Understanding Bible Prophecy of the End Time

[reddogs]

If only those who claim they are Christians when it comes to biblical prophecy would look at the plain Word of God, they would see what even a simple plowboy could tell them, it shows a straight path through history to the End Times. We see the kingdoms of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome as prophecy shows actual events to occur throughout the history of Christianity from the time of Daniel until Last Days and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. If one looks, one will find that this was the viewpoint of almost all Protestant Reformers and their churches from the Reformation into our era, but then something changed, something came in that blinded and distorted what had been plain.

Satan as always the adversary, had his followers bring in seeds of doubt which wiped away the understanding, bringing in false ideas that biblical prophecies concerning the Last Days refer to events which took place in the first century after Christ's birth so thus nothing applies to the true history that prophecy shows. Another seed of doubt is brought in by those who say all or most of the prophecy the Bible gives us is in the future, shortly before the Second Coming, so we have nothing which we can apply it to so can ignore what it shows, and all the truth of history notwithstanding.

If one follows what history gives us, suddenly the events line up, Alexander the Great is shown just when he appears in the flow of events given in prophecy, the Roman Empire comes right after, just as prophecy gave all the way to the Last Days. So why have so many Christians even among the churchs of the Reformers given up what they once held. What have they given it up for, can it be doctrines of demons and ideas from the adversary, can that be.

Well lets look, history shows us that the 1260 days in Biblical prophecy match up and are the 1260 years in which the Roman Catholic Church did in fact "war against the saints". It was one of the major reason for the Protestant Reformation. These 1260 years ended in 1798. The Protestants Reformers and theologians understood and saw that the Catholic Church, from 538 AD to 1798 AD was in fact the antichrist power that Daniel prophesized about. Daniel said that that the saints would be given to his hand for "a time and times and half a time". A time represents a year in the Hebrew 360-day year. So 3 1/2 times is 3 1/2 years. This equals 42 months based on the biblical 30-day month--or 1,260 days. In Thessalonians 2 Paul told us when the 1260 years would begin. It was when the "restrainer" was removed.

So who was the restrainer of this antichrist? Nearly all early church fathers and early Protestant theologians agree that the restrainer was not the Jews at the fall of Jerusalem or a King or the "Holy Spirit" as some try to say. The restrainer that had to be removed before the arrival of that antichrist power was the Roman Empire.

Why this prophesy of Daniel is so important is that it happened exactly as prophesized. The Roman Empire began to disintegrate in the late 4th and early 5th century as invasions overwhelmed the capacity of the Empire to govern and mount a coordinated defense and the Roman Caesar "restrainer" was being removed. The 1260 year period when the antichrist power would preside over the dark ages, with its persecution and inquisitions, etc began a little later in 538 AD after the Roman Empire and the Caesars ruling at Rome had collapsed to allow another power to come in and the eastern empire ruler Emperor Justinian issued his famous decree that made the Pope the legal "Head of all the Holy Churches". This began the prophesized reign of that antichrist with its false rites, sacrament's, and system of worship. Add 1260 years to 538 AD and we come out to 1798 AD, when this evil system ended.

So what does the plain of history shows us in 1798 AD? Napoleon's army under General Berthier entered Rome with his French troops and took down this antichrist power. The Papacy was abolished, the pontifical ring was removed, and the sitting Pope, Pope Pius VI was sent to France, where he died in exile. The Biblical prophecy happened just as given, but many try to hide the truth of the matter or say the Day/Year Principle is not applicable, and yet it fits as said in a trial, 'like a glove'.

 

[reddogs]

If you try to take out the Day/Year Principle and say the period was only 1260 literal days, only 3 1/2 years, it applies to nothing and falls absurdly short of fulfilling the requirements of the 1260-day prophecies in regard to the Papacy as the Reformers understood and makes no sense. But when, by the year-day principle is correctly applied to 1260 years, the prophecy comes to life and fulfillment. In 538 A.D. the Ostragoths abandoned their siege of Rome, and this left the Bishop of Rome to exercise the power and prerogatives of Justinian's decree of 533 A.D. the power and the authority of the Papacy grew, and with it persecution of the true believers and destruction of many such as the Waldenses.

Exactly 1260 years later the Papacy suffered its "deathblow" which everyone thought was the end The armies of Napoleon in Italy placed the Pope at the mercy of the French Revolutionary Government, which declared it a enemy of the Republic. The government also urged Napoleon to destroy the center of unity of the Papal power of the Roman church, and Napoleon did just that.

