Revelation and Prophecy :: EschatologyNEROS CROSS WILL BE THE MARK OF THE BEASTI believe you are making some assumptions based on the fact Nero Caesar’s name equals 666, however this can apply to many individuals including the Pope. (666 and the titles of the Pope) At the time John wrote Revelation the predominate religious system was under the control of a man whose title was Pontifix (or Pontifex) Maximus or “chief priest”. Julius Caesar and every Emperor held this title from Augustus onward. Caligula (3rd Roman Emperor) was the first Emperor to be worshipped as a god. Constantine made himself Pontifix Maximus of Christianity as well as the Vicar of Christ. Both of these titles are now used to designate the Pope. The angel moves forward in time to show John the judgment of the “great harlot who sits on many waters”. In verse 7 the angel states the beast was, is not, and yet is, which can refer to Satan being loosed on the earth to deceive mankind with false religions, is cast into the bottomless pit for 1,000 years, and then released for a season before being judged to an eternity in the lake of fire. So who is the “beast” whose number is that of a man? Many of the titles and designations of the Roman Catholic Church and the Pope (a man) equal 666. Also, although Catholics deny it, a couple of men who became Pope claimed that when you see the Pope you see Jesus in the flesh. The Catholic Church has been a political as well as a religious system for most of its history. Vatican City is in fact an independent political unit, which has a lot of political power and influence. The Catholic Church is also one of the wealthiest (if not the most wealthy) religious systems on this planet. The Vatican did not recognize Israel as an independent state until Israel signed a treaty guaranteeing the ownership of Catholic Churches and property in Israel rested with the Vatican. John Paul II is the Pope who accomplished this. The Catholic Church has established political ties with many nations including those nations out to obliterate Israel and eliminate all Jews worldwide. No nation or political system in the history of the world had or has the worldwide religous and political influence as the Roman Catholic Church of today. The logical identity of “the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed acts of immorality” is the Roman Catholic Church under the control of the Pontifix Maximus (Pope) and the beast is paganism (Satan). The beast is probably a religious and political system controlled by one man. This can refer to the Pope who controls the Roman Catholic Church, an entity that attributes miracles to saints and promotes (although not always officially) the Marian apparitions. John Paul II attributed his being saved from the Nazi’s to Mary not the Father, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit. |
🌈Pride🌈 goeth before Destruction
When 🌈Pride🌈 cometh, then cometh Shame