NOTE: Catholics have been known to deny the veracity of Vicarius Filii Dei as an official papal title precisely for the reason indicated above. However, it clearly appears as the pope's proper/official title in the following documents:

 

1. Pope Leo IX, In Terra Pax Hominibus, 1054.

2. Pope Nicholaus IV, letter to Caydonius the Tartar, 1289.

3. Pope John XXII, Licet juxta doctrinam, 1327.

4. Pope Paul VI, Rivi Muniensis, 1965.

5. Pope Paul VI, Bafianae, 1968.

6. Donation of Constantine, Distinctio 96

7. Gratian's Decretum, 1512

8. Summa de Potestate Ecclesiastica, Augustinus Triumphus, 1473

9. Familiar Instructions And Evening Lectures On All The Truths Of Religion, by Monseigneur Louis Gaston A. de Sègur, translated from the French, Vol. II.; London: Burns & Oates, 1881, p. 204.

 

In respect to the papal mitre displaying Vicarius Filii Dei in lettering, the April 18, 1915 issue of Our Sunday Visitor, a popular Catholic publication, clearly affirms this fact (see here).

 

8. THE POPE'S TITLE ( VICARIUS FILII DEI OR VICARIUS CHRISTI) LITERALLY MEANS ANTICHRIST

The Greek word anti, which forms the prefix of antichrist, translates to mean “instead of” or “in place of” (see Strong’s NT Greek #473). This distinction is crucial since the New Testament was originally written in Greek. While modern English often uses anti to describe opposition or being “against” something, the New Testament usage emphasizes substitution—one thing replacing another. This is consistent with the antichrist references found in John’s epistles: “Even now are there many antichrists” (1 John 2:18) and “This is a deceiver and an antichrist” (2 John 1:7).

 

Thus, anyone claiming to act as “another Jesus” denies Christ’s unique divinity and seeks to substitute themselves for the true Messiah. This is precisely what the popes of Rome have done throughout history by adopting titles like Vicarius Christi (Vicar of Christ) and Vicarius Filii Dei (In Place of the Son of God).

 

Note: The Roman Catholic Doctrine on Mary and Its Implications

Roman Catholics hold to the dogma of the “Immaculate Conception,” which asserts that Mary was conceived without sin and remained sinless throughout her life. This belief extends to the claim that Mary passed no sinful nature to Jesus. However, this interpretation contradicts Scripture, which teaches that Christ came “in the likeness of sinful flesh” (Romans 8:3) and was “tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).

This denial of Christ’s full humanity meets the criteria outlined in 2 John 1:7 for the doctrine of antichrist: “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.” By rejecting the testimony of Scripture regarding Christ’s nature, such doctrines undermine His true humanity and fulfill the characteristics of antichrist theology.

 

9. THE FIRST BEAST IN REVELATION 13 IS NEARLY IDENTICAL TO THE FOURTH BEAST IN DANIEL 7—BOTH SYMBOLIZE ROME IN DIFFERENT STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT

The first beast of Revelation 13 is strikingly similar to the fourth beast in Daniel 7, indicating that these visions refer to the same kingdom—Rome—at different stages of development:

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“And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the names of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority....So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns” (Rev. 13:1-2; 17:3).

 

Comparing the Beasts

1. It rises out of the sea

All four of the original beasts studied in Daniel 7 came up out of the sea. Likewise, the first beast in Revelation 13 is seen emerging out of the sea, which tells us that it's related to the same configuration of empires listed in Daniel 7.

 

2. It has seven "heads" that represent seven mountains upon which the "woman" sits

This is an important clue. Revelation 17:9 reveals that the beast’s seven heads symbolize seven mountains upon which the woman sits: “And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.”

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Verse 18 identifies this woman as a "great city" with authority over the kings of the earth: “And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.”