When General Berthier, with the French army, marched into Rome it was proclaimed that the political rule of the Papacy was at an end and he took the Pope prisoner and removed to France where he died in exile, and it look like that was the end of the Papacy for all intents and purposes.

John in Revelation also shows the same prophecy when the Roman Church would reign for 1260 years before being "wounded unto death." Revelation 13:5, "And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months." This is the same 1260 days of Daniel and using the Day/Year Principle gives the 1260 years as confirmed by the historical records:

"Vigilius...ascended the papal chair (538 A.D.) under the military protection of Belisarius." History of the Christian Church, Vol. 3, p. 327

So the Bible says the antichrist power which is the Beast will rule for 1260 years before receiving a mortal wound. Now it's just a matter of simple mathematics. If the prophecy is correct, 1260 years after 538 AD the Beast must receive a mortal wound. If you add 1260 years to the beginning year for the Roman Catholic church, 538 AD, you will arrive in the year 1798 AD. So, according to the Bible we are told the reign of the Beast and what it would do to the year 1798.

 

[reddogs]

But the prophecy then says, this wound administered to the Beast will be healed: Revelation 13:3, "... his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast." History records this:

Mussolini and (Cardinal) Gasspari sign historic Roman pact.
"The Roman question tonight was a thing of the past, and the Vatican was at peace with Italy... In affixing the autographs to the memorable document healing the wound of many years, extreme cordiality was displayed on both sides" -The San Francisco Chronicle. Feb. 11, 1929

From 11 o' clock this morning there was another sovereign independent State in the world. At that time Premier Mussolini, as Italian Foreign Minister representing King Victor Emmanuel--the first Italian Premier ever to cross the threshold of the Vatican--exchanged with Cardinal Gasparri, Papal Secretary of State, representing Pope Pius XI, ratifications of the treaties signed at the Lateran Palace on Feb. 11. By that simple act the sovereign independent State of Vatican City came into existence.-New York Times July 7, 1929

So we see the beast is one that "was", "is not" and "yet is". Revelation 17:8, "...behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is."

The Beast that was: The Roman church began in 538 AD and continued until Napoleon sent in General Berthier in 1798.

...and is not: From 1798 until the signing of the Lateran treaty in 1929, the Roman Church/state was non-existent.

...yet is: From 1929 to present the Roman Church has been a church & state.

Bible prophecy lays it out, you just have to compare to the historical records and it shows how it comes to be fulfilled. But one has to study the scriptures to see what the prophecy tells us.

 

[reddogs]

So the prophecy of the 1260 years is unveiled by the Day/Year Principle even though some try to discard it and keep the truth hidden. We find the 1260 year prophesy in the Bible was mentioned seven times, to emphasize it's great importance. But why is it so important, well because it perfectly identifies the Beast or antichrist power and gives understanding the other parts of scripture with prophecy.

The prophecy in Daniel 7 and 12, Revelation 11, 12 and 13, all mention this same persecuting power with its false system of worship, who enforce a church and state union, causing the kings of the earth to bow down and worship it. Looking at Daniel we understand this can only be the time of the Roman empire and it's change into Papal Rome.

Lets look at the following timeline which outlines just how the Pope first took it's powers over church and state:

533 AD - Emperor Justinian decrees John, as the Bishop of Rome, Chief Bishop of all the churches and he was not to be questioned that in her was the supremacy of the pontificate. Edicts of Novellae, 131st chap. II. This was not the first time that the Bishop of Rome declared himself to be ruler of all the churches, but it is the first time the claim was backed up by the secular sword and temporal powers granted to the Papal System.

536 AD - General Belisarius, under the command of Justinian, marched to Rome, deposed the Ostrogoth installed Bishop of Rome (Silverius) and exiled him.

537 AD - Belisarius installed Vigilius as Bishop of Rome

538 AD - General Belisarius broke the siege and the Ostrogoths withdrew from Rome. Pope Silverius died in prison, marking it the first time Justinians Decree, the supremacy of the Bishop of Rome over the Church could actually be implemented by Vigilius.

1798 AD - General Berthier marched to Rome, entered it unopposed and proclaimed it a Roman Republic, demanded of the Pope the renunciation of his temporal authority, then take prisoner.

