A long list of theologians, reformers and “critics” of the Roman Church who recognized the papacy as God’s great earthly adversary. Voices that were also silenced today by the official EV churches.
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Before the Reformation, critics were also Catholics
Long time before the Reformation started in the 16th century, many theologians had already gained their insights from the biblical descriptions of the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation. All theologians, including Martin Luther, were (naturally) Catholic before the Reformation. But the Bible-believing theologians found numerous rites and beliefs of the church “somewhat strange”. There are more detailed descriptions of this in the Bible, all of which apply to the one Roman institution.
The symbols described
With the “man of sin”, the “little horn”, the “harlot”, “Babylon” and the animals in Revelation chapter 13, it is about the papacy or ecclesiastical Rome. These insights have almost completely disappeared to this day. The Counter-Reformation led by the Jesuits did a great job there. A majority of evangelicals today believe in a future Antichrist and – as intended – completely lose sight of God’s adversary, which is clearly described in the Holy Scriptures.
The little horn
One of the authoritative biblical descriptions is the “little horn” in Daniel chapter 7. This horn first appears in Daniel 7:8:
“I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.”
Man of sin
Paul gave a special reference to the adversary, and he warned of the son of perdition in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”
The 1st and 2nd beast, Rev. 13
Revelation chapter 13 describes a “beast out of the sea,” the 1st beast in the enumeration that follows. This beast comes from the sea, followed by a beast from the earth, the 2nd beast.
The Harlot and Babylon, Rev. 17
Revelation chapter 17 (more details) describes a whore and (modern) Babylon. Even with these symbolic representations of the reformers, who are hardly mentioned.
A representation of biblical statements about the Antichrist and the applicable characteristics and actions of the Roman Catholic Church: here
d today, agree that it must be about ecclesiastical Rome.
The Biblical Antichrist
John uses the term Antichrist for the first time in his 1st letter. He warns against its deceptions, as in 1 John 2:18: “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.”
Abomination of desolation
Already in the book of Daniel there is talk of the “abomination of desolation”, in chapter 9, verse 27, chapter 11, verse 31 and chapter 12, verse 11. In Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14 the mentions by Daniel are repeated remind. In terms of timing, the first “abomination” is the deployment of the Roman army in front of Jerusalem. In AD 70 the city was completely destroyed. The second abomination is the papacy, with its numerous blasphemies against God and the massive persecution of biblical Christians. The Romans attained this ecclesiastical and political power. Church in 538 AD. The third “abomination of desolation” is still about the (near) future. In all likelihood, this will also mark the introduction of the “Mark of the Beast“.
Reformers and theologians and their interpretations
The following list (Source: Redeemer Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod) shows a whole range of theologians and also scientists, from different centuries and regions. The unanimous opinion is very striking.
| Date A.D. | Reformer | Bible reference | Interpretation |
| 1310 | Dante Alighieri | Rev. 17, "Harlot" | Roman church |
| 1331 | Michael of Cesena | Rev. 17, "Harlot" Antichrist | Roman church Papacy |
| 1345 | Johannes de Rupescissa | Antichrist Rev. 17, "Babylon" Rev. 17, "Harlot" | Papacy Roman church Roman church |
| 1350 | Francesco Petrarch | Rev. 17, "Harlot" | Papal court |
| 1367 | John Milicz | Antichrist Abomination of desolation Man of sin | Papacy Papacy Papacy |
| 1379 | John Wycliffe | Antichrist Abomination of desolation Little horn Man of sin Rev. 17, "whore" | Pope Papacy Pope Papacy Papacy |
| 1388 | Matthias of Janow | Antichrist Abomination of desolation Man of sin Eev. 13, "1st beast" Eev. 17, "whore" Eev. 17, "Babylon" | Hierarchy Fallen church Current Church Papacy Hierarchy Popes |
| 1389 | R. Wimbledon | Abomination of desolation | Papacy |
| 1390 | John Purvey | Antichrist Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 13, "2nd beast" Rev. 13 "666" Rev. 17, "whore" Rev. 17, "Babylon" | Pope Papacy Hierarchy Pope Papacy Papacy |
| 1393 | Walter Brute | Antichrist Abomination of desolation Little horn man of sin | Papacy Bishop v. Rome Rome Papacy |
| 1412 | Jan Hus | Antichrist Abomination of desolation Little horn Man of sin Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 17, "whore" Rev. 17, "Babylon" | Pope Papacy Rome Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy |
| 1497 | Girolamo Savonarola | Antichrist Man of sin Rev. 17, "whore" Rev. 17, "Babylon" | Pope Papacy Papacy Papacy |
| 1522 | Martin Luther | Antichrist Abomination of desolation Little horn Man of sin Rev. 13, "2nd beast" Rev. 17, "whore" Rev. 17, "Babylon" | Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy |
