Is Pope Benedict XVI The Antichrist?
Is Pope Benedict XVI the Antichrist? Joseph Ratzinger was the first German in many years to be elected as the Pope of Rome. Pope Benedict XVI was also involved with Adolph Hitler's "Hitler Youth" many years ago. Pope Benedict XVI, (Joseph Ratzinger), was also of Germanic European extraction, just like Hitler.
The Bible clearly says that the False Church of Rome will one day use its power to help support the rise of the Antichrist in a renewed Roman Empire. The Bible also says that the Antichrist will arise in the old Roman Empire, which is for the most part the area that we now call Europe. Pope Benedict XVI is indeed from Europe. Hitler also rose to power from Germany and then tried to become the Antichrist, but failed.
Could it be that Joseph Ratzinger will one day become the Antichrist? Look closely into his eyes in above photo. Can you really trust this man? Do his eyes remind you of Adolph Hitler's eyes? Do you think that he really could be the Antichrist? In order to help answer such questions, we must look at what the Bible says on such subjects, since the Bible gives us many prophesies concerning the Antichrist. We know that if this is indeed the "Last Time", then it should also mean that the Antichrist will soon be revealed to us:
"...it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come..." (I John 2:18)
When the Antichrist does come, there will be many, many people who will not be ready. The idea of people not being ready for The Rapture and for the Antichrist was one of the main themes of the "Left Behind" book and movie series. I therefore find it amazing that so many people could read these books or watch these movies, yet still remain quite unprepared for The Rapture and for the coming of the Antichrist.
Who exactly is this Antichrist? Is he Pope Benedict XVI? The identity of the Antichrist has always been a mystery. Nevertheless, many Baptists throughout history have been quite clear about the identity of this Antichrist, or at least about the identity of the "Great Whore" and/or the Second Beast, (the "False Prophet"), a man who will act as the Antichrist's "assistant" as the Antichrist murders all true Christians by beheading and other methods. Historical Baptists have always held that the Pope of Rome will be one of these evil men. (The Bible speaks of two different Beasts arising on the world scene at about the same time, one second beast helping the other, the first beast being the Antichrist and second beast his "False Prophet" assistant):
"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..." (Rev. 13:11-12)
Why have so many Baptists been so sure that a future Pope would be either the Antichrist or else the other Beast who would help the Antichrist as he murders all Baptists and other Christians through beheading, much as the Muslims who believe the Koran now do. (Koran: "Strike off their heads till ye have made a great slaughter among them" - Sura 47:4) There are many reasons for this historical Baptist belief. Nevertheless, because of this belief, there are many Baptists who think that Pope Benedict XVI might actually one day become the Antichrist.
The first reason for such a belief by Baptists is that the Bible clearly states that the "Great Whore" will be located in a city, and that this city will sit on "seven mountains" or hills. Rome has often been called "the city of seven hills". Therefore, anyone reading this prophesy when it was written should have understood that Rome was being mentioned, since Rome ruled the world at that time and the city of Rome sat on seven hills. Rome is also the location of both the Vatican and the Pope:
"...I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, ... and here is the mind which hath wisdom. ...The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth." (Revelation 17: 7, 9)
The next reason for this belief by Baptists, is that Popes often wear purple and red (scarlet) and gold and precious gems. In fact, most of the items associated with the "Great Whore" can be seen in the above photo of the Pope, who certainly appears to be decked with plenty of gold:
"So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman ... and the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls." (Rev. 17:3, 4)
The next reason for suspecting the Pope to be either the Antichrist or his assistant is the description given in Revelation Chapter 17 of a woman, a woman called the "Great Whore". One of the attributes of a whore is that she will do whatever you ask her to do, in exchange for money, without worrying about the morality of any resulting act of lewdness. The Roman Catholic Church has been selling ecclesiastical positions to people in exchange for money for many centuries. These are ecclesiastical Catholic Church leadership positions, not merely secular positions. Often people of the vilest moral character became Bishops or obtained other high positions of leadership within the Catholic Church simply by handing the Pope large sums of money. The Whore would sell herself for money.
Popes throughout history have repeatedly shown this whorish, "anything-for-money" characteristic. Perhaps, therefore, a Pope may actually become this "Great Whore" after all, since so many Popes have "sold themselves" for the sake of "filthy lucre".
The Great Whore of Revelation Chapter 17
That so many Popes have done just about anything for money can be seen by how the Protestant Reformation was started. The Pope wanted to gain yet more money. (The Vatican already had large sums of gold.) In his lust for yet more gold, the Pope had Tetzel offer forgiveness of sin to anyone who would pay for it by giving the Pope a certain amount of money. Tetzel's slogan, to help the Pope prostitute his ecclesiastical position, was, "As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the soul from Purgatory springs".
