The False Prophets

For more than two thousand years, everyone was trying to solve the mystery of the false prophet. Is he now living in our midst? Or is he still to come in the future? Does he possess a superhuman nature as other so called bible scholars portray him? There are many questions and many answers given. In any event, the would-be-existence of this false prophet is foretold in the bible. It gives descriptions on how to spot this false prophet. Though many of the identifying marks given therein are in figurative or symbolical in nature, the bible itself gives meaning to these symbols.



For example, Christ Himself warned, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves (Mat.7:15 KJV). Of course this is figurative, otherwise it would be impossible to recognize false prophets and false preachers, the only thing they would have to do is to avoid wearing wool or clothing made of literal sheep's coat.  The description that 'inwardly they are ravening wolves', establishes the fact that the verse is figurative. This passage though is complemented by another bible verses, and that will bring us a step closer to the identity of this false prophets, and eventually to the identity of the Antichrist.



The bible refers to Christ as a lamb and sheep (Isaiah 53:7; Acts 8:32). No one would argue that in our Lord’s time here on earth, the dress was a long one. Even artists’ representation commissioned by any religious institutions rendered the general appearance of our Lord’s clothing was a long one. In Revelation, John described it : “clothed with a garment down to the foot “. (Rev.1:13) The expression “down to the foot” simply means long robe or garment. Christ’s warning therefore means that false prophets will imitate his clothing, or will be similar to his.



Some think, preachers donning long garment is a good sign, because Christ and the apostles wore that style of clothing during their time. We have to disagree. In fact it is one of the ways in recognizing the false prophets. One doesn’t have to search hard that Catholic priests up to the Pope wear this kind of clothing. It is a prescribed outfit to identify them as preachers or ministers of their church. Preachers from some other religious organizations also wear the same get up. The latter must have had the same feeling that having similar clothing with our Lord gives a pious and godly appearance.



Christ said: “but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits.” The whole passage in fact is a warning to coming false prophets. The disciples were given identifying signs, “sheep’s clothing”, “ravenous wolves” and “by their fruits”. Since these are false preachers, the fruits being referred to must be the nature of their teachings. It must be false teachings. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians says: “For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth” (9:5). So their teachings are not in line with the truth or the Word of God.



The ravenous wolves is the grievous wolves mentioned by apostle Paul, “ For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.” (Acts 20:29).  Paul’s departure means his death. (vv.36-38, 2 Tim.4:6,7). These wolves in sheep’s clothing will not spare the flock, which is the church (v.28) And these wolves says Paul “will come in among YOU”. The pronoun YOU refers to whom Paul was speaking to at the time, they are the "overseers" and "feeders" of the church (v.28) Douay Rheims renders “overseers” as “bishops”. Therefore, Paul was speaking to bishops at that point in time.This means the savage wolves will find its place among the ranks of the bishops in the church and “will not spare it.” And from the ranks of the bishops, Paul prophesied, “ Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, [ “you shall know by their fruit”, remember?]to draw away disciples after them.” (v.30).



After the death of the apostles, history proves that from the ranks of the bishops in the church arose the so-called “Apostolic Fathers” and then came the “Church Fathers”. Gradually, the primacy of the Bishopric of Rome over all the bishoprics, including the Bishopric of Jerusalem, was developed and proclaimed. And centuries later the Title Pope was exclusively appropriated to the Bishop of Rome.



A clothing similar to our Lord, in our own standard, if worn by a preacher, would give the appearance of godliness and piousness. But our thinking is different from the Lord. His standard should be our standard in trying to be just before Him. And that should be the TRUTH. Though it is somewhat hard to find , because of our limited capacity, and considering also our prejudice brought about by the belief inculcated in us during our youth on, an open mind from this point onwards would be of help.



As to the appearance of godliness, here is Paul’s warning, “having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.” (2 Tim.3:5)


Here are some points of identification of the false prophet: He is also the antichrist; he is referred to in the bible as the beast; he is referred to in Revelation 13 as the man having the number 666. This is just to name a few.



This is not to advocate for nor support any specific religious organization or church. This is independent.  The motive here is to share the truth, and to enlighten the world, if possible. Any similarity of my findings to the teachings of any specific religious organization is either unintentional or accepted here as biblical.

Papal-Antichrist theory: An Argument in favor of the Roman Church?

I found this on the net and it says, "After this general survey of the Protestant views concerning the Antichrist, we shall be able to appreciate some of Cardinal Newman's critical remarks on the question [re: AntiChrist].”  We will assume that the writer is either quoting or  presenting the cardinal’s  view  on the subject matter; and we will also give our view:

    "If any part of the Church be proved to be antichristian, all of the Church is so, the Protestant branch inclusive."

            To disprove the papal-antichrist theory by arguing that if it is true, it would also include “all of the Church” including the  Protestant, is not a sound argument.  It is the same as saying,  “since the Catholic Church is [of] the Antichrist,  then all churches are too, all destined to go to hell.”   This smells like an admission, but at the same time like saying ‘we are not alone.’

      And it probably is true, since the antichrist is associated with "Babylon the great " (Rev.17.4), described as a harlot (woman=church, therefore, evil woman= evil church) .  This harlot is also described as mother of harlots.  Therefore the harlot-evil church has daughters that are harlots too. (evil women=evil churches).  The ‘Cardinal’s argument did not disprove the theory, he , in fact, confirms it.  In few words.

   "The Papal-Antichrist theory was gradually developed by three historical bodies: the Albigenses, the Waldenses, and the Fraticelli, between the eleventh and the sixteenth centuries: are these the expositors from whom the Church of Christ is to receive the true interpretation of the prophecies?"

