Church of God News

Pope Benedict XVI reasserted the primacy of the Roman Catholic Church by approving a document released in July, 2007, that says “other Christian communities are defective or not true churches and that Catholicism provides the only true path to salvation.” It calls them mere “ecclesial communities” and states that their ministers have no right to give “communion,” thus making them fraudulent ministers who cannot provide the way to salvation! The statement brought swift criticism from Protestant leaders…

When the current officer holder of the future False Prophet – the Roman Catholic Pope – states that Protestant Churches have no right to exist because they “lack elements considered essential”, that stand should shock discerning Christians greatly. Right now, the Catholic Pontiff lacks the political power to energize his proclamation so that he could shut down all Protestant churches, but, once Antichrist is on the world scene, and the Pope serves him as his False Prophet, he will have the political power at his disposal to shut down Protestant churches all across the globe, and do with its adherents what he wishes! In that on-rushing world, freedom of religion will be soon non-existent!

We read in the book of Revelation the following enigmatic, puzzling Scripture:

“Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb, and spoke like a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. . . He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a MARK on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom: Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666” (Rev.13:11-12, 16-18, NKJV).

Revelation 13:16-18 reveals that the False Prophet is the one who will force the peoples of the world to take the Mark of the Beast, and cause those who refuse to be beheaded! A future Roman Catholic Pope – serving the Antichrist – will cause tens of millions of Protestant Christians to be martyred when they refuse his demand to take the Mark of the Beast.

I do not see that beheading, nor tens of millions of Protestants so killed, in the Bible for refusing the “Mark” (though when the USA and its English-speaking at least that many Protestants will be killed–though TPM has a different understanding of that as well).

However, TPM is basically correct that one who will, at the end, sit on the papal throne (who I consider will be an “antipope”) is represented by the second beast of Revelation.  TPM, at least on that point, agrees with the COGs and not with the SDAs (they teach that second beast is the USA).  However, on a variety of prophetic and doctrinal matters, TPM is, in my opinion, quite far from the Bible and the COG views.

Articles of possibly related interest may include:

SDA/COG Differences: Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666 The COG is NOT part of the Seventh-day Adventists. This article explains two prophetic differences, the trinity, and differences in approaching doctrine.
Some Doctrines of Antichrist Are there any doctrines taught outside the Churches of God which can be considered as doctrines of antichrist. This article suggests at least three. It also provides information on 666.
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation?
Teachings of Triumph Prophetic Ministries William Dankenbring’s ministry–speculates on various dates.  He also holds to a variety of questionable doctrines.
Why Be Concerned About False and Heretical Leaders? There have been many false leaders–here is some of why you should be concerned about them.