The following quotes show just how far the churches of today have
strayed from the wisdom of their
founding fathers regarding the awareness of the Antichrist.
Martin Luther (1483-1546 Lutheran)
We here are of the conviction that the papacy is the seat of the
true and real Antichrist...personally, I declare that I owe the Pope no
other obedience than that to Antichrist. (Aug 18, 1520, from The Prophetic
Faith of Our Fathers, Vol. 2, pg. 121 by Froom).
John Calvin (1509-1564 Presbyterian)
Some persons think us too severe and censorious when we call the
Roman pointiff Antichrist. But those who are of this opinion do not
consider that they bring the same charge of presumption against Paul himself,
after whom we speak and whose language we adopt...I shall briefly show
that Paul's words in II Thess 2 are not capable of any other interpretation
than that which applies them to the Papacy. (Taken from Institutes
by John Calvin).
Cotton Mather (1663-1728 Congregational)
The oracles of God foretold the rising of an Antichrist in the Christian
Church; and in the Pope of Rome, all the characteristics of that Antichrist
are so mavelously answered that if any who read the Scriptures do not see
it, there is a marvelous blindness upon them. (Taken from The Fall of Babylon
by Cotton Mather in Froom's book The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers Vol.
3. pg. 113.)
John Knox (1505-1572 Scotch Presbyterian)
Knox wrote to abolish that tyranny which the pope himself has for
so many ages exercised over the church and that the pope should be recognized
as the very antichrist, and son of perdition, of whom Paul speaks.
(Taken from The Zurich Letters pg. 199 by John Knox.)
Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556 Anglican)
Whereof it followeth Rome to be the seat of antichrist, and the pope
to be very antichrist himself. I could prove the same by many other
scriptures, old writers, and strong reasons. (Taken from Works by
Cranmer, Vol. 1, pp. 6-7)
John Wesley (1703-1791 Methodist)
Speaking of the papacy, he said, He is in an emphatical sense, the
Man of Sin, as he increases all manner of sin above measure. And
he is, too, properly styled the Son of Perdition, as he has caused the
death of numberless multitudes, both of his opposers and followers...He
it is...that exalteth himself above all that is called God, or what is
worshipped...claiming the highest power, and highest honour...claiming
the prerogatives which belong to God alone. (Taken from Antichrist
and His Ten Kingdoms by John Wesley, pg. 110.)
Roger Williams (1603-1683 First Baptist Pastor in America)
He spoke of the Pope as the pretended Vicar of Christ on earth, who
sits as God over the Temple of God, exalting himself not only above all
that is called God, but over the souls and consciences of all his vassals
yea over the Spirit of Christ, over the Holy Spirit, yea, and God Himself...
speaking against the God of heaven, thinking to change times and laws:
but he is the son of perdition (II Thes 2). (Taken from The Prophetic
Faith of Our Fathers by Froom, Vol. 3 pg. 52.)
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some
shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines
of devils; I Timothy 4:1