The Pope is the Antichrist.

I chose lannan13 because he seemed the most qualified for the Con position that would for sure have some punctuality for each round. So, to begin, we must ask ourselves:Who, or what, is the Antichrist? Evil alliance, or sinister individual? Some say his appearance is still in the future. Others say he appeared long ago in the days of ancient Rome. But the Bible indicates that he is alive today! The Bible prophecies teach this antichrist power will play a crucial role in the final events of earth's history! With such an "outlandish" claim and charge against one of the most powerful and respected religious leaders in the world, we have no choice but to ask many questions about this accusation. To understand fully who the antichrist is, we must also fully understand the prophecy in Daniel 7. Please be aware that you discover will in fact displease, upset and possibly even enrage many people, so remember that the prophecy of Daniel chapter 7 comes from Jesus, who loves you. Pray for God's guidance as you delve into this urgent subject. Do not take my word for the evidence from the Bible I will use. I urge that you read Daniel 7 right now, if you have not before. As the chapter begins, Daniel sees four beasts coming up out of the sea. In prophecy, what does a beast represent? What does the sea represent? "The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon the earth. "Daniel 7:23 "The waters . .. are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. " Revelation 17:15The beasts in Daniel 7 represent kingdoms or nations. Just as water represents multitudes of people or large populations. The four beasts of Daniel 7 represent the four world kingdoms (verses 17, 18). Babylon, the first kingdom (Daniel 2:38, 39), is represented as a lion in Daniel 7:4. (See also Jeremiah 4:7 50:17, 43, 44 for Babylon pictured as a lion elsewhere. ) What do the "eagle's wings" mean? What do the "four winds" of verse 2 represent? "The Lord shall bring a nation against thee . .. as swift as the eagle flieth. "Deuteronomy 48:29"Thus saith the Lord of hosts, . .. a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth. "Jeremiah 25:32,33 The wings of eagles represent speed. (See also Jeremiah 4:13; Habakkuk 1:6-9. ) Winds represent strife, commotion, and destruction. (See also Revelation 7:1-3. ) What kingdom does the bear represent (Daniel 7:5)? What do the three ribs in its mouth symbolize? Read Daniel 8. Notice that the beasts in chapter 8 parallel those in chapter 7. Daniel 8:20 specifically names Medo-Persia as the kingdom that precedes the rough goat, or Greece, of verse 21. It is the second world kingdom, the same power as the bear of Daniel 7. The empire was made up of two groups of people. The Medes came up first (represented in Daniel 7:5 by the bear coming up on one side), but the Persians eventually became stronger (represented in Daniel 8:3by the ram's second horn which grew "higher," or taller). The three ribs represent the three principal powers conquered by Medo-Persia:Lydia, Babylon, and Egypt. Greece, the third kingdom (Daniel 8:21), is represented by a leopard with four wings and four heads (Daniel 7:6). What do the heads represent? What do the four wings represent? The four heads represent the four kingdoms into which the empire of Alexander the Great was divided when he died. The four generals who headed these areas were: Cassander, Lysimachus, Ptolemy, and Seleucus. The four wings (instead of two like the lion) represent super-speed, which was true of Alexander's conquests (Jeremiah 4:11-13). The Roman empire, the fourth world kingdom, is represented by a horrible monster with iron teeth and 10 horns (Daniel 7:7). What do the horns represent? The 10 horns represent the 10 kings or kingdoms into which pagan Rome was eventually split (Daniel 7:24). (These 10 kingdoms are the same as the 10 toes of the image described in Daniel 2:41-44. ) Roving barbarian tribes swept in upon the Roman empire and carved out land niches for their people. Seven of those 10 tribes developed into the countries of modern Western Europe, while three were uprooted and destroyed. Do the common research, and see for yourself that these ten tribes indeed go as follows:Visigoths - SpainAnglo-Saxons - EnglandFranks - FranceAlemani - GermanyBurgundians - SwitzerlandLombards - ItalySuevi - PortugalHeruli - Rooted upOstrogoths - Rooted upVandals - Rooted upIn the Daniel 7 prophecy, what happens next? "I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. "Daniel 7:8The "little horn" power appears next. We must identify it carefully because God takes more space describing it than the other four kingdoms combined. Why? Because the biblical characteristics identify it as the Antichrist of prophecy and history. There must be no mistake in making this