 

In Revelation 17:9, the seven heads of the beast are described as seven mountains, which can also represent hills. This points directly to Rome, famously known as the city of seven hills. The seven heads and mountains confirm that this beast represents papal Rome, while the woman upon the beast symbolizes the Roman Catholic Church and its union of church and state—a relationship characterized as spiritual prostitution (Rev. 17:2). It's no coincidence that this description matches perfectly with the city of Rome, a place that not only sits on seven hills but also holds a unique position of power. The Vatican, as the heart of Roman Catholicism, has unparalleled influence over kings, presidents, and world leaders (see here and here). The "great city" in Revelation, which is said to have authority over the "kings of the earth" (Rev. 17:18), points directly to Rome. Its role in both the religious and political arenas makes it a striking fulfillment of this prophecy. And when we consider how the Bible often uses "mountain" to mean a hill (see here), it's clear that Rome's status as the city of seven hills and its global influence line up with the symbolic meaning found in these verses.

 

Therefore, we can be confident that the first beast of Revelation 13 and the beast of Revelation 17 are one and the same. Both are symbols of papal Rome, representing the papacy itself. This connection is reinforced through their shared characteristics, such as the seven heads representing seven mountains, the blasphemous titles attributed to the beast, and its dominance over the "kings of the earth."

 

The woman riding this beast, described as a "great whore" in Revelation 17-18, is a powerful image of the Roman Catholic Church—the religious side of the beast. But the "Great Whore" is not a one-dimensional figure. She represents multiple things. She is a great city—Rome itself. She is an apostate church—the Roman Catholic Church, which has, in many ways, turned away from the true teachings of Christ. And she embodies the tragic and sinful marriage of church and state, an illegitimate union that has often sought political power alongside spiritual influence. The term "whore" is used because she presents herself as a church, yet she engages in an illicit relationship with the "kings of the earth" (Rev. 17:2), compromising her role as the bride of Christ for earthly gain.

 

In part 3 of this study, we will delve deeper into the mystery of Babylon and explore how this image fits into the broader biblical narrative.

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3. It has ten horns with ten crowns

The ten horns on the beast represent rulers or kingdoms. In Daniel 7, these are the ten barbarian nations that emerged from the fall of the Roman Empire, three of which were subdued by the "little horn" (Daniel 7:8).

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In Revelation 13 and 17, however, the ten horns belong to a future group of rulers who will align with the beast for a brief time:

 

“And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast” (Rev. 17:12).

 

This distinction suggests two stages of fulfillment: the historic fragmentation of Rome and a future global alliance under papal authority, possibly linked to modern organizations like the EU or UN. This prospect is highly feasible when considering the Club of Rome's plan to divide the world into ten individual regions controlled at the top by the United Nations. It could also be that these ten "kings" or rulers are already here working in tandem with the papacy. In other words, this prophecy may have already been fulfilled.

 

4. It bears names of blasphemy upon its seven heads

The beast in both visions is marked by blasphemy. As demonstrated earlier, this includes titles and claims made by the papacy, such as forgiving sins and holding divine authority.

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Paul’s description of the "man of sin" in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 aligns perfectly with these characteristics:

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“...that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God” (2 Thes. 2:3-4).

 

This underscores the blasphemous nature of the papacy, linking Daniel 7, Revelation 13, and 2 Thessalonians 2 as referring to the same antichrist figure—the pope.

 

5. It has the combined appearance of a lion, bear, and leopard 

The beast in Revelation 13 is a composite of the first three beasts in Daniel 7:

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• Lion: Babylonian influence.

• Bear: Medo-Persian elements.

• Leopard: Greek characteristics.

 

This combination reflects papal Rome’s assimilation of pagan practices from previous empires, creating a unique blend of religious traditions masked as Christianity. This is further exemplified by the Roman Catholic Church’s adoption of Babylonian “mystery religion” elements, as noted in Alexander Hislop’s The Two Babylons.

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Since Vatican II (1962–1965), Rome’s ecumenical outreach has only broadened and increased, seeking unity with all faiths under the pope’s leadership—a perfect representation of the beast’s ecumenical agenda, incorporating all religions into one.

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10. THE ANTICHRIST SUFFERS A MORTAL WOUND BUT IS LATER "HEALED" AND REVIVED (REV. 13:3, 12b,14b)

“And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast” (Rev. 13:3).

