Intro & Scriptural foundation
When we begin to talk about what the Bible says about the last pope we must first make something abundantly clear. The Bible does not recognize the office of the pope at all Nowhere in the Old Testament nowhere in the Gospels nowhere in the epistles do we find anything resembling the structure or claims of the Roman papacy.
The idea that one man stands as the earthly head of the church bearing the title vicor of Christ ruling with supreme authority over all Christians is completely foreign to the New Testament What scripture does affirm again and again is the final sufficient and absolute authority of the word of God Psalm 19 says “The law of the Lord is perfect restoring the soul.”
2 Timothy 31 16-17 declares that all scripture is breathed out by God and is profitable for teaching for reproof for correction and for training in righteousness that the man of God may be complete equipped for every good work Notice what it doesn’t say It doesn’t say that the man of God needs an infallible pope It says scripture is sufficient to make the believer complete The authority of Christ is exercised through his word not through a human hierarchy.
Jesus never appointed a line of successors to Peter nor did he ever give one man the authority to speak excra to declare doctrine equal to scripture That is an invention of church tradition not divine revelation The barrians in Acts 17 were called noble because they tested Paul’s teaching against the scriptures not because they submitted to a central religious authority but because they submitted to the word of God Contrast that with the claims of the Roman Catholic Church which elevates tradition and papal authority to the level of scripture.
The catechism of the Catholic Church states that sacred tradition and sacred scripture make up a single sacred deposit of the word of God and it claims that the magisterium the teaching office of the church headed by the pope has the final interpretive authority.
That is a direct contradiction of the biblical principle of solar scripturous scripture alone The reformers understood this well. They stood against the entire religious system of their day because it had elevated human authority above divine revelation and they were right to do so When any man places himself above the authority of scripture he places himself in rebellion against the very voice of God.
The concept of the last pope is not in scripture The Bible does not speak of a last pope In fact it does not speak of any pope at all The idea of a singular centralized figure ruling the global church as the supreme representative of Christ is absent from every page of scripture So when people speak about the last pope they are already working from a framework foreign to the Bible’s own testimony.
Authority of Scripture vs pope’s claims
While the Roman pontiff is not directly named or identified in these texts the characteristics of the false religious system described often bear a sobering resemblance to the papal structure centralized power counterfeit authority blasphemous claims and alignment with political powers The notion of a last pope has gained traction in some circles particularly among those influenced by Catholic prophecy mystical visions or private revelations But none of these are drawn from scripture
They are speculative often sensational and lack the clarity and authority of the word of God Scripture does not encourage us to look for a final pope It tells us to look for the return of Christ to be alert to the rise of false teachers and to stay anchored in the truth Furthermore when Jesus spoke of the end of the age in Matthew 24 he warned of many false prophets and false Christs not of a single ecclesiastical figurehead who would cap off a line of spiritual successors
The Apostle Paul writing in 1 Timothy 4 warned that in later times some would depart from the faith devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons Again the emphasis is not on a final pope but on widespread deception within religious institutions The role of apostate religion in the end times The Bible speaks plainly about the role of apostate religion in the last days.
One of the most vivid and sobering pictures comes from the book of Revelation particularly chapter 17 where we are introduced to a figure known as Babylon the Great the mother of harlots and of the abominations of the earth This is not political Babylon not merely an ancient empire revived in name but a spiritual Babylon a symbol of false religion corrupted worship and institutionalized blasphemy
It is religion divorced from truth dressed in the trappings of devotion yet aligned with the powers of the world and opposed to the gospel of Jesus Christ This apostate religious system is described as a woman sitting on a scarlet beast full of names of blasphemy.
She is arrayed in purple and scarlet adorned with gold and precious stones rich in outward appearance impressive in ceremonial grandeur yet drunk with the blood of the saints and with the martyrs of Jesus This is organized religion that persecutes true believers It bears the name of God but hates the people of God.
It speaks of Christ but preaches another gospel It claims authority but rejects the authority of scripture What is so dangerous about this end time religious system is not that it denies religion It promotes it It offers a form of godliness while denying its power.
