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Cosmic Collision Course________________________________________________________________________

The Man Behind The Mask

Throughout the ages, Satan has used many weapons against the Ten Commandments, but the most dangerous weapon of all has been the teaching that Christ gave the Church authority to add to, or to take away from the Commandments of God. In spite of God’s thrice-repeated warning (Deut 4:2; Prov.30:6. Rev 22:18), this doctrine has shaped the thinking and conduct of millions of professed Christians.

This may come as a surprise to us, but it has not taken God by surprise. He predicted it long ago. How Satan has used leading men of the Church to make a breach in the law of God, is the theme of one of the most absorbing prophecies of the Bible. It is found in Daniel chapter 7. In Daniel Chapter 2, which we have studied previously, we have a parallel prophecy of the rise and fall of the world's great empires.

Daniel 7:1-3 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters. Daniel spoke and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, THE FOUR WINDS OF THE HEAVEN STROVE UPON THE GREAT SEA. AND FOUR GREAT BEASTS CAME UP FROM THE SEA, diverse one from another.

Prophecy is filled with symbols, and here we see four winds striving on the sea, and four beasts coming out of the sea. What do the winds, sea and beasts represent? The Bible gives the key to unlock these symbolic pictures.

Jeremiah 49:36,37 AND UPON ELAM WILL I BRING THE FOUR WINDS from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come. For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before them that seek their life: and I will bring evil upon them, even my fierce anger, saith the LORD; and I WILL SEND THE SWORD AFTER THEM, TILL I HAVE CONSUMED THEM:

Here we can see that winds represent war, strife and trouble.

Revelation 17:15 And he saith unto me, THE WATERS WHICH THOU SAWEST, where the whore sitteth. ARE PEOPLES AND MULTITUDES, AND NATIONS ANDTONGUES.

Here it is plainly shown that seas or waters represent peoples and nations.

Daniel 7:12,23 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away; yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time. Thus he said, THE FOURTH BEAST SHALL BE THE FOURTH KINGDOM upon the earth which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.

Satan hates God’s Law

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Beasts are shown to represent kingdoms. Thus in Daniel 7:1-3, Daniel actually saw winds of war or strife blowing on the nations of the world and as a result of the situation, four kingdoms arose to prominence.

WHAT DO THE FOUR BEASTS REPRESENT?

Daniel 7:4 The first was like a LION, AND HAD EAGLE’S WINGS: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.

Jeremiah 50:43,44 THE KING OF BABYLON hath heard the report of them, and his hands waxed feeble; anguish took hold of him, and pangs as of a woman in travail. Behold HE SHALL COME UP LIKE A LION from the swelling of Jordan unto the habitation of the strong…

The king of beasts is a fitting symbol for this proud and powerful nation. This beast represents the mighty kingdom of Babylon. The "lion" parallels the "head of gold" in Daniel 2:37,38.

Daniel 7:5 And behold, another beast, A SECOND, LIKE TO A BEAR, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.

The kingdom of Medo-Persia followed Babylon and aptly fits the description of the devouring bear. This bear was raised up on one side, showing the duality of Medo-Persia, and the Persian as the greatest power. The Persians were extremely cruel, which is alluded to by the command to devour much flesh. The "bear" parallels the "breast and arms of silver" in Daniel 2;39.

Daniel 7:6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like A LEOPARD, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; and the beast had also FOUR HEADS; and dominion was given to it.

The leopard with four wings and four heads pictures the rise of Greece, the next world empire. The four wings represent the speed of Alexander the Great when he conquered the world, and the four heads symbolise the four divisions of the kingdom at Alexander's death. The "leopard" parallels the “thighs of brass” in Daniel 2:39.

Daniel 7:7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a FOURTH BEAST, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and IT HAD GREAT IRON TEETH: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it:

The Leopard representing Greece

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and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it, and it had TEN HORNS.

The dreadful beast very fittingly represented the fourth successive world empire - that of Pagan Rome. The iron teeth parallel with the iron legs of the image in Daniel 2:40. The ten horns of this fourth beast pictured the break up of power of Pagan Rome into the divisions of Western Europe, which were finally established by the year 476 AD. This corresponds with the feet and toes of Daniel 2:41-43.

