“For that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and 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 Thess. 2:3-4
“…it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.”
1 John 2:18
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“There is no other head of the church but the Lord Jesus Christ: nor can the Pope of Rome in any sense, be head thereof; but is that antichrist, that man of sin, and son of perdition, that exalteth himself in the church against Christ, and all that is called God.”
The Westminster Confession of Faith (1646), 25.6
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Subsections
Historic Quotes
666
Commentaries on 2 Thess. 2
Works Against Bellarmine: Antichrist
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Order of Contents
Start Here
Articles 16+
Books 18
Latin 5
1 Jn. 4:3 1
News Article 1
Humorous 1
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Start Here
Quote
J.A. Wylie 1888
The Papacy is the Antichrist: a Demonstration, Wylie was a Professor of Church History in the old Free Church of Scotland
“The following demonstration is rested on no narrow basis. Its two postulates, like two posterns, admit us into the edifice, but they are not its foundations. The whole economy of redemption, and the whole course of history are the broad substructions on which the argument is based and built up; and the author humbly submits that it cannot be overturned, or the conclusion arrived at set aside, without dislocating and shaking the structure of both revelation and providence.
The same line of proof which establishes that Christ is the promised Messiah, conversely applied, establishes that the Roman system is the predicted Apostasy. In the life of Christ we behold the converse of what the Antichrist must be; and in the prophecy of the Antichrist we are shown the converse of what Christ must be, and was. And when we place the Papacy between the two, and compare it with each, we find, on the one hand, that it is the perfect converse of Christ as seen in His life; and, on the other, that it is the perfect image of the Antichrist, as shown in the prophecy of him. We conclude, therefore, that if Jesus of Nazareth be the Christ, the Roman Papacy is the Antichrist.”
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Articles
Silversides, David – The Antichrist: a Biblical & Confessional View Buy (2002) 20 pp.
This is the best short introduction to the question of who the Antichrist is. Silversides exegetes 2 Thess. 2, 1 John 2:18, and other passages. He also defends why this doctrine is an important part of the 1646 Westminster Confession of Faith.
Watts, Malcom – ‘Antichrist: The Biblical Doctrine’ no date 15 pp.
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Books
Turretin, Francis – Whether it can be Proven the Pope of Rome is the Antichrist ed. Rand Winburn, trans. Kenneth Bubb Buy (1661; Icon Busters, 2004) 65 pp. No ToC
A classic piece on the subject.
Wylie, James – The Pope is the Antichrist: a Demonstration from Scripture. History & his Own Lips, being a Precis of Dr. J. A. Wylie’s Classic, “The Papacy is the Antichrist” ed. Ian R. K. Paisley Buy (1888) 50 pp.
Wylie was a professor of church history in the old Free Church of Scotland, and wrote one of the most readable defenses that the Papacy is the Antichrist.
Do be aware that the 2002 reprint of this book was published by Teach Services, which is an arm of the erroneous 7th Day Adventists.
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Articles
1500’s
Calvin, John †1564
Commentary on 2 Thess. 2:3-10 14 pp.
Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book 4, Chapter 7, Sections 25-30 7 pp.
Ridley, Nicholas – On the Antichrist, 1555, 19 paragraphs
Ridley was an English protestant reformer who was burned at the stake by Roman Catholic Queen Bloody Mary. Here are some of his departing words.
Whitaker, William – The Roman Pontiff is that Antichrist whose Presence Scripture Prophesied (1582) 18 pp.
Willet, Andrew – ‘Concerning Antichrist, and whether the Pope be that Great Adversary unto Christ’ (1592) 33 pp. being the Tenth Question of the Fourth General Controversy of the First Book of his Synopsis Papismi, that is, A General View of Papistry wherein the Whole Mystery of Iniquity, and Sum of Antichristian Doctrine is Set Down…, pp. 156-189
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1600’s
Perkins, William – ‘An Excellent Sermon, Plainly Proving that Rome is Babylon & that Babylon is Fallen’ on Rev. 14:8 in Lectures upon the Three First Chapters of the Revelation… (London, 1604), pp. 341-73
Thysius, Anthony – 41. ‘On Christ as Head of the Church & on the Antichrist’ in Synopsis of a Purer Theology: Latin Text & English Translation Buy (1625; Brill, 2016), vol. 2, pp. 588-620
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1700’s
A’Brakel, Wilhelmus – “Antichrist: The Foremost & Most Formidable Foe of the Church” & “Scriptural Proofs that the Pope of Rome Is The Antichrist” (d. 1711) 10 pp. in The Christian’s Reasonable Service Buy vol. 2, the chapter on ‘Concerning the Church’, pp. 43-53
Brown, John, of Haddington – ‘Antichrist’ (1769) 7 pp. being the entry for ‘Antichrist’ in his Dictionary of the Holy Bible Buy p. 83-90
Edwards, Jonathan – History of the Work of Redemption, Section 4, Parts 3-7 Buy (1739)
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1800’s
Free Church of Scotland – The Church of Scotland’s Anti-Papal Testimony for the Headship of Christ (1847) 4 pp. being ch. 3, section 1 of Catechism on the Principles & Constitution of the Free Church of Scotland (1847), pp. 47-50, questions 153-67
This catechism was ordered by the general assembly of the old Free Church of Scotland for the purpose of its doctrines being preached widely to the people.
