By COGwriter
How familiar are you with biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies concerning the Antichrist?
Did you know that some Roman Catholic prophecies and certain official Roman Catholic writings tend to suggest that the one those of us in the Living Church of God call Jesus, they consider to be the final antichrist?
This article is intended to highlight certain "approved" or "official" (they normally have an imprimatur or some other acceptance by a bishop of the Roman Catholic Church) Catholic writings and compare them to the Bible.
The Catholic pope they call "Gregory the Great" (died 604) wrote the following:
Gregory, servant of the servants of God, to his most beloved sons the Roman citizens.
It has come to my ears that certain men of perverse spirit have sown among you some things that are wrong and opposed to the holy faith, so as to forbid any work being done on the Sabbath day. What else can I call these but preachers of Antichrist (Gregory I. Registrum Epistolarum, Book XIII, Letter 1).
Notice the following Catholic prophecy:
Dionysus of Luxembourg (died 1682) Antichrist...will teach that...Saturday is to be observed instead of Sunday (Cited in Connor, Edward. Prophecy for Today. Imprimatur + A.J. Willinger, Bishop of Monterey-Fresno; Reprint: Tan Books and Publishers, Rockford (IL), 1984, p.85).
Notice the following Catholic prophecy:
Catholic writer and priest P. Huchedé (19th century): “After having weakened the faith of Christ in the minds and hearts of many, he will proceed to show that the law of Moses still prevails; he will re-establish the Sabbath and all the legal observances; and he will invite the Jews to re-establish their nationality, after which he will declare himself the true messiah; he will endeavor to prove the truth of his assertion from Scripture—he will declare his design of rebuilding Jerusalem and the temple and of bringing the whole world under his dominion…According to St. Cyril of Jerusalem (Cath. 15), he will win the esteem and attachment of mankind by his urbane and unbounded kindness…he will work all kinds of miracles…He will therefore appear as performing miracles similar to all those wrought by Jesus Christ…Antichrist being a Jew, will be circumcised; he will observe the Mosaic law…Then by order of the tyrant the continual sacrifice shall be abolished (Dan. 9:27). The holy sacrifice of the Mass shall no longer be offered up publicly on the altars. The Church shall be devastated; the sacred vessels desecrated; the priests shall be scattered…It appears certain, then, that the Roman empire will be completely demolished by Antichrist and that he will substitute another in its place (Huchedé, P. Translated by JBD. History of Antichrist. Imprimatur Edward Charles Fabre, Bishop of Montreal. English edition 1884, Reprint 1976. TAN Books, Rockford (IL), pp. 17,18,26,54).
Jesus observed Saturday instead of Sunday as the Bible clearly teaches that Jesus kept the Sabbath that the Jews did:
Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read (Luke 4:14-16, NKJV throughout unless otherwise indicated).
Perhaps it should be mentioned that the Bible does show that the seventh-day Sabbath remains for the people of God:
For he said in a certain place of the seventh day, thus: And God rested the seventh day from all his works...Therefore there is left a sabbatisme for the people of God (Hebrews 4:4,9, Rheims New Testament).
The term "sabbatisme" means "Sabbath-keeping". (The Rheims New Testament is the Roman Catholic accepted translation of the Latin Vulgate into the English language).
Catholic leaders have taught that Antichrist will be Jewish and have Jewish practices:
Cardinal John Henry Newman (19th century) Hence, considering that Antichrist would pretend to be the Messiah, it was of old the received notion that he was to be of Jewish race and to observe the Jewish rites (Newman, Cardinal John Henry. Lecture 2. The Religion of Antichrist. Copyright © 2004 by The National Institute for Newman Studies).
E. Culligan (1966) The Antichrist will be a Jew by race and religion (Culligan E. The Last World War and the End of Time. The book was blessed by Pope Paul VI, 1966. TAN Books, Rockford (IL), p. 101).
Francisco Suarez (died 1617). Suarez (following Saint Jerome, Saint Ambrose, Sulpitius Severus, et al.) says that "Antichrist shall be born of Jewish extraction, and will profess the Jewish religion (Connor p.81).
