THE GALLOP OF THE ANTICHRIST
THE GALLOP of the ANTICHRIST
The antichrists are not waiting for the first seal to be opened to start this ride—I believe when John saw the first seal being opened, the antichrist was already at full gallop. His ride started with the birth of Jesus Christ. His goal from the beginning has been to eliminate the name of Jesus and those that worship him. For a period of time, The Antichrist will be satisfied with a “one world religion.” His ride will continue until the apostate church and everything and every one that mirrors or mentions the name of Jesus is destroyed. His rule will be over a Christ-less world!
We know from scripture there were antichrists in Jesus’ day—those against Him, in any way, were [and are] antichrist. The first thing that Jesus warned His disciples about in His Olivet Discourse was “…See that no one leads you astray.” MATTHEW 24:4 Then He said, “‘For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ’ …’” MATTHEW 24:5 The antichrist was then beginning to mount his white horse. From that time, and in various ways, the antichrist has been riding. Since the antichrists will never destroy Jesus Christ or all of those that believe in Jesus Christ, he will be content with a one-world religion that denies the deity of Jesus Christ. While the Catholic Church professes the deity of Jesus Christ, nonetheless, many believe that some of their doctrines and the actions of their popes are antichrist! Regardless, they seem to be leading the way in ecumenical dialogue that could lead to a one-world religion. To get to that point they will, at the least, seemingly diminish the deity of Jesus Christ. To understand the role of the Catholic Church, we first need a brief review of their history.
For hundreds of years after their inception, and before the time of Protestants and Reformation, the Catholic Church had considerable control over the written Word. There were only a few Bibles, and churches had most of those. All Bibles had to be meticulously copied by hand; and most people could not read. The Catholic Church was able to force their doctrines and interpretations of scripture on a largely ignorant population. They demanded strict adherence to their teachings and rules. Enforcement was often harsh and cruel; but, for the most part, they were able to keep the populace in their sphere of influence under their control. However, they did have one capable and contentious adversary—the Muslims.
The ‘Crusades’ were religious wars against Muslim control, particularly control of the Holy Lands. Those wars lasted for about two centuries. The Catholic Church failed in those wars with perhaps one exception—the role and prestige of the popes and the Catholic Church, in secular affairs, increased. Just as it will again in the end of time. In some way the Catholic Church and Muslims coexisted for the next few hundred years. Centuries after the Crusades, the Reformation started.
With the advent of printing presses, and with Martin Luther’s 95 theses in 1517, the Protestant reformation was fanned into a fire. Armed with newly printed Bibles those who were reformers began reading the Word for themselves; and then they started spreading the Gospel. To the consternation of the Catholic Church, they were unable to stop the spread of Protestantism. Charges of heresy, followed by inquisitions, were often brought against Protestant reformers. The policy of inquisitions was implement by the Catholic Church in the 12th century. Since inquisitions were a travesty, accusations of heresy by the Catholic Church often ended in the deaths of Christians. Other efforts of the Catholic Church to stop the reformation also failed.
So in 1540, the Jesuit Order was founded. They were known by some as ‘the army of God’ and their leader was referred to as ‘The General.’ Persecution of the ‘reformers’ began in earnest. The atrocities were many. Some believe those atrocities by the Jesuits and the Catholic Church continued into the twentieth century and did not stop until some of the policies of the Second Vatican Council were implemented. When all else fails, you join them! 1 But centuries before the Second Vatican Council the Catholic Church decided to make some changes. The Council of Trent, from 1545 to 1563, was a call for answers, a Catholic Reformation, a Counter Reformation.
As a result of this Council they started addressing some of the issues raised by Luther’s 95 theses. Many articles seem to imply that Luther only challenges were indulgences; but many connected issues were also addressed. While in some instances he seemed to side with the pope, most of his theses were a challenge to the pope’s authority in some way. The Catholic Church especially did not like some of the conclusions that were drawn from the 95 Theses. The belief that ‘scripture alone’ and ‘faith in Jesus Christ alone’ are all we need to attain salvation was specifically addressed at the Council of Trent. These beliefs were a serious infringement on the power and authority of the pope, who they believe is Christ’s vicar. The Catholic Church reaffirmed that they believe you need the edicts of the pope, the pope’s guidance, along with scripture to find salvation and that with faith, you must have works. [We must do the works that the Father has prepared for us to; but vain works, of man’s own volition or those that a man requires, are not necessary.]
After reiterating some policies and doctrines and redefining others at the Council of Trent, and in order to maintain their rigid control over their parishioners and to keep them from being swept up in the reformation, they continued to vigorously oppose the Protestant Reformation.
