THE OVERLOOKED REALITY -- ANTICHRIST IS HERE!

The Overlooked Reality

Antichrist is here!

Antichrist.  The very word conjures up mental images of absolute evil: some future person or entity, mesmerizing mankind with a masterful and overwhelming deception.  As no one wants to be mind-controlled or deceived, a variety of theories have been offered, suggesting different possibilities as to the identity of Antichrist.
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A variety of theories have been offered, suggesting different possibilities as to the identity of Antichrist.  None need be deceived, though.  The Bible is abundantly clear regarding the identity of the antichrist.  

The thousands of denominations that make up Protestantism have offered the most suggestions.  Ideas range from the very broad (Antichrist is an evil principle, a Muslim, or a demon) to the very specific (Antichrist is the devil incarnated into human flesh or United States’ President Barack Obama).  Other suggestions have been that the Antichrist is the pope or a person from the distant past, such as a Roman emperor known for his persecution of Christians (Nero, Diocletian, Julian, Caligula, etc.)

Roman Catholics, who make up the largest Christian denomination, have claimed that Antichrist is a real human being.  They declare:

Antichrist is an individual person, a signal enemy of Christ. This excludes the contention of those who explain Antichrist either as the whole collection of those who oppose Jesus Christ, or as the Papacy.  . . . The individual person of Antichrist will not be a demon, as some of the ancient writers believed ; nor will he be the person of the devil incarnated in the human nature of Antichrist. He will be a human person, perhaps of Jewish extraction . . . .1

There is actually some truth to each of these suggestions.  The word “antichrist” comes from the Greek word, ἀντίχριστος (#500: antichristos).

Antichristos can mean either “against Christ”2 or “instead of Christ,” or perhaps, combining the two [root words], “one who, assuming the guise of Christ, opposes Christ and takes His place.  . . . The antichristos denies Jesus in the flesh is the Christ (2 Jn 2:7); the pseudochristos (5580) affirms himself to be the Christ.3

The problem with each of these suggested interpretations is that they are too narrow in scope.  A careful study of prophecy reveals just who/what the Antichrist is, and it is huge.

Scripture reveals that the Roman Catholic Church itself is the Biblically foretold antichrist system.We believes that the accumulated evidence presented in Scripture reveals that the Roman Catholic Church itself is the Biblically foretold antichrist system. Its tentacles reach to every country on the planet.  Its educational system has influenced minds and shaped laws for centuries.  Its system of confessionals constitutes the largest information-gathering infrastructure on earth.  Antichrist himself is embodied in the person of Pope Francis, who we firmly believe to be the eighth and last pope referred to in Revelation 17.

The idea that the pope is the Antichrist first arose in the 11th century, although the idea did not gain in prominence until taught by the Protestant reformers in the 16th century.  Martin Luther wrote that the papacy is "nothing else than the kingdom of Babylon and of very Antichrist. For who is the man of sin and the son of perdition, but he who by his teaching and his ordinances increases the sin and perdition of souls in the church; while he yet sits in the church as if he were God? All these conditions have now for many ages been fulfilled by the papal tyranny."4

Antichrist Quote (1570)The system of Antichrist is primarily the Roman Catholic Mother-church and, secondarily, all her “daughters” – the Protestant churches paying homage to the pope by clinging to worship days calculated by papal.  It is from both the Mother and her various daughters that the word of God gives the urgent command: “Go out of her, My people!”

