ANTICHRIST

(Matthew 24:4-13) A.D. 33 Jesus said to his disciples, "Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.  They shall deliver you up to be persecuted, and will put  you to death, and you shall be Hated of All nations for my name's sake.  Many false prophets shall rise, and deceive many.  But he that endures unto the end, the same shall be saved.  And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end comes."

(Matthew 5:10-12) Jesus said, "Blessed are they which persecuted for

righteousness' sake:  for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are ye,

when people insult and persecute you, and shall say All manner of evil

against you falsely, for my sake.  Rejoice and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you."

(John 16:1-3) Jesus said, "These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should Not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time comes, that whosoever Killeth you will think, that he does God services.   And these things they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor Me."

History of the Christian Church by William Jones in 1812. Chapter 5

Section 3.   Waldensian Confession (1544) about the Antichrist:

(II Thessalonians 2:1-12)   Written by Paul in A.D. 52.  Now we beseech you brethren by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him.  Let NO man deceive you by any ways: for that day shall NOT come, until the come falling away (rebellion) first, and that man of SIN be revealed, the son of perdition, who opposeth and exalted himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he set himself up in the temple of God, proclaiming himself that he is God.

Remember when I was with you, I told you these things?  And now ye know what is holding him back, he might be revealed in proper time.  For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work:  Only He (Christ) who now holds His back, will continue to do so until the way, and then shall the Wicked and Lawlessness, be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus shall consume with the breath of His mouth, and shall be destroyed with the splendor of His coming.  The coming of the Lawlessness One will be according with Satan, and all power and signs and wonders, and in every spirits of evil that deceive those who are that perished; because they receive NOT the Love of the Truth, that they might be Saved.  And for this reason God shall send them powerful delusion, that they should believe a LIE.   That they might be damned who believe NOT the Truth, but had Pleasure in unrighteousness.

We are bound to give thanks always to God for you,  brethren beloved of God, because God has, from the beginning, chosen you to Salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of Truth:   Whereunto God called you by Our Gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Waldenses describe Antichrist in the year 1120:  "Antichrist" is a falsehood, or deceit, varnished over with the semblance of truth, and of the righteousness of Christ and his spouse, yet in opposition to the Way of Truth, righteousness, faith, hope, charity, as well as to moral life. It is not any particular person ordained to any degree, or office, or ministry, but it is a system of falsehood, opposing itself to Truth, covering and adorning itself with a show of beauty and piety, yet very unsuitable to the church of Christ, may appear.   The system of iniquity, thus completed with its ministers, great and small, supported by those who are induced to follow it with an evil heart and blind-fold--this is congregation, which taken together, comprises what is called Antichrist or Babylon, the fourth beast, the Whore, the man of sin, the son of perdition.  His ministers are called false prophets, lying teachers, the ministers of darkness, the spirit of error, the apocalyptic whore, the mother of harlots, could cloud without water, trees without leaves, twice dead, plucked by the roots, Balaamites."

"He is termed Antichrist, because being disguised under the names of

Christ and of his church and faithful members, he opposes the Salvation which Christ wrought out, and which is truly administered in his church---and of which Salvation believers participate by faith, hope, and charity.  Thus he opposes the truth by the wisdom of this world, by false religion, by counterfeit holiness, by ecclesiastical power, by secular tyranny, and by the riches, honors, dignities, with the pleasures and delicacies of this world.  It should, therefore, be carefully observed, that Antichrist could NOT come, without concurrence of all these things, making up a system of hypocrisy and falsehood---these must be, the wise of this world, the religious orders, the Pharisees, ministers, and doctors; the secular power, with the people of this world, all mingled together."