WHO IS THE LITTLE HORN OF DANIEL 7?

Daniel 7:8,19,20 I considered the horns, and, behold, THERE CAME UP AMONG THEM

ANOTHER LITTLE HORN, before whom there were THREE OF THE FIRST HORNS PLUCKED UP BY THE ROOTS: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and A MOUTH SPEAKING GREAT THINGS. Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass, which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up and before whom three fell, even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose LOOK WAS MORE STOUT THAN HIS FELLOWS.

A little horn was to arise and do very great things. Nine specifications in the prophecy point out the little horn. And in all history from the days of the prophet Daniel, there is one power, and only one that answers to all these characteristics. The Little horn power of Daniel 7 is the great Antichrist of Bible prophecy. Anti-Christ means “in place of” Christ. So the Little Horn must be a religious power that sets itself up in the place of Christ on earth. It is a power according to Daniel 7:25 that would think its power so great as to attempt to change God’s Holy Law of Ten Commandments.

TEN IDENTIFYING MARKS OF THE LITTLE HORN POWER OF DANIEL 7

1) Dan 7:8,20 The little horn came up out of the Fourth Beast, the fourth empire upon the earth. The Fourth Beast was Pagan Rome. Therefore, the little horn would rise out of Pagan Rome. The Papacy is known as the Roman Catholic Church. It came up from the ruins of the Roman Empire.

2) Dan 7:8,20 It came up "among" the ten horns of the fourth beast.The ten horns arose out of the fourth beast (the Pagan Roman Empire). These ten horn kingdoms were the kingdoms that divided the Western Roman Empire and became the nations of Western Europe today. The ten horns are parallel to the feet of iron and clay of Daniel 2. Therefore, the little horn would come up "among" the ten horn nations of Western Europe. The Papacy arose in Western Europe, among the ten horns. Of this prophecy, Martin Luther says, “Behold there came up from among them another little horn. This … is the Papal Kingdom rising up in the

Fourth beast represents Rome

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middle of the Roman Empire.”

3) Dan 7:24 It came up "after" the ten horns arose from the fourth beast.The little horn would arise "after" the ten horns had conquered the Western Roman Empire. The last Caesar was deposed in Rome in AD 476, by the Heruli who occupied Italy, historians therefore date the fall of Rome to AD 476. By this date the ten horn nations were in place. Therefore, we can expect to see the little horn power rise to dominance sometime "after" AD 476 when the fall of Western Rome was complete and the ten horn nations were in place.

4) Dan 7:8,20 Three horns were "plucked up" and destroyed in the presence of the little horn. On her rise to prominence it was necessary to “pluck up” three kingdoms that obstructed the Papacy’s rise to power in the west. The three Arian kingdoms, the HERULI, the VANDALS, and the OSTROGOTHS were destroyed.

5) Dan 7:20 The Little horn although little at first, became "more stout" than the other horns. It would seek to become the dominant power in Europe. A ‘LITTLE’ HORN - She is a little kingdom. The Vatican is a separate, independent kingdom in Europe, extending over just 108 acres of land, yet rivals the power of any other country of Europe.

6) Dan 7:24 This horn power would be "different" from the other horns.The other horns were political powers, the little horn would be different. Not merely political, but also religious. The Papacy is a religio-political kingdom.

7) Dan 7:8,20 The little horn would have the eyes of a man & a mouth that spoke 7:25 great words against God. It would have a man at its head who would say and

teach things contrary to God’s Word.

The little horn spoke "very great words" against God. V 8 declares it had a man at its head who had a big mouth! This figurehead would teach things contrary to God and His truth. Paul, referring to this same power in 2 Thess 2:3,4 declares that a "man of sin" would sit in the temple of God, which is a symbol of the church (Eph 2:21), and would usurp the prerogatives that belong to God alone.

SPEAK GREAT WORDS AGAINST THE MOST HIGH - The Papacy has done this. e.g. The Catholic National, July 1895. “The Pope is not only the representative of Jesus Christ, but He is Jesus Christ Himself, hidden under the veil of flesh.

