here are some of the identifying markers … given in the Bible for the Anti-Christ, and all have to fit the one power:
This has been addressed in other threads. As I understand these criteria, only some are in Scripture, and they refer to Pagan Rome:
- it sits on 7 hills ----
This is Biblical. It refers to the Roman Empire and the Seven Hills of Rome, which are attested to by literary antiquity: Aventine, Caelian, Capitoline, Esquiline, Palatine, Quirinal, Viminal.
Vatican Hill, on which The Vatican is built, is not on this list. It is opposite the Tiber from the other hills and would not be considered part of the Seven Hills by whilom readers of Revelation.
- It is both a state and a church ----
The Babylon of Revelation is a state and major trading power. The Vatican’s GDP is less than that of Rhode Island. Is the Babylon of Revelation a church? No. Even if we accept the Whore as being Israel, it is the state of Israel (a polity) rather than the Jewish faith (an ecclesiality) that is seen as giving itself over to Pagan Rome.
- It rules with an iron fist for 1260 years (Dark ages) ----
Numerology from Daniel and Revelation - though Daniel gives it as “time, times and time and a half” while Revelation gives it as 1260 days or 42 months. Neither extends it to years, so to proceed to years takes an assumption that is not found in Scripture.
More likely, it’s a numerical figure of speech referring to time in exile or in hiding. This is similar to the use of 40 days that Noah’s family sought refuge on the Ark and 40 days that Jesus wandered the wasteland.
It is also difficult to tie Daniel to Revelation. Both are apocalyptic literature, but are separated by 400 years. Even if we take “time, times and time and a half” as 3 1/2 years and coequal to 1260 days, this does not mean they refer to the same event.
And there is the issue of a ‘start date’ for the 1260 ‘years’. Which you address later.
- It is a persecuting power ----
The Christians to whom John addressed Revelation suffered terrible persecution under Pagan Rome, a Rome that deified its emperors, that celebrated death as public spectacle, and worshipped a whole host of deities.
- It claims the right to forgive sins ----
The power to forgive sins is not claimed by the Antichrist. What passage of Scripture do you cite to make this claim?
This argument arises because of the Catholic Sacrament of Reconciliation. We believe Our Lord gave the authority to His Church to forgive sins in His Name. This is the power to loose and to bind (Mt 16:19).
- It claims the place of God on Earth ----
While the Beast out of the Earth in Revelation blasphemes God, it does not specifically say that it
claims the place of God on Earth. The emperors of Pagan Rome, who saw themselves as living gods, indeed did claim the place of God.
- It seeks to change God’s times and laws ----
A prophecy in Daniel but not in Revelation. It was fulfilled by Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who attempted to change Jewish worship. These attempts to defile the Temple were recorded in 2nd Maccabees, which is an interesting historical document even if you don’t accept its inspiration.
- In 1798, it suffered a “deadly wound” which it later recovered from ----
If we follow SDA theology, the 1260 year period begins in 538 A.D. and ends in 1798 A.D. Again, 1260 is a numerical figure of speech that refers to time in exile or in wandering. But if we take it as signifying ‘rule’, then we must ask what definitive ‘rule’ began in 538 and ended in 1798?
Wiki (sorry) gives two reasons for why these dates are important:
538: The defeat of the Ostrogoths by Justinian I’s general, Belisarius
1798: The capture of Pope Pius VI by Napoleon’s general, Berthier
These are problematic - and reflect a contrivance of dates by 19th century Americans in order to make the 1260 year period work.
Belisarius was led the defeat of the Ostrogoths but 538 wasn’t a significant year. It was the year the Ostrogoths failed to besiege Rome, but more significant defeats for the Ostrogoths were the Battle of Taginae in 552 and the capture of the last Ostrogoth leader, Widin, in 561. Nor was 538 the defeat of Arianism when Arian kingdoms survived another 20 years. Nor was 538 the founding of the Papacy when the first use of “Pope” to refer to the office was by Macellinus (d. 304 a.d.). In short, 538 is a conveniently picked date meant to fit in with 1798.
Now 1798 ended the Pope’s temporal power until the Lateran Treaty returned sovereignty of Vatican City in 1929. It did not mark the end of ecclesial authority of the Pope - which is far more important.
- Its colours are scarlet and purple —
Attested in Revelation. Scarlet and Purple are colors of blood and of royalty. Note that the liturgical color of the Catholic Church is white. Celebrants wear red for four weeks during Advent and for Pentecost, and Purple for the six weeks of Lent, but otherwise green is the secondary liturgical color. The Pope wears white.
- It contains elements of ancient Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and pagan Rome ----
This is not attested to in Revelation. If we interpret the prophecies of Daniel 7 to refer to these ancient kingdoms, then we see how the prophecy ties to these polities. As far as “containing elements”, that is not in Scripture.
- It gets its seat and power from pagan Rome ----
Be more clear here. The Antichrist in Revelation
was Pagan Rome and the culture of death, evil and pagan worship that it engendered.