My Thoughts on Why Many Reformed Theologians of the Past Considered the Pope as the Antichrist

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After a lengthy rant on the Antichrist - I decided to think about writing on why I thought the Reformers actually considered the Pope as the Antichrist. The view itself believes that the Antichrist actually exists as a dynasty instead of a single man though 1 John 2:18 says that there are many antichrists and that Antichrist will come. There is a distinction between an antichrist and the Antichrist. One refers to an antichrist or a false messiah or one against Christ. The other refers to that imposter who will pretend to be Christ.

It's no secret that many of the Popes have had blasphemous statements. Today, it's really very well hidden. I remembered talking with a Roman Catholic apologist who won't believe that certain Popes said certain things. Why? It's because the average Roman Catholic today is ignorant of their actual church history. But the Pope himself in claiming to be the Vicar of Christ. While the word vicar can mean deputy but in Catholic theology - it actually means that the Pope is an earthly representative of Jesus Christ. Vicar also means substitute or deputy. This suggests that the Pope is a substitute or deputy for Christ here on Earth.

What theologians point out that while the name Martin Luther did up to 666 but it's not a blasphemous name. The name Vicar of Christ which is in Latin called as "Vicarius Filii Dei" (and U's numerical value is also five) adds up to 666. It's not just the numerical value but also the fact that the title itself is blasphemous. How can any man who claims to be the successor of blessed St. Peter also claim to be the Vicar of Christ. Not just a vicar but the Vicar of Christ. Is the Pope really calling himself the appointed vice president or Jesus or that Jesus appointed him as the king of the world? It's such a blasphemous notion one way or another.

What's also more important is that the Pope is referred to as Holy Father and Most Holy Father. Here are some disturbing quotes from the Popes that some Roman Catholics will deny to death - which could be a result that it's been long hidden from them!
Furthermore we declare, state and define (dogmatic statement) that it is absolutely necessary for the salvation of all men that they submit to the Roman Pontiff. - Pope Boniface VIII
The supreme teacher in the Church is the Roman Pontiff. Union of minds therefore requires together with a perfect accord in the one faith, complete submission and obedience of will to the Church and to the Roman Pontiff as God Himself. - Leo XIII 
The Pope is not only the representative of Jesus Christ but He is Jesus Christ Himself hidden under the veil of flesh.  Does the Pope speak?  It is Jesus Christ who speaks. - Pius X

It's amazing how the Vatican has managed to whitewash itself to the public that the averange Roman Catholic today knows nothing about their history. Worse, how can these men claim to be successors of Peter yet none of the blessed apostle's writings ever elevate himself as such? Allow me to quote from a Roman Catholic translation for the sake of Roman Catholic readers.
1 Peter 5:1-4 
I, who am an elder myself, appeal to the church elders among you. I am a witness of Christ's sufferings, and I will share in the glory that will be revealed. I appeal to you [2] to be shepherds of the flock that God gave you and to take care of it willingly, as God wants you to, and not unwillingly. Do your work, not for mere pay, but from a real desire to serve. [3] Do not try to rule over those who have been put in your care, but be examples to the flock. [4] And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the glorious crown which will never lose its brightness. (Good News Translation) 

Worse, it's so often done that Matthew 16:18 is perverted from its obvious context of the Bible. Even Roman Catholic translations make a clear distinction yet that verse is perverted to support the Papacy which is unfortunately not built on solid rock but a load full of false claims.
1 Peter 16:18 
And so I tell you, Peter: you are a rock, and on this Rock foundation I will build My church, and not even death will ever be able to overcome it. (Good News Translation) 

Yet the Popes still continue to take a loose interpretation, take the grammar out of its context and Roman Catholics still do too. The reason is that Roman Catholics are not saved. The Scripture is spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14). This is the marvelous blindness that happens. The Protestant theologian Cotton Mather called it marvelous blindness of people can't see the Pope as an antichrist. Martin Luther, John Calvin, and John Knox called the Pope as Antichrist. The great Reformed Baptist preachers such as Charles H. Spurgeon, George Whitfield, and Jonathan Edwards also called the Pope as Antichrist. They cited reasons that showed why the Pope is in fact an imposter and a fake as well as an antichrist.

Besides, the very claim of the Pope to being preserved from doctrinal error as by the virtue of the Holy Spirit itself is an error. Although the official Roman Catholic doesn't teach that the Pope can't make a mistake yet it teaches that the Pope can never be wrong in terms of doctrine. This teaching has become a license or the license of the Pope to declare new doctrines such as Mary's supposed sinless conception or immaculate conception all in the name of his so-called preservation. Yet the Vatican has had one contradictory doctrine over the other for so many years. The poor precious Roman Catholics aren't even aware of this betrayal!

The Pope himself has been one who has been considered above all kings during medieval times. The medieval times had the Roman Catholic world bow down to the Pope. The Vatican itself has had asserted its authorities through Roman Catholic empires where the Roman Catholic institution declared that the church must be higher than the state. There was no real separation of functions. The very Roman Catholic empire permitted no other religion than its own heresies. Yet, many of these historical records are kept away because it would put themselves in bad publicity. Today, the Pope is well-respected and well-loved by the world yet the Bible warns that Christians will not be loved by the world. 

Not to mention, the Pope himself would have an army of what some Reformed theologians call the beasts from the earth. The cardinals themselves were considered to be the dynasty of the False Prophet of Revelation 13. A more futuristic view may consider that if the Antichrist came from the papacy then certainly someone from the cardinals will be the False Prophet. The army of cardinals can be viewed as the beasts from the earth who are misleading the world to worship the beast from the sea in the very person of the Pope. However, I beg to disagree since Revelation 13 clearly tells us that the Antichrist and False Prophet are two individual persons and not dynasties as some may want to think them to be. 

Yet, there's still no doubt in my mind that the Pope is indeed an antichrist and the cardinals themselves are indeed false prophets. I still have no reason to accept such a blasphemous imposter to be even a representative of my Lord Jesus here on Earth!

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