| 1530 | Johann Occolampadius | Antichrist Little horn | Papacy Papacy |
| 1543 | Philipp Melanchthon | Antichrist Man of sin Rev. 17, "Babylon" | Papacy Papacy Papacy |
| 1545 | Andreas Osiander | Antichrist Abomination of desolation Little horn man of sin Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 17, "whore" Rev. 17, "Babylon" | Papacy Papal traditions Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy |
| 1545 | George Joys | Antichrist Little horn | Papacy Papacy |
| 1547 | John Knox | Antichrist Little horn | Rom. church Papacy |
| 1550 | William Tyndale | Antichrist Little horn Man of sin Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 17, "whore" Rev. 17, "Babylon" | Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy |
| 1550 | John Bale | Antichrist Abomination of desolation Little horn Man of sin Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 13, "2nd beast" Rev. 17, "whore" Rev. 17, "Babylon" Rev. 17, "beast" | Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy Prelates Papacy Papacy Papacy |
| 1553 | Hugh Latimer | Antichrist | Papacy |
| 1554 | Nicholas Ridley | Antichrist Abomination of desolation Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 17, "whore" Rev. 17, "Babylon" Rev. 17, "beast" | Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy |
| 1554 | Nikolaus von Amsdorf | Antichrist Abomination of desolation Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 17, "whore" Rev. 17, "Babylon" | Papacy Papal traditions Papacy Papacy Papacy |
| 1557 | Heinrich Bullinger | Antichrist Little horn Man of sin Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 13, "2nd beast" Rev. 17, "whore" Rev. 17, "Babylon" | Papacy Papacy Papacy Pagan Rome Papal Rome Rom. church Papacy |
| 1558 | Johann Funck | Antichrist Little horn Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 13, "2nd beast" Rev. 17, "whore" Rev. 17, "Babylon" | Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy |
| 1560 | Virgil Solis | Antichrist Little horn Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 17, "whore" Rev. 17, "Babylon" | Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy |
| 1562 | John Jewel | Antichrist Abomination of desolation Little horn Man of sin Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 17, "whore" Rev. 17, "Babylon" Rev. 17, "beast" | Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy Rome |
| 1563 | Anglican Formulas | Antichrist | Papacy |
| 1570 | Georg Nigrinus | Antichrist Man of sin Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 13, "2nd beast" | Pope, Ottomans Papacy Pagan Rome Päpal Rome |
| 1582 | Thomas Cranmer | Antichrist Little horn Man of sin Rev. 17, "whore" Rev. 17, "Babylon" | Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy |
| 1587 | John Foxe | Antichrist Man of sin | Bishop of Rome Bishop of Rome |
| 1593 | John Napier | Antichrist Man of sin Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 13, "2nd beast" Rev. 17, "whore" Rev. 17, "Babylon" Rev. 17, "beast" | Pope Papacy Latin Kingdom Papacy Papacy Papacy Latin Kingdom |
| 1600 | James I. of England | Antichrist Little horn Man of sin Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 12, "2nd beast" Rev. 17, "whore" Rev. 17, "Babylon" | Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy |
| 1603 | George Downham | Antichrist Little horn Man of sin Rev. 13, "1st beast" | Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy |
| 1604 | George Pacard | Antichrist Little horn Man of sin Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 12, "2nd beast" Rev. 17, "whore" Rev. 17, "Babylon" | Papacy Papacy Papacy Rome Papacy Papacy Papacy |
| 1607 | Hugh Broughton | Little horn | Antiochus |
| 1612 | Andress Holwig | Man of sin Rev. 13, "1st beast" | Papacy Papacy |
| 1614 | Thomas Brightman | Antichrist Little horn Man of sin Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 12, "2nd beast" Rev. 17, "whore" Rev. 17, "Babylon" | Pope Papacy Papacy Early Papacy Latter Papacy Papacy Papacy |
| 1618 | David Pareus | Antichrist Man of sin Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 17, "whore" Rev. 17, "animal" | Pope, Ottomans Papacy Papacy Papacy Kingdom |
| 1618 | Matthias Hoe | Man of sin Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 13, "2nd beast" Rev. 17, "Babylon" | Papacy Röm. Empire Papal Rome Papacy |
| 1618 | Daniel Cramer | Man of sin Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 13, "2nd beast" Rev. 17, "Babylon" | Papacy Pagan Rome Papal Rome Papacy |
| 1631 | Joseph Mede | Little horn Man of sin Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 13, "2nd beast" Rev. 17, "whore" Rev. 17, "Babylon" | Papacy Papacy Papacy Civil Rome Papacy Papacy Papacy |
| 1643 | Johannes Gerhard | Man of sin Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 13, "2nd beast" Rev. 17, "whore" Rev. 17, "Babylon" | Papacy Vivil Rome Papal Rome Papacy Papacy |
| 1654 | Thomas Goodwin | Mensch der Sünde Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 13, "2nd beast" | Papacy Papacy Protestants |
| 1655 | John Tillinghast | Antichrist Little horn Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 17, "whore" | Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy |
