It is no longer news to hear certain Christians tagging the Catholic Pope as the Antichrist and man of sin of the Sacred Scriptures. Over here, we shall examine what the Bible really says about the highly controversial and often misrepresented issue of the Antichrist.
QUESTION: We all know that the word Antichrist appears in the last book of the Bible called Revelation? Right?
ANSWER: WRONG! That is not correct. The word Antichrist is NOWHERE found in the book of Revelations. Are you surprised? There is more surprises for you, “and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (John 8:32 RSV)
Scriptural roots of the Antichrist:
The word Antichrist comes from the Koine Greek word “αντίχριστος” (antichristos) which means:
- An opponent of the Messiah. OR
- The adversary of the Messiah.
The word appears exclusively in the 1st and 2nd epistles of St. John the Evangelist (the same author of the book of Revelation).
What does the Holy Bible really say about the Antichrist? Let’s read below…
Children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come; therefore we know that it is the last hour.
(1 John 2:18 RSV emphasis added)
Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ?
This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father. He who confesses the Son has the Father also.
(1 John 2:22-23 RSV emphasis added)
QUESTION: When did any Pope of the Catholic Church denied that Jesus is the Christ?
and every spirit which does not confess Jesus is not of God. This is the spirit of antichrist, of which you heard that it was coming, and now it is in the world already.
(1 John 4:3 RSV emphasis added)
QUESTION: Aren’t the Popes those who propagate the virginal birth of Jesus Christ of Nazareth and the continuous virginity of Mother Mary?
For many deceivers have gone out into the world, men who will not acknowledge the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh; such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.
(2 John 1:7 RSV emphasis added)
I now leave you with the very words of Christ…
A talmid is not above his Rebbe nor an eved (servant) above his Baal Bayit (master). It is enough for the talmid that he be like his Rebbe, and the eved like his Baal Bayit. If they called the Baal Bayit Baal-zibbul, how much more the anashim (men) in his bais.
(Matthew 10:24-25 OJBC)
“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master; it is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Be-el’zebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.
(Matthew 10:24-25 RSV)
“No pupil is greater than his teacher; no slave is greater than his master. So a pupil should be satisfied to become like his teacher, and a slave like his master. If the head of the family is called Beelzebul, the members of the family will be called even worse names!
(Matthew 10:24-25 GNB)
Godwin Delali Adadzie