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Can We
Identify
The Antichrist?
Antichrist's
End-Time Rule
Chapter 9
After Papacy brought the demise of Communism, Pope John Paul’s
stated agenda was the re-establishment of the Holy Roman Empire of
the Middle Ages/Dark Ages. The ecumenical activity of the 1990s
could well mark the buildup to Antichrist’s End-Time reign.
Although Revelation 13 showed the Antichrist, Papal reign
during the 1260 days—years—ended in 1799, verses 15-18 predict
a future End-Time rise to power of Antichrist. This time
Antichrist will be united in power with the image of the beast. If
the beast is symbolic of a system—Papacy—then the image of the
beast is symbolic of a system—probably a federation of
Protestant churches headed by the Church of England. This would
explain the reason for the ecumenical activity within
Protestantism. The Church of England has already acknowledged the
headship of Papacy in such a union.
The image of the beast—a federation of Protestant churches—together
with the beast—Papacy—will control the thinking of the people.
Only those with the mark, name or number of the beast will be able
to buy or sell, that is, express doctrinal views in a public
forum. All others will be persecuted. At the same time Revelation
17 predicts a church-state union between Papacy and ten kingdoms
or nations of Europe. Many students of prophecy are pondering the
role of the European Union in this scenario. Possibly this is a
reference, not to ten nations, but to the ten language grouping of
nations that has averaged out in Europe over the centuries.
Actually there are more than ten nations in the European Union.
This reign of Papacy with the European Union will be short
lived. They will do battle with the Returned Lord—the Lord of
Lords and King of Kings—and the beast, the image of the beast
and the kings of the earth will meet their Waterloo. Revelation
19: 11-21.
Triumph of Christ over Antichrist
Thus the Apostle Paul (2 Thessalonians 2:8) assures us that
this inglorious saga of the Man of Sin will finally have a fitting
conclusion:
And then shall that Wicked [Antichrist] be revealed, whom the
Lord shall Consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall
destroy with the brightness of his [Christ’s] coming [Greek, parousia,
presence].
The Papacy, which for centuries claimed to be the Kingdom of
God, was in reality the Man of Sin. Such an exaggerated claim
inevitably corrupted leaders of that system. And that corruption
wrought the incredible carnage of human suffering that Papacy
perpetuated down through the centuries. Many have been the engines
of human oppression and destruction throughout history, but the
Antichrist has been unique. By taking the place of Christ and his
true Kingdom, Antichrist also misrepresented God’s true
character and wonderful plan.
But Christ will triumph over Antichrist. The Man of Sin has
been revealed. After a brief rise to power, it remains for Christ
to destroy that pretentious, counterfeit Kingdom of God during his
parousia or presence. Then the true Kingdom of God will be
set up which will rule in righteousness throughout the whole
earth. Instead of oppressing, Christ’s Kingdom will bless.
Instead of misrepresenting God’s character, Christ’s Kingdom
will practice it. Instead of replacing and opposing God’s plan,
Christ’s Kingdom will fulfill it.
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