The POPE = The False Prophet

I discussed this matter in both of my books on prophecy:  THE LITTLE HORN OF THE BOOK OF DANIEL ($5, pgs. 110-111) and NOT ONE STONE ($6, pgs. 6, 36-37, 55, 76). I discussed the relationship which is to be formed by the "Little Horn" [who is the same as "beast," the "man of sin," and the "antichrist"] and, the "strange god" [who is parallel to the "false prophet" of Revelation 13].

Since the "Little Horn" is a king in a northern nation in the Middle East [Daniel 11:21-45], this could NOT be the Pope of  the Roman Catholic Church.

The "Horn" forms a coalition with a "strange god" [Daniel 11:39]. The words "strange god" in the text could be translated "foreign deity." The words "strange" and "foreign" could indicate one who is outside the immediate Middle East area. The words "god" and "deity" could indicate a prominent leader of religion outside the Middle East. Such characteristics would at least correspond to the Pope of Rome who is supposedly the "vicar of Christ" and can speak "ex cathedra" [meaning "out of the temple of God"]. To "millions" (Houston Chronicle, 9/30/95, pg. E-1), the Pope speaks as "the voice of God." No other "foreign deity" or "strange god" wields as much power worldwide as the Pope. It would certainly be "politically correct" and perhaps even necessary for the "Little Horn" to have the cooperation and endorsement of the Pope so as to secure acceptance around the world, especially in the United Nations.

If the Rapture takes place prior to the public emergence of the "Little Horn" as the ruler of the Middle East area [Daniel chapter 2's "toes"], this will leave the world's population primarily divided as (1) Muslims, (2) Jews, and (3) Romanists. With the "Little Horn" dominating the primary Muslim region, union with the Pope would bring about an overwhelming numerical conglomerate of Muslims-Romanists against the Jews. The United States, deprived of Christianity by the "Rapture" of Christians, would no longer be a friend of Israel. The Muslims and Papists, long-time enemies of Israel, would move in for "the kill" on the Jews.

I have speculated that the career of Saddam Hussein has thus far "paralleled" the record of the career of the "Little Horn," at least from Daniel 11:21 to 11:30. It was announced in The Houston Post (3/6/94, pg. A-20) that Saddam Hussein had invited the Pope to visit Iraq and that the Pope had "accepted the invitation," but "no date has been set for the papal tour."

Beyond question, should Saddam Hussein secure the support of the Pope, it would probably mean the sure lifting of the UN sanctions against Iraq. It would also mean more acceptance of Saddam by Roman Catholics worldwide. This is something we will be "watching" as time goes on.

["Why is the Pope addressing the United Nations?" — Houston Chronicle 10/3/95, pg. A-21 — this article revealed the fact that the Vatican State has "seat and voting privileges at U. N. conferences" and how the Vatican exerts its influence. No other RELIGIOUS body has this type of power as a "STATE" at the United Nations.]

My view of Daniel 11:21-45 is that the "king of the north" who becomes the ruler of the Middle East is the "Antichrist," and conceivably the Pope is the most likely person for the role of the "False Prophet," the "LAMB" [the false "Christ"] who has "TWO HORNS" ["horns" represent KINGDOMS, Revelation 17:12, and the Pope has two: the "Church" and the "Vatican State"]. With the "union" of Islam and Romanism, and with control over Middle East oil, this Middle East ruler [the ANTICHRIST] could easily dominate the rest of the world POLITICALLY, ECONOMICALLY, and RELIGIOUSLY.

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Author: Bob L. Ross

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