"Dignity and Duties of the Priests or Selva" by St. Alphonsus De Liguori, page 27: “With regards to the mystic body of Christ, that is, all faithful, the priest has the power of the keys, or the power of delivering sinners from hell, or making them worthy of paradise, and of changing them from the slaves of Satan into the children of God. AND GOD HIMSELF IS OBLIGED TO ABIDE BY THE JUDGMENT OF HIS PRIESTS".

Papal Rome has committed tremendous blasphemy against God. She claims to be God on Earth. Her boastful claim is that the Pope is the Vicar of Christ on earth. But the Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is the Vicar or representative of Christ on earth. She has usurped the prerogatives of God in claiming power to forgive sins, and in claiming to have changed the law of God. Her boastful claim to have changed the very Law of God is her most daring act of treason and blasphemy against God.

"All names which in the Scriptures are applied to Christ, by virtue of which it is established that He is over the church, all the same names are applied to the

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Pope." On The Authority of Councils, Book 2, chapter 17, p 266.

"We hold upon this earth the place of God Almighty." The Great Encyclical Letter of Pope Leo XIII, p 304.

8) Dan 7:21,25 It would persecute God's faithful people and make war against them. It would have a history of persecution against those whom it would term "heretics.” Rome boldly admits she has persecuted.

The Western Watchman: "The church has persecuted. Only a tyro in Church History would deny it ... When she thinks it good to use force she will use it".

During the Dark Ages in excess of 150 million people were put to death by the cruel hand of the Roman Papacy. Books that mention persecutions are Fox's Book of Martyrs, History of the Reformation by Dubigne, The Spanish Inquisition by Jean Plaidy, etc.

9) Dan 7:25 The little horn would think himself able to change God's set times and Law. God's Law is the Ten Commandments, it is the constitution of heaven. This power would set himself above the Law of God, and think that he has the power to change the Ten Commandments! Therefore, this power is not only political, but religious, it meddles with the Law of God.

A comparison of the ten commandments in a Roman Catholic Catechism with the commandments in Exodus 20:3-17 will reveal that Rome has tampered with the law of God. She has also altered the "Times in the Law", by interfering with Commandment Number 4.

e.g. T. Enright, February 18. 1884. "I have repeatedly offered $1000 to anyone who can prove to me from the Bible alone that I am bound to keep Sunday holy. There is no such law in the Bible. It is a law of the holy Catholic Church. The Bible says, 'Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy'. The Catholic Church says, No: By my divine power I abolish the Sabbath day and command you to keep holy the first day of the week! And lo, the entire civilized world bows down in reverent obedience to the command of the holy Catholic Church".

10) Dan 7:25 This power would exert in dominance for a time, times, and half a time. This is equivalent to 1260 prophetic days (see Rev. 12:6, 14). A day in Bible prophecy is symbolic of a year (Ezk 4:6, Num 14:34). The Little Horn would rule supreme for 1260 years. It would exert its authority down through the long era of the Middle or Dark Ages.

Revelation l2:14, 6 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for A TIME. AND TIMES, AND HALF A TIME, from the face of the serpent. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED AND THREESCORE DAYS.

The preceding verses reveal this period is 1260 days. As a day represents a year in Bible prophecy this would mean the Papacy would have a period of dominance for 1260 years. (Historical circumstances suggest the Papacy fulfilled this between 538 and 1798 AD.)

The most significant crisis in the collapse of the old Roman Empire occurred in AD. 476 when, after a series of humiliations by barbarian invaders, the Emperor Romulus Augulus abdicated. The political supremacy of the papacy, however, did

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not begin until sixty-two years later when, in AD. 533, Justinian, Emperor of Eastern Rome, decreed that the bishop of Rome should be recognised as the "Head of all the Holy Churches". This decree was put into effect in 538 AD when the last of the Arian powers that occupied Rome was uprooted. The power of the Ostrogoths over Rome was broken in 538AD, and for the first time in history the Papacy was free from foreign control, and she then began to exercise her claim to supremacy decreed upon her by Justinian in 533 AD. Thus the Papacy grew into full power after the barbarian kingdoms had divided Rome's territories.