St. Hildegard (12th century). "And in this way the son of perdition will practice his deceitful arts on the elements and show in them the beauty and sweetness and delight desired by those he deceives...He will show them his treasures and riches, and allow them to feast as they will, confirming his teachings by deceitful signs so they think they need not restrain or chaste their bodies in any way. He will command them to observe circumcision and the Jewish laws and customs" (Hildegard of Bingen. Scivias. Paulist Press, Mahwah (NJ), p. 504).
Frederick William Faber (died 1863)...Antichrist...Certainly a Jew...begins by affecting respect for the law of Moses...Jerusalem will be the metropolis (Connor p.87).
While it is remotely possible that Antichrist will be a Jew, it is completely clear that Jesus was. Notice the following:
Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, "How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?" For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus answered...(John 4:9-10).
Also, the geneaology of Jesus as listed in both Matthew's (1:1-3) and Luke's accounts (3:23-33) teach that Jesus was a descendant of Judah, hence a Jew.
Jesus also kept "Jewish practices" such as the Saturday Sabbath (Luke 13:10), Passover (Matthew 26:18), the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:2,10), etc.
Perhaps it should be mentioned that the Book of Zechariah teaches that the Feast of Tabernacles is to be kept after Jesus returns:
3 Then the LORD will go forth
And fight against those nations,
As He fights in the day of battle.
4 And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives,
Which faces Jerusalem on the east.
And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two,
From east to west,
Making a very large valley;
Half of the mountain shall move toward the north
And half of it toward the south...
16 And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. 17 And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, on them there will be no rain. 18 If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain; they shall receive the plague with which the LORD strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. 19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles (Zechariah 14:3-4,16-19).
So clearly when Jesus returns He will require "Jewish practices". Further, notice what the comments in the Douay Old Testament states about Zechariah 14:
In the mean time such as before persecuted the Church shall be converted, & with great devotion will celebrate the festivities, and exercise religious rites to Gods honor: and shall merit great rewards (The Original And True Douay Old Testament Of Anno Domini 1610 Volume 2 Prepared and Edited by Dr. William von Peters, Ph.D. Copyright © 2005, Dr. William G. von Peters. Ph.D. 2005 copyright assigned to VSC Corp, p. 824).
In other words, even Catholic commentators realize that the Feast of Tabernacles will be kept in the future by those who are converted after Jesus returns. Thus is it should be obvious that Jesus, and not Antichrist, will "command" and "observe the Jewish rites".
It is important to note that after Jesus comes and established His millennial kingdom, He will be based out of Jerusalem/Zion:
3 Many people shall come and say,
"Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
To the house of the God of Jacob;
He will teach us His ways,
And we shall walk in His paths."
For out of Zion shall go forth the law,
And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
4 He shall judge between the nations,
And rebuke many people;
They shall beat their swords into plowshares,
And their spears into pruning hooks;
Nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
Neither shall they learn war anymore (Isaiah 2:3-4).
Thus, it is Jesus, and not the final Antichrist who will make Jerusalem the major metropolis.
An iconclast is one who opposes idols and advocates their destruction. Would Jesus be for or against idols?
Catholic prophecy suggests that the Antichrist will be against idols and Mass (Catholic Mass often involves bowing down before one or more statues):
Dionysus of Luxembourg (died 1682) Antichrist will be an iconoclast. Most in the world will adore him. He will teach that the Christian (Catholic) religion is false (Connor, p.85).
ST. ANSELM -- 1109...While Antichrist reigns he will prohibit under the pain of death the offering of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass (Culligan, p. 131).
Here is another Catholic writing that confirms the concept:
Theodorus Studites, writing against the Iconoclasts, considers their proceedings "the apostasy which must first come, the invasion of Antichrist." (Newman JH. The Protestant Idea of Antichrist. [British Critic, Oct. 1840]. Newman Reader — Works of John Henry Newman. Copyright © 2004 by The National Institute for Newman Studies).