 

Rome’s papacy did indeed suffer a mortal wound during the Protestant Reformation of 1517 when the pope lost nearly all of his political and religious authority. However, this setback began to reverse in 1929 with the signing of the Lateran Treaty between the Vatican and Benito Mussolini. This agreement restored the papacy’s political power in Europe, representing a partial healing of its "deadly wound." Nearly a century later, another significant event took place. On the 500th anniversary of the Reformation (October 31, 2017), the Vatican's ecclesiastical power was also restored. On this important day, the world’s most influential Protestant leaders gathered with high-ranking Catholics to sign a joint declaration of unity, declaring that the "protest" against Rome was over (see my documentary on this event here). This marked the complete healing of the antichrist's deadly "wound," as evidenced by the following news excerpts: 

 

"The Roman question tonight was a thing of the past, and the Vatican was at peace with Italy... In affixing the autographs to the memorable document healing the wound which had festered since 1870, extreme cordiality was displayed on both sides" —The San Francisco Chronicle, Feb. 11, 1929 (see here).

 

“The Pope is again an independent sovereign ruler, as he was throughout the Middle Ages, though his temporal realm, established today, is the most microscopic independent State in the world, and probably the smallest in all history" —The New York Times, Feb. 12, 1929 (see here).

 

“The archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, presented a text by the Anglican communion affirming a joint declaration by the Roman Catholic church and global Protestant bodies, described as 'a sign of healing after 500 years of division'”. —The Guardian, Oct. 31, 2017

 

“This sense of fellowship, if not full unity, has carried through to the Reformation festivities. ...Pope Francis met with Lutherans in Sweden to express longing “for this wound in the body of [anti] Christ to be healed...” —The Atlantic, Oct. 29, 2017 (emphasis mine).

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In Revelation 17, the beast's death and resurrection is described as follows:

 

“The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition...when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is” (Rev. 17:8).

 

According to this passage, the beast "was" (existed before), "is not" (ceased to exist temporarily), and "shall ascend out of the bottomless pit" (re-emerge at the end of time). Clearly, this sequence mirrors the fate of Rome. While Rome maintained control throughout both its imperial and papal phases, it suffered a significant political and ecclesiastical blow during the Protestant Reformation, losing much of its influence over Europe. The papacy suffered its final death blow in 1798 when Napoleon Bonaparte's forces captured Rome and exiled the pope. Its reemergence at the end of time is linked to the 1929 Lateran Treaty, which restored its political power, and the 2017 unity declaration, which revived its ecclesiastical authority, as described earlier. The Bible’s specific predictions about these events remain astonishingly accurate.

 

11. THE “BEAST” AND THE “HARLOT” ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BLOODSHED OF SAINTS AND PROPHETS

“I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them...and shall wear out the saints...and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time” (Dan. 7:21, 25).

 

“And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations” (Rev. 13:7).

 

“And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus...” (Rev. 17:6).

 

“And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth” (Rev. 18:24).

 

Papal Rome couldn't score higher on this point. History records that the Roman Catholic Church executed countless Christians for the so-called crime of "heresy" during the Inquisition. Millions of Protestants, including the Waldenses, Albigenses, Hussites, and Pasagians, were martyred simply for breaking away from the “Mother Church.” To grasp the full scale of Rome's persecution of Believers, consider the following quotes:

 

"From the birth of Popery in 606 to the present time, it is estimated by careful and credible 13 historians, that more than fifty millions of the human family, have been slaughtered for the crime of heresy by popish persecutors, an average of more than forty thousand religious murders for every year of the existence of popery." —History of Romanism By John Dowling pp. 541, 542. New York: 1871

 

"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 . . . It is impossible to form a complete conception of the multitude of her victims, and it is quite certain that no powers of imagination can adequately realize their sufferings." (W. E. H. Lecky, History of the Rise and Influence of the Spirit of Rationalism in Europe, vol. 2, p. 32, 1910 edition)

Not surprisingly, Rome has persecuted Christians from the early Church era through the Middle Ages and, according to Bible prophecy, will do so again at the end of time: "...and they [God's people] shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time" (Dan. 7:25).

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12. “FOR MANY SHALL COME IN MY NAME, SAYING, I AM CHRIST; AND SHALL DECEIVE MANY” (MAT. 24:5).

