Many people today have been given a mindset of a one man antichrist and a theme of some evil and sinister mark of the beast. Well prepare yourself for the real bombshell. The talk of a one man antichrist, a rebuilt temple and seven years of tribulation is totally false and MANUFACTURED prophecy with the intent on deceiving the Christian populous on the real truth of antichrist.
As you have already discovered, the Protestant reformation, which resulted in the vast assortment of Churches that we have today is the result of these early Protestants discovering that the Roman Catholic Church is the antichrist power spoken of all through Daniel, Revelation, 1 John and other books of the Bible. It is a major topic. Why? Because this is a very sinful apostate Church that is responsible for something that does truly matter to God. How did the Catholic Church respond to the Protestant reformation and the fact that they had been identified as antichrist? In 1545 the Catholic Church held the council of Trent and responded with the Counter Reformation in an attempt to have the finger pointed at either Nero or a fictional future antichrist. See futurism Bible prophecy, secret rapture and who is the antichrist today for more detail.
So what does the Bible really say about antichrist and the origins? John said that in his time there were many antichrists and that anyone who denies Jesus came in the flesh is antichrist. 2 John 1:7. This for example would include a Church that denies Jesus came in the flesh by a doctrine that declares Christ is part of a 3 in 1 god, which denies Christ is the literal Son of God who came in the flesh and hence is antichrist. It may further shock you to know that John said that the origin of antichrist was from the early Church many centuries ago and not some future one man antichrist.
Note the following from Ignatius who was John's disciple. What did John teach his student, which relates to antichrist that he said was already coming into existence in his time? See pagan origins of the Trinity for more detail.
“They introduce God as a Being unknown; they suppose Christ to be unbegotten; ... Some of them say that the Son is a mere man, and that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are but the same person, and that the creation is the work of God, not by Christ, but by some other strange power. Be on your guard, therefore, against such persons.” — (The Epistle of Ignatius to the Trallians, Chapter VI - Abstain from the Poison of Heretics)
1 John 2:18-19 “Little children, it is the last time: and as you have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there MANY antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 19 They went out from US, but they were not of US; for if they had been of US, they would no doubt have continued with US: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of US.”
So who is John referring to when he says us? John could not have emphasized more clearly that antichrist went out from the Church that he and the other apostles established and formed their own Church. This is definitely not an individual although certainly could be headed by an individual, especially when you consider that Revelation 13:18 says that 666 is the number of a man heading this beast power. John is also pointing out that antichrist means in place of Christ and not just denying the literal Son of God came in the flesh. So which Church broke away from the early Church and makes this blasphemous claim? Who claims to be God on Earth and places himself in place of Christ?
“We hold upon this earth the place of God almighty.” — Pope Leo XIII, Encyclical Letter, June 20, 1894.
“The Pope is not only the representative of Jesus Christ, but he is Jesus Christ, Himself, hidden under the veil of human flesh.” — Catholic National, July 1895.
“The Pope and God are the same, so he has all power in Heaven and earth.” — Pope Pius V, quoted in Barclay, Chapter XXVII, p. 218, “Cities Petrus Bertanous.”
“Remember and understand well that where Peter is, there is the Church; that those who refuse to associate in communion with the Chair of Peter belong to Antichrist, not to Christ. He who would separate himself from the Roman Pontiff has no further bond with Christ.” — Pope Leo XIII, Satis Cognitum, quoted in “Acts of Leo XIII: Supreme Pontiff”, Rome: Vatican Press, 1896, (quoted in Apostolic Digest, by Michael Malone, Book 4: “The Book of Christians”, Chapter 4: “There is No Allegiance to Christ Without Submission to the Pope”)
It may also surprise you to know that the four verses below are the only ones in the entire Bible that mention the word antichrist. Have a close look at what they say and do not say. They certainly do not match that one man antichrist theory you hear about today and why should they? That false deception originated from the true antichrist itself being the Papal Church system.
1 John 2:18 “Little children, it is the last time: and as you have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.”
1 John 2:22 “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.”
1 John 4:3 “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof you have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”
2 John 1:7 “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.”
The Number of the Beast 666 and Origin