Thus the Roman Catholics seem to teach that there will be iconoclasts which MUST come before Antichrist and that Antichrist will be an iconoclast.
Jesus personally taught:
God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24).
But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam...to eat things sacrificed to idols" (Revelation 2:14).
Nevertheless, I have a few things against you, because you allow...My servants to...eat things sacrificed to idols (Revelation 2:20).
And the Apostle John taught:
Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen (1 John 5:21).
14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. 15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. 16 I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. (Revelation 22:14-16).
The truth is that Antichrist will accept idols (iconoclasts destroy idols), but Jesus would be opposed to them. (While the scriptures in Daniel 11 about the King of the North indicate that he will exalt himself above all gods, they do not say that the idols will be destroyed. It is important to note that the King of the North is the Beast of Revelation and not the final Antichrist.)
Jesus also taught against the observance of a religion that places more emphasis on tradition that the Bible (details are in the article Tradition and Scripture: From the Bible and Church Writings).
Note also the following Catholic commentary on the Book of Revelation:
Rome, being so great, so proud of the Empire, and the destroyer of the saints. Which is plainly spoken of that city, when it was heathen, the head of the terrene dominion of the world, the persecutor of the Apostles and their successors, the seat of Nero, Domitian, and the like, Christ's special enemies, the sink of idolatry, and false worship of the Pagan gods (Annotations on Chapter 17 of the Apocalypse. The Original And True Rheims New Testament Of Anno Domini 1582. Prepared and Edited by Dr. William G. von Peters. Ph.D. 2004, copyright assigned to VSC Corp. Page 583).
Hence in a commentary Chapter 17 in the Book of Revelation (the Apocalypse) Catholic writers indicate that Rome was the "sink of idolatry". Let us look at a couple of verses from that chapter:
9 Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. 10 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. 11 And the beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition. 12 The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. 13 These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. 14 These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful (Revelation 17:9-14).
Hence the Bible shows that some related to Rome will oppose Jesus. And since Jesus is opposed to idols (see also What Did the Early Church Teach About Idols and Icons?), could certain Catholic writings be unintentionally directed against Him?
While there is no evidence that the early church taught what is now called "the Trinity" (this concept had pre-Christian origins), Catholics seem to consider that the doctrine of the trinity is the expression of the unity of God:
Three Persons are that One Omnipotent God in whom the Apostles believed. Indeed the unity of God is so fundamental (Joyce G.H. The Blessed Trinity. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume XV Copyright © 1912 by Robert Appleton Company).
The Unity and Trinity of God...The numerical unity or identity of the divine nature in the Three Persons is indicated in the trinitarian formulas (Ott L. Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma. Nihil Obstat: Jeremiah j. O’Sullivan. Imprimatur: +Cornelius Ep. Corgagiensis ei Ap. Amd. Rossensis, 7 October 1954. Reprint TAN Books, Rockford (IL), 1974, pp. 58-59).
However the Catholics seems to feel that the Antichrist and those associated with him will be opposed to the trinity. Notice the following four Catholic writings:
Jeanne le Royer (Sister of the Nativity--died 1798). "When the reign of Antichrist draws near, a false religion will appear which will deny the unity of God and will oppose the Church. Errors will cause ravages as never before..." (Dupont, Yves. Catholic Prophecy: The Coming Chastisement. TAN Books, Rockford (IL), 1973, p.58).
Athanasius (4th century) “But, whereas one heresy and that the last, which has now risen as harbinger of Antichrist, the Arian, as it is called” (Athanasius.Four Discourses of S. Athanasius, Archbishop of Alexandria, Against the Arians Discourse 1. Copyright © 2004 by The National Institute for Newman Studies.)