Martin Luther showed the people that this was a "whorish" act by the Pope, because the Pope was offering his spiritual services, (in fact the forgiveness of all sins), in exchange for the "filthy lucre" of money. Luther then started to call the Pope "Antichrist" because the Pope was clearly selling his "services" for money, without regard for what was morally right or wrong, (just like a whore would do).
Another reason for thinking that the Pope might be the Antichrist has already been mentioned. This is the fact that Popes have already presided over the murder of millions of Baptists and other Christians during the past few centuries. This murder of true Christians is exactly what the Antichrist will one day do as well. Since such murders have already taken place countless times in the past under the authority of various Popes, it is no stretch of the imagination to think that yet one more Pope (perhaps Joseph Ratzinger?) will begin once more to commit the mass murder of millions of Baptists and other Christians. You might be able to put a dress on a wolf. If you did, it would still be a wolf. A wolf kills and devours its victims. You could array a "gutter whore" with gold, scarlet, purple, gems and pearls. Nevertheless, she would still be a whore.
Another reason that Baptists and others have given for a Pope being the Antichrist, is that Popes have had a long history of anti-Semitism. The Spanish expelled and persecuted the Jews centuries ago under the open and approving eyes of the Pope. In fact, Hitler was a Roman Catholic as well. The Catholic Church never excommunicated Hitler, even though he had killed over 6,000,000 Jews, as well as perhaps 5,000,000 Christians and other "troublemakers" who dared to disagree with Hitler. (Those Jewish/Christian "troublemakers" had to go - they had to be destroyed.) The Roman Catholic Church, by the way, did not at the time openly and publicly oppose those murders of Jews and Christians.
The fact is, Jews, like Christians, have suffered greatly at the hands of the Catholic Church over the centuries. (For example, part of the Catholic Crusades included the murder of large numbers of Jews.) The Antichrist will also one day slaughter Jews by the millions, much as Hitler did. Large numbers of Jews will then be exterminated by the Antichrist in a new Hitler-like holocaust. Because of the way that Popes have treated the Jews of the past, many Baptists and others believe that the Antichrist will be a Pope.
The next reason for believing that a Pope will become the Antichrist is the Ecumenical Movement itself. The Great Whore will gather all of the world's religions together under one great religious umbrella. Doctrine will be de-emphasized. All that will matter is that you "send money". (Doesn't this sound to you a bit like Tetzel?)
In fact, this prophesied occurrence has already started to happen. The Ecumenical Movement is now bringing Protestants and Baptists back to Rome, using Rick Warren-style Contemporary Christian Music ("CCM") as one effective means to help accomplish this end. Such seductive Satanic Rock Music is helping to draw a whole generation of "church kids" back to the Great Roman Catholic Whore, like a piece of flypaper drawing flies. (The new "Roman Road" of Neo-Evangelicalism is that old saying, "All roads lead to Rome.")
The fact is, Satan and his demons are already using the Ecumenical Movement with great effectiveness. This Ecumenical Movement is "gathering together" the world to someday worship the Antichrist. This "gathering together" can be seen in what happened a quarter decade ago, (back in the beginning of 2004), when the movie, "The Passion of The Christ" debuted, (which was a clearly Roman Catholic movie produced by the anti-Semitic Mel Gibson). Many Fundamental and Independent Baptists were drawn to this movie. Some Baptists were even promoting this Great Whorish movie, with a few Baptist pastors even buying blocks of tickets for their entire congregations. Satan's flypaper was working again!
Although there are other reasons, the last reason I will give for thinking that the Pope might be the Antichrist, is that the Antichrist will oppose Christ and His Gospel. The very name "Anti-Christ" should point to the fact that the Antichrist is against Christ. Christ died to pay for sinners. Jesus said that this was why He had come. The Catholic church teaches that the blood of Jesus shed on the cross was not enough to pay for all of your sins. This is why Popes have always said that you need to also pray the Rosary, do penance, go to confession, take Communion, etc. In other words, the Catholic Church rejects the Gospel of Christ, and replaces it with a "gospel" of "salvation by good works". Therefore, Popes work hard to help Satan send people to Hell, just like the Antichrist will one day do as well, apposing Jesus and the Bible.
Some have said that the Antichrist's number of "666" might mean that his first, middle, and last names will each have 6 letters to them. I do not know if this is true. Nevertheless, if it is true, then the current Pope is not the Antichrist. Still, since this is just a theory about the Antichrist, then perhaps it is false and Pope Benedict XVI might still become the Antichrist after all.
If you have not trusted Jesus Himself to pay for your sins, then you will one day go to Hell along with Hitler, the Popes, the Great Whore's supporters, and those who will one day support the Antichrist and take his "Mark" for their right hand or forehead. Satan, Hitler, and the Popes of the past will be there with you in Hell. Is this really what you want?
Now is the time for you to trust Jesus, while you are still able. As those who take the "Mark of the Beast" will no longer be able to be saved once they have taken it, you will no longer be able to be saved from the penalty of your sins after you die. It will be eternally too late. Therefore, trust Jesus today!