Events are plunging toward the eventful climax of Christ's return.
How will you know the REAL CHRIST when he comes?
Is the Pope ignorant of the plain Bible statements that label him "the Antichrist"? What deception will Satan use to keep the world from realizing the Pope's true identity?
God's Word warns us that this man — masquerading as a great "Christian" leader — will finally declare himself to be GOD! (II Thes. 2:8) If he calls himself "God," whom will he point to as the Antichrist?
Catholic Interest in Prophecy
God declares that the end-time Pope will be a false prophet, yet the Pope has never declared himself to be a prophet. When will he deceive the world into thinking that he foresees future events? What events will he foretell? How will these prophecies affect you? How can you keep from being deceived?
A recently published book reveals a startling Catholic interest in end-time prophecy. This book, together with tradition and the writings of some of the "early church Fathers," brings to light an eye-opening preview of the false prophecies that are about to be preached!
Satan knows God's general plan. He has been at work in the minds of evil and deluded men throughout the ages to lay the groundwork of the GREAT DELUSION! Though the vials of the wrath of God are poured out on sinful men, their impenitence remains — "AND THEY REPENTED NOT" (Rev. 16:9). They will flee from Christ — even calling for rocks to fall on them, hiding out in caves — RUNNING AWAY FROM GOD!
WHY?
Because of "that man of sin . . . who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he IS GOD . . . even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and LYING wonders, and with ALL DECEIVABLENESS." THAT MAN WILL TELL THE WORLD THE BIGGEST LIE EVER TOLD! Into the ears of those who do not have a love of the truth he will pour the LIE that our returning King, Jesus Christ, is the ANTICHRIST! And they will believe him because God will have sent them a "strong delusion that they should believe a LIE"! (II Thes. 2:3-11).
But upon what will the Pope base this claim?
By its own admission, the Catholic Church bases its definition of the articles of faith on its own interpretation of the Scriptures AND TRADITIONS as explained in the writings of the early church "Fathers"! "And then it was approved by all, that the traditions should be received as of equal authority with the Scriptures" (History of the Council of Trent, page 145).
Any attempt to dispute their interpretation by use of plain Scripture is greeted, as it was at the time of this declaration, with the cry of "HERETIC" and branded as "Anathema"! " . . . the holy Scripture cannot be expounded against the sense held by the holy Mother the Church, nor against the common consent of the Fathers" (History of the Council of Trent, page 152).
Catholic Definition of Antichrist
Here now, for the professed prophecies in the Catholic Church's recently published book, Prophecy for Today.
"Towards the end of the world Antichrist will overthrow the Pope and usurp his See"! ("prophecy" of Abbott "Merlin" Joachim, died 1202; see also Catholic Encyclopedia, article "Antichrist.")
Because they will not admit the truth the Church believes the Antichrist will be the one to unseat the Pope, while every Bible prophecy commissions the true Christ with that job.
"Antichrist will fight a successful battle at Mageddo [Armageddon] in Palestine after which . . . he will hereafter become lord of the world" (Ibid; Anna Catarina Emmerick, d. 1824). It is almost impossible to see how they could believe this! But there it is! And here is more! "The Kings will send armies to the Holy Land, but the Antichrist will slay them all"! (Ibid.; "Venerable Maria of Agreda:' d. 1665). Compare this with Revelation 19:19.
But to continue. "Antichrist and his army will conquer Rome, kill the Pope and take the throne . . . The Jews will come from everywhere, and accept Antichrist as the Messiah." (Ibid.; from a "prophecy" by Venerable Bartholomew Holzhauser, d. 1658).
Just one more quote to illustrate their satanic definition: "After the destruction of Rome, Antichrist will appear and exalt himself above pagan deities and the Trinity . . . Coming to Jerusalem, he will succeed through false preaching, miracles, gifts, terror, aided throughout by the devil. An evil spirit will come out of the air and descend upon his followers. Heshall feign a resurrection from the dead, cause rain to fall . . . and perform other wonders, all through the power of the devil. . . The Jews will welcome him." (Ibid.; Richard Rolle of Hampole, d. 1349).
Compare With Your Bible
Hippolytus is one of the "early church Fathers" upon which the Catholic church depends for inspiration and dogma. Get your Bible, and compare the plain statements of Scripture, the Word and authority of Almighty God, with the blasphemous prophecies made by Hippolytus about the year 170 A.D. Satan very cleverly inspired this early writer to pen these prophecies just a hundred years after the true Church of God had to flee to Pella. Since that time there have been scattered prophecies by many important men and women in the Catholic Church on this subject of greatest importance — even up to as recently as 100 years ago.