From the Catholic Church’s inception and the rigid controls of its people—to the Reformation and intense persecution of Christian reformers—to the founding of the Jesuit Order for harsh enforcement of those measures—to the Council of Trent and the many Counter-Reformation measures that were instituted—to the Second Vatican Council, the Catholic Church seems to have finally found a solution—“we are all brothers.” Wars, persecutions, and martyring of Christians did not work, so now they will try conciliatory measures. Starting with the Second Vatican Council, which took three years to prepare for, and which lasted for eight to twelve weeks in each of four years, (1962—1965) the Catholic Church has sought ‘common ground’ with Protestants, Jews and Muslims. They do not wish to convert all of us to Catholicism; but rather they seek agreement on some key issues and they seek to have some uniformity.. The implications are Antichrist with a capital A! Think one world religion!
From the fourth council of the Second Vatican Council we read, “The Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in these religions [Muslims and Jews]. She regards with sincere reverence those ways of conduct and of life, those precepts and teachings, which though different in many aspects from the ones she holds and sets forth, nonetheless often reflect a ray of truth which enlightens all men.” Further they had this to say about Muslims. “The Catholic Church regards the Muslims with esteem, and then [the synod] continues by describing some of the things Islam has in common with Christianity: worship of One God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, Merciful and Omnipotent, Who has spoken to men; the Muslims' respect for Abraham and Mary, and the great respect they have for Jesus, whom they consider to be a Prophet and not deity. The synod urged all Catholics and Muslims to forget the hostilities and differences of the past and to work together for mutual understanding and benefit.” 2
“The final paragraph calls on Catholics to enter into ‘dialogue and collaboration’ with those of other faiths.” The Catholic Church has since the Second Vatican Council, under Popes John XXIII, Paul VI, and the beginning of the papacy of John Paul II, reached out to other Christian bodies, seeking reconciliation to the greatest degree possible.” It is clear that since the last council of the Second Vatican Council the Catholic Church is still seeking common ground with all religions and all kinds of people. “Pope Francis opens a big Vatican meeting on the church’s future and says ‘everyone’ is welcome.” AP News by Nicole Winfield October 4, 2023
For many years now the Catholic Church has been translating and retranslating the Bible so that scripture is more favorable to their teachings and doctrines—less emphasis on Christ. In 1973 they came out with a new RSV translation called the Common Bible, Ecumenical Edition. It is intended to be a translation that all Catholics, Protestants, and Eastern Orthodox Christians can use; but to me the implication is one-world church. Although most scriptures that speak to the deity of Jesus Christ are retained, many references to Christ that are in the King James and English Standard versions of the Bible are missing; but then the teachings of the Catholic Church for centuries has “diminished” the deity of Jesus Christ although their Bible declares His divinity.
From the primacy, supremacy and infallibility of the pope and all of its implications—to transubstantiation of the sacrament—the Eucharist—to their veneration of Mary and their teachings about her, they have tried to dilute Biblical teachings about the deity of Jesus Christ. 1 They teach the Immaculate Conception of Mary. This is the belief that the Virgin Mary was free of original sin from the moment of her conception. 2 They believe mediation is a process that bridges the divide between the human and the divine. The saints, especially the Virgin Mary, take their spiritual power from Christ, the ultimate mediator, and can intercede with God to confer his grace on man. They believe this mediation is a universal mediation. 3 They say, “Mary suffered with Jesus. As co-redemptrix, we acknowledge her intimate cooperation with Jesus in the redemption of humanity, in his amazing sacrifice for us on the cross. She bore him, raised him, supported him in his ministry, and walked with him every step of the way to his passion and death.” [While I believe that Mary deserves veneration, she is not a co-redemptrix!] All three of these teachings take away from the true deity of Jesus Christ. I believe all of these are false doctrines; but some of their other doctrines also are very disturbing! 3
In the fourth council of the Second Vatican Council it was noted that Muslims believe in One God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth and that they , the Muslims, have respect for Jesus whom they consider a prophet. In order for the Catholic Church to embrace all religions 'as brothers’ they must first seek some uniformity. Other than the Catholic Church’s false doctrines and their continuous retranslations of the Bible, I have seen no moves by them to blatantly deny the deity of Jesus Christ; but if they make Jesus “just a prophet” and Protestants come to believe that Jesus is just a prophet, then all major religions will believe in one God and one major prophet. I believe the Catholic Church may eventually see that the most obvious obstacle to their desire for unity of all religions or a coalition of religions is the deity of Jesus Christ; and I believe they will remove or diminish His deity from their teachings and doctrines and their Bible. With that precept, then most of the world becomes one religion with one God and one, differing, major prophet!