It seduces rather than threatens It blends truth with error light with darkness and becomes a spiritual counterfeate so effective that the world embraces it.
It serves as a spiritual harlot selling out the truth of God for political alliance economic gain and worldly influence Revelation 17 2 says the kings of the earth committed immorality with her and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her immorality.
In other words this apostate system gains global acceptance It becomes a religious empire with international reach moral compromise and theological corruption Jesus warned of such developments in Matthew 24 when he said that in the end many false prophets would arise and deceive many and that lawlessness would increase and the love of many would grow cold.
Paul wrote in 2 Thessalonians 2 of a strong delusion sent by God so that those who refuse to love the truth would believe what is false That delusion is not merely secular It is religious in nature It masquerades as truth It thrives in churches in pulpits in institutions that once bore the name of Christ but have long since abandoned his word Antichrist and deception in the church The Bible does not leave us in the dark about the character and agenda of the Antichrist.
False religion in Revelation 17
alone.
He comes cloaked in spiritual deception His aim is worship His method is lies The Apostle John writing in 1 John 2 18 reminds believers that many antichrists have already come but that there is one coming who will embody the full rebellion against Christ And in 1 John 4:3 he identifies the spirit of the antichrist as that which does not confess Jesus as the Christ come in the flesh That is the essence of deception To deny the true person and work of Jesus and to replace him with a false gospel a false Christ and a false authority.
This deception does not come from outside the church alone It comes from within Paul warned the Ephesian elders in Acts 20 that from among their own selves men would arise speaking twisted things to draw away the disciples after them He told Timothy that in the last days people would not endure sound teaching but would gather around themselves teachers to suit their own passions False teachers infiltrate the church.
They use the language of scripture but empty it of its meaning They elevate human tradition emotion and mystical experiences above the clear teaching of God’s word The Antichrist will not simply oppose Christianity from a secular throne He will present himself as a spiritual authority a miracle worker even a messianic figure.
2 Thessalonians 2 9 says his coming is in accord with the activity of Satan with all power and signs and false wonders The deception is so powerful that Jesus himself said in Matthew 24 24 that if it were possible even the elect would be deceived.
That is the level of spiritual manipulation at work in the last days This is not just about the final antichrist It is about the ongoing reality of Antichrist systems Antichrist teachings and Antichrist leaders They appear inside the visible church not merely outside of it They twist the gospel deny the authority of scripture and offer a counterfeit Christ who demands allegiance but does not save.
They do not lead the flock they devour it The call to discernment and separation in every age The church has been called to distinguish between truth and error light and darkness The voice of the good shepherd and the seductive whisper of false teachers.
This call to discernment is not optional It is a command It is central to Christian faithfulness in the last days As deception intensifies and apostasy spreads that call becomes all the more urgent Scripture not only commands discernment but demands separation from all that is false Discernment is the ability to judge rightly between what is of God and what is not.
Hebrews 5:14 tells us that mature believers are those who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil That discernment is not mystical emotional or subjective It is rooted in scripture.
The word of God is the measuring stick Psalm 119 104 says “From your precepts I get understanding Therefore I hate every false way.” It is only by immersing ourselves in the truth of scripture that we are able to detect error The need for discernment is emphasized throughout the New Testament.
Jesus warned in Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” Notice that they don’t appear as obvious enemies.
They look like part of the flock They use the language of faith They may carry a Bible wear a robe preach a sermon but their doctrine is poison and their agenda is destruction Jesus said “You will know them by their fruits their teaching their character their influence.
Paul echoes this warning in 2 Corinthians 11 where he describes false apostles as deceitful workers disguising themselves as apostles of Christ He says “Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light and it’s no surprise that his servants do the same.” This is the satanic strategy not to destroy the church by persecution alone but to corrupt it from within by counterfeiting truth And it takes trained biblical discernment to recognize the difference.
1 Thessalonians 5 21-22 instructs believers to examine everything carefully hold fast to that which is good abstain from every form of evil That’s a comprehensive command Test everything doctrine practice leadership movements teachings Not everything that calls itself Christian is Christian.