Cardinal Newman (19th century) Thus we have found S. Athanasius calling Arianism "the forerunner of Antichrist," Syn. § 5, [prodromos], præcursor; vid. also Orat. i. §§ 1 and 7; Ap. c. Ar. fin.; Hist. Ar. 77; Cyr. Cat. xv. 9; Basil. Ep. 264; Hilar. Aux. 5, no distinction being carefully drawn between the apostasy and the Antichrist. (Newman JH. Four Discourses of S. Athanasius, Archbishop of Alexandria, Against the Arians Discourse 2. Copyright © 2004 by The National Institute for Newman Studies.)
Richard Rolle of Hampole (died 1349): "After the destruction of Rome, Antichrist will appear and exalt himself above pagan deities and the Trinity...Coming to Jerusalem, he will proclaim himself Christ and at first feign to be holy. He will succeed through the false preaching, miracles, gifts, terror, aided throughout by the devil...He shall feign a resurrection from the dead, cause rain to fall, stone images to speak, and perform other wonders, all through the power of the devil...The Jews will welcome him..." (Conner p.80).
The Catholics teach that the Trinity is essentially the expression of the “unity of God”. Arianism, like unitarianism, stated that the Father was God and some Arians stated that Jesus was God, but that Jesus had a beginning.
The Bible also indicates that God will determine that rain will not fall on nations after Christ's return that do not keep the Feast of Tabernacles (Zechariah 14:18)--the Bible nowhere indicates that Antichrist personally causes (or prevents) rain from falling.
Those of us in the Living Church of God espouse what Catholics have termed “semi-Arianism” and deny the Trinitarian “unity of God”. The Catholic writer Epiphanius in the mid-4th Century defined Semi-Arians as follows,
Semi-Arians...hold the truly orthodox view of the Son, that he was forever with the Father...but has been begotten without beginning and not in time...But all of these blaspheme the Holy Spirit, and do not count him in the Godhead with the Father and the Son (Epiphanius. The Panarion of Epiphanius of Salamis, Books II and III (Sects 47-80), De Fide). Section VI, Verses 1,1 and 1,3. Translated by Frank Williams. EJ Brill, New York, 1994, pp.471-472).
Since the Bible does not ever use the term trinity nor clearly states that the Holy Spirit is a separate entity within a trinity, it appears that Catholic writings warn that Jesus and His followers would teach against the trinity. Both the Bible and early church history (including writings from many that the Catholics call saints) demonstrates that the early church was not trinitarian--for documentation, please read the article Binitarian View: One God, Two Beings Before the Beginning.
There is one other teaching that the Catholics have which suggests that those of us in the Living Church of God are supporters of Antichrist. The Roman Catholic Church, in spite of the fact that it admits in other writings that many of its early saints taught the millennium (please see the article Did The Early Church Teach Millenarianism and a 6000 Year Plan?), now strongly condemns this belief. Notice:
676 The Antichrist's deception already begins to take shape in the world every time the claim is made to realize within history that messianic hope which can only be realized beyond history through the eschatological judgment. The Church has rejected even modified forms of this falsification of the kingdom to come under the name of millenarianism, especially the "intrinsically perverse" political form of a secular messianism. (Catechism of the Catholic Church. Imprimatur Potest +Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger. Doubleday, NY 1995, p. 194).
It should be noted that the millennial teaching appears to be the only doctrine associated with Antichrist that is condemned in the current official Catechism of the Catholic Church (which is the first new one in hundreds of years). The one that has the imprimatur of Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger who is now called Pope Benedict XVI.
Notice something else that Joseph Ratzinger wrote in a paper titled The Theology of History in St. Bonaventure prior to becoming pope:
"...both Chiliasm [the teaching of the Millennium] and Montanism were declared heretical and were excluded from the universal church; for they both denied this vision [the "Christ is the end of the ages" vision] and awaited still another period of more definitive salvation to follow after the age of Christ" (as cited in Birch, D. Trial Tribulation & Triumph. Queenship Publishing, Goleta (CA), 1996, pp. 515-516; note the comments within [] were from the Catholic writer Birch).
This is an odd statement for several reasons. It was the leaders in Asia Minor who stood for the Millennium and were the first to oppose Montanism--whom the Roman Catholics originally tolerated--hence the belief in one is NOT necessarily related to the other. But those who do not know history will not know this.
