Recognized early on and denied today. The Antichrist, described in various variations in the Bible, is and remains the papacy. Since the gospel is unchangeable, only the will to truth can have changed. The EV churches today deny their former reformers, some of whom were murdered.
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The Antichrist in various versions
The Bible only speaks directly about the Antichrist in three places. Apostle John used this name for God’s adversaries in his two letters.
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.”
1 John 2:22:
“Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.”
2 John 1:7:
“For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.“
Further references to God’s adversary, especially with his work here on earth, are the descriptions of a “son of perdition” (2 Thessalonians 2:3), “man of sin” (2 Thessalonians 2:3), “Mother of harlots” (Revelation 17:5) and “abominations of the earth” (Revelation 17:5).
Reformation said “Antichrist” out loud
It was only with the Reformation in the 16th century that the papacy, as the identified anti-Christian system, was pronounced “loudly” in speech and writing. However, it can certainly be assumed that this knowledge was gained at a much earlier period. After all, at the beginning of the Reformation, the Roman Catholic Church had already held religious and political power for around 1,000 years.
A hundred years before Martin Luther’s reformatory work, the church murdered the Bohemian Jan Hus in Constance by burning him at the stake (1415). The persecution and extermination of entire peoples had already been completed, especially the Waldensians. Today the Vatican’s archives are sorted in a “friendly” manner. Destruction of records has occurred a few times in the past.
The reformers now had the opportunity to clearly understand and disseminate the Bibles, which had now been translated into their native languages. It was no longer possible for the Church of Rome to suppress biblical truth. In addition, there was also the loss of power of the church in the reformed areas within the “Holy Roman Empire”. The Protestant sovereigns were no longer forced to carry out the death sentences passed by the “Holy Inquisition”. In addition, the knowledge spread to Northern Europe and also to the British Isles.
Protestant churches gave up knowledge
The once Protestant churches have long since given up on recognizing the papacy as the Antichrist. Ecumenism does not allow this knowledge at all. How could one profess an “apostolic, universal and catholic church” if it is clearly recognized as the direct opponent of Jesus Christ? The previous knowledge about it was quickly banished into the realm of oblivion.
The Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) made a corresponding statement about this in 2001 (Source). This announcement was made as part of an ecumenical discussion about the papal office at the Karl Rahner Academy. An institution founded and operated by Jesuits. Karl Rahner, Jesuit, is considered one of the most important “theologians” of the 20th century. He was also “spiritual director” of the Second Vatican Council.
The EKD’s statement to this Jesuit academy can therefore also be understood as a declaration of surrender made in a submissive attitude. The EKD indirectly apologized for the fact that the Reformation churches once described the office of the Pope as the “Antichrist”.
Declaration of the EKD in the Karl Rahner Academy
Martin Luther defended the Pope when he denounced the sale of indulgences, but used the “apocalyptic category” for rhetorical reasons, according to the statement. This was followed by the name “Antichrist” being applied to the Pope in the “Schmalkaldic Articles”. This is the Protestant confessional document from 1537. It stated that the Pope is to be described as “Antichrist” because he “has set himself above and against Christ and exalted himself.” The EKD explained this:
The retreat of the EV churches
So a retreat across the board and the denial of all reformers who clearly identified the papacy as the earthly adversary based on the Scriptures and put their lives at risk in the process. Numerous reformers were murdered by the Church of Rome for this knowledge (Info).
The final apology from the former Protestant churches for any secession followed with the declaration “From Conflict to Community” in 2017, just in time for the 500th Reformation Day on October 31st. This meant that Protestantism, which was actually already dead, was finally buried (Info).
Martin Luther “discovers” the book of Daniel
With the Bible now available freely and in their own language, Protestants had an unhindered view of the Holy Scriptures. Martin Luther first translated the New Testament and was initially shocked by the seemingly impenetrable mysteries in the book of Revelation. Anyone who translates a text inevitably has to put themselves into the context. A quick skim through the individual verses without thinking deeply about the meaning is not possible with a language translation.
Martin Luther also translated the Old Testament. Perhaps the reformer was inspired by Jesus Christ’s call (Matthew 24) to study the book of Daniel to tackle this first. He discovered the prophecies in the book of Daniel and found therein a bridge to the book of Revelation. The key to understanding the prophecies in the last book of the Bible was thus discovered. Luther’s first translated book of the Old Testament was the book of Daniel.
The descriptions about the adversary
As already described in the introduction, the Bible calls the great earthly adversary in different ways. The reformers set out to search and collect all information about this Antichrist. They had the same information as people today.
Unfortunately, today you have to be selective when choosing the Bible. The problem is not “refreshingly new” formulations, but rather the deceptive falsifications in word and context. The texts according to Nestle-Aland provide the standard basis for modern Bible translations. These are based on “original texts” with strong Gnostic influences (Info).