Not everyone who claims to speak for God actually does Many use the name of Jesus while rejecting the authority of his word Discernment however does not stop with identification It leads to actions specifically separation The Bible does not merely call us to detect falsehood but to depart from it In Romans 16:17 Paul writes “Now I urge you brethren keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned and turn away from them.
The response to heresy is not tolerance It is separation Turning away is not unloving It is obedience It is an act of loyalty to Christ 2 Timothy 3 paints a sobering portrait of the last days Men will be lovers of self lovers of money arrogant disobedient to parents unholy lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.
And then Paul adds this “Holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power avoid such men as these This is apostate religion dressed in piety but devoid of truth and the command is unmistakable Avoid them.”
There is no call to unity with error There is no room for ecumenism where truth is compromised Revelation 18 4 issues one of the most sobering calls to separation in all of scripture As the judgment of God falls upon Babylon the corrupt religious and political system of the end times a voice from heaven says “Come out of her my people so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues.”
God’s people are called to come out Not to reform Babylon not to coexist with Babylon but to leave it entirely To remain would be to share in her judgment This principle is consistent throughout the Old Testament as well In Isaiah 52:11 God calls his people to depart from Babylon to touch no unclean thing In Jeremiah 516 he says “Flee from the midst of Babylon and each of you save his life Do not be destroyed in her punishment.”
Babylon always represents false religion human rebellion and spiritual compromise God’s people are called to be holy to be set apart distinct undefiled It is this doctrine of separation that has been largely abandoned in modern evangelicalism Today tolerance is a virtue and separation is labeled as divisive unloving even arrogant But that is not how the Bible sees it.
Separation is not about pride It is about purity It is not about superiority It is about fidelity to Christ 2 Corinthians 6:14-17 makes it abundantly clear “Do not be unequally yolked with unbelievers Come out from their midst and be separate.”
There can be no fellowship between light and darkness no partnership between truth and error To remain in partnership with false teachers is to share in their guilt John writes in 2 John 10-11 that if anyone comes to you and does not bring the true doctrine of Christ do not receive him into your house or give him a greeting For the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.
This is not merely a warning It is a rebuke to those who compromise truth for the sake of unity There can be no partnership between those who love the gospel and those who corrupt it The book of Jude gives us a vivid description of false teachers who have crept in unnoticed They are described as hidden reefs clouds without water wild waves of the sea wandering stars for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever Jude calls the church to contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the saints.
Contending for the faith requires confrontation It demands clarity It involves drawing a clear line between truth and error between the church of Christ and the systems of deception.
This call to discernment and separation is not for theologians only It is for every believer In Philippians 1 9-10 Paul prays that believers would abound in knowledge and all discernment so that they may approve the things that are excellent That means testing what you hear That means evaluating the fruit of a ministry.
That means judging doctrine by scripture not by sentiment tradition or appearance And when error is found when the gospel is compromised when Christ is distorted when scripture is denied the biblical response is not silence not accommodation not dialogue.
Call to spiritual separation ✂️
The response isseparation The church is called to be a pillar and support of the truth 1 Timothy 3:15 Not a marketplace of ideas where every voice gets a platform Unity in the church is always based on truth Without truth there is no unity only compromise.
The Lord Jesus in his letters to the churches in Revelation 2 and three repeatedly rebukes congregations for tolerating false teaching He commends faithfulness He honors those who hold fast to his name and do not deny his word He calls for repentance where error has been embraced And he warns of judgment if it is not cast out Christ’s true church will endure in the midst of widespread deception.
Global apostasy Religious confusion and moral collapse One unshakable truth remains Christ’s true church will endure It will not be extinguished by persecution corrupted by heresy or overtaken by false religion Why because it is not built by men.
It is built by Christ himself and it is held together by his sovereign hand In Matthew 16:18 Jesus declared “I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” That statement is not merely a promise It is a divine guarantee Christ alone is the builder of the church Not a pope not a council not a denomination It is his church purchased with his blood established on his truth
and preserved by his power The gates of Hades that is the full force of death hell and satanic assault cannot prevail against it.
