The Pope is the Antichrist.

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. Several things need clarification in connection with this point:1. A time is a year, times is two years, and the dividing of time is a half-year. The Amplified Bibletranslates it: "Three and one-half years. " 42. This same time period is mentioned seven times (Daniel 7:25 12:7 Revelation 11:2, 3 12:6,14 13:5) in the books of Daniel and Revelation: three times as a time, times, and half a time twice as 42 months and twice as 1,260 days. Based on the 30-day calendar used by the Jews, these time periods are all the same amount of time:3 1/2 years = 42 months = 1,260 days.3. One prophetic day equals one literal year (Ezekiel 4:6 Numbers 14:34).4. Thus, the little horn (Antichrist) was to have power over the saints for 1,260 prophetic days or 1,260 literal years.5. The rule of the papacy began in A. D. 538, when the last of the three opposing Arian kingdoms was uprooted. Its rule continued until 1798 when Napoleon's general, Berthier, took the pope captive with hopes of destroying both Pope Pius VI and the political, secular power of the papacy. This period of time is an exact fulfillment of the 1,260-year prophecy. The blow was a deadly wound for the papacy, but that wound began to heal and continues healing today.6. This same period of persecution is mentioned in Matthew 24:21 as the worst period of persecution God's people will ever experience. Verse 22 tells us it was so devastating that not one soul would have survived if God had not shortened it. But God did shorten it. The persecution ended long before the pope was taken captive in 1798. It is plain to see that this point, likewise, fits the papacy. H. It would speak "great words" of blasphemy "against the most High [God]. "Blasphemy has two definitions in Scripture:1. Claiming to forgive sins (Luke 5:21).2. Claiming to be God (John 10:33). Does this point fit the papacy? Yes! Let's first look at the evidence for it claiming to forgive sins: "Does the Priest truly forgive the sins, or does he only declare that they are remitted? The Priest does really and truly forgive the sins in virtue of the power given to him by Christ. "5 The papacy further undermines Jesus by setting up a system of confession to an earthly priest, thus bypassing Jesus, our High Priest (Hebrews 3:1 8:1, 2) and only Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5). Next consider the evidence for it claiming to be God: "We [the popes] hold upon this earth the place of God Almighty. "6 Here is another: "The pope is not only the representative of Jesus Christ, but he is Jesus Christ, Himself, hidden under the veil of flesh. "7 Its obvious this point, likewise, fits the papacy. I. It would "think to change times and laws. " In a future Study Guide we will deal with the "times" of this point. It is a major topic and needs separate consideration. But what about changing the "laws"? The Amplified Bible translates "laws" as "the law. " The reference is to changing God's law. Of course, no one can really change it, but has the papacy attempted to do so? The answer is "yes. "In its catechisms, the papacy has omitted the second commandment against veneration of images and has shortened the fourth commandment from 94 words to eight and divided the tenth commandment into two commandments. (Check this for yourself. Compare the Ten Commandments in any Catholic catechism with God's list of the commandments in Exodus 20:3-17. )There is no doubt that the little horn power of Daniel chapter 7 (the Antichrist) is the papacy. No other organization could possibly fit these nine points. And incidentally, this is no new teaching. Every Reformer, without exception, spoke of the papacy as Antichrist. 8Words of Care and ConcernLest some should think that we are attacking fellow Christians by identifying this little-horn power, please keep in mind that the prophecy is aimed at a system and not individuals. There are sincere, devout Christians in all churches, including the Catholic faith. Daniel chapter 7 is simply a message of judgment and correction upon a large religious institution which compromised with paganism, like so many other churches that arose after her. Prophecy Reveals Faults of All Faiths Other prophecies point out the faults of Protestant and Jewish faiths. God has true people in all religions. His true people (no matter what their faith) will always humbly accept the correction of the Lord and will not shut their ears and hearts against Him by self-defensiveness. We should be very thankful that God's Word speaks with impartial honesty on every subject.1 W. E. H. Lecky, History of the Rise and Influence of the Spirit of Rationalism in Europe, Volume 2, p. 40.22 Alexander Clarence Flick, The Rise of the Medieval Church, pp. 148, 149.3 Adolf Harnack, What is Christianity? (New York: Putnam, second edition, revised, 1901), pp. 269, 270.4 The Amplified Bible, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan 1962.5 Joseph Deharbe, S. J. , A Complete Catechism of the Catholic Religion (New York: Schwartz, Kirwin & Fauss, 1924), p. 279.6 Pope Leo XIII, Encyclical Letter "The Reunion of Christendom" (dated June 20, 1894) trans. in the Great Encyclical Letters of Pope Leo XIII (New York: Benziger, 1903), p. 304.7 Catholic National, July 1895.8 R. Allen Anderson, Unfolding the Revelation, p. 137.