The Prophetic "Mystery" Unveiled

“And upon her forehead was a NAME written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” Rev. 17:5

Through the two great errors, the immortality of the soul and Sunday sacredness, Satan will bring the people under his deceptions. While the formers lays the foundation of spiritualism, the latter creates a bond of sympathy with Rome. The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in stretching their hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of spiritualism; they will reach over the abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power; and under the influence of this threefold union, this country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of conscience. EGW GC p. 588 When the leading churches of the United States, uniting upon such points of doctrine as are held by then in common, shall influence the state to enforce their decrees and to sustain their institutions, then Protestant America will have formed an image of the Roman hierarchy, and the infliction of civil penalties upon dissenters will inevitably result. Ibid

#1: Antichrist Is NOT Future (1 John 2:18, 2 Thessalonians 2:7)

#2: Antichrist Is NOT a Single Person (1 John 2:18)

#3: Antichrist Is Against CHRIST, NOT Against Jews (Daniel 7:25)

#4: Wars Against the Doctrines of Jesus Christ (2 John 1:9)

#5: Places Tradition Above the Bible (Daniel 7:8)

#6: Religious Power (2 Thessalonians 2:4)

#7: Kingdom or Nation (Revelation 13:1)

#8: Located In a Populated Area Speaking Many Languages (Revelation

13:1, Revelation 17:15)

#9: Denies That Jesus Is the Christ (1 John 2:22)

#10: Denies That Jesus Came In the Flesh (1 John 4:3)

#11: Kills God’s Saints (Revelation 13:7)

#12: Comes To Full Power After 476 A.D. [After the fall of Rome] (Revelation 13:1-2, Daniel 7:1-8)

#13: Is Located In Europe (Daniel 7:8)

#14: Is a Small Nation (Daniel 7:8)

#15: Located on Seven Mountains or Hills (Revelation 17:9)

#16: Not Just a Political Kingdom (Daniel 7:24)

#17: Appears To Be Christian (2 Thessalonians 2:3)

#18: Removes Three of the Original Ten Kingdoms (Daniel 7:8)

#19: Appears Pompous (Daniel 7:20)

#20: Would Take On God’s Titles (Revelation 13:6)

#21: Speaks Blasphemously (Revelation 13:5-6)

#22: Claims To Be God (2 Thessalonians 2:4)

#23: Claims to Be Able to Forgive Sins (Mark 2:7)

#24: Shall Reign a Prophetic 1,260 Days, 3 1/2 years, or 42 Months (Revelation 13:5, Daniel 7:25)

#25: Receives A Deadly Wound (Revelation 13:3)

#26: The Deadly Wound is Healed (Revelation 13:3)

#27: Will Survive Until the Second Coming (Daniel 7:21-22)

#28: Think to Change the Ten Commandments (Daniel 7:25)

#29: Accepts a Different Cycle of Time (Daniel 7:25, Genesis 1:14)

#30: Change God’s Worship Time (Daniel 7:25, Exodus 20:8-11)

#31: Jesus’ Sacrifice Would Be Replaced (Daniel 8:11)

#32: God’s Sanctuary Service Would Be Replaced (In Daniel 8:11)

#33: Cast Down the Truth (Daniel 8:12)

#34: Causes Christians to Fall Away, Especially From Keeping the Commandments (2 Thessalonians 2:3)

#35: Rules From What is Considered God’s Temple (2 Thessalonians 2:4)

#36: Exalts Above That Which is Called God (2 Thessalonians 2:4)

#37: Uses Signs and Wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:9)

#38: Forbids Marriages (1 Timothy 4:1-3) #39: Commands Christians to Abstain from Eating Meat (1 Timothy 4:1-3)

#40: Based Upon Satan Inspired Religion [Paganism] (Revelation 13:1-2)

#41: Blasphemes the Beings of Heaven (Revelation 13:6)

#42: The Number of the Name Being 666 (Revelation 13:18)

#43: The Antichrist Uses a Symbolic Woman (Revelation 17:3-6)

#44: Official Colors Are Purple and Scarlet (Revelation 17:4)

#45: Rich (Revelation 17:4)

#46: Assisted by Another Kingdom (Revelation 13:11-12)

#47: Has a Mark [of Allegiance] (Revelation 13:17, Revelation 14:9-10, Revelation 14:11)

#48: Mother of Harlots [Apostates] (Revelation 17:5)

#49: Is Involved With Spiritualism (Revelation 18:2)

#50: Accepts All Kinds of Beliefs Except God’s (Revelation 18:2)

#51: Ministers Would Be Very Religious (2 Corinthians 11:13)

#52: Followers Will Appear Religious (Revelation 13:4)

#53: Establishes Their Presence in the “Glorious Land” - God’s professed church. (Daniel 11:45)

#54: Would Be a World Influencer (Revelation 13:3)

#55: The Main Message Presented To the World Would Be PEACE (1 Thessalonians

5:3)

So who is the beast? Martin Luther, founder of the Lutheran denomination, declared, “We here are of the conviction that the papacy is the seat of the true and real Antichrist”, Faith of Our Fathers, Vol. 2., pg. 121. John Calvin, founder of the Presbyterian denomination, declared, “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. And lest anyone should object, that we improperly pervert to the Roman pontiff those words of Paul, which belong to a different subject, I shall briefly show that they are not capable of any other interpretation than that which implies them to the papacy”, Institutes of the Christian Religion. John Knox, a Scottish Presbyterian, said, “That tyranny which the pope himself has for so many ages exercised over the church. The very Antichrist, and son of perdition, of whom Paul speaks.” The Zurich Letters, page 199. Thomas Cranmer, an 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.” Works by Cranmer, Vol. 1, pp. 6-7. Roger Williams, the first Baptist Pastor in America, said, “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, Vol. 3, pg. 52.

The Westminster Confession of Faith contains, “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.” The Creeds of Christendom, With a History and Critical Notes, III, p. 658, 659, ch. 25, sec. 6. Cotton Mather, a Congregational Theologian, wrote “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 marvelously answered that if any who read the Scriptures do not see it, there is a marvelous blindness upon them.” The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, Vol. 3, pg. 113. John Wesley, founder of the Methodist denomination, 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, pg. 110. “In chapter 13 [VERSES 1-10.] is described another beast, “like unto a leopard,” to which the dragon gave “his power, and his seat, and great authority.” This symbol, as most Protestants have believed, represents the papacy, which succeeded to the power and seat and authority once possessed by the ancient Roman Empire. Of the leopardlike beast it is declared: “There was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies. . . . And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in Heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them; and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.” This prophecy, which is nearly identical with the description of the little horn of Daniel 7, unquestionably points to the papacy.” The Great Controversy, 1888, 439.1