Catholicism fits the definition of “antichrist” in that it’s doctrines (which have led to the enslavement of entire races and the slaughter of countless millions) is “against Christ.”  These doctrines are the very opposite of the teachings of the Meek and Lowly One who was sent “To proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed.”  (Luke 4:18)

Pope Francis likewise is the prophesied Antichrist because he is literally “instead of Christ.”  Catholics teach the pope is holy, the “vicar of Christ” or “Christ on earth.”  Vicar is the English form of the Latin word, vicarius, or “in place of.”  The Catholic Encyclopedia states:

Vicar of Christ (Lat. Vicarius Christi), a title of the pope implying his supreme and universal primacy, both of honor and of jurisdiction, over the Church of Christ.  . . . The title Vicar of Christ is [most] expressive of his supreme headship of the Church on earth, which he bears in virtue of the commission of Christ and with vicarial power derived from Him. . . .  The title Vicar of God used for the pope by Nicholas III . . . is employed as an equivalent for Vicar of Christ.5

The Almighty has never authorized anyone to replace Him, or His Son, on earth.  Those who claim so, commit blasphemy against the Kingdom of Heaven.

The Protestant Reformation shone Heavenly light on many truths that had long lain under the accumulated rubbish of error and tradition.  The power of truth enlightened darkened minds and drew many to leave behind the errors of Catholicism.  The Counter-Reformation was an attempt by the papacy to stop the progress of Protestantism by offering alternative explanations to meet the accusations of the Reformers.  Additionally, they provided alternate interpretations of prophecy to deflect the cutting revelations of the Reformers that the pope himself was Antichrist.
Antichrist, Pope Francis of the Jesuit Order (Society of Jesus)


The Society of Jesus, or Jesuit Order, was established in 1540 for the express purpose of spreading the Roman Catholic version of Christianity to the world.  The conversion of Muslims was an early goal.  Founded by Ignatious Loyola, a former soldier, and Francis Xavier, the Jesuits have been referred to as “God’s Soldiers.”  Although not expressly formed to counter Protestantism,6 this new order quickly turned its attention to countering Protestant teaching and reconverting its adherents.

The Jesuit Order quickly gained in power and behind-the-scenes influence, but they never had one of their number become pope . . . until March 13, 2013, when Jorge Mario Begoglio of Argentina was sworn in as His Holiness Francis, Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, the 266th pope.  Francis, the eighth and final pope foretold in Revelation 17, is unique in a number of ways.  He is the first pope from the Americas, the first pope from the Southern Hemisphere, the first Jesuit pope, and the first non-European pope in 1,272 years!

The correlation between Francis as the first Jesuit pope while at the same time also being the eighth pope of prophecy cannot be overlooked.  NBC News World was quick to see the significance of Begoglio ascending the papal throne, observing: “Pope Francis is unique not just for being the first Latin American pope. He's also the first Jesuit pope, possibly signaling a renewed emphasis on traditional Catholic theology by the church.”7
Pope Francis Lions Paw

"I furthermore promise and declare that I will, when opportunity present, make and wage relentless war, secretly or openly, against all heretics, Protestants and Liberals, as I am directed to do, to extirpate and exterminate them from the face of the whole earth; and that I will spare neither age, sex or condition; and that I will hang, waste, boil, flay, strangle and bury alive these infamous heretics, rip up the stomachs and wombs of their women and crush their infants' heads against the walls, in order to annihilate forever their execrable race." (Taken from the Jesuit Oath)

Michael J. Sheeran, Jesuit priest and President of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, was quoted in the NBC article as commenting on Francis’ quiet, simple life as a cardinal in Argentina.

But that simplicity hides a steely determination to advance Jesuit principles, especially on the importance of traditional Catholic teachings and protection of the poor and the oppressed, Sheeran said.

That determination emerged during Bergoglio's service as the top Jesuit leader of Argentina beginning in 1973, Sheeran said, noting, "He was a tough guy who made sure his men toed the mark.”

"I think you'll find a man who is conservative theologically but very strong on matters of social justice," Sheeran said.8

These are portentous words indeed.  The Jesuits were foremost in spreading an alternate explanation for Antichrist that deflected the attention from the pope and Catholicism.  A theologically conservative pope is far more likely to lead the way in a return to the papal persecutions of the past “in defense of the faith” than one who is more moderate in his views.