We all know Muslims and Jews deny the deity of Jesus Christ as do both Jehovah Witness and Unitarians. Less explicit in their denial are the Mormons. End time pressure may cause others to do the same. While most religions that believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God, including the Catholic Church, still ‘officially’ acknowledge the deity of Jesus Christ, I cannot hear what many of them say because I see what they do! The Catholic Church claims they have scripture witness for their teachings and beliefs; but their scripture witness does not support their positions nor does it make them clear, neither would an extensive elaboration of scripture by them cause it to be synonymous with many of their positions. They say, “The Church does not draw her certainty for all revealed truths from scripture alone.” Perhaps their doctrines do not agree with scripture because they do not use ‘scripture alone.’
The denigrating of Jesus Christ’s divinity starts with the elevation of men to the same status as Him. I believe the Catholic Church does that with their doctrines and their popes! And because they are powerful, they easily influence many; especially since they now have this policy [since 1965] of “Ecumenicalism— the concept and principle that Christians who belong to different Christian denominations should work together to develop closer relationships among their churches and promote Christian unity.” [On the surface that sounds like a noble goal; but when you depart from the words of Jesus to do this, that is antichrist!] The adjective ecumenical is thus applied to any interdenominational initiative that encourages greater cooperation and union among Christian denominations and churches. [The Catholic Church ofter uses the words ecumenism and ecumenical in their writings on Christian unity. The root meaning of those words is “whole world.” This is a shrouded way to say that their goal is for a one-world church.]
“'The Catholic Church is committed to working for the reunion of all Christians, but the exuberant spirit following Vatican II has been tempered. Sober minds realize that the road to full unity will be long and arduous. One of the principal ecclesiological tasks is to discern the relationship between the Churches. 4 Underlying the Catholic Church's pursuit of ecumenism is its recognition that elements of sanctification and truth are found in other churches, that, in some sense, these are Christians and Particular Churches or ecclesial communities, and that common baptism itself impels those toward greater unity, since Baptism is a gift which ‘belongs' to the Catholic Church as one of the Sacraments which Christ endowed it with.’” 5 It seems they will continue to work for ‘unity!’ Will it eventually include denying the divinity of Jesus Christ? They already deny His name in baptism.
Deny the deity of Jesus Christ either boldly and openly or fearfully and privately, it does not affect the fact He is Christ—He is God! But it will affect your eternity!
JESUS IS HIS NAME—CHRIST IS WHO HE IS! The KJV, the NKJV, and the ESV all mention Christ more than 500 times in the New Testament. Jesus Christ and Christ Jesus are the same but with the emphasis in a different place. “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” II TIMOTHY 2:3 In this scripture the emphasis is on His deity—Messiah—kingship. “Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel,” II TIMOTHY 2:8 The emphasis is on His humanity, but His deity is still noted because it includes ‘Christ.’
“Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’” MATTHEW 16:16 The Christ—The anointed one—the promised one—the Messiah. “He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which means Christ).’” JOHN 1:41 “And The woman said to him, ‘I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I who speak to you am he.’ JOHN 4:25-26 The Son—not by adoption but by nature. “I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, ‘You are my Son; today I have begotten you.’” PSALM 2:7 And “For to which of the angels did God ever say, ‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you’? Or again, ‘I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son’?’” HEBREWS 1:5
Of the Living God—Living God is to distinguish Him from idols which have no life. “But the Lord is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King. At his wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure his indignation.” JEREMIAH 10:10 And “ But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant…” HEBREWS 12:22-24
A One-World Religion May Look Like This:
Muslims—one God and a major prophet—Mohammed
Jews—one God and a major prophet—Moses
The Catholic Church—one God and a major prophet—the Pope
The Mormon Church—one God and a major prophet—Joseph Smith
Protestants?—one God and a major prophet?—Jesus?
Research shows that some notable Protestants in the past have denied the deity of Jesus Christ and that there is currently a trend—not necessarily in the various denominations themselves, but with individuals—to deny the deity of Jesus Christ and to do as many religions have already done—make Him just an influential prophet! So how long will it take for a one-world religion to take place? Read “the fig leaves.”
The scripture used in this essay is from the ESV version unless specifically noted!
Written by Mallard E. Guy Jr.
October 31, 2023
Edited on August 30, 2024