"For although Antichrist was conceived in the times of the Apostles, he was then in his infancy, imperfect and unformed rude, unshapen, and wanting utterance, he than wanted those hypocritical ministers and human ordinances, and the outward show of religious orders which he afterwards obtained.   As he was destitute of riches and other endowments necessary to allure to himself ministers for his service, and to enable him to Multiply, defend, and protect his adherents, so he also wanted the secular power to force others to forsake the Truth and Embrace falsehood.  But growing up in his members, that is, in his blind and dissembling ministers, and in worldly subjects, he, at length, arrived at full maturity when men, whose hearts are set upon this world, blind to the faith, multiplied in the church, and by the union of Church and State, get the power of both into their hands."

Christ Never had an enemy like this; so able to pervert the Way of Truth into falsehood, insomuch that the True Church, with her children, is

trodden under foot. The worship that belongs alone to God, he transfers to Antichrist himself---to creature, male and female, deceased---to images,

carcasses, and relics.  The Sacrament of the Eucharist is converted into an

object of adoration, and the worshipping of God alone is prohibited.  He robs the Savior of His merits, and the sufficiency of his grace and justification, regeneration, remission of sins, sanctification, establishment in faith, to the intercession of SAINTS, and to the fire of purgatory.

"He (Antichrist) seduces the people from Christ, and the Holy Spirit, and teaching his followers to expect them by the will and pleasure and works of antichrist.  He teaches to baptize children into the faith, and attributes to this the work of regeneration thus confounding the work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration, with the external rite of baptism.   He places all religion and holiness in going to mass, and has mingled together all descriptions of ceremonies, Jewish, Heathen, and Christian; and by means thereof, the people are deprived of spiritual food, seduced from the TRUE religion and the commandments of God, and established in vain and presumptuous hopes.  All his works are done to be seen of men, that he may glut himself with insatiable avarice; and hence everything is set to sale. He allows of open sins, without ecclesiastical censure, and even the impenitent are not excommunicated.   He hates, persecuted, searches after, plunders, and destroys the members of Christ.   These are some of the principle of the works of Antichrist against the Truth, but the whole are past numbering and recording."

"On the other hand, he makes use of an outward confession of faith; and therein  verified the saying of the apostle--"  They profess in words that they KNOW God, but in works they DENY him, "He covers his iniquity by pleading the length of his duration, or succession of time, and the multitudes of his followers---concerning whom it is said in the (Revelation 17:1,15) that power is given him over every tribe, language, and nation, and All that dwell on the earth shall worship him.  He boasts of numerous miracles, even as the apostle foretold---" whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all miracles and signs, and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness.  "He has an outward show of holiness, consisting in prayers, fastings, watchings, and alms deeds, of which the apostle testified, when he said, "Having the form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.   From such Turn away." (II Timothy 3:5).

"Thus it is that  Antichrist covers his lying wickedness as with a cloak of garment, that he may not be rejected as a pagan or infidel, and under which disguise he can go on practicing his villainies of boldly, and like a harlot.  But, it is plain from both the Old and New Testament, that a Christian stands bound by express command to separate himself from antichrist."   [Here the following scriptures are quoted at large from the Old Testaments, Isa 52:11,12; Jeremiah 1:8; Numbers 16:21,6; Leviticus 20:24-27; Exodus 34:12,15; Ezekiel 2; Deuteronomy 20.].

Now it is manifest from the New Testament, John's Gospel 12, that the Lord is come, and has suffered death that he might gather together in one, the children of God; and it is on account of this Unity in the truth, and their

separation from others, that it is said in Matthew 10, "I am come to

separate a man from his father, and set the daughters against the mother, and the daughter against the mother, and the daughter-in-law against her

mother-in-law, and those of a man's own household shall be his enemies."

Christ has enjoined this separation upon these disciples.

And, again, "Beware of false prophets, which come unto you in sheep's clothing."   Again, come in my name and seduce many."   And in the book of Revelation  Jesus warns, by his own voice, and charges his people to go out of Babylon, saying, "Come Out of her My People, and be NOT partakers of her sins, that ye receive not of her plagues; for her sins are come up unto heaven, and the Lord remember her iniquity." (Revelation 18:4) The apostle says the same, " Have no fellowship with the darkness, or what concord has Christ with the devil, or what part has a believer with an infidel, or the temple of God with idols? Wherefore, Come OUT from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch no Unclean thing, and I will receive you, and be a father unto you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."