The papacy received a deadly wound in 1798 when a French Huguenot, General Louis Alexandre Berthier, took the pope prisoner.  However, “the process of giving the papacy a deadly wound began in 1793 with the introduction of a calendar whose main purpose was to destroy any link to Christianity.”9  The papacy’s primary proof of her power is Sunday is a Catholic Institution (Quote)the fact that she changed the day of worship from the Biblical Sabbath to Sunday.  

With the advent of the 20th century, it became politically incorrect to label the pope, as head of the antichrist system, to be The Antichrist.  Thus, many Protestants came up with alternate suppositions of who (or what) the Antichrist would be when he should appear.

This plays right into the devil’s hands.  Doctrines and beliefs that put off to the future what is current and present in the world today deceive the masses.  They look for this or that to appear as harbingers of the Saviour’s return.  And all the while, that blessed event, so long looked for, is steadily approaching.  Christendom looks to the future for Antichrist to appear, when he is here already.

Paul declared: “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is GOD.”  (2 Thessalonians 2: 3,4)

The world is being deceived into expecting the imminent emergence of the Antichrist, while the real Antichrist is consolidating his base and power and getting ready to fulfill his Satan-set role!  This will be a revival of past persecutions as all are forced to receive the mark of the beast on pain of death.
Pope Francis Magazine Covers

The world is being deceived into expecting the imminent emergence of the Antichrist, while the real Antichrist is consolidating his base and power and getting ready to fulfill his Satan-set role!

John the Revelator was shown a beast, ridden by a harlot.  The identifying marks of this prophetic image point to the papacy.  In explaining the symbols to John, the angel stated: “The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.  There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time.  The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition.”  (Revelation 17:9-11)

We has been raising its voice in warning for years to bring attention to this significant passage.  The Lateran Pact of 1929 was a significant development in the healing of the papacy’s “deadly wound.”

Upon ratification of the Lateran Treaty, the papacy recognized the state of Italy, with Rome as its capital. Italy in return recognized papal sovereignty over the Vatican City, a minute territory of 44 hectares (109 acres), and secured full independence for the pope.10

As outlined in other articles, We firmly believes that the eight kings refer to the eight last popes that shall reign on earth before the coming of the Saviour.

8 Kings of Revelation 17

1. First King: Pius XI (1922-1939)
2. Second King: Pius XII (1939-1958)
3. Third King: John XXIII (1958-1963)
4. Fourth King: Paul XI (1963-1978)


5. Fifth King: John Paul I (1978)
6. Sixth King: John Paul II (1978-2005)
7. Seventh King: Benedict XVI (2005-2013)
8. Eighth King: Francis (2013 – Second Coming)

The papacy today is more popular than ever.  Consequently, it is more powerful than ever.  Protestants, who used to be first in declaiming the pope as Antichrist, become angry or dismissive when the topic is broached.  Thus, Satan’s vicegerent is stealthily gaining in power and influence while the masses are distracted with alternate, incorrect interpretations, looking for a future fulfillment of what is being fulfilled under their very eyes.

We strongly believes that in the very near future, Pope Francis will use the USA to impose the counterfeit Sabbath on the whole world.  He will wage a relentless war against God's true followers who uphold God's true Sabbath.

Scripture warns: “A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.”  (Proverbs 27:12)

Let all who love God, take heed of the words of Scripture: “Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.”  (Revelation 12:12)

Get out!  Get out of Babylon and every one of her daughters.  Step free of tradition and error.  Embrace the truth as it is in God.

1 http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=863

2 “Christ” comes from the word “Christos” which is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew “Messiah.”

3 The New Strong’s Expanded Dictionary of Bible Words, #500, p. 965.

4 Martin Luther, First Principles, pp. 196-197.

5 http://www.catholic.com/encyclopedia/vicar-of-christ

6 http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14081a.htm

7 http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/13/17300861-pope-francis-breaks-another-barrier-as-first-jesuit-pontiff?lite, emphasis supplied.