In 1797, when Pope Pius VI became seriously ill, Napoleon gave orders that in event of his death, no successor should be elected to his office, and the Papal rule should cease. But the Pope recovered, and on 10th February 1798, on pretense of an insult to the French ambassador in Italy, Berthier, general of the French Revolutionary forces and Napoleon's famous chief of staff, entered Rome and took the Pope prisoner. The aged bishop was arrested on the night of February 20th, the 28th anniversary of his elevation to the Papal chair; the ring of authority was torn from his finger; his property was confiscated and sold; the Papal states were abolished and Rome was declared a Republic. The Pope himself was carried off to France, where he died a captive, warn out with fatigue and sorrow, at Valence, on August 29th, 1799. For a long interval afterwards the Papal throne was vacant.

Up till the Revolution, France had been a leading supporter of the Papacy for many centuries, and was called "The Eldest Son of the Church". Consequently this disaster brought to an end the age-long political supremacy of the bishop of Rome, and dealt the Papacy a wound from which it has not yet fully recovered.

In the face of such conclusive evidence, there can be no doubt concerning the true identity of the "Little Horn". Twelve hundred years of history point unerringly at the Papal power, declaring: "Thou art the man!"

Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints HERE ARE THEY THAT KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD AND THE FAITH OF JESUS.

In the last days God is calling men and women away from the errors of the Papacy, back to His wonderful truth. He wants men to return to "the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus".

On which side do WE stand in this great conflict between truth and error? Are we working with Satan to enlarge the breach in God's law? Or, are we working with God to repair the breach? These are life-and-death questions. May God help us to say with Joshua: "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord". Joshua 24:15.

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EARLY CHURCH FATHERSON THE TIMING OF THE RISE OF ANTICHRIST

2 Th 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

2 Th 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

2 Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

2 Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

2 Th 2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?2 Th 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.2 Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let,

until he be taken out of the way.2 Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the

spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:2 Th 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and

lying wonders,2 Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they

received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.2 Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a

lie:2 Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in

unrighteousness.

Note that in the above passage, Paul tells the church at Thessalonica that the second coming is not near, that there must be a falling away from the faith, a great apostasy that must happen first. Second, the man of sin, the Antichrist must be revealed, but he was being prevented from rising to power by an entity that the Thessalonians already knew about (v.6), because Paul had already told them about it (v.5).

The key here to knowing who the Antichrist is, is understanding who the restrainer was in Paul's time that prevented the rise of Antichrist, for soon after this restrainer was removed, the Antichrist would be evident. So who did the early church understand this restrainer of the Antichrist to be, and when did they expect the Antichrist to rise to power?

St. Justin Martyr (c. 100-165)DIALOGUE WITH TRYPHOCHAPTER XXXII -- TRYPHO OBJECTING THAT CHRIST IS DESCRIBED AS GLORIOUS BY DANIEL, JUSTIN DISTINGUISHES TWO ADVENTS.

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... and he whom Daniel foretells would have dominion for a time, and times, and an half, is even already at the door, about to speak blasphemous and daring things against the Most High. ...

Source: http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0128.htm

St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. 130-202)Adversus haereses (inter A.D. 180/199)Book V, Chapter 26

John and Daniel have predicted the dissolution and desolation of the Roman Empire, which shall precede the end of the world and the eternal Kingdom of Christ. The Gnostics are refuted, those tools of Satan, who invent another Father different from the Creator.

1. In a still clearer light has John, in the Apocalypse, indicated to the Lord's disciples what shall happen in the last times, and concerning the ten kings who shall then arise, among whom the empire which now rules [the earth] shall be partitioned. He teaches us what the ten horns shall be which were seen by Daniel, ...

Source: http://newadvent.org/fathers/0103526.htm

Book V, Chapter 30

Moreover, another danger, by no means trifling, shall overtake those who falsely presume that they know the name of Antichrist. For if these men assume one [number], when this [Antichrist] shall come having another, they will be easily led away by him, as supposing him not to be the expected one, who must be guarded against.