| 1664 | Henry More | Antichrist Little horn | Papacy Papacy |
| 1670 | William Sherwin | Antichrist Little horn Man of sin Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 17, "Babylon" | Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy |
| 1681 | Johann H. Alsted | Little horn Man of sin Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 13, "2nd beast" Rev. 17, "whore" | Papacy Papacy Imperial. Rome Papal Rome Papacy |
| 1684 | Thomas Beverley | Antichrist Little horn Man of sin Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 17, "Babylon" | Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy |
| 1685 | Jacques Phillipot | Man of sin Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 13, "2nd beast" Rev. 17, "whore" Rev. 17, "Babylon"" | Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy |
| 1687 | Pierre Jurieu | Antichrist Little horn Man of sin Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 13, "2nd beast" Rev. 17, "Babylon" | Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy Empire Papacy |
| 1689 | Drue Cressener | Antichrist Little horn Man of sin Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 13, "2nd beast" Rev. 17, "Babylon" | Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy Hierarchy Papacy |
| 1700 | William Lowth | Antichrist Little horn | Papacy Papacy |
| 1701 | Johannes Cocceius | Antichrist Little horn Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 13, "2nd beast" Rev. 17, "Babylon" | Papacy Papacy Papsttum Hierachy Papacy |
| 1701 | Robert Fleming Jr. | Antichrist Little horn Man of sin Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 17, "Babylon" | Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy |
| 1702 | Georg her. Giblehr | Antichrist Little horn | Papacy Papacy |
| 1703 | Daniel Whitby | Man of sin Rev. 17, "Babylon" | Rom. church Papacy |
| 1706 | William Whiston | Antichrist Little horn Man of sin Rev. 17, "Babylon" | Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy |
| 1712 | Heinrich Horch | Antichrist Little horn Rev. 13, "1st beast" | Papacy Papacy Papacy |
| 1720 | Charles Daubux | Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 13, "2nd beast" Rev. 17, "whore" Rev. 17, "Babylon" | Civil Rome Ecclesiastical Rome Papacy Papacy |
| 1727 | Sir Isaac Newton | Antichrist Little horn Man of sin Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 13, "2nd beast" Rev. 17, "whore" Rev. 17, "Babylon" | Papacy Papacy Papacy West Rome Greece Papacy Latin Kingdom |
| 1729 | Th. Crinsox de Bionens | Antichrist Little horn Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 13, "2nd beast" Rev. 17, "Babylon" | Papacy Papacy Roman Empire Popes Papacy |
| 1735 | Thomas Pyle | Man of sin Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 17, "Babylon" | Papacy Papacy Papacy |
| 1740 | Johann Aal. Bengel | Antichrist Man of sin Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 13, "2nd beast" Rev. 17, "whore" Rev. 17. "Babylon" | Papacy Papacy Papacy Jesuits Papacy Papacy |
| 1743 | Berienberg Bible | Antichrist | Papacy |
| 1745 | John Willison | Antichrist Little horn | Papacy Papacy |
| 1754 | Thomas Newton | Antichrist Little horn Man of sin Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 13, "2nd beast" Rev. 17, "Babylon" | Papacy West Rome Papacy Papacy Roman clergy Papacy |
| 1758 | John Gill | Little Horn Man of sin | Papacy Papacy |
| 1764 | John Wesley | Man of sin Rev. 13, "1st beast" | Papacy Papacy |
| 1768 | Johann Ph. Petri | Antichrist Little horn Man of sin Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 13, "2nd beast" | Papacy Ottomans Papacy Papacy Papacy |
| 1787 | Hans Wood | Antichrist Little horn Man of sin Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 13, "2nd beast" Rev. 17, "whore" Rev. 17, "Babylon" | Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy East Kingdom Papacy Papacy |
| 1793 | James Becheno | Antichrist Little horn Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 13, "2nd beast" Rev. 17, "Babylon" | Papacy Papacy Papacy Ludwig XIV. Papacy |
| 1794 | Joseph Priestly | Little horn Man of sin Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 17, "whore" Rev. 17. "Babylon" | Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy |
| 1795 | George Bell | Antichrist Little horn | Papacy Papacy |
| 1796 | Christian G. Thube | Antichrist Little horn Man of sin Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 17, "whore" Rev. 17. "Babylon" | Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy |
| 1797 | David Simpson | Antichrist Little horn | Papacy Papacy |
| 1798 | Edward King | Antichrist Little horn Man of sin Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 17, "whore" Rev. 17, "Babylon" | Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy |
| 1798 | Richard Valpy | Antichrist Little horn Man of sin Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 17, "whore" Rev. 17. "Babylon" | Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy Papacy |
| 1798 | Joseph Galloway | Rev. 13, "1st beast" Rev. 13, "2nd beast" Rev. 17 "Babylon" | Papacy Papacy Papacy |
| 1800 | Jean G. de la Flechers | Antichrist Little horn | Papacy Papacy |
A small selection of earlier, partly original writings by reformers
Bible verses from King James Version
