do these 2 verses, taken from the same chapter that talks about the scarlet woman, mean?
"This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits." Revelation 17:9

"The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth." Revelation 17:18

3) What city sits on 7 hills


Pope Gregory The Great aka Saint Gregory 540-604
“I confidently affirm that whoever calls himself the universal bishop or desires to be so called is in his pride a forerunner of Antichrist.”


here is one more quote from the Church

"You know that I am the Holy Father, the representative of God on earth, the Vicar of Christ, which means that I am God on the earth.” – Pope Pius XI April 30,1922

What is blashphemy?

Answer 11

I am catholic and I am not worried at all if the pope is really the antichrist. Just don't let me find you when the right time comes. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. Ugh ! ! !