Why is it the true Church cannot figure out who the end-time individual known as the Antichrist will be? It has been told to us for centuries who this "man of sin" will be, but most have not caught on yet. I am sure you have heard the phrase, "It was hidden in plain sight," when referring to something that should have been obvious all along. Well, that's exactly what has happened here. This man has proclaimed himself the Antichrist for centuries now, or I should say that, the office that this man holds has proclaimed it to be the throne of Antichrist for centuries. Oh, they don't come right out and use that title, no, they call him the "Vicar of Christ"; Vicarius Christi: Christ on Earth. Antichrist also means, one who is trying to replace Christ.
If you know your Catholicism, you know that Catholics consider the pope to be infallible in matters pertaining to the church, which is basically everything he does. This is even stated in their Canons and decrees. This supposedly comes from the fact that Jesus is said to have given Peter the keys to the Kingdom. This correlation between Peter and all the popes of the Roman Catholic church, is obviously in error once you understand the situation.
"He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter [meaning small stone], and upon this rock [that rock being Peter's statement that Jesus was the Christ] I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ." Matthew 16:15-20
Here's how we know Jesus was not referring to Peter as that rock. Just five verses later in that same chapter of Matthew, Jesus calls Peter Satan. He then tells Peter you are thinking as a man would think. Jesus also tells Peter that he is an offence to Him; SLAP! SLAP! Ouch! Yeah, no, Peter is not the "rock" Jesus was referring to. Jesus was most definitely referring to Peter's statement that Jesus was the Christ. Now let's see what the Bible has to say on this matter.
"And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:"
Ephesians 2:20-21
"If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed." 1 Peter 2:3-8
So you see, out of Paul's and Peter's own mouth, we are told it is Jesus who is the Christ, the Chief Corner Stone above every stone. Here is one definition of what a corner stone is in the natural: "A cornerstone (or foundation stone or setting stone) is the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation. All other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure." Jesus was not going to build His Church using any man or woman, as the overarching foundation stone to start His Kingdom on earth. You see, Jesus said, "...upon this rock I will build my Church." Peter's, yours, and my spiritual affirmation as living stones, does not make us as true and perfect as Jesus thee rock is. We are all out of alignment and in need of much conforming to GOD'S Word. As a former contractor, I know if you start building a house with a footing that's not level, you're in big trouble the further up you go.
Now either way you want to look at this situation, Peter was not to replace Christ on earth; that was not the plan. However, the Catholic church has taken advantage of this one verse and built an "abomination" out of it, by claiming there is one man on earth that is as or better than Jesus the Christ. They say that since "Jesus is gone now, the pope's authority is superior." I was a Catholic for 27-years before accepting the blood Jesus for my atonement; I know their Canons and doctrine of devils very well.
So where does Jesus address this situation in the Bible (KJV) of mere men saying that they are Christ? It's found in Matthew 24, but before we read that, let's see who else has claimed that they are Christ on earth. Basically, the only other people who have tried to claim they are the Christ of the Bible, have either been mentally unstable, or in some fringe cult-like group, or both. You see the Catholic church is truly the only religion that is recognized and accepted world-wide, as a legitimately functioning religious organization that is believed by its flock to represent Jesus Christ and his teachings. However, everybody, including born-again Christians accept, honor, and participate in all the Catholic holidays. Christmas, Easter, All Saints Day (Hallowmas/Halloween), Lent, St. Patrick's Day, etc. What is worse, all the Protestant, "born-again," and Pentecostal churches, follow this same pattern used for the Roman Catholic Mass when it comes to their gatherings. This is known as a clergy, laity structure (see link). The Vatican was even given Observer State status at the UN. It's quite obvious that Satan has invested much time and effort to establish the Catholic church as the preeminent representation of the end-time one world religion that shall manifest his kingdom of darkness (Isaiah 60:2).
Catholics are not "born-again," they do not teach this as a requirement of salvation. They pray repetitive prayers to Mary and bypass Jesus, something Jesus warned against in Matthew 6. They consider Mary to be Co Redemptrix with Jesus, which is completely and totally an abomination. Mary did not suffer and die on the cross for our sins. Mary did not live a sinless life, for the Bible says we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God:
"But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father [not Mary] which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him." Matthew 6:6-8
"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;" 1 Timothy 2:5
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" Romans 3:23
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:" Romans 5:12
Catholics are told they must experience the seven Holy Sacraments contrived at the Council of Trent (1545–63) or they go straight to Purgatory when they die, which is another made up doctrine of devils, that even the Vatican is trying to distance itself from as of late. They call the pope, Most Holy Father.
"And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven." Matthew 23:9
They are told to baptize their infants, and they say the priest can call down Jesus from Heaven at every Mass and transubstante Him into their little wafer cookie god, and Mad Dog 20/20 wine. You honestly need more faith to be a Catholic than to just believe what the Bible says. The pope is also referred to as the "False Prophet" in Revelation 16:13, as the dragon's tail in Revelation 12:3-4, and as the beast with "two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon" in Revelation 13:11. It then says in Isaiah 9:15, "The prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail." OK, now let's look at those verses about false Christs shall we.
"And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many [266-popes including Frances] shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ [Vicarius Christi: Vicar of Christ/Christ on Earth]; and shall deceive many." Matthew 24:4-5
How does the Bible describe what Christians call the Antichrist, because you know, the Bible (KJV) never mentions the title "Antichrist" in the book of Revelation? However, it does mention the individual called "the beast with two horns like a lamb" in Revelation 13:11, and it also mentions the "False prophet" in Revelation 16:13. The beast "having seven heads and ten horns" mentioned in Revelation 13:1 and in Revelation 16:13 as just "the beast," is a confederacy of wicked nations, not one individual person that could then be equated as the Antichrist. Another thing to note is how the Bible says this "man of sin," this False prophet is just that, a prophet. He is not described as a false plumber, or the false carpenter. No, he's called the "false prophet," which signifies his office as a great religious figure. A great end-time religious figure that the world will look up to.
It can't get any plainer than that folks. The pope says he is Christ on Earth and that we are all to obey his every word or be "anathemaed." Now I do not know if pope Frances will be the actual Antichrist that Satan will possess, or if another pope will follow him? However, oddly enough, the night pope Benedict abdicated the throne, two massive bolts of lightning struck the sphere on top of Saint Peters basilica. Now add to that what Jesus said about Satan falling from Heaven. I for one do not believe in so-called "coincidences." The bottom line is, the Catholic church and the office of the pope, have shed more "blood of the saints," than any other organization in history, and I fear they are about to do it again.
"And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven." Luke 10:18
"And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed."
Revelation 13:11-15