2. These men, therefore, ought to learn [what really is the state of the case], and go back to the true number of the name, that they be not reckoned among false prophets. But, knowing the sure number declared by Scripture, that is, six hundred sixty and six, let them await, in the first place, the division of the kingdom into ten; then, in the next place, when these kings are reigning, and beginning to set their affairs in order, and advance their kingdom, [let them learn] to acknowledge that he who shall come claiming the kingdom for himself, and shall terrify those men of whom we have been speaking, having a name containing the aforesaid number, is truly the abomination of desolation. ...

3. It is therefore more certain, and less hazardous, to await the fulfilment of the prophecy, than to be making surmises, and casting about for any names that may present themselves, inasmuch as many names can be found possessing the number mentioned; and the same question will, after all, remain unsolved. For if there are many names found possessing this number, it will be asked which among them shall the coming man bear. It is not through a want of names containing the number of that name that I say this, but on account of the fear of God, and zeal for the truth: for the name Evanthas (EUAN QAS) contains the required number, but I make no allegation regarding it. Then also Lateinos (LATEINOS) has the number six hundred and sixty-six; and it is a very probable [solution], this being the name of the last kingdom [of the four seen by Daniel]. For the Latins are they who at present bear rule: ...

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Source: http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0103530.htm

Tertullian (2nd-3rd Century)

For the mystery of iniquity doth already work; only he who now hinders must hinder, until he be taken out of the way." What obstacle is there but the Roman state, the falling away of which, by being scattered into ten kingdoms, shall introduce Antichrist upon (its own ruins)? "And then shall be revealed the wicked one, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming: even him whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all power, and signs, and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish."

Source: http://newadvent.org/fathers/0301.htm

CHAP. XXXII.

There is also another and a greater necessity for our offering prayer in behalf of the emperors, nay, for the complete stability of the empire, and for Roman interests in general. For we know that a mighty shock impending over the whole earth [note: Tertullian is referring to the rise of Antichrist] -- in fact, the very end of all things threatening dreadful woes---is only retarded by the continued existence of the Roman empire. We have no desire, then, to be overtaken by these dire events; and in praying that their coming may be delayed, we are lending our aid to Rome's duration.

Source: http://newadvent.org/fathers/0301.htm

Hippolytus (3rd Century)TREATISE ON CHRIST AND ANTICHRIST.

25. Then he says: "A fourth beast, dreadful and terrible; it had iron teeth and claws of brass." And who are these but the Romans? which (kingdom) is meant by the iron--the kingdom which is now established; for the legs of that (image) were of iron. And after this, what remains, beloved, but the toes of the feet of the image, in which part is iron and part clay, mixed together?

And mystically by the toes of the feet he meant the kings who are to arise from among them; as Daniel also says (in the words), "I considered the beast, and lo there were ten horns behind it, among which shall rise another (horn), an offshoot, and shall pluck up by the roots the three (that were) before it."

And under this was signified none other than Antichrist, who is also himself to raise the kingdom of the Jews. He says that three horns are plucked up by the root by him, viz., the three kings of Egypt, and Libya, and Ethiopia, whom he cuts off in the array of battle. And he, after gaining terrible power over all, being nevertheless a tyrant, shall stir up tribulation and persecution against men, exalting himself against them. For Daniel says: "I considered the horn, and behold that horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them, till the beast was slain and perished, and its body was given to the burning of fire."

Source: http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0516.htm

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St. Cyprian of Carthage (3rd Century)TREATISE XI.EXHORTATION TO MARTYRDOM, ADDRESSED TO FORTUNATUS.

PREFACE.1. You have desired, beloved Fortunatus that, l since the burden of persecutions and afflictions is lying heavy upon us, and in the ending and completion of the world the hateful time of Antichrist is already beginning to draw near, I would collect from the sacred Scriptures some exhortations for preparing and strengthening the minds of the brethren, whereby I might animate the soldiers of Christ for the heavenly and spiritual contest.

Source: http://newadvent.org/fathers/0507.htm

St. Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 315-386) Doctor of the ChurchCatechetical LecturesLECTURE XV.ON THE CLAUSE, AND SHALL COME IN GLORY TO JUDGE THE QUICK AND THE DEAD; OF WHOSE KINGDOM THERE SHALL BE NO END, DANIEL vii. 9--14.