Henderson, James – Lecture 5, ‘Popery the Antichrist of Scripture’ in The Doctrines & Practices of Popery Examined, in a course of Lectures, by Ministers in Glasgow (183?)
Smyth, Thomas – Forbidding to Marry a Sure Mark of Antichrist on 1 Tim. 4:1-3 in Works, vol. 10
Smyth was an American, southern presbyterian
Hodge, Charles – ‘Antichrist’ in Systematic Theology Buy (1872), vol. 3, Part 4, Eschatology, ch. 2, section 6, pp. 812-37
Protestant Association – ‘The Papal Anti-Christ’ (1840) 6 pp. in Protestant Magazine, vol. II, June 1, 1840
Peck, Thomas – ‘The Chamber of Imagery in the Church of Rome’ in Miscellanies, vol. 1, p. 246 ff.
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1900’s
Lee, Francis Nigel – ‘Antichrist in Scripture’ (1997) 20 points about one paragraph long each, being the concluding chapter from Lee’s book, Antichrist in Scripture: Luther & Calvin’s Doctrine of Antichrist (Focus Christian Ministries, 2008) 58 pp.
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2000’s
Blunt, David – The Papacy is the Antichrist, pt. 1, 2 31 & 26 paragraphs respectively, being page 10 of each of The English Churchman, May 7th & 21st, 2010 issues
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Books
1500’s
Frith, John – The Revelation of Antichrist & Antithesis, where are Compared together Christ’s Acts & our Holy Father the Popes’ (1529) EEBO
Gwalther, Rudolph – Antichrist, that is to Say: A True Report that Antichrist is Come, [1.] Where He was Born, [2.] of his Person, [3.] Miracles, [4.] What Tools He Works with & [5.] What Shall be his End Buy †1586 400 pp. being 5 homilies translated by John Old.
This work was highly recommended by Thomas Cranmer who died at the stake under bloody Mary.
Tymme, Thomas – The Figure of Antichrist with the Tokens of the End of the World, Most Plainly Disciphered by a catholic & Divine Exposition of the Seconde Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians, collected out of the best & most approved Divines, both olde & new… (London: Coldocke, 1586)
Daneau, Lambert – A Treatise touching Antichrist, wherein the Place, the Time, the Form, the Workmen, the upholders, the proceeding and lastly the Ruin & Overthrow of the kingdom of Antichrist is plainly laid open out of the Word of God: where also many dark & hard places both of Daniel & the Revelation are made Manifest (London: Orwin, 1589)
Rogers, Thomas – An Historical Dialogue touching Antichrist & Popery… (London: Windet, 1589)
Deios, Laurence – That the Pope is that Antichrist: & an Answer to the Objections of Sectaries which Condemn this Church of England, Two Notably Learned & Profitable Treatises or Sermons upon the 19th verse of the 19th Chapter of the Revelation… (London: George Bishop, 1590)
Sohn, George – A Brief & Learned Treatise containing a True Description of the Antichrist… & an evident Proof that the same agrees unto the Pope (Cambridge: John Legate, 1592) 38 This looks like it is a translated disputation.
Sohn was a German reformed divine.
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1600’s
Welch, John – Concerning the Antichrist in A Reply Against Mr. Gilbert Browne, priest, wherein is handled many of the greatest and weightiest pointes of controuersy between us and the Papists… Whereunto is Annexed a several Treatise concerning the Mass & Antichrist (Edinburgh: Robert Waldegrave, 1602), pp. 285-636
Welch (1568?-1622) was a Scottish minister. Browne is serially block-quoted against Welch, with Welch’s replies following.
Downame, George – A Treatise Concerning Antichrist, Proving that the Pope is Antichrist (London: Cuthbert Burbie, 1603) 192 pp. ToC
Downame (c.1563-1634)
Beard, Thomas – Antichrist the Pope of Rome: or the Pope of Rome is Antichrist, Proved in Two Treatises (London: Isaac Iaggard, 1625) 450 pp. ToC Index
Beard (d. 1632) was an English puritan.