Hippolytus begins by saying, "Believe not the enemy who is to come and be seen; for he is an adversary and corrupter and son of perdition, and deceives you; and for this reason he will kill you, and smite them with the sword" (Ante-Nicene Fathers; Hippolytus, section XXIX).
GOD'S Word says, "Behold, he [Jesus Christ] cometh with clouds; and EVERY EYE SHALL SEE HIM . . . and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him" (Rev. 1:7).
"And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God" (Rev. 19:15).
Hippolytus goes on to say: " . . . at that time the whole earth will bewail the life of anguish, and the sea and air in like manner will bewail it; and the sun, too, will wail; and the wild beasts, together with the fowls, will wail; mountains and hills, and the trees of the plain, will wail on account of the race of man, because all have turned aside from the Holy God, and obeyed the deceiver, and received the mark of that abominable one, the enemy of God, INSTEAD OF THE QUICKENING CROSS OF THE SAVIOR" (Ibid.; section XXXIII).
God's clear revelation shows that the time when the families of all the earth are going to bewail for anguish is the time of Christ's return. "And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her ; for no man buyeth their merchandise anymore: The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones . . . fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and SLAVES, and SOULS OF MEN. . . The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, WEEPING AND WAILING"! (Rev. 18:11-15)
Hippolytus: "And in the presence of all he exhibits himself as taken up into heaven with TRUMPETS and SOUNDS, and the MIGHTY SHOUTING of those who hail him with INDESCRIBABLE HYMNS; the heir of darkness himself shining like light, and at one time soaring to the heavens, and at another descending to the earth with great glory, and again charging the demons, like angels, to execute his behests with much fear and trembling. For he will show forth his demons brilliant like angels, and he will bring in hosts of the incorporeal without number" (Section XXXIII).
The Holy Spirit through the revelation of YOUR BIBLE says: "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a SHOUT, with the VOICE OF THE ARCHANGEL, and with the TRUMP OF GOD: and the DEAD IN CHRIST SHALL RISE first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to MEET the Lord in the air"! (I Thes. 4:16-17)
As for Hippolytus' "demons brilliant like angels," Daniel tells us that the resurrected and changed saints "shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars [angels) forever and ever"! (Dan. 12:3) See also I Cor. 15:50-53.
And the "indescribable hymns" — "And they sung as it were a new song before the throne . . . and NO MAN COULD LEARN THAT SONG but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were REDEEMED from the earth . . . the FIRSTFRUITS unto God and to the Lamb"! (Rev. 14:3-4)
More From Hippolytus
"Then that abominable one [if this is not blasphemy against the very God of Heaven, what is?) will send his commands throughout every government by the hand at once of demons and of visible men, who shall say, 'A mighty king has arisen upon the earth; come ye all to WORSHIP him; come ye all to see the strength of his kingdom: for, behold, he will give you corn; and he will bestow upon you wine, and great riches, and lofty honors. For the WHOLE EARTH AND SEA OBEYS HIS COMMAND. Come ye all to him — (Ibid., section XXXVII).
Revelation 14:6-7: "And I saw another fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation and kindred and tongue and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and WORSHIP him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountain of waters [and therefore the whole EARTH AND SEA OBEYS HIS COMMAND)."
When these false "prophecies" are read from pulpits into the ears of gullible people and they begin to see God's intervention come to pass, THEY WILL BELIEVE THE ONLY MEANING THEY HAVE EVER LEARNED ABOUT THESE SIGNS AND WONDERS . . . AND BE CONVINCED THAT THE GLORIOUS CHRIST RETURNING IN TRIUMPH IS IN TRUTH THE ANTICHRIST!
A more modern prophetess of the Catholic Church has this to say about this time of preaching: "Whole nations will join the Church shortly before the reign of the Antichrist. These conversions will be amazing. Those who shall survive shall have to conduct themselves well. There shall be innumerable conversions of heretics, who will return to the bosom of the Church" (Prophecy For Today; from Anna Maria Taigi d. 1837).
These false doctrines and false prophecies are going to be preached with ALL DECEIVABLENESS, and are truly going to deceive ALL THE WORD. You and I, when we enter God's Kingdom at His return, are going to have to convince these people of the TRUTH.