"Another feature of Antichrist is the excessive love of the world, whence springs an endless of love of the world, whence springs an endless train of sin and mischief in the church, as well in those that govern, as in them that officiate both of whom sin without control.   With this is connected the false hope which Antichrist holds out, of pardon, grace, justification, and everlasting life, as thing not to be sought from and obtained in Christ, nor in God through Christ, but in men, living or dead---not by that true and living faith which worketh by Love, producing repentance, and influencing the mind to depart from evil, and give itself up to God."

"From what has been said, we may learn wherein consist the perverseness and wickedness of Antichrist, and that God commands his people to Separate from him, and to join themselves to the holy city, Jerusalem.   And since it has revealed will, according to the Holy Scriptures, and admonished thereto by the command of the Lord, we do, both inwardly and outwardly, depart from Antichrist.  We hold communion, and maintain Unity, one with another, freely and uprightly, having no other object to propose herein, but purely and singly to please the Lord, and seek the salvation of our own souls.   Thus, as the Lord is pleased to enable us, and so far as our understanding are instructed into the path of duty, we attach ourselves to the Truth of Christ, and to His Church, how mean so ever she may appear in the eyes of men."

"We, therefore, have thought it good to make this declaration of our reasons for departing from Antichrist, as well as to make known what kind of fellowship we have, to end that, if the Lord be pleased to impart the

knowledge of the Same Truth to others, those that receive it may love it

together with us.   It is our desire also, that if peradventure, others are not

sufficiently enlightened, they may receive assistance from this service, the

Lord succeeding it by his blessing.  On the other hand, if any have received more abundantly from him, and in a higher measure, we desire with all humility to be taught, and instructed better, that so we may rectify whatever is amiss."

"Be it known, to all  in general, and to every one in particular, that

these are the reasons of our Separation.   It is for the Truth's sake which we

believe for the knowledge which we have of the ONLY true God, and the Unity of the divine essence in Three persons, a knowledge which flesh and blood can not communicate---it is for the worship due to that Only True God---for the love we owe Him above all things."

The articles entitled, "The Dream of Purgatory," and "The Invocation

of Saints," are discussed with equal judgment; in the latter, especially, the

doctrine of the mediation of Jesus Christ---the perfection and

all-sufficiency of his sacrifice for sin---his office as high priest,

advocate, and intercessor of his church, are most clearly and nobly

maintained, in opposition to the Papal worship and invocation of saints.  "Christ alone," say they, "hath the prerogative of interceding for his guilty

people, and he obtains whatsoever he requests in behalf of those whom he hath reconciled by his death.  He is the ONLY sole mediator between God and man, the advocate and intercessor with the Father for sinners; and so sufficient is he, that God the Father denies nothing to any one, which he asks in his name.   For, being near unto God, and living of himself, he prays to God continually for us; and such an high priest became us, who was holy, harmless, separate from sinners, and exalted above the heavens."

For a thousand years and more, separatist-believing Christians have

identified Rome with the Harlot of Revelation 17.   At the end of the 9th

century,  "Tergandus of  Treves, called the Pope antichrist, yea, a wolf,

and Rome, Babylon" (Martyrs Mirror, 5th edition, Page 240).

In the 10th century,  Arnulphus, of Orleans, called the Pope Antichrist, in a full council at Rheims (Peter Allix, The Ecclesiastical History of the Ancient Church of Piedmont, 1821, Page 229).

In the 11th century,  Berenger of Tours denounced Rome's dogmas and maintained that Roman Church was the See of Satan (George Faber, The History of the Ancient Vallenses and Albigenses, 1838, Page 159).

The Waldensians, throughout their long history, identified the Pope as

the Antichrist.  The Waldenses treatise title the Noble Lesson, dated 1100

A.D., stated:  "Antichrist, the predicted murderer of the Saints has

already appeared in his true character, seated monarchally in the

seven-hilled city."   In 1120 or 1160 A.D.,  A treatise Concerning Antichrist

identifies the Pope of Rome as the Antichrist.  George Faber, identifies

this as a production of  Peter the Valdo (Faber, Page 379-384).

