Christians; Is it possible one of the Popes is the antichrist?

Question

I am not trying to offend any Catholic, God judges the heart. I'm questioning the office of the Pope. The bible says even some the "elect"/christians will be fooled and follow the end antichrist.
The office of the Pope has blood stains on it. Check out the history of the office of Pope. And in the Dark Ages millions of christians were killed because they were not Roman Catholic!

I've heard many christians say the office of Pope is the antichrist or One Pope will be the finial antichrist.
The speculation about the pope possibly being the antichrist revolves primarily around Revelation 17:9. Describing the evil end times system symbolized by a woman riding a beast, Revelation 17:9 declares, “This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits.” In ancient times, the city of Rome was known as “the city on seven hills” because there are seven prominent hills that surround the city. BUT,1 John 4:3 tells us how to identify the spirit of the antichrist, "but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world."

matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Answer 1

From the four times that John uses the term "antichrist" we get a definition that is broader than just one person. John uses phrases like, "many antichrists," "an antichrist," and "The spirit of antichrist." All these show that there are more than one antichrist.

By John's use of the term, he indicates that anyone who preaches Christ, but with doctrines that are not of Christ are antichrist. That would make the whole Catholic Church and its offspring antichrists.

But John does use the specific once -- "The Antichrist." He is one person who fits the general meaning of antichrist, but who is to come into the world at a looked for time, who promotes ungodly doctrines and uses signs and wonders to deceive the whole world. In the book of Revelation he is referred to as the False Prophet. And, Yes, I believe that it will be a Pope; probably the current one.

I wonder how many people know that he is the head of the office of the modern descendant of the Inquisition?

"Thus, with its image improved and its name twice changed, the Inquisition still exists and functions today under Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger -- the heir to a tradition of over seven hundred years." -- ("The Inquisition: Hammer of Heresy," by Edward Burman, Dorset Press, (c) 1984.)

Cardinal Ratzinger has since been promoted to Pope.

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References to "Antichrist":

1Jo 2:18 - Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.

1Jo 2:22 - Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.

1Jo 4:3 - and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

2Jo 1:7 - 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.

Answer 2

Okay...let's answer this question fairly.

1) Is it POSSIBLE that one of the Popes is (or will be) the antichrist? Yes...it is possible.

2) Is it LIKELY? No.

In theory, ANY person could be the antichrist...right? I mean, surely you are not suggesting that the antichrist MUST be a Pope.

Couple other points:
1) You mentioned the "final antichrist." Do you think there are many?

2) You read Revelations and make the "7 hills" as being Rome. However, you must remember that when the book was written, Rome was the evil empire where Caesar sat. It was not the Vatican.

3) 1 John 4:3 says the spirit does not acknowledge Jesus. The Pope acknowledges Jesus as God the Son. Guess he cannot be the antichrist, right?

Answer 3

I don't think we've seen anything like that yet. I hope we never do. The popes in the past years since I've been around (1961) have been amazing holy people. I am excited about our current pope Benedict XVI. He is a special person.

Be careful when you try to judge the present by evidence of the past. Actually, no one was killed in the Dark Ages for not being Catholic, because at that time ALL Christians were Catholic. (The Dark Ages in Europe runs from about 500A.D. to about 1100A.D. The Middle Ages runs from about 1100 to 1400. The Renaissance runs 1400 to 1600. These dates are general guidelines.) You are probably thinking of the many wars between Protestant and Catholic during the late Middle Ages and Renaissance. These were really political wars - in those days there was not division of church and state as we know it, so they were fighting for political power, not beliefs so much. It's complicated. :) Those times were bloody for everyone. And Protestants butchered Catholics too.

The Office of the Pope (as you put it!) comes to us from the first Pope Peter, one of the disciples of Christ. Most people believe that God oversees who becomes Pope and guides the one who is Pope. I think that the men who elect the Pope and those who have become Pope take their office very seriously, and pray constantly for guidance.

I don't think it's impossible for an antichrist who is very clever to become pope. But I think that some very smart and holy people are looking out for that not to happen.

I am interested to in passages in the Bible which warn us that a lot of people will be easily fooled by the antiChrist. We live in a society that holds things like money and fame and self-actualization to be most valuable. The antiChrist will get to us through those beliefs. I think he is more likely to be a very charismatic political leader. Someone who caters to our desires for money and fame and power.

I think that for each individual, the likelihood of recognizing an antiChrist increases if one remembers that Christ said the most valuable thing is love. If you see a leader who is motivated by love and prayer, rather than selfishness and power , it isn't the antiChrist. And for each of us, if we pray often and stay close to God in our lives, he'll protect us in the end.

Answer 4

i don't think the pope will be the antichrist. the antichrist will be someone with overwhelming popularity and dangerously charismatic. he will most likely be a politician, i think he will rise through the ranks of either the UN or the EU, as per the prophecies of daniel, to establish a new world order capable of legislating and enforcing laws on an international level. scriptures tell us that the antichrist will establish a false peace for israel then will break the peace and wreak havoc on mankind. this leads me to believe that the antichrist will be either a huge arabic sympathizer or actually of arabic descent himself, and will collaborate closely with the pope as an effort on both sides, muslim and christian/jews to achieve peace. the pope will be decieved, and i believe will play the part of a puppet to the antichrist.

Answer 5

Anything is possible. It actually makes sense as a good strategy for the devil. What better way to deceive millions than to take the form of a man to whom millions of people look to for spiritual guidance? Satan is known for mixing in truth with his lies to better fool people. Manipulation and deciet mixed to make it sound good.

I don't think it has happened yet, but it could. Or any other spiritual leader too, it doesn't just have to be the pope. Personally I don't look to him for anything. I would be more inclined to listen to Billy Graham than the pope. I'm not catholic, so he doesn't mean anything to me. But I know that those who do listen to him are numerous.

Answer 6

There is no such thing as an anti-christ. The 666 man's number means it's a human organization as oppose to heavendly. The beast is an aggregate of all governments attacking false religion as represented by the harlot. Then the one true religion will be attacked as Satan diverges their attention, and Armageddon starts.

Answer 7

You should be asking this question towards Catholics. Several sections of Christians don't believe in the pope.

Answer 8

Jesus stated that it is not for man to know the times of the Father. This falls into that category. We as Christians must pray in faith, believe and trust that God is in controll and that his Grace is sufficient for all those who call on him and OBEY him. Keep reading your Bible and read the Psalms out loud, as these are prayers of all kinds and will help you to learn to pray.

Answer 9

Mohammed and or the popes yes there have been many antu christ. all who deny he is the only way to the father. and put laws and rules before Jesus' salvation.

Answer 10

Mark 13:32-But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.