The other reason this condemnation is odd, is that even though Origen was opposed to the millennium, Origen also taught that there was definitive salvation after what then Cardinal Ratzinger calls "the age of Christ". Yet the current pontiff Benedict XVI has publicly praised Origin as a "true teacher".
It appears to me that the millennial view is being so definitely condemned now, because we are getting so close to that time, that the Roman Church intends to warn against following any (like Living Church of God and the actual two witnesses) who will be teaching it.
Would Jesus or the Antichrist be able to read minds? Notice what one Catholic writer wrote:
Dionysus of Luxembourg (died 1682) ...Antichrist...He will teach that the Christian (Catholic) religion is false, confiscation of Christian (Catholic) property is legal, Saturday is to be observed instead of Sunday, and he will change the ten commandments...He will read people's minds, raise the dead, reward his followers, and punish the rest (Connor, p.85).
The truth is that Antichrist will accept idols (iconoclasts destroy idols), originally embrace Catholicism, originally practice Sunday worship, and accept the Roman Catholic numbering of the ten commandments. The Bible does not teach that the Antichrist will read people's minds or raise the dead (although it mentions one who was healed of a deadly wound, Revelation 13:12).
Jesus, on the other hand, will destroy idols, insist on the Saturday Sabbath, and correctly number the ten commandments after His return. He will of course be able to read people's minds, and will raise the dead (1 Thessalonians 4:16).
Most people familiar with prophecy are familiar with a battle that will be staged in Megiddo, and although it is not actually fought there, it is normally called "the battle of Armageddon" (the hills of Megiddo/Mageddo):
13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. 15 Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame." 16 And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon (Revelation 16:13-16).
Although the Bible shows that God will win the battle against those who stage their armies in Armaggedon, a Catholic prophetess claimed:
Anne Catherine Emmerich (died 1824)...Antichrist will fight a successful battle at Mageddo in Palestine after which seven rulers, from fear, will subject themselves to Antichrist and he will thereafter become lord of the world (Cited in Connor, p. 86).
Since the Bible shows that God will win the related battle (see also Revelation 19:19-20) and the Bible never says that Antichrist wins any battle of Megiddo, it seems that Nun Emmerich apparently has misidentified Jesus as Antichrist.
Another Catholic "prophetess" claimed:
Venerable Maria of Agreda (died 1665)...the kings will send armies to the Holy Land, but the Antichrist will slay them all (Cited in Connor, p. 84).
The Bible shows that it is God and NOT Antichrist that wins the battle:
17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, "Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, 18 that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great." 19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh (Revelation 19:17-21).
Notice that the Beast and the false prophet both lose that battle. Yet Catholic prophecy says that after the Great Monarch (the Beast of Revelation) and Great Pontiff (likely an antipope who is the "false prophet" Antichrist) will come:
Venerable Bartholomew Holzhauser (died 1658):..."The Sixth Epoch from the Great Monarch until Antichrist. This Sixth Epoch of the Church--'the time of consolation'--begins with the Holy Pope and the Powerful Emperor, and terminates with the reign of Antichrist." (Connor, pp.35-36)
Yet, the Bible shows that it is Jesus who comes after the Beast and false prophet, not that "Antichrist" comes after a some monarch and a particular pope.
Notice that the Bible shows that there is a woman who sits on seven hills:
4. And the woman was clothed round about with purple and scarlet, and gilded with gold, and precious stone, and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand, full of the abominations and filthiness of her fornication.
5. And in her forehead a name written, "Mystery": Babylon the great, mother of the fornications and the abominations of the earth.
6. And I saw the woman drunken of the blood of the Saints, and of the blood of the martyrs of JESUS. And I marveled when I had seen her, with great admiration.
7. And the Angel said to me, Why doest thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and the ten horns.
8. The beast which thou sawest, was, and is not, and shall come up out of the bottomless depth, and go into destruction: and the inhabitants on the earth (whose names are not written in the book of life from the making of the world) shall marvel, seeing the beast that was, and is not.