With the book of Daniel, the book of Revelation and the individual descriptions in the letters of John and Paul, the early reformers had the same answers that we have today. From today’s perspective, we actually have an advantage. Because around 2,600 years after Daniel and a good 1,900 years after John, around 500 years have now passed since the start of the Reformation. There were countless events in these 5 centuries. As far as the Church of Rome is concerned, almost all of the predictions that the Reformers saw in the future have now come true.
The details about the adversary
In several places the Bible reveals details about the Antichrist, who was then future and has long since become “red hot” today. Descriptions can be found in the book of Daniel, in the book of Revelation and also in the individual writings of the apostles.
Descriptions of the Papacy in Daniel 7
Daniel 7 describes the appearance of 4 beasts one after the other. This chapter itself explains that there are 4 world empires. The first is Babylon, followed by Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome. The story describes the fall of western Rome in 476 AD. The former Roman Empire collapsed into 10 Germanic tribal areas. Three of these tribes were destroyed by the first half of the 6th century.
| Bible passage | Bible description | Parallels Papacy |
| Daniel 7:7-8 | A horn comes out of the 4th Tier (Rome). | the papacy immediately followed the empire of Rome | Daniel 7:8 | the horn emerged from among 10 hornsthe horn emerged from among 10 horns | the papacy emerges during the 10 Germanic tribes | Daniel 7:8 | the emerging horn tears out 3 horns | The papacy had Clovis as an ally to destroy 3 Germanic tribes (Herulians, Vandals, Ostrogoths) | Daniel 7:8 | The emerging horn had mouth and eyes and spoke great things | the Pope person rises above all others | Daniel 7:20 | the emerging horn becomes larger than all other horns | the papacy became the ruler over the princes and kings | Daniel 7:21 | the horn waged wars against the saints | the papacy fought all those who did not follow the given teachings, especially those faithful to the gospel (Inquisition, etc.) | Daniel 7:24 | the king will be different from everyone else | An exercise of power like the papacy is unique to date | Daniel 7:25 | the king will stir up insolent speeches against the Most High and the saints of the Most High | Papacy exalts itself above Jesus Christ and calls itself vicarious and God himself on earth. Those faithful to God are persecuted | Daniel 7:25 | the king will seek to change laws and times | the papacy changed God’s commandments, abolished the Sabbath and gave up Sunday. Gregory XIII formulated new calendar | Daniel 7:26 | The judgment will take away his rule and destroy him | The papacy still exists today and will last until the last day |
Descriptions of the Papacy in Daniel 8
Daniel 8 is essentially a parallel to Daniel 7, but with further details of a specific time period. This chapter describes in more detail the empire of Greece, which will defeat the empire of Medo-Persia. It also explains the collapse of the Greek Empire into four individual empires, which also occurred after the death of Alexander the Great. The “cunning king” depicted below is the summary of the Roman Empire and the papacy that followed. The close connection between the papacy and the Roman Empire is already expressed by the name “Roman” Catholic Church. According to Daniel 8, this “cunning” king will endure until the final destruction.
| Bible passage | Bible description | Parallels Papacy |
| Daniel 8:24 | The king’s power will be strong | The Roman Empire was the largest ancient world empire to date (except Mongols). The papacy expanded the area significantly |
| Daniel 8:24 | The king will bring ruin and destroy the people of the saints | The papacy launched numerous wars and crusades (to this day) and destroyed entire peoples (Waldenses, Huguenots, etc.) |
| Daniel 8:25 | Smart action and his deception will succeed. He will arise and destroy many careless people | The papacy exalts itself as godlike, proclaims false teachings and deceives many people (because they do not read the Bible) |
| Daniel 8:25 | He will go against the Prince of princes and be crushed/td> | The papacy poses as a representative of Christ and God. He denies Jesus Christ’s blood sacrifice and will exist until the end. |
Descriptions of the papacy in Revelation 13
The book of Revelation, chapter 13, begins with a description of a beast from the sea. From chapters 7 and 8 of the book of Daniel it is clear that this beast is a political or state power. This animal also has characteristics of the animals in Daniel 7. The sea represents people, peoples and languages (Info). The beast from the sea is discussed up to verse 9.The beast from the sea is discussed up to verse 9.
