29 CHARACTERISTICS OF ANTICHRIST

When people think about antichrist, they only tend to look at the English word itself, "ANTI-Christ" and place the meaning of this as someone who is a direct and open enemy of Jesus Christ. Someone who is 'against' Christ. And thus they fail to see the deeper, original meaning of this word in the original Bible language.

'anti' in the original Greek also has a meaning of 'instead of' or 'in place of'

So the Bible antichrist isn't just someone who is opposed to Christ and His ways. It is someone who puts themselves in place of Jesus Christ. Now we know that satan is the ultimate antichrist, as he is the one who leads the rebellion against Christ, and tries to put himself in place of God and of Jesus. The Bible even confirms this about satan:

Isaiah 14:12-14 ...'How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.'

So satan's main goal was to be IN THE PLACE OF God and of God's Son, Jesus Christ. And this is the same thinking that satan has placed in his antichrist system that the Bible reveals. So we have satan as the main antichrist, but we also have an antichrist system that satan set up on earth to take the place of Jesus Christ on earth. The following 29 characteristics reveal just what that antichrist [IN PLACE OF-Christ] system is.

1 - The fourth beast from which the little horn comes from is the 'fourth [world] kingdom' upon the earth (Daniel 7:23). This is the same kingdom as the iron legs on Nebuchadnezzar's image, which is ROME. So the little horn comes from the nation of the old Roman Empire.

2 - The little horn comes up AMONG the other ten horns of the 'Roman' beast (Daniel 7:8). Meaning the little horn power comes into existence during the time that the Roman Empire split into the ten kingdoms of Europe and rises to power after the split.

3 - The little horn is a 'LITTLE' horn (Daniel 7:8). Meaning it is specifically a 'little' kingdom.

4 - The little horn is 'different' from the other ten horns (kingdoms) of Europe (Daniel 7:24).

5 - The little horn has three of the other horns 'plucked up by the roots' (Daniel 7:8). Meaning the litte horn kingdom had 3 of the original kingdoms of Europe completely destroyed.

6 - The little horn 'speaks great things against God' (Daniel 7:25).

7 - The little horn persecutes the saints of God for a time, times and half a time (Daniel 7:25). Meaning the little horn kingdom persecutes the true believers in Jesus Christ for 1260 (prophetic) days. Which are 1260 literal years. (See THIS PAGE concerning the day for a year rule in prophecy).

8 - The little horn 'thinks to change times and laws' (Daniel 7:25). Meaning this kingdom thinks it has the authority to change God's set times and laws.

9 - The little horn 'magnifies himself to the Prince of host' (Daniel 8:11). Meaning this little kingdom exalts itself like satan by putting itself IN PLACE OF Christ on earth.

10 - The little horn 'casts the place of the sanctuary down' and 'casts truth to the ground' and 'tramples upon the sanctuary and host' (Daniel 8:11-14). Meaning this little kingdom replaces the Heavenly sanctuary service performed by our High Priest, Jesus Christ with it's own service and it's own priests on earth. This little kingdom also tramples upon the truth and causes error to prosper.

11 - The little horn's 'power shall be mighty, but not by it's own power' (Daniel 8:24). Meaning this little kingdom does not have any power itself to conquer. It uses the power of other nations to help it do it's 'dirty work'.

There is only one kingdom that matches these characteristics perfectly, and that is the Papal Church of Rome. 1 - The Papacy arose from the Roman Empire. 2 - The Papacy rose to power after the Roman Empire split up into the ten original kingdoms of Europe. 3 - The Papacy based at the Vatican in Rome is it's own country, and is the smallest country in the world. 4 - The Papal power was different from the other kingdoms of Europe in that it was a combined religous and political kingdom. 5 - The Papacy had 3 of the original kingdoms of Europe (Heruli, Vandals and Ostrogoths) destroyed. As these were Arian tribes that opposed the teachings of Papal Rome. 6 - The Papacy has made great boasts and spoken very proud things throughout history that is against God (see THIS PAGE). 7 - The Papal Church of Rome persecuted God's people and reigned over the kings of the earth for 1260 years between 538 AD and 1798. 8 - The Papal Church has thought to change God's set time, which is the 7th day sabbath and replaced it with SUN-day sabbath (1st day). Also the Papal Church has thought to change God's laws by doing away with the 2nd commandment to do with idols - amongst other things. 9 - The Papacy magnifies itself and places the pope as equal with God. John Paul II once stated that the pope is 'IN PLACE OF Christ' on earth (Crossing the Threshold of Hope, p. 3, 1994). 10 - The Papacy has replaced the priestly service that Jesus Christ does in heaven (see Hebrews 8 and 9) with it's own priestly service, telling people that the priests can forgive sins. 11 - The Papacy has no power of it's own to rule. Instead it relies upon the power of other nations.