        The cardinal’s question of course is rhetorical.  Cardinal Newman only means that the Albigensis, Waldenses, and all schools of thought pointing to the pope or the Catholic church  as the Antichrist are not the authorities to give us the true interpretation of the prophecies about the Antichrist.  And at the same time rhetorically places the Catholic Church as the one who can truly interpret it.  But the problem is, what if the Papal-Antichrist theory is correct?  The result is obvious.  The world would be deprived of knowing the true identity of the Antichrist.  

        The Catholic Church as of yet, has not given us a concrete and complete interpretation of the prophecies.  The most that they have done so far is to point to a future Antichrist, or to some sort of a redherring.  They say that the Antichrist could be Nero, and with some clever  manipulation, the name adds up to 666.  Through it all, in effect, the official church declaration is that there is no antichrist yet.

        But isn’t it clear from the bible that the spirit of the Antichrist was already working during time of the apostles? (1 John 4:2)  That from the ranks of bishops of the first century church “shall men arise, speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them” (Acts 20:29-30)?  Wasn’t the catholic church could be traced back from then?  These are just some valid observations that place the Pope, even the church itself, as the prime suspect of being the Antichrist.

    "The defenders of the Papal-Antichrist theory have made several signal blunders in their arguments;..."

        I agree. But their several blunders do not automatically make the theory false. It could also mean that they are the harlot daughters of a harlot mother.  Pardon my french.

    "Protestants were driven to the Papal-Antichrist theory by the necessity of opposing a popular answer to the popular and cogent arguments advanced by the Church of Rome for her Divine authority"

        Hmmm.   What are those popular and cogent arguments advanced by the Church of Rome?  That Nero could be the Antichrist?  That is not popular, much less cogent to me.

            That the church of Rome, nor any part of it, could not be the Antichrist, because of its divine authority owing to the fact that it could be traced back to the first century church?  Well, here is something for that timeline: Paul said, “after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock." (Acts 20:29).  The flock is the church. (v. 28). The wolves did enter the church after Paul's departure.  Maybe I'm wrong in understanding Paul.  I let you understand the statement yourself.

           

             Of course anyone can claim Divine authority. But proving it is another story.

   " Warburton, Newton, and Hurd, the advocates of the Papal-Antichrist theory, cannot be matched against the saints of the Church of Rome."

Another claim, that is, that there are saints in the church of Rome. 

    "If the Pope be Antichrist, those who receive and follow him cannot be men like St. Charles Borromeo, or Fénelon, or St. Bernard, or St. Francis de Sales."

        Why, who are these saints? Apostles?  Prophets?  Who made them saints, anyway? The words of God? No, the Pope through the process of beatification and canonization.  Why cite these "saints" in belying the "papal-antichrist theory" even to non-Catholics? 

To the readers:  Everyone  is welcomed  to ask questions, to give their comments on this subject or to any subject in this blog. 

(Quotes are from http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01559a.htm)

The False Prophet, the Second Beast

The second Beast or the Beast from the earth in Revelation 13 is variously identified by scholars as to its fulfillment.  The Preterists identify this beast with the Roman Empire;  The Historicists, such as  Martin Luther and Isaac Newton, identify this beast with the papacy; The Dispensationalists identify it to a future  “revived Roman Empire”  matched by a future Antichrist.   All of them of course claim divine inspiration, and it is up to us to discern if they are just claiming things they do not deserve. 

The Bible gives us many identifying points to recognize this second Beast.  The main description given is that it looks like a lamb, but speaks like a dragon:  And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as dragon." (Rev.13:11)

The descriptions are easily discernible. The Lamb symbolizes our Lord Jesus Christ (I Pet. 1:19), and the dragon symbolizes the devil (Rev.12:9). The second beast, though having similarities with Christ, will speak like the devil, an unmistakable characteristic of false prophets.  Thus, in The New Testament edited by Catholic Scholars, in its footnote for Revelation 19:20, this is what they say about this second Beast :  " The False Prophet: the second wild beast of chapter 13." (Copyright 1947 by Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, p.471).

While  “Beast”  in the Bible symbolizes a  “world kingdom;” nevertheless,  identifying the 2nd Beast as  the False Prophet is also correct,  because kingdom is always symbolized by its king, just as president is figuratively called head of state or nation.  In the present case, we can spot the connection without much effort-, i.e., The false prophet is associated, connected, and of one mind with the second Beast.  In this regard, we have to agree with Catholic scholars in their interpretation; at least this was their stand in 1947 based on the date of copyright of the book we cited.   

The importance in identifying the false prophet will lead us in identifying the fulfillment of the 2nd Beast.  Regardless on whether it has been fulfilled or future, the second beast is generally regarded by scholars as the Antichrist.  The problem however lies on the fact that what we can only see is  the outward appearance, and as always, looks can be deceiving.

But it should not be the case.  There is a way of spotting them even just by looking at them.  Jesus said, "Beware of false prophets, which came to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." Therefore,  one way to spot false prophet/s is in their  clothing.  Now notice the expression, "like a lamb, and spake as dragon" and compare it in "in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."  (Mat.7:15).   These two expressions virtually have the same meaning!  Elsewhere in this blog is discussed the false prophets in sheep's clothing.  click here.

This false prophet despite speaking as a dragon was able to attract several followers and believers:  "And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:"(Rev.13:16).  But how could false prophet/s attract many followers when in fact speaking like the devil? Verse 14 informs that deception will be used and as stated, he will look like a lamb or Christ, and of course one of the best ways of doing it of is to imitate Christ's clothing.  False prophet/s will have an appearance of piousness as that of our Lord; but will speak lies and deception.(John 8:44; Rev.13:14).

Yes, The False Prophet and the second beast of Revelation are one and the same.