The church that Jesus builds is not a political empire or a religious hierarchy It is not defined by its architecture wealth or visibility It is composed of all those who have been born again by the spirit of God redeemed by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
These are the ones who confess him as Lord submit to his word and are being conformed to his image This is the invisible church seen by God scattered throughout the earth often unnoticed by the world but united by truth and sustained by Christ The endurance of the true church does not rest on institutional strength cultural relevance or popular support.
It rests on the finished work of Christ and the infallible word of God Isaiah 48 says “The grass withers the flower fades but the word of our God stands forever.” That word is the foundation of the church Ephesians 2:20 says “The household of God is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.”
That means the church is grounded not in evolving tradition but in divine revelation When everything else collapses the church endures because it is anchored to truth Throughout history the visible church has been plagued by compromise corruption and decay False teachers have infiltrated pulpits
Entire denominations have drifted into apostasy Popes have claimed infallibility Councils have contradicted scripture Political alliances have replaced spiritual conviction Yet the true church remains It may be marginalized persecuted or driven underground but it is never extinguished In every generation God preserves a remnant In the days of Elijah the prophet believed he was the only faithful one left in Israel But God responded “I have kept for myself 7,000 men who have not bowed the knee to Bal.”
Romans 11:4 The preservation of the faithful is not man’s accomplishment It is God’s sovereign work He guards his people He sanctifies them in truth He keeps them from falling and will present them blameless before his presence with great joy.
Jude 24 Jesus himself prayed for the church in John 17 He prayed not for the world but for those the father had given him He prayed that they would be sanctified in the truth that they would be kept from the evil one and that they would be united in him.
That high priestly prayer is being fulfilled even now Christ is the intercessor for his church He is not only its savior but its shepherd and its advocate He holds his people fast The endurance of the church does not mean it is immune to suffering In fact suffering has often been the context in which the church shines most brightly In Acts 14:22.
Paul told the disciples “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” From the first century onward the true church has beenounded by false religion and persecuted by worldly powers.
Christ’s true Church will endure
It has been burned exiled imprisoned and silenced but it has not been destroyed Tertullian an early church father famously wrote “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church Wherever the gospel is proclaimed opposition arises but so does spiritual fruit.
The church grows not by coercion or compromise but by the faithful preaching of Christ crucified The gates of hell have never defeated the church The Roman Empire could not crush it The Inquisition could not erase it Modern secularism cannot outthink it Apostate religion cannot replace it.
The endurance of the church is also seen in its purity and perseverance In Revelation 2 and three Jesus addresses seven churches some faithful some faltering In each case he calls them to repent to hold fast to overcome Those who overcome are promised eternal reward They will eat from the tree of life They will not be hurt by the second death They will be clothed in white garments Their names will not be blotted out of the book of life.
the day of Christ Jesus.” Jesus said in John 10 that his sheep hear his voice He knows them and they follow him and no one will snatch them out of his hand The true church endures because Christ holds his own.
That endurance is not only individual but corporate The local church when built on the word of God ruled by Christ led by faithful shepherds and filled with regenerate believers becomes a visible outpost of the invisible church It becomes a lighthouse in a dark world It becomes a pillar and buttress of the truth And though many visible churches may fall into compromise or even apostasy Christ continues to raise up faithful congregations who preach the truth without apology.
Even in the darkest times of church history God has preserved his witness During the medieval period when the Roman Catholic Church dominated Europe with false doctrine and religious tyranny there were still faithful voices Men and women who clung to the gospel preserved scripture and paid with their lives for refusing to bow to the authority of Rome.
And in the 16th century God unleashed the reformation calling the church back to the authority of scripture salvation by grace through faith and the lordship of Christ That same call rings out today As the visible church continues to be infiltrated by pragmatism mysticism ecumenism and doctrinal drift the true church must remain distinct It must resist the pressure to compromise for the sake of influence It must stand firm on the unchanging truth of the word of God.
Final exhortation to stand firm 🛡️