9. And here is understanding, that hath wisdom. The seven heads: are seven hills, upon which the woman sitteth, and they are seven kings (Apocalypse 17:4-9, Rheims New Testament).
Of course, Rome is the most famous city of seven hills in the entire earth. And John is writing that this woman has some influence over worldly kings.
Catholic scholars teach:
"The Church that is in Babylon saluteth you, and so doth my son Mark" (1 Peter 5:13). That Babylon stands for Rome, as usual amongst pious Jews, and not for the real Babylon, then without Christians, is admitted by common consent (cf. F.J.A. Hort, "Judaistic Christianity", London, 1895, 155) (Wilhelm J. Transcribed by Donald J. Boon. Apostolic Succession. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume I. Copyright © 1907 by Robert Appleton Company. Online Edition Copyright © 2003 by K. Knight. Nihil Obstat, March 1, 1907. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York).
Nor must we look for order in the Apocalypse; but we must follow the meaning of those things which are prophesied. Therefore in the trumpets and phials is signified either the desolation of the plagues that are sent upon the earth, or the madness of Antichrist himself, or the cutting off of the peoples, or the diversity of the plagues, or the hope in the kingdom of the saints, or the ruin of states, or the great overthrow of Babylon, that is, the Roman state (Victorinus. Commentary on the Apocalypse, Chapter 7, Verse 8. Excerpted from Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 7. Edited by Alexander Roberts & James Donaldson. American Edition, 1886. Online Edition Copyright © 2004 by K. Knight).
There was a strong anti-Roman tradition in the early Church. Rome was the harlot city soaked in the blood of the saints, the centre from which spread out wave after wave of persecution. The Book of Revelations' gloating vision of the coming ruin of Rome, 'Fallen, fallen, is Babylon the great' (Revelations 14:8), remained a persistent strand so long as the empire continued to persecute the church, and survived even into the Middle Ages (Duffy, Eamon. Saints & Sinners: A History of the Popes. Yale University Press, New Haven (CT), 2002, pp. 16-17).
The author of the Commentaries upon the Apocalypse set forth in St. Ambrose name, writeth thus: This...sometime signifieth Rome, specially which at that time when the Apostle wrote this, did persecute the Church of God. But otherwise it signifieth the whole city of the Devil, that is, the universal corps of the reprobate. Tertullian also taketh it for Rome, thus, Babylon (saith he) in St. John is a figure of the city of Rome, being so great, so proud of the Empire, and the destroyer of the saints. Which is plainly spoken of that city, when it was heathen, the head of the terrene dominion of the world, the persecutor of the Apostles and their successors, the seat of Nero, Domitian, and the like, Christ's special enemies, the sink of idolatry, and false worship of the Pagan gods (Annotations on Chapter 17 of the Apocalypse. The Original And True Rheims New Testament Of Anno Domini 1582. Prepared and Edited by Dr. William G. von Peters. Ph.D. 2004, copyright assigned to VSC Corp. Page 583).
So while in Peter's writings, the Roman Catholics suggest that Babylon is the church in Rome, in John's they prefer to believe that John is only referring to the Roman state or those that are reprobate (Victorinus is consider a "Church Father" by Roman Catholics). However, it appears clear that even the Catholics admit that John is referring to a reprobate church (he used the analogy of a woman) as Babylon and that early Christians identified that with Rome. A reprobate church would seem to be one that incorporates non-biblical practices (such as certain traditions) as superior to biblical ones.
Notice what else the Bible teaches:
2. And he cried out in force, saying, Fallen, fallen, is Babylon the great: and it
is become the habitation of Devils, and the custody of every unclean spirit, and the custody
of every unclean and hateful bird:
3. Because all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication: and the kings
of the earth have fornicated with her: and the merchants of the earth were made rich by the
virtue of her delicacies.
4. And I hear another voice from heaven, saying, God out from her my people: that
you be not partakers of her sins, and receive not of her plagues.