The Original Catholic Encyclopedia states on Pope Vigilius beginning pontificate and his temporal powers:

"From this time on the popes, more and more involved in worldly events, no longer belong solely to the Church; they are men of the state, and then rules of the state.[ EDITORS' NOTE : Some writers hold that the beginning of Vigilius' legitimate pontificate should be reckoned from 538 rather than 537, because his deposed predecessor, Silverius, did not die until June, 538." Original Catholic Encyclopedia - Home of the largest Catholic Encyclopedia resource on the web...

The 1260 years of Papal Supremacy is attested to by many sources, not just a few:

Long ages ago, when Rome through the neglect of the Western emperors was left to the mercy of barbarous hordes, Romans turned to one figure for aid and protection and asked him to rule them; and thus in this simple manner, the best title of all to kingly right, commenced the temporal sovereignty of the Popes. And meekly stepping to the throne of Caesar, the Vicar of Christ took up the sceptre to which the emperors and kings of Europe were to bow in reverence through so many ages, from sentiments of respect for the dignity of his office and because he was the only mediator whom they recognized in their almost interminable wars.

Source: Two Romes, by James P. Conry, in The American Catholic Quarterly Review, Volume XXXVI (36), edited by James Andrew Corcoran, Patrick John Ryan, Edmond Francis Prendergast, 1911, pgs. 193-194.

... the right to her Temporal Sovereignty is an integral right of the Church as constituted by her Divine Founder. It has prevailed de facto for more than twelve hundred years, and has been possessed de jure by Divine Natural Law from the beginning of Christianity,... Source: The Victories of Rome and the Temporal Monarchy of the Church, 5th edition, By Kenelm Digby Best, London, 1906, pg. xii.

Rome has been a government under the Popes for some twelve hundred years. Source: Complete Works of the Most Rev. John Hughes, Archbishop of New York, 1866, Volume 2. pg. 778

... In books of all sizes, and from the pulpit of every church, we have been taught from our infancy, that the "beast, the man of sin, and the scarlet harlot," mentioned in the Revelations, were names which God himself had given to the Pope; and we have all been taught to believe of the Catholic Church, that her worship was "idolatrous," and that her doctrines were "damnable.".... Now let us put a plain question or two to ourselves, and to these our readers; and we shall quickly be able to form a just estimate of the modesty, sincerity, and consistency of these revilers of the Catholic religion: ―they will not, because they cannot, deny, that this religion was the ONLY CHRISTIAN religion in the world for fifteen hundred years after the death of Christ. They may say, indeed, that for the first three hundred years there was no Pope seated at Rome. But, then, for twelve hundred years there had been; and, during that period, all the nations of Europe, and some part of America, had become Christian, and all acknowledged the Pope as their head in religious matters; and, in short, there was no other Christian Church known in the world, nor had any other ever been thought of. Can we believe, then, that Christ, who died to save sinners, who sent forth his gospel as the means of their salvation, would have suffered a false Christian religion, and no other than a false Christian religion, to be known amongst men all this while? Will these modest assailants of the faith of their and our ancestors assert to our faces, that, for twelve hundred years at least, there were no true Christians in the world? Will they tell us, that Christ, who promised to be with the teachers of his word to the end of the world, wholly left them, and gave up hundreds upon hundreds of millions of people to be led in darkness to their eternal perdition, by one whom his inspired followers had denominated the "man of sin, and the scarlet harlot"? Will they, indeed, dare to tell us, that Christ gave up the world wholly to "Antichrist" for twelve hundred years?

Source: History of the Protestant Reformation in England and Ireland, Showing How That Event Has Impoverished and Degraded the Main Body of the People in Those Countries, by William Cobbett, published in 1832 in New York by John Doyle, 12 Liberty-street; and Thomas Doyle, Market-street, Providence R.I., pages 6 and 7.

 

[reddogs]

Looks like its not that hard to compare the historical records to Bible prophecy and see what it shows us. If you put all the verses concerning the apostates power it becomes clear who it it. The following verses then, refer prophetically to a period of 1260 years of apostasy prevailing in the church:

The 1260 Days:

Rev 11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

The two witnesses is a reference to the law and the prophets, the word of God. For 1260 years scriptural truth would be suppressed, obscured by the traditions of men.

Rev 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

The true church would flee persecution by the apostate church, and be sustained by God for 1260 years.

The 42 Months:

This period of 1260 days is also spoken of as 42 months:

Rev 11:2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

The apostate church is referred to here as Gentiles, who will be dominant for 1260 years. Their judgment is to be delayed (measure not), not to be done until after the true church (temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein, v. 1) is judged in the pre-advent judgment.