12 - The man of sin is called 'the son of perdition' (2 Thessalonians 2:3). Judas was the only other person to be called this.

13 - The man of sin 'sits in the temple of God professing to be like God' (2 Thessalonians 2:4). Meaning the man of sin sits in a leadership position in 'the professed church' acting like he is god.

There is only one man who matches this description perfectly, and that is the pope(s) of the Papal Church of Rome. 12 - Judas was also called 'the son of perdition' (John 17:12). So calling the man of sin by this name also, means the man of sin would be like Judas - A DECEIVER FROM WITHIN THE CHURCH. 13 - The pope(s) sit in the Roman Catholic Church acting like he is god on earth giving out indulgences to forgive sins, which only our Heavenly Father can do and being called 'holy father', a title which only our Heavenly Father has (Mark 10:18).

14 - John confirms in 1 John 2 that those who were antichrists professed to be followers of Jesus, but 'went out' from the TRUE church and revealed themselves to not be true followers of the Lord.

14 - The leaders of the Roman Catholic Church profess to be followers of Jesus, but they have made manifest that they 'went out from' the TRUE church and it's true original teachings to follow after heresy and Pagan traditions.

15 - The beast rises up out of the sea (Revelation 13:1). Meaning it rises up among many nations, tongues and people (Revelation 17:15).

16 - The dragon gives the beast it's 'seat and authority' (Revelation 13:2). Revelation 12 confirms that the dragon is satan and also the nation of Pagan Rome (it was Pagan Rome who tried to kill the 'man child', Jesus Christ).

17 - The beast would receive a 'mortal wound' which would be healed (Revelation 13:3). Meaning this kingdom would be conquered at some stage, and lose it's power. But would then be revived into a power again.

18 - All the world would 'wonder after the beast' (Revelation 13:3). Meaning exactly as it says. The WHOLE WORLD would follow after the beast and the beast would lead the nations.

19 - The beast 'continues for forty two months' (Revelation 13:5). Meaning it would rule for 1260 (prophetic days), which are 1260 literal years. Same as the little horn power.

Again, the Papacy is the only kingdom that matches the sea beast perfectly. 15 - The Papacy rose up in Europe amongst many nations, tongues and people. 16 - The Papacy received it's 'seat and power' from the old Roman Empire, and ultimately from satan himself. 17 - The Papacy received a 'mortal wound' in 1798 when the French army marched into Rome and captured the pope and the Papacy lost it's control and power. But then in 1929 Mussolini granted state power back to the Vatican and the deadly wound began to heal. 18 - Is the world 'wondering after' the pope and the Papal Church of Rome today? YES! 19 - This is the same time as the little horn power, which is 1260 years. The Papacy ruled the world between 538AD and 1798.

20 - The harlot sits upon many 'waters' (Revelation 17:1). Meaning she sits upon lots of nations, people and tongues (Revelation 17:15).

21 - The harlot has 'committed fornication with the kings of the earth' (Revelation 17:2). Meaning the kings have united with Babylon forming a church/state alliance and forced her decrees upon the people of the world.

22 - The earth has been 'made drunk' with the wine of Babylon (Revelation 17:2). Meaning, she has deceived the world with her false teachings.

23 - Babylon is dressed in 'purple and scarlet' and 'decked with gold and precious stones' (Revelation 17:4). Meaning her 'special colours' are Purple and Scarlet. Also Purple is a royal and priestly colour, so the harlot would place herself in a position of royalty and a position of preisthood. Scarlet in the Bible denotes the colour of sin (Isaiah 1:18) and is also the colour of the dragon, which is satan. Also, Babylon is very rich.