identification. There are even crystal clear points of identification! God gives us nine characteristics of Antichrist in Daniel 7 so we can be certain of his identity. And even though some may find these truths from God's Word painful, we must be honest enough to accept them as His revealed will. Now let's discover what Jesus' nine points are:A. The "little horn" or kingdom "came up among them"the 10 horns which were the kingdoms of Western Europe (Daniel 7:8). So it would be a little kingdom somewhere in Western Europe. B. It would have a man at its head who could speak for it (Daniel 7:8). C. It would pluck up or uproot three kingdoms (Daniel 7:8). D. It would be "diverse" or different from the other 10 kingdoms (Daniel 7:24). E. It would make war with and "wear out" or persecute the saints (Daniel 7:21, 25). F. It would emerge from the pagan Roman empire, the fourth world kingdom (Daniel 7:7, 8). G. God's people (the saints) would "be given into his hand" for "a time and times and the dividing of time" (Daniel 7:25). H. It would "speak great words against" or blaspheme God (Daniel 7:25). In Revelation 13:5, the Bible says the same power speaks "great things and blasphemies. "I. It would "think to change times and laws. " Daniel 7:25. Don't forget all these identification points come directly from the Bible. They are not some human opinion or speculation. Historians could tell you quickly what power is being described. These points can fit only one power, the papacy. But in order to be certain, let us carefully examine all nine points, one by one. There must be no room left for doubt. How the papacy fits these points: A. It "came up among" the 10 kingdoms of Western Europe. The geographical location of the papal power was in Rome, Italy the very heart of the territory of Western Europe. B. It would have a man at its head who speaks for it. The papacy meets this identifying mark because it does have one man at the head (the pope) who speaks for it. C. It would pluck up or uproot three kingdoms. The emperors of Western Europe were largely Catholic and supported the papacy in its growth and authority. Three Arian kingdoms, however, did not support the papacy, the Vandals, Heruli, and Ostrogoths. So the Catholic emperors decided they must be subdued or destroyed. Here is how Dr. Mervyn Maxwell, a theologian and historian, described the results in volume 1, page 129, of his book God Cares: "The Catholic emperor Zeno (474-491) arranged a treaty with the Ostrogoths in 487 which resulted in the eradication of the kingdom of the Arian Heruls in 493. And the Catholic emperor Justinian (527-565) exterminated the Arian Vandals in 534 and significantly broke the power of the Arian Ostrogoths in 538. Thus were Daniel's three horns the Heruls, the Vandals, and the Ostrogoths'plucked up by the roots. ' " It is not difficult to recognize that the papacy fits this point. D. It would be "diverse" or different from the other kingdoms. The papacy clearly fits this description, also. It came on the scene as a religious power and was totally different from the secular nature of the other 10 kingdoms. E. It would make war with and persecute the saints. That the church did persecute is a well-known fact. The papacy clearly admits doing so. Much supportive evidence exists. Even conservative historians claim the church probably destroyed at least 50 million people over matters of religious conviction. We will quote here from two sources:1. "That the Church of Rome has shed more innocent blood than any other institution that has ever existed among mankind, will be questioned by no Protestant who has a competent knowledge of history. 12. In The History of the Inquisition of Spain, D. Ivan Antonio Llorente provides these figures from the Spanish Inquisition alone: 31,912 persons were condemned and perished in the flames. 241,450 persons were condemned to severe penalties. F. It would emerge from the fourth kingdom of iron - the pagan Roman Empire. We are quoting two authorities on this point:1. "The mighty Catholic Church was little more than the Roman Empire baptised . .. The very capital of the old Roman Empire became the capital of the Christian empire. The office of Pontifex Maximus was continued in that of the pope. " 22. "Whatever Roman elements the barbarians and Arians left . .. [came] under the protection of the Bishop of Rome, who was the chief person there after the emperor's disappearance. The Roman Church in this way privily pushed itself into the place of the Roman World-Empire, of which it is the actual continuation. " 3 So, once again, the point fits the papacy. I tried to character count as high as possible, yet still I have not enough space for all of my evidence. I will prepare the rest of my argument for Round 3 as lannan13 prepares his introductory for Round 2.