Rev 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
Rev 13:6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
Rev 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

Blasphemy and persecution characterize the 1260 years of dominion of the apostate church.

The 3 1/2 Times:

The 1260 days are also referred to as 3 1/2 times:

Dan 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

Dan 12:7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.

Rev 12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

You can see all these verses describe 1260 years of the antichrist power with its blasphemy, persecution, and apostasy, through which the true belivers would persevere and emerge from the wilderness at the conclusion of 1260 years.

 

[reddogs]

Now this apostate church is also identified in many ways including the antichrist power of the little horn as well as Mystery Babylon and as the Beast who would give its mark to those who follow it. Lets look in the prophecy given on this power in Daniel 7:

Daniel 7
1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.
2 Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.
3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.
5 And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.
6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.
7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.
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.
9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.
12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.
13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
15 I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.
16 I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.
17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.
18 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
19 Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;
20 And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.
21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;
22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
26 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.
27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.
28 Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.


The following points from Daniel 7 will help us to identify the little horn which grows into the Papal power.

1. Little. It is a little kingdom which would come into being with great power and influence.

2. Origin In Europe. It came up among the ten horns on the head of the fourth beast.(verses 8, 20, 24). This is the Roman Empire.

3. Powerful After Roman Empire Breaks Up. It would arise after the ten horns.(verse 24). Therefore, it would arise after Rome fell in 476 AD.

4. Three Nations Removed In Its Rise. Three of the ten kingdoms were displaced by his rise to power.(verses 8, 20, 24) The Bible says "He shall subdue three kings".

5. Different. "He was diverse from the former" (verse 24). So it was different from the previous ten kings. The ten were political organizations only. This little horn would claim authority like God.

6. Human. It would have "eyes like a man" (verses 8, 20). Throughout the Bible, eyes are a symbol of divine intelligence. This horn has "eyes", not of God, but of man. It is guided by human intelligence, human leadership, and human authority. With a man as leader, it usurps God's leadership.

7. Arrogant, Blasphemous. It would have a "mouth speaking great things" and "shall speak great words against the most High" (verse 25). The little horn power would speak great, or pompous things, and would speak out against God.

8.Rules 1260 Years. It would last for "a time, times and the dividing of times".(verse 25) Understanding that a month in the Bible is based upon a lunar calendar where one month is approximately thirty days...
Revelation 12: 6. Describes this period as 1260 days.
Revelation 13: 5. Describes this period as forty two months.
Daniel 7: 25 defines a "time" as one year. Seven times passed for Nebuchadnezzar. He acted like a beast for seven years.
Revelation 12: 14. Uses similar terminology to define the period of the persecution of God's church, as symbolized by a woman. "Time, times and half a time"
Ezekiel 4: 4-6. God shows the principle that in prophetic applications, a day is defined as a year.

9. Persecutes. The little horn power would have dominion and persecute God's saints (wear out the Saints) for 1260 years.(verse 25).

10. Changes Times And Laws. It would "think to change times and laws" (verse 25). The little horn power would be both a political and a religious power. In the context of speaking great things against God, and of persecuting the saints of God, it would also think to change "Times and Laws". The only commandment that deals with time is the fourth commandment which regulates the Sabbath.

11.Destroyed by God. It would be destroyed by God. Therefore, it would be powerful until the Second Coming.

An enlargement of this prophecy in Revelation 13 shows that it would suffer a temporary downfall before it would conquer the world again. The Roman Papal power rises in during the 1260 years but something is happening in Heaven. As shown in Daniel 7: 8-14 and Daniel 8: 13-14, a judgment scene is seen taking place in heaven. Dominion is to be taken away from the little horn power. Daniel 7:14 indicated that Christ's kingdom is returned to Him after a heavenly judgment scene. So the Bible indicates in Daniel 7 that we are to look to Christ in the Heavenly Sanctuary, to reassert His power to gather a people who will take the Gospel to all nations of earth.

 

[reddogs]

History gives only one possibility for the identity of the little horn power. The Bible unmistakably points to the Roman Papacy of the middle ages as the little horn of Daniel 7. The Roman Empire began to crumble and we see the Roman papacy, was established as a state entity. This church state grew over several centuries and rose to prominence in Western Europe. It came into existence exactly when the prophecy said it would and lost its power 1260 years later.

