Question 7
Who did all the great protestant reformers identify as the Beast?
Bible
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
"That day (the coming of Jesus, see vs. 2) will not come except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition."
Answer
The Bible said that this "Man of sin" (also known as the "Beast" or "Anit-Christ" or "Son of perdition") would be revealed before Jesus comes again. All the great protestant reformers have identified the Roman Catholic Papacy as the Beast, Anti-Christ, Man of Sin, or the Son of Perdition.
Below are just a few quotes taken from some of these protestant reformers:
Martin Luther, founder of the Lutheran Church wrote:
"We here are of the conviction that the papacy is the seat of the true and real Antichrist."
John Calvin, French theologian and reformer in Geneva wrote:
"We call the Roman pontiff Antichrist."
John Knox, founder of the Presbyterian church wrote:
"He (the Pope) is the very antichrist and son of perdition of whom Paul speaks."
John Wesley, founder of the Methodist church wrote:
"He (the pope) is…the Man of Sin…the Son of Perdition…claiming the prerogatives which belong to God alone."
Thomas Cranmer, leader of the English reformation wrote:
"Whereof it followers Rome to be the seat of antichrist, and the pope to be very antichrist himself."
Roger Williams, 1st Baptist pastor in America wrote:
"He is the son of perdition in 2 Thessalonians 2."
Pope Gregory, 1st pope to call his own office Antichrist wrote:
"Anyone being called 'Universal Bishop' is a forerunner of antichrist."
Answer
All these protestant reformers identified the Roman Catholic Papacy as the Anti Christ Beast of the Bible. Were they correct? We'll go to the Bible and put their claim to the test as we look at each of the 10 identifying points or characteristics.