Expert: Sal - 10/28/2006

Question
Have you read the prophecy?  Or making assumptions?  It has been said that the Pope is the antichrist by other people by their understanding of ALL of Daniel and Revelation, if this is wrong please elaborate on your answer, I am only looking for the truth, I want the truth to come out of the bible itself and not by other readings, only from the bible.

Thanks!
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

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Sal,

I understand what you said, but all souls are from God whether you acknowledge it or not. But my question is what is this prophecy related too?

Thanks!

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Sal,

I have been reading about Bible Phophecy on the Antichrist, upon reading Daniel and Revelation, it says that the Antichrist comes from within the church (Acts 20:30; 2 Thessalonians 2:4)has a visible leader (Acts 20:30; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Daniel 7:8)and it takes up residence in the church (2 Thessalonians 2:4)rules for a long period of time (Revelation 13:5, 12:6, 12:14; Daniel 7:25) and tries change God's law. (Daniel 7:25)

My question is who is this prophecy relating too? And is the antichrist on earth now?
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Dear Soledad:

I do not know if the Antichrist is on the earth today. There have been antichrists in the world since the first century.

"But every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world" (1 Jn. 4:3).

God Bless,
Sal
-----Answer-----
Dear Soledad:

The prophecies in the Book of Daniel I believe are related to the Selucid king, Antiochus IV Epiphanes. The prophecies in the book of Revelation are related to Jewish persecution of the Church. The prophecies in Paul's writings are related to general persecution of the Church including from false members of the early Christian Church.

Have a nice day,
Sal

Answer
Dear Soledad:

I have read the prophecies as well as scholarly works on the subject. The book of Revelation I believe is about the Jewish persecution on the Christian church. There is some evidence that it may be the pagan Roman attack on the church. It is popularly believed that the 666 is the Emperor Nero. There is no evidence that the pope is the antichrist. I should say no believable, scholarly evidence because anti-Catholics will accept any garbage so long as it assaults Christ's True Church. The book of Daniel has nothing to do with the pope and everything to do with the persecution of the Jews way before any pope existed. The book of Daniel, like Revelation, does have people with a poor understanding of the Bible who have all sorts of fanciful theories about the "end-times". Usually their baseless theories do involve the Catholic Church and you may have bought into such nonsense. Try reading some Catholic works on the subject for a more balanced approach.  

Good luck in your study,
Sal