12. But this aforesaid Antichrist is to come when the times of the Roman empire shall have been fulfilled, and the end of the world is now drawing near. There shall rise up together ten kings of the Romans, reigning in different parts perhaps, but all about the same time; and after these an eleventh, the Antichrist, who by his magical craft shall seize upon the Roman power; and of the kings who reigned before him, three he shall humble, and the remaining seven he shall keep in subjection to himself. At first indeed he will put on a show of mildness (as though he were a learned and discreet person), and of soberness and benevolence: and by the lying [108] signs and wonders of his magical deceit a having beguiled the Jews, as though he were the expected Christ, he shall afterwards be characterized by all kinds of crimes of inhumanity and lawlessness, so as to outdo all unrighteous and ungodly men who have gone before him displaying against all men, but especially against us Christians, a spirit murderous and most cruel, merciless and crafty. And after perpetrating such things for three years and six months only, he shall be destroyed by the glorious second advent from heaven of the only-begotten Son of God, our Lord and Saviour Jesus, the true Christ, who shall slay Antichrist with the breath of His mouth, and shall deliver him over to the fire of hell.

Source: http://newadvent.org/fathers/310115.htm

St. John Chrysostom (c. 347-407) Doctor of the ChurchHomilies on Second ThessaloniansHOMILY IV.   2 THESSALONIANS ii. 6--9.

"And now ye know that which restraineth, to the end that he may be revealed in his own season. For the mystery of lawlessness doth already work: only there is one that restraineth now, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall be revealed the lawless one, whom the Lord Jesus shall slay with the breath of His mouth, and bring to nought by the manifestation of His coming: even he whose coming is according to the working of Satan."

ONE may naturally enquire, what is that which withholdeth, and after that would know, why Paul expresses it so obscurely. What then is it that withholdeth, that is, hindereth him from being revealed? Some indeed say, the grace of the

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Spirit, but others the Roman empire, to whom I most of all accede. Wherefore? Because if he meant to say the Spirit, he would not have spoken obscurely, but plainly, that even now the grace of the Spirit, that is the gifts, withhold him. And otherwise he ought now to have come, if he was about to come when the gifts ceased; for they have long since ceased. But because he said this of the Roman empire, he naturally glanced at it, and speaks covertly and darkly. For he did not wish to bring upon himself superfluous enmities, and useless dangers. ... And he did not say that it will be quickly, although he is always saying it--but what? "that he may be revealed in his own season," he says, "For the mystery of lawlessness doth already work." He speaks here of Nero, as if he were the type of Antichrist. For he too wished to be thought a god. And he has well said, "the mystery"; that is, it worketh not openly, as the other, nor without shame. For if there was found a man before that time, he means, who was not much behind Antichrist in wickedness, what wonder, if there shall now be one? But he did not also wish to point him out plainly: and this not from cowardice, but instructing us not to bring upon ourselves unnecessary enmities, when there is noting to call for it. So indeed he also says here. "Only there is one that restraineth now, until he be taken out of the way," that is, when the Roman empire is taken out of the way, then he shall come. And naturally. For as long as the fear of this empire lasts, no one will willingly exalt himself, but when that is dissolved, he will attack the anarchy, and endeavor to seize upon the government both of man and of God. For as the kingdoms before this were destroyed, for example, that of the Medes by the Babylonians, that of the Babylonians by the Persians, that of the Persians by the Macedonians, that of the Macedonians by the Romans: so will this also be by the Antichrist, and he by Christ, and it will no longer withhold. And these things Daniel delivered to us with great clearness.

"And then," he says, "shall be revealed the lawless one." And what after this? The consolation is at hand. "Whom the Lord Jesus shall slay with the breath of His mouth, and bring to nought by the manifestation of His coming, even he whose coming is according to the working of Satan."

