Is the Pope the Antichrist?

 

The antichrist is a prophetic figure that the Bible predicts will become the last satanic-inspired dictator of the God-opposed worldwide government of the last days of the Great Tribulation.  Some scriptural references to this coming world leader are found in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; Revelation 6:1-2; Revelation 13:1-18; Daniel 7:20-27; Daniel 8:1-27.

 

Many Bible scholars have tried to determine who this person may be.  Since the times of the protestant revolution, the Pope has been a favorite target because of his name as the “Vicar” of Christ on earth.

 

The Catholic Church relies on the Pope to be the representative of Christ on earth.  This “Vicar of Christ” or “Vicarious Christ” means that he takes the place of Christ.  Protestants love to apply this Vicar title to the term “Anti-Christ” since “anti” is the term to mean “takes the place of”.  In the sense of the meaning of the word, the Pope takes the place of Christ or becomes the “Antichrist”.  This virulent language appeared in Protestant literature since the Protestant Reformation and appeared for centuries in the notes of the popular Geneva Bible published by Protestants in Geneva, Switzerland.

 

Being the Vicar of Christ, the Pope claims to speak “ex cathedra” or “from the chair” in regards to matters of belief or doctrine.  Speaking this way, he claims to be infallible, without error.

 

Protestants find this teaching to be in grave error.  No man is infallible.  The apostles words were inspired, but since their passing, Scripture is complete.  The extent that the Pope agrees with the Scriptures is the only extent that he speaks the truth.  Catholics therefore believe, for example, that Mary ascended to heaven at the end of her life because November 1, 1950, the Pope declared this to be so.

Shad David Sluiter

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