24 - Babylon has a cup 'full of abominations' (Revelation 17:4). Meaning she has committed great abominations against God and against mankind.

25 - John 'wondered' (or was greatly amazed) at the sight of Babylon (Revelation 17:5). Meaning that something about her look or actions amazed John.

26 - Babylon is the 'MOTHER of harlots' (Revelation 17:5). Meaning she has harlot daughters.

27 - She is the 'great city that reigns over the kings of the earth' (Revelation 17:18).

28 - Babylon thinks she is a 'queen' to the world and will see no sorrow (Revelation 18:7). Meaning, she thinks she is the only true church and that all people need her. She has placed herself in this high position over the people and thinks she cannot be touched.

29 - The voice of the bride and bridegroom shall no longer be heard in her (Revelation 18:23). Whether this is taken literally or symbolically, it still means Babylon is a church, as people get married in a church and symbolically, Christ is the bridegroom and we are His bride, again pointing to a church.

There is only one city/institution/religion that matches perfectly with Babylon the Great, and that is the Roman Catholic Church. 20 - The Roman Catholic Church is supported by over 1 Billion people worldwide and has people and leaders in nearly every (if not every) nation on earth. 21 - The Roman Catholic Church has 'diplomatic relations' with nearly all the countries on the planet, and she unites with the leaders of this world to push her decrees. 22 - The vast majority of professed Christians worldwide, whether Catholic or not have been deceived by the Vatican's false teachings. Specifically, they have embraced Rome's false SUN-day sabbath. Her false trinity doctrine and her false teaching on the 'immortal soul'. As well as other falsehoods. 23 - The main colours of the bishops and cardinals in the Roman Catholic Church are purple and scarlet. And you only need to look at the Vatican and the Catholic Church's other buildings to see how much she is decked with gold and precious stones. Some say the Roman Church is the wealthiest institution on earth. 24 - The Roman Catholic Church has committed abomination after abomination throughout her history. She has tortured and killed MILLIONS of God's people. She has sexually abused and killed countless numbers of little children. She is full of homosexual priests and leaders. Just to name a few abominations. 25 - John wondered in great amazement because he saw a church who professed to be God's people (Roman Catholic Church) doing horrendous acts 'in the name of God', which the Roman Church HAS done. 26 - Who else has 'harlot daughters' like the Roman Catholic Church? Her daughters are Orthodox church and the ex-Protestant churches, who held on to Rome's teachings (like Sunday sabbath and soul immortality) and have now run back to their 'mother' and embraced her once more. 27 - The Vatican is THAT 'great city which reigns over the kings of the earth'. All leaders of the earth come to the Vatican to seek council from the pope(s). As stated above, the Vatican has diplomatic relations with virtually all nations on earth. 28 - The Roman Catholic Church states that she is the only true church and that we need to be united with her to gain salvation. She acts as 'queen' of the earth and places Mary as the 'queen of heaven'. 29 - The Roman Catholic Church is that 'church' in which the voice of the bride and bridegroom will no longer be heard in her, because she is soon to be destroyed by the kings of the earth (Revelation 17:16) and the Lord at His coming.

There is no other religion, institution, city or kingdom that matches the Bible antichrist the way the Papal Church of Rome does. It's a PERFECT match! And do you remember what we showed you above how satan wants to be IN PLACE OF God and Jesus? Well, he is using the Roman Catholic Church to take the place of Jesus on earth and cause the world to worship him through this church. Even John Paul II admitted in his book that the pope(s) TAKE THE PLACE OF Jesus on earth:

"The leader of the Catholic church is defined by the faith as the Vicar of Jesus Christ (and is accepted as such by believers). The Pope is considered the man on earth who TAKES THE PLACE of the Second Person of the omnipotent God of the Trinity.' (John Paul II, Crossing the Threshold of Hope, p. 3, 1994)

But the Bible clearly tells us that it is God's Spirit that takes the place of Jesus on earth. NOT the pope!

Remember: ANTI-Christ = IN PLACE OF-Christ = Roman Catholic Church!