5. Because her sins are come even to heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities...AFTER these things I heard as it were the voice of many multitudes in heaven saying,
Alleluia. Praise, and glory, and power is to our God:
2. Because true and just are his judgments which hath judged of the great harlot,
that hath corrupted the earth in her whoredom, and hath revenged the blood of his
servants, of her hands...
6. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters,
and as the voice of great thunders, saying, Alleluia. because our Lord God the omnipotent
hath reigned.
7. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give glory to him: because the marriage of the Lamb is
come, and his wife hath prepared herself.
8. And it was given to her that she clothe herself (Apocalypse 18:2-5; 19:1-2;6-7, Rheims New Testament).
Thus after the destruction of the Roman-Babylonian Empire, Jesus will reign.
Furthermore, notice that although the Bible teaches that after Roman-Babylonian Jesus will reign, Catholic prophecies suggest a different order:
Cardinal Newman (19th century): “Now let us recur to the ancient Fathers, and see whether their further anticipations do not run parallel to the events which have since happened. Antichrist, as they considered, will come out of the Roman Empire just upon its destruction;—that is, the Roman Empire will in its last days divide itself into ten parts, and the Enemy will come up suddenly out of it upon these ten, and subdue three of them, or all of them perhaps...” (Newman JH. The Patristical Idea of Antichrist, Lecture II. Newman Reader — Works of John Henry Newman. Copyright © 2004 by The National Institute for Newman Studies).
P. Huchedé (19th century) “The complete destruction of the Roman empire is also an event that must happen prior to the coming of Antichrist…(Huchedé, P. Translated by JBD. History of Antichrist. Imprimatur Edward Charles Fabre, Bishop of Montreal. English edition 1884, Reprint 1976. TAN Books, Rockford (IL), p. 52)
Hence, the Romans (with their supporters) are going to teach that Antichrist comes after the destruction of the Roman empire, whereas the Bible shows that Jesus’ return will bring about the destruction of the Babylonian-Roman empire. And the Jesus will reign after the destruction of that empire.
Most people are aware that the Bible shows that when Jesus returns, the saints will then be resurrected.
Here are a few such verses:
16 For our Lord himself in commandment and in the voice of an Archangel and in the
trumpet of God will descend from heaven: and the dead that are in Christ, shall rise again
first (1 Thessalonians 2:16, RNT).4. And I saw seats: and they sat upon them, and judgment was given them, and the
fouls of the beheaded for the testimony of JESUS, and for the word of God, and that adored not the beast, nor his image, nor received his character in their foreheads or in their hands, and have lived, and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5. The rest of the dead lived not, till the thousand years be consummate. This is the first
resurrection.
6. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection. in these the second death
hath not power: but they shall be priests of God and of Christ: and shall reign with him a
thousand years.
7. And when the thousand years shall be consummate, Satan shall be loosed out of his
prison, and shall go forth, and seduce the nations that are upon the four corners of the earth (Revelation/Apocalypse 20:4-7).
Thus, even the Catholic approved translation of the New Testament shows that the true Christians rise when Jesus returns. And as Revelation 20:6-7 indicates, they will reign with Christ on the earth.
However, there is a Catholic approved apparition from one alleging to be Mary appearing in LaSalette, France in 1846 that states:
"Some will make the dead arise and appear as holy persons...Such persons, resurrected through the agency of demons, shall assume the figure of holy persons…in order more easily to deceive them. These self-styled resuscitated persons shall be nothing but demons under their forms. In this way they shall preach a Gospel contrary to that of Jesus Christ, denying the existence of Heaven).
h. "In every place there shall be seen extraordinary prodigies, because the true Faith has been extinguished, and a pale light shines in the world.... TREMBLE, oh earth! And tremble also you who profess to serve Jesus Christ, but inwardly worship yourselves, for God has delivered you to His enemies, because corruption is in the holy places.... the abomination shall be seen in holy places, in convents, and then the demon shall make himself the king of hearts...