Source: http://newadvent.org/fathers/23054.htm

St. Jerome (c. 340-420) Doctor of the ChurchCommentary on Daniel:

Jerome, in his commentary on the book of Daniel (chapter 7), says, with reference to the little horn which has a mouth speaking great things, that

"it is the man of sin, the son of perdition, who dares to sit in the temple of God, making himself as God."

Source: Romanism and the Reformation by H. Grattan Guinness, Second Edition, 1891, Chapter 5, pg. 114.

Letter CXXIIITO AGERUCHIA (409)

16. But what am I doing? Whilst I talk about the cargo, the vessel itself founders. He that letteth is taken out of the way, and yet we do not realize that Antichrist is near. Yes, Antichrist is near whom the Lord Jesus Christ "shall consume with the spirit of his mouth." "Woe unto them," he cries, "that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days." ...

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17. ... For thirty years the barbarians burst the barrier of the Danube and fought in the heart of the Roman Empire. Long use dried our tears. For all but a few old people had been born either in captivity or during a blockade, and consequently they did not miss a liberty which they had never known. Yet who will hereafter credit the fact or what histories will seriously discuss it, that Rome has to fight within her own borders not for glory but for bare life; ...

Source: http://newadvent.org/fathers/3001123.htm

St. Augustine of Hippo (345 - 430) Doctor of the ChurchCity of God, Book XX, Chapter 19

For what does he [Paul] mean by "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now holdeth, let him hold until he be taken out of the way: and then shall the wicked be revealed?" [2 Thess 2] I frankly confess I do not know what he means. ... However, it is not absurd to believe that these words of the apostle, "Only he who now holdeth, let him hold until he be taken out of the way," refer to the Roman empire, as if it were said, "Only he who now reigneth, let him reign until he be taken out of the way." "And then shall the wicked be revealed:" no one doubts that this means Antichrist.

Source: http://newadvent.org/fathers/120120.htm

The testimony is clear, the early church fathers quoted above generally expected the Antichrist to rise to power very soon after the fall of pagan Rome as prophesied in the book of Daniel, chapter 7. At the time that Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica, the Caesars ruled, and until they were removed they restrained the Antichrist from rising to prominence and exercising his power. This is why Paul could not speak openly about the restrainer in his letter, because he did not want to invite unnecessary persecution by identifying Rome openly and predicting its demise. Rome's rule ended in 476 A.D., so the above fathers were writing, in some cases, hundreds of years before the event, demonstrating that they understood prophecy, at least on that point.

There is only one entity that fulfils the timing spoken of by Paul, and expounded upon by the above quoted church fathers, which rose in prominence after the fall and division of the Roman empire in the 5th century, and subsequently took control of both civil and ecclesiastical governments, exactly as prophesied, and that is the papacy of the Roman Catholic Church.

THE ANTICHRIST AND THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION

"Protestants there are, but Protestantism is no more." --Alexander Vinet 

The Protestant Reformation in the 1500's literally changed the course of history. It helped bring Europe out of the Dark Ages, and led to the rise of true religious freedom. Its original principles, although not always followed, eventually found expression in the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America. When it comes to religion, the governments of earth have no right to control the conscience. True Protestantism teaches salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8), and the supremacy of the Bible above the visible church (2 Timothy 3:16) - above traditions, pastors, priests, popes and kings (See D'Aubigne's History of the Reformation of the Sixteen Century, book xiii, chapter vi, pp. 520-524). It also teaches the priesthood of all believers (2 Peter 2:9, 10), declaring that all people everywhere can be saved by coming directly to our loving heavenly Father through His only Son, Jesus Christ (John 14:6).

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"There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5).   What did the major Protestant Reformers teach about the Antichrist? Whether you agree with them or not, it is important to realize what they actually taught. The following quotations are not intended to foster any personal ill will toward any human being, for this would be contrary to teaching of Jesus Christ (John 13:34, 35), but rather to simply present what some of the most influential Christian leaders who have ever lived actually believed about "the little horn" (Daniel 7:8), "the beast" (Revelation 13:1), and "the man of sin" (2 Thessalonians 2:3) - about the Antichrist.   Martin Luther (1483-1546) (Lutheran): "Luther ... proved, by the revelations of Daniel and St. John, by the epistles of St. Paul, St. Peter, and St. Jude, that the reign of Antichrist, predicted and described in the Bible, was the Papacy ... And all the people did say, Amen! A holy terror seized their souls. It was Antichrist whom they beheld seated on the pontifical throne. This new idea, which derived greater strength from the prophetic descriptions launched forth by Luther into the midst of his contemporaries, inflicted the most terrible blow on Rome." Taken from J. H. Merle D'aubigne's History of the Reformation of the Sixteen Century, book vi, chapter xii, p. 215.

