Is the Catholic Church the Whore of Babylon? Part 2 of 5

In the last post, I (hopefully) cleared up the definition of what/who the antichrist is. I also (hopefully) showed how it doesn't make much sense that the Pope could be the antichrist, at least according to the Scriptural definition of the antichrist.

Now, I'll look at the first 4 commonly cited verses that are used as "evidence" that the Catholic Church is the Whore of Babylon and the Pope is the antichrist. In some cases, I have commented within the text itself in bold red. For reference's sake, here is the website that I am getting them from. Fair warning, this post is pretty long (when you read it, you might want to read one section at a time, and then come back later and read another, etc.)

Also, I believe that this entire discussion shows the importance and beauty of the Catholic Church. "So why is the Bride [the Catholic Church] maligned as the Whore? Jesus himself answered the question: 'If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household' (Matt. 10:25). 'If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world... the world hates you' (John 15:18-19)." From Catholic Answers

1. HER LOCATION IDENTIFIES HER WITH ROME (“The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth,” Rev. 17:9). 

John pictures the great harlot sitting upon seven mountains, which most Protestants of old and Fundamentalists of the present identify as the city of Rome. 

“The woman is a city, and the city is Rome, the religious capital of the world. ... Rome was the city set on seven hills and was known as such to both pagan and Christian writers. ... Ovid said, ‘Rome looks around on the whole globe from her seven mountains, the seat of empire and abode of the gods.’ ... She is religious Rome, which at that time will have inherited all the religions of the world. ... It will attain the goal of the present-day apostates of all the great systems of the world: Romanism, Protestantism, pagan religions, cults and isms” (J. Vernon McGee, Revelation). 

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The author is correct, insofar as the fact that the seven mountains probably refer to Rome.

Here's where the author fails to understand history: The hill on which St. Peter's currently sits, the Vatican Hill, sits opposite of the Tiber River and the actual Seven Hills of Rome. In other words, the Vatican is not within the ancient Rome's city limits! In fact, it has only been for the past 1100 years that the Vatican has been within the city of Rome.

So, St. John could not have been speaking about the Vatican, else he would have said that the woman sitteth on the hill outside Rome.

2. HER CHARACTER IDENTIFIES HER WITH ROME (“the great whore,” Rev. 17:1). 

This is true of Rome both spiritually and literally. 

From her inception, Rome has committed spiritual whoredom with the pagan rulers and demonic powers of this world. She gleefully joined hands with Constantine of old, and she has disobediently affiliated with pagan governments ever since. 

The Roman Catholic Church has also been associated with immorality in a more literal sense. 

Her popes are immoral. Even her own history books describe the unspeakably vile deeds of her “holy” popes, even though they rarely give the whole story. 

Martin Luther visited Rome expecting to find the headquarters for holiness, but after the visit he testified: “If there be a hell, Rome is built over it.”

Pope John XII (955-63) is described by the Catholic Encyclopedia as “a course, immoral man, whose life was such that the Lateran palace was spoken of as a brothel.” 

Pope Benedict IX (1032-1045) was a murderer and an adulterer; the Catholic Encyclopedia admits he lived a “dissolute life.” 

Pope Sixtus IV (1471-84) erected a house of prostitution in Rome. (There are questions about this fact, specifically that the only real source for it comes from an early Protestant writer and hardcore anti-catholic... hardly unbiased evidence)

Pope Pius II (1458-64) had two illegitimate children.

Pope Innocent VIII (1484-92) had at least two illegitimate children that he raised to positions of authority and wealth in the Catholic Church.

Pope Alexander VI (1492-1503) had at least four illegitimate children and he made them rich through appointments. He made his son, Caesar Borgia, a cardinal when he was only 18 years old. Caesar was an immoral and violent man who had his brother put to death as well as his sister Lucrezia’s husband. Alexander held unspeakable orgies in his palace and kept mistresses who were married women. He died of syphilis. 

Pope Julius II (1503-13) had at least three illegitimate children.

Rome’s priests have also been immoral. They have taken vows of celibacy, but they have not been celibate! In The Priest, the Woman, and the Confessional, Charles Chiniquy, a former priest, documented the moral vileness associated with Rome’s practice of confession, and that is only the tip of the iceberg. (Charles Chiniquy also believed that the Jesuits were trying to assassinate Abraham Lincoln, the Vatican caused and sponsored the Civil War, and that the Vatican was trying to take over the U.S. by shipping Catholic immigrants to its shores. So... not the best source of information)

Even to this very day, Rome has an immoral testimony. Throughout the world, her priests are renowned for homosexuality and child abuse. In recent years, Rome has paid millions of dollars to settle court cases brought against homosexual, child-molesting priests. 

A 2004 study in America found 11,757 cases of sexual abuse involving 5,148 priests. The study also found that the Catholic Church has spent at least $1 billion in lawsuits and treatment for priests. These studies only involve about half of the priests in the U.S.

The Archdiocese of Portland and that of Tucson filed bankruptcy in 2004.

According to Roman Catholic Bishop Pat Buckley (who also is not unbiased. He runs a group that advocates for a married priesthood, and he is well known to create crazy statistics off the top of his head), studies have shown that 80% of the Catholic priests in Ireland have broken their vows of celibacy. The bishop estimates that at least one in 10 of the 5,000 priests have regular clandestine affairs with women (“500 Irish Priests Having Regular Sex with Women,” London News Telegraph, Jan. 21, 2006). Buckley says the figure of one in 10 is “an extremely conservative estimate” and that when the statistics are widened to include “practicing homosexuals,” it would be found that UP TO 40% OF THE PRIESTS ARE SEXUALLY