"…Together with the Antichrist the demons will work great false miracles on earth and in the air. Voices will he heard in the air. Then men will desert religion and become worse and worse (Culleton, The Reign of Antichrist. TAN Books, Rockford (IL), 1974, pp. 165,167).
The Bible calls Christians “holy” (cf.1 Peter 1:16;2:9), and since they are to be resurrected, it appears that certain Catholics may believe that the resurrected Christians are actually demonic supporters of Antichrist.
It is also interesting to note that the apparition claims that those who believe that the saints will be on the earth with Christ are teaching a false gospel. While no one claiming Christianity would reasonably deny the existence of heaven per se, it is true that we in the Living Church of God do not believe in the immortality of the soul, do believe in a bodily resurrection, and do believe that believers will come to earth and reign with Jesus when He returns—hence we do not believe that Christians are now in heaven nor that any could remain there after Jesus returns.
Hence, this apparition seems to be directed against those who hold to the views of those of us in the Living Church of God.
This is part of why Catholics and others need to understand who the true Church has been from the beginning, who the true Church was in the intervening years, and who the true Church actually will be in the end.
Those that do not understand these things will be deceived. And astoundingly, many will think that Jesus is the Antichrist!
In summary, certain Roman Catholic writings teach that Antichrist:
Of course as this article has shown, Jesus kept the seventh-day Sabbath, taught against idols, taught that those who held to a religion based upon tradition over the Bible is false, taught all the ten commandments as the Church of God teaches them, was Jewish (John 4:9-10; Matthew 1:1-3; Luke 3:23-33), kept "Jewish practices" like Passover (Matthew 26:18) and the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:2,10), has always had non-Trinitarian supporters, taught the millennial gospel of the kingdom, taught that there would be a future opportunity for salvation, shows that the forces of evil gathered at Megiddo lose (Revelation 16:13-16; 19:17-21), and that He will reign after the destruction of the Roman Empire (Revelation 19:2-8). And His Apostles Paul and John were inspired to write that resurrected saints will come with Jesus and reign at His second coming.
Thus, it appears that private Catholic prophecies have been given to warn the world that when Jesus comes He will be the Antichrist. This may be part of the reason that the Bible warns that people will be angry and will actually make war against with Jesus when He returns:
The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come,
And the time of the dead, that they should be judged,
And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints,
And those who fear Your name, small and great,
And should destroy those who destroy the earth (Revelation 11:18).And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army (Revelation 19:19).
Thus, I believe that Satan-inspired a lot of false prophecies so that those who are not the very elect will be deceived (Matthew 24:24) and will actually fight against Jesus.
This is part of why Catholics and others need to understand who the true Church has been from the beginning, who the true Church was in the intervening years, and who the true Church actually will be in the end (for more details, please go to the History of Early Christianity page).
Furthermore, it needs to be understood that Catholics also seem to teach the ones that those of us in the Living Church of God consider to be the two witnesses will be announcing Antichrist (e.g. Birch, p. 556) and that during the time we in the COGs call the Great Tribulation that there will be supernaturally fed people opposed to the Catholic church dwelling in caves that will be “the advance guard of the son of perdition” (Hildegard of Bingen. Scivias. Paulist Press, Mahwah (NJ), p. 301).
Sadly, many Catholic prophecies and writings apparently are directed against those in the Living Church of God and against Jesus Christ. Those that do not understand these things will be deceived.
Some articles of related interest may include:
Some Doctrines of Antichrist Are there any doctrines taught outside the Churches of God which can be considered as doctrines of antichrist. This article suggests at least three. It also provides information on 666 and the identity of "the false prophet".
The Antichrist Quiz Do you really know much about the Antichrist?
Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Church of God? Do you know that both groups shared a lot of the earliest teachings? Do you know which church changed? Do you know which group is most faithful to the teachings of the apostolic church? Which group best represents true Christianity? This documented article answers those questions.
Thiel B. Do Certain Catholic Prophecies About Antichrist Warn Against Jesus? www.cogwriter/catholicprophecyantichrist.htm 2008 0924