As the world's largest religion, with nearly two billion adherents, the Catholic Church exalts the pope as the infallible “Christ substitute,” or Vicar of Christ. Only the Roman Pontiffs have claimed this title, perpetuating a deception that has misled millions of Catholics. This unparalleled counterfeit of Christ perfectly aligns with Jesus' warning in Matthew 24:5: “For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” The reference to “many” could also point to the succession of popes over the past 2,000 years, each assuming the title and role of Christ’s vicar.

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Additionally, the funeral of Pope John Paul II stands as the most striking example of the pope's universal influence, drawing the largest assembly of heads of state ever seen outside the United Nations. Four kings, five queens, and at least seventy presidents and prime ministers attended, with many bowing before his coffin—among them U.S. President George W. Bush, who openly acknowledged seeing this pope as a representation of God (see here at minute marker 1:37).

 

PERTINENT SUBPOINTS

(A) Protestant Consensus on the Pope as Antichrist

Throughout the Reformation, Protestants were united in their conviction that the pope of Rome was the Antichrist of Bible prophecy and the Roman Catholic Church was Mystery Babylon (Rev. 17–18). This belief was universally upheld across Protestant denominations until the late 1800s. The introduction of John Nelson Darby’s dispensational theology in the 1860s marked the first significant departure from this traditional view. Before this, Protestant denominations were in unanimous agreement on the matter. This consensus among early Protestants underscores the historical weight of identifying the pope as the antichrist.

 

(B) Jesuit Origins of Futurism and Preterism

Manuel Lacunza (1731–1801), Francisco Ribera (1537–1591), and Luis de Alcasar (1554–1613) were Jesuit priests who crafted the eschatological views of futurism and preterism. These systems positioned the antichrist as either a future individual (futurism) or as Emperor Nero from the first century (preterism). Their goal was to deflect Protestant accusations that the pope was the antichrist. While these views were originally rejected by Protestants, they eventually gained traction. Notice:

 

"Lacunza's fully developed system played a major role in the Counter-Reformation, the purpose of which was to remove the stigma of Antichrist from Rome, and as such, is a very important work in regard to the history of the Reformation, and the counter-Reformation which followed, which was a reaction to the teaching of Reformers such as Martin Luther and John (Jean) Calvin that the Papacy is the Antichrist of scripture. As Lacunza's book had been placed twice upon the index of forbidden books by the Vatican, first in 1819, and then five years later in September, 1824;[24] this ' . . . of course made the book even more acceptable to Protestants - the fact that Rome had condemned it.' [25]

 

"In 'Death of the Church Victorious' Ovid Need Jr., asserts that although the Jesuits then tried to introduce this system into Protestant theology several times over the next century, they were not successful until Presbyterian Pastor Edward Irving read Lacunza's work under the pseudonym of Ben Ezra "A Converted Jew" and then translated it into English. ...In order to turn the blame away from the Papacy, the Roman Catholic Jesuits started teaching that the Antichrist was some future individual that would come at the end of time.[26] Hendrie continues: 'William Kimball, in his book Rapture, A Question of Timing, reveals that Lacunza wrote the book under the pen name of Rabbi Juan Josaphat Ben-Ezra. Kimball attributes the pen name to a motive to conceal his identity, thus taking the heat off of Rome, and making his writings more palatable to Protestant readers.'"[27]

 

CONCLUSION

It may surprise you to learn that the points outlined in this teaching have been echoed for over 500 years. The identity of the antichrist is not a hidden mystery. The Protestant Reformation, which rose against the false teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, uncovered the identity of the antichrist in stunning detail. The Reformers, through diligent study of Scriptures and the characteristics of the antichrist outlined in Daniel 7 and Revelation 13, understood that the papacy was the very agent of antichrist, a truth for which they suffered greatly.

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Sadly, the majority of so-called "Protestant" Christians today are unaware of the prophetic and historical truth about the antichrist revealed by the Reformers. Instead, they embrace the Jesuit counter-reformation view that places the antichrist as a future figure, thus diverting attention away from the true antichrist—the pope of Rome. This false belief persists because the Jesuits succeeded in obscuring the irrefutable evidence that condemns the pope.

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It is my hope and prayer that God uses my efforts, along with those of other faithful Bible students, to draw attention to the true antichrist of Bible prophecy. If I have succeeded in this, I can only give the glory to our Lord and Savior, who desires all people to walk in the light of truth, especially in the dark days ahead.