Pagett, Ephraim – The Trial of Truth: or, a Discovery of False Prophets. Containing a Plain & Short Discovery of the Chiefest Points of the Doctrine of the Great Antichrist, and of his adherents the False teachers & heretics of these Last Times (London: M.O. for Robert Trot, 1645) Title Page
Manton, Thomas – 18 Sermons on 2 Thess. 2, on the Description, Rise, Growth & Fall of Antichrist (d. 1677) 185 pp. in Works, vol. 3
Hughes, William – The Man of Sin, or a Discourse of Popery, wherein the Numerous & Monstrous Abomination, in doctrine and practice, of the Romish Church are by their own hands Exposed so to Open Light that the very blind may see them, and Antichrist in capital letters engraven on them, particularly in the infinite drove of their adored but lying wonders and miracles, by no Roman, but a Reformed Catholic (London ,1677) ToC
Hughes (b. 1624 or 25)
Bunyan, John – Of Antichrist & his Ruin Buy (1692) 5 chapters
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1800’s
Cassels, Samuel – Christ & Antichrist, or, Jesus of Nazareth Proved to be the Messiah, & the Papacy Proved to be the Antichrist Predicted in the Holy Scriptures (1846) 346 pp. Recommended by Moses Hoge, H.A. Boardman & William S. Plumer et al.
“The arguments both for the Messiahship of Jesus, and the Antichristian character of the Papacy, are strong and convincing. Much advantage, too, is derived from the fact, that these arguments are placed in a sort of parallelism with each other. No real Christian will be prepared to deny the Messiahship of Jesus. But the author shows, that the very same mode of proof will also establish the Antichristian character of the Papacy.” – from the Recommendation
Elliott, E.B. – Reply to the Rev. T.K. Arnold’s Remarks on the Horae Apocalypticae (1845) 78 pp.
Shortly after Elliott’s monumental commentary on Revelation was published, T.K. Arnold published a critique of it, chiefly relating to 5 points wherein Arnold argued that the Papacy was not the Antichrist. Elliott here responds to Arnold and defends his position that the Papacy is the Antichrist.
Hislop, Alexander – The Light of Prophecy Let in on the Dark Places of the Papacy, being an Exposition of 2 Thess. 2:3-12, showing its exact fulfillment in the Church of Rome (1846) 206 pp.
Hislop was a minister in the Free Church of Scotland.
Wordsworth, Christopher – Is not the Church of Rome the Babylon of the Apocalypse? (1866) 136 pp.
Wordsworth was a high-church bishop of the Church of England, showing that not all discussions identifying the Papacy as the Antichrist are from Presbyterian sources. He wrote this in light of the popular movement of his day to try and merge the Church of England with the Roman Church. The book is good.
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Latin
1500’s
Pareus, David – Collection 9, ’40 Disputations on the Controversies of the Jesuit Cardinal, Robert Bellarmine’ in Theological Collections of Universal Orthodox Theology (1611 / 1620), vol. 2
9. On the Antichrist 436
10. Continuation of the Antichrist 442
11. On the Power of the Roman Pontiff, Spiritual &
. Temporal 447
Pareus (1548-1622)
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1600’s
Hommius, Festus – Disputation 13, ‘Of Antichrist’ in 70 Theological Disputations Against Papists (Leiden, 1614), pp. 51-58
Chamier, Daniel – Panstratiae Catholicae, or a Body of the Controversies of Religion Against the Papists (Frankfurt, 1627-1629), vol. 2, Hypothesis 2, of the Pope, pp. 640-743 ToC
bk. 16, ‘Of the Antichrist’
bk. 17, ‘Papist Arguments’
Alsted, Johann H. – 2. ‘On the Antichrist’ in Chronicles of Theological Similitudes in Theological Common Places Illustrated by Perpetual Similitudes (Frankfurt, 1630), pp. 174-83
Voet, Gisbert – Syllabus of Theological Problems (Utrecht, 1643), pt. 1, section 2, tract 4 Abbr.
2. The Head of the Church, the Roman Pope & The Antichrist
Of Christ the Sole Head of the Church, & of
. the Roman Pope
Of The Antichrist
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On 1 Jn. 4:3
1 Jn. 4:2-3
“Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”
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Quotes
Samuel Rutherford
The Due Right of Presbyteries… (1644), pt. 2, pp. 227-28
“7th Distinction. It is one thing to hate a fundamental point, as that Christ is consubstantial with the Father, as the Arians do, and another thing by consequence to subvert a fundamental point, as Papists by consequence deny Christ to be true man while they hold the wonder of Transubstantiation, yet doe not they hate this conclusion formally, that Christ is true man.”
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A Survey of the Spiritual Antichrist... (London, 1648), ch. 19, p. 201
“And the Antichrist came in the Pope also, and denied Christ to come in the flesh, nullified his manhood with transubstantiation, a visible-head of the Church, images, merits, traditions of men, etc., invocation of saints, prayer for the dead, works of supererogation, etc.”
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News Article
‘The Pope Consecrates the World to Mary’ Oct. 15, 2013
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Humorous
1500’s
Gilby, Anthony – ‘The Genealogy of the Pope’ (1570) 2 paragraphs, being a quote from Benjamin Brooks, Lives of the Puritans, vol. 1, pp. 282-83.
Gilby was one of the translators of the Geneva Bible. This piece is quite humorous, insightful and historically dead on.
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“And I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots And Abominations Of The Earth. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.”
Rev. 17:3-6
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Related Pages