We find the three Kingdoms removed to establish its Power. Of the ten divisions of the Roman Empire, three of the Germanic tribes were destroyed (uprooted) in Italy by the rise of the Roman papacy. These were the Heruli, Ostrogoths, and the Vandals. This is just as Daniel predicted would happen by the little horn power. The other seven tribes can still be found in Europe today.

It is a fact that the church used the armies of the state to enforce its laws. It was mighty, without having an army of its own. It has powerful influence over the leaders of the world. There has never been a similar power in history.

We hear that you forbid torture as contrary to the laws of your land. But no state law can override [the Church's] canon law, our law. Therefore I command you at once to submit those men to torture. Will Durant, The Story of Civilization, Volume 4, page 680.
In addition, no other current power in history can trace its unbroken succession to such an early time. This will be important to remember in the prophecies of Revelation.

After the papacy suffered a reversal of fortunes in 1798 it began to be restored to power by the Lateran Treaty of 1929. This is important to the prophecy of Revelation 13 which spoke about the beast power receiving a deadly wound which was later healed. It received this wound at about the time that a new power from a different place, the final world power would be rising. It will use this government in the final persecution. He is assisted by a band of evil angels and he has to use human powers to accomplish his plans.

Rules 1260 Years. He describes the length of the little horn's reign in history and the nature of the apostasy in its attempt to destroy the church.

And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time, times and the dividing of a time.(Daniel 7: 25)

We have seen that this time period is 1260 years. History shows that the papacy was established in power in 538 AD, by decree of Justinian, when the last of the three kings, the Ostrogoths, was uprooted from Rome. Exactly 1260 years later, in 1798, the papacy came to a temporary end when the Pope was taken captive and died during the French Revolution.

When you study the historical record, it clearly illustrates the 1260 years of papal rule from 538 AD to 1798 when Napoleon's general Berthier took Pope Pius VI captive, exiled him to France and temporarily ended the union of church and state embodied in the Roman Church.

Soon after General Berthier entered Rome, in Feb 1798, he posted the following notice:

“...The commanding general of the French army in Italy declares in the name of his Government that he recognizes the independence of the [new] Roman Republic and that this Government stands under the special protection of the [French] army.

The same General also declares in the name of the French Republic that he recognizes the [new] provisional Government [of Rome] as established by the sovereign people. ALL AUTHORITY OF THE PAPAL GOVERNMENT IS AND REMAINS ABOLISHED.”

(“History of the Abduction and Imprisonment of Pius VI”,[Baldassari] p.172.)

Prior to this the French Government had also commanded that there should be no successor to the Papal chair.
So we can see from the historical record how 1798 was the year of the "deadly wound" on the Papacy.

 

[reddogs]

The 1260 years of Papal Supremacy is attested to by many sources, not just a few:

Long ages ago, when Rome through the neglect of the Western emperors was left to the mercy of barbarous hordes, Romans turned to one figure for aid and protection and asked him to rule them; and thus in this simple manner, the best title of all to kingly right, commenced the temporal sovereignty of the Popes. And meekly stepping to the throne of Caesar, the Vicar of Christ took up the sceptre to which the emperors and kings of Europe were to bow in reverence through so many ages, from sentiments of respect for the dignity of his office and because he was the only mediator whom they recognized in their almost interminable wars.

Source: Two Romes, by James P. Conry, in The American Catholic Quarterly Review, Volume XXXVI (36), edited by James Andrew Corcoran, Patrick John Ryan, Edmond Francis Prendergast, 1911, pgs. 193-194.

... the right to her Temporal Sovereignty is an integral right of the Church as constituted by her Divine Founder. It has prevailed de facto for more than twelve hundred years, and has been possessed de jure by Divine Natural Law from the beginning of Christianity,... Source: The Victories of Rome and the Temporal Monarchy of the Church, 5th edition, By Kenelm Digby Best, London, 1906, pg. xii.