In 1206, at the conference of Montreal, the Albigenses made the following confession:   "That the church of Rome was NOT the spouse of Christ, but the Church of confusion, drunk with the blood of the Martyrs. That the polity of the Church of Rome was neither good nor holy, nor established by Jesus Christ "  (Peter Allix, the Ecclesiastical History of the Ancient Churches of the Albigenses, 1821 edition, first published in 1692, Page 178).

The Bohemians, a colony of Waldenses in Bohemia, held the following beliefs, according to the Roman Inquisitor.   This description was given in the 13th and 14th centuries:  "The first error, saith he is, that the Church of Rome is NOT the Church of Jesus Christ, but an assembly of wicked men, and the Whore that sits upon the beast in the revelation.  They declared the Pope to be the head and ringleader of all errors" (Allix, Ancient Churches of Piedmonts, Page 242-259).

The Lollards, of the 14th-15th centuries maintained "That the Church of Rome was NOT the Church of Jesus Christ, but of infidel heathens; and they despised all ecclesiastical laws, together with all the Bishops and Ministers of the Church".   The Pretrobusians judged the Pope to be the Antichrist.

Throughout the Reformation era, Rome was considered the Mother of Harlots.  On September 9, 1560, Apostle Jean Louis Paschale of Calabria, just before he was burned alive in the presence of Pope Pius IV in Rome, turned to the Pope, "arraigned him as the enemy of Christ, the persecutor of his people, and the Antichrist of Scripture, and concluded by summoning him and ALL his cardinals to answer for their cruelties and murders before the throne of the Lamb" (J.A. Wylie, History of the Waldenses, 1860, Page 120).

All of the Reformation leaders considered the Pope the Antichrist, including Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Huss; their successors in the 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th centuries persisted in this. Bible translator William Tyndale identifies the Pope as the Antichrist in his treatise.

In his 1893 work titled Union with Rome, Christopher Wordsworth of the Church of England stated the view which prevailed among the Protestants at that time: "We tremble at the sight, while we read the inscription, emblazoned in large letters, "Mystery, Babylon the Great," written by the hand of Apostle John, guided by the Holy Spirit of God, on the forehead of the Church of Rome."   These examples could be multiplied almost endlessly.

It's estimated that during these 1260 years, 50-100 million people were put to death for "Heresy" by the Catholic Church.  For wanting to read the scriptures themselves, in their OWN languages, and believing as God's spirit lead, millions were tortured in dungeons and burned at the stake.

We believe the Roman Catholic Church is the partial fulfillment of the

prophecy in the Revelation 17, of one world religious Harlot.  This is NOT to say that Revelation 17 is entirely fulfilled by Roman Catholicism.   This

prophecy will NOT be completed until the reign of the antichrist just prior

to the coming of the Lord, and Rome will be joined by a conglomeration of

other apostate churches and organizations, the end result, no doubt, of the present Ecumenical Movement.   Even so, every feature of this religious Harlot is found in the Roman Catholic Church:  Yoked together with secular governments, having great wealth, clothed in purple and scarlet, drunk with the blood of the saints.

(Revelation 18:1-24)  Written in A.D. 95 by John the Apostle. I, (John), heard another voice from heaven, saying, "Come out of her MY people, that ye be NOT partakers of her sins, and that ye receive NOT her plagues.  For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God has remember her iniquities.   Babylon has fallen; the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.  For in ONE hour is her judgment comes."

Rejoice, over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her.  And in her was found in the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of ALL that were slain upon the earth.

(Revelation 19:1-7) Salvation, glory, honor, and power unto the Lord our God: for true and righteous are his Judgments for He has judged the great Whore, who did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and has avenged the blood of His servants at her hand.   Blessed are they who are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor unto Him: for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.