| Bible passage | Bible description | Parallels Papacy |
| Revelation 13:1 | The animal emerges from the sea | This political power arises in a densely populated region. Just like the region of Rome and the surrounding area was and is. |
| Revelation 13:2 | The beast resembled a panther, feet like a bear, mouth like a lion | Beasts from Daniel 7. Panther – Greece (philosophy), Bear – Medo-Persia (structure of the church), Lion – Babylon (pagan teachings) |
| Revelation 13:2 | The beast receives authority, power and throne from the dragon | Satan gives authority to the papacy. Pope Gregory XIII had a dragon in its coat of arms |
| Revelation 13:3 | One of the beast’s heads was wounded to death and healed again | The papacy lost political power in 1798. The return to the political platform has now been successful again |
| Revelation 13:3 | The whole earth watched the beast in amazement | The revived political papacy is now highly respected. Politics, business and other powers of all stripes seek out the Pope. He is always the focus and has now been elevated to a world moral authority |
| Revelation 13:4 | They (popery and worshipers) worshiped the dragon and worshiped the beast | The papacy, has Satan in his various forms supreme lord. All followers consciously or unconsciously worship Satan |
| Revelation 13:5 | The beast received a mouth full of loud words and blasphemies | The teachings of the papacy (catechism) deny Jesus Christ’s work of salvation and even mock Him (Eucharistie). Self-exaltation as God on earth. |
| Revelation 13:5-6 | The beast worked like this for 42 months, blaspheming against God and the inhabitants of heaven | The papacy of the Middle Ages worked for 42 prophetic months (1260 years) between 538 and 1798. The church claims to be able to forgive sins and depicts angels as female and as small fat children and defines several archangels (there is only one, Michael) |
| Revelation 13:7 | The beast made war against the saints and had authority over the nations | The papacy relentlessly persecuted those faithful to the gospel and ruled over all sovereigns (Holy Roman Empire) |
IThe first parallels with the descriptions in Daniel 7 and 8 can already be seen in Revelation 13. More details about the verses in Revelation 13 – here.
Descriptions of the papacy in Revelation 17
Chapter 17 of Revelation describes the “great harlot of Babylon.” A whore is a fallen woman. A prophetic woman is a church or community (Info). While Daniel 7 and 8 and Revelation 13 depict political power, Revelation 17 focuses on the religious component.
| Bible passage | Bible description | Parallels Papacy |
| Revelation 17:2 | Whore commits fornication with the kings of the earth and the inhabitants of the earth become drunk with the wine of fornication | The false teachings of the church are supported by governments and also believed by people |
| Revelation 17:3 | The woman sits on a scarlet beast and is full of blasphemies | The red beast is a satanic power with blasphemies against Jesus Christ. This beast carries the Church of Rome for the spread of false teachings. |
| Revelation 17:4 | This woman is clothed in purple and scarlet, overlaid with gold, precious stones and pearls | These colors dominate in the Church of Rome (bishops, cardinals). All the facilities are lavished with utmost pomp and luxury |
| Revelation 17:4 | This woman carries a golden cup in her hand, full of abomination and impurity | The papacy spreads paganism. The church even minted a Vatican coin depicting a woman with a cup and a sun in it |
| Revelation 17:5 | On the woman’s forehead is written “Secret, Babylon the Great, the mother of harlots | The visible church of Rome is only the surface. Christianity on the outside, paganism on the inside. She is the mother of (other) whores. The Church of Rome describes itself as the mother of all particular churches |
| Revelation 17:6 | The woman is intoxicated with the blood of the saints and the blood of the witnesses of Jesus | The papacy’s slaughter of all opposition is historically unprecedented. The victims of this church cannot be counted |
More details about each verse in Revelation 17 – here. Also included in this chapter is a “complicated sequence” of kings and beasts. The explanation – here.
Paul warned prematurely
Paul has already seen this Antichrist coming. But he could not yet know that it would one day be the papacy of the Roman Catholic Church. Although he knew about the special dangers surrounding the young church in Rome (Romans 1:24-25). Paul gave a strong warning to the church in Thessalonica, 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.“
Seduction was a huge danger back then, just as it is today from the papacy (Info). Paul called the future adversary from his time the “son of perdition.” A name that was only given to Judas, the traitor to Jesus Christ. The papacy ignored everything described in the gospel. He placed himself “in the temple of God,” with the papacy proclaiming itself to be the “body of Christ” on earth and also God himself.
The papacy reveals itself
This church itself has revealed examples of the papacy’s countless blasphemies and self-aggrandizement – here. The most striking false teachings of this church can be found in the 3 lies of the serpent in the Garden of Eden, which have been adopted as dogmas – here.
Further evidence of the actual nature of the papacy is provided by comparing John’s statements with the teachings of the Church:
1 John 2:22:
“Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.”
2 John 1:7:
“For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.“
Well hidden, but still practiced by this church, is the actual denial of Jesus [the] Christ and His one-time coming “in the flesh”, that is, as a human being like any other human being – Info.
Has the gospel changed?
Now this is where the “Gretchen question” comes. Apart from deliberate Bible falsifications, has the gospel ever changed between Daniel and today? Were the many reformers who had the same information as excerpted here so mistaken? If so, there was no alternative as to which institutions these descriptions could fit. And all of them, without exception.
While the Word of God has an “eternity clause,” the Church of Rome and its institutions convey a thoroughly counterfeit gospel. Only reading the Bible yourself can expose this entire package of lies (Info).
The reformers agreed for centuries – here and here. The Church of Rome is the Antichrist described many times in the Bible (Info).
It is quite possible that one or the other description also applies to other forms of rule. But there is only one facility for which all the descriptions in terms of properties and timing of arrival apply. This is the papacy or the Roman Catholic Church.
Nothing has changed in history, nor has the gospel. The retreat of the once Protestant churches is therefore simply the return as a daughter to the mother (of all whores) described in Revelation 17.
Bible verses from King James Version