Based on prophetic studies, Martin Luther finally declared, "We here are of the conviction that the papacy is the seat of the true and real Antichrist." (Aug. 18, 1520). Taken from The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, by LeRoy Froom. Vol. 2., pg. 121.   John Calvin (1509-1564) (Presbyterian): "Some persons think us too severe and censorious when we call the Roman pontiff Antichrist. But those who are of this opinion do not consider that they bring the same charge of presumption against Paul himself, after whom we speak and whose language we adopt... I shall briefly show that (Paul's words in II Thess. 2) are not capable of any other interpretation than that which applies them to the Papacy." Taken from Institutes of the Christian Religion, by John Calvin.   John Knox (1505-1572) (Scotch Presbyterian): John Knox sought to counteract "that tyranny which the pope himself has for so many ages exercised over the church." As with Luther, he finally concluded that the Papacy was "the very antichrist, and son of perdition, of whom Paul speaks." The Zurich Letters, by John Knox, pg. 199.   Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556) (Anglican): "Whereof it followeth Rome to be the seat of antichrist, and the pope to be very antichrist himself. I could prove the same by many other scriptures, old writers, and strong reasons." (Referring to prophecies in Revelation and Daniel.) Works by Cranmer, Vol. 1, pp. 6-7.   Roger Williams (1603-1683) (First Baptist Pastor in America): Pastor Williams spoke of the Pope as "the pretended Vicar of Christ on earth, who sits as God over the Temple of God, exalting himself not only above all that is called God, but over the souls and consciences of all his vassals, yea over the Spirit of Christ, over the Holy Spirit, yea, and God himself...speaking against the God of heaven, thinking to change times and laws; but he is the son of perdition (II Thess. 2)." The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, by Froom, Vol. 3, pg. 52.   The Westminster Confession of Faith (1647): "There is no other head of the church but the Lord Jesus Christ. Nor can the pope of Rome in any sense be head thereof; but is that Antichrist, that man of sin and son of perdition that exalteth himself in the church against Christ and all that is called God." Taken from Philip Schaff's, The Creeds of Christendom, With a History and Critical Notes, III, p. 658, 659, ch. 25, sec. 6.   Cotton Mather (1663-1728) (Congregational Theologian): "The oracles of God foretold the rising of an Antichrist in the Christian Church: and in the Pope of Rome, all the characteristics of that Antichrist are so marvellously answered that if any who read the Scriptures do not see it,

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there is a marvellous blindness upon them." Taken from The Fall of Babylon by Cotton Mather in Froom's book, The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, Vol. 3, pg. 113.   John Wesley (1703-1791) (Methodist): Speaking of the Papacy, John Wesley wrote, "He is in an emphatical sense, the Man of Sin, as he increases all manner of sin above measure. And he is, too, properly styled the Son of Perdition, as he has caused the death of numberless multitudes, both of his opposers and followers... He it is...that exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped...claiming the highest power, and highest honour...claiming the prerogatives which belong to God alone." Antichrist and His Ten Kingdoms, by John Wesley, pg. 110.   A Great Cloud of Witnesses: "Wycliffe, Tyndale, Luther, Calvin, Cranmer; in the seventeenth century, Bunyan, the translators of the King James Bible and the men who published the Westminster and Baptist confessions of Faith; Sir Isaac Newton, Wesley, Whitfield, Jonathan Edwards; and more recently Spurgeon, Bishop J.C. Ryle and Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones; these men among countless others, all saw the office of the Papacy as the antichrist." Taken from All Roads Lead to Rome, by Michael de Semlyen. Dorchestor House Publications, p. 205. 1991.