Rome has been a government under the Popes for some twelve hundred years. Source: Complete Works of the Most Rev. John Hughes, Archbishop of New York, 1866, Volume 2. pg. 778

... In books of all sizes, and from the pulpit of every church, we have been taught from our infancy, that the "beast, the man of sin, and the scarlet harlot," mentioned in the Revelations, were names which God himself had given to the Pope; and we have all been taught to believe of the Catholic Church, that her worship was "idolatrous," and that her doctrines were "damnable.".... Now let us put a plain question or two to ourselves, and to these our readers; and we shall quickly be able to form a just estimate of the modesty, sincerity, and consistency of these revilers of the Catholic religion: ―they will not, because they cannot, deny, that this religion was the ONLY CHRISTIAN religion in the world for fifteen hundred years after the death of Christ. They may say, indeed, that for the first three hundred years there was no Pope seated at Rome. But, then, for twelve hundred years there had been; and, during that period, all the nations of Europe, and some part of America, had become Christian, and all acknowledged the Pope as their head in religious matters; and, in short, there was no other Christian Church known in the world, nor had any other ever been thought of. Can we believe, then, that Christ, who died to save sinners, who sent forth his gospel as the means of their salvation, would have suffered a false Christian religion, and no other than a false Christian religion, to be known amongst men all this while? Will these modest assailants of the faith of their and our ancestors assert to our faces, that, for twelve hundred years at least, there were no true Christians in the world? Will they tell us, that Christ, who promised to be with the teachers of his word to the end of the world, wholly left them, and gave up hundreds upon hundreds of millions of people to be led in darkness to their eternal perdition, by one whom his inspired followers had denominated the "man of sin, and the scarlet harlot"? Will they, indeed, dare to tell us, that Christ gave up the world wholly to "Antichrist" for twelve hundred years?

Source: History of the Protestant Reformation in England and Ireland, Showing How That Event Has Impoverished and Degraded the Main Body of the People in Those Countries, by William Cobbett, published in 1832 in New York by John Doyle, 12 Liberty-street; and Thomas Doyle, Market-street, Providence R.I., pages 6 and 7.

 

[reddogs]

Now Paul also wrote warning believers of the coming Antichrist and his apostasy as we see in 2 Thessalonians 2:3:
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day (the second coming of Jesus) shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God (the church), showing himself that he is God.

We see it was restrained. And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.

Then we see it revealed. Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming.(2 Thessalonians 2: 3-4, 6-8)

So we see the following:

1. Apostasy. Paul warns of a falling away. The Greek for "falling away" is APOSTASIA which means literally "a falling away or departure from the purity of faith", or "an apostasy."

2. Betrays God. The term "son of perdition" is given only one other place in Scripture, to describe Judas Iscariot, who betrayed our Lord. In other words, the popular Christianity would get caught up in a landslide apostasy and betray the essentials of the gospel while maintaining an outward form and profession of faithfulness.

3. Lawless. The Bible says this leader would be a man called the "man of sin". In the original Greek, the phrase is "the man of lawlessness". Paul teaches here that he would stand in opposition to the law of God.

4. Cloning God or trying to take His place. The Bible says he sets himself up in the temple of God, as God. In Ephesians 2: 19-22 Paul tells us that the temple of God is a symbol for the Church (made up of the believers). Paul teaches that this man of sin would actually take his "seat" of political authority in the church. And he would claim for himself the prerogatives of God.

Paul warned even more about the following things that would happen from this power:

1. First, opposition from without. Much like the damage of wolves as they attacked the sheep. He also saw satanic persecutions that would attempt to destroy the true church. Yet the church would still survive.

2. Then internal apostasy (Already Among Us). The second problem would be more serious. This is apostasy from within. Men would arise speaking perverse ("crooked" or "twisted") things. The antichrist is not simply a man who will show up at the end of time, the antichrist is from a long lineage of apostasy beginning in the days of the disciples. We see elsewhere in the New Testament which shows the wolves already coming after the sheep in 1 John 2:

1 John 2:18-19
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.
19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.


3. Starts In Paul's Time. Third, the beginning of apostasy would come quickly. Paul said, "Of your own selves shall men arise." John says the same thing.
Spirit Of Error. And every spirit that does not confess Jesus Christ is not from God; this is the spirit of the Antichrist of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. We are of God: he that knows God hears us; he that is not of God hears not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.(1 John 4: 3, 6)
» Synagogue of Satan. John also warns the church of Philadelphia about the infiltration of false Jews or false worshippers in the church (Revelation 3: 9).

4. The Antichrist power denies Jesus. The goal of the antichrist is to negatively affect the work of Jesus Christ through His sacrifice, His priesthood and His claims as Messiah and of divinity. Some will even deny that He existed and try to seduce the faithful with deception. The real antichrist will do this while being a member of the Christian community or one who has left it:

1 John 2:22
22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

1 John 2:26
26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.

We can see this power is a deceiver and brings false doctrines:

2 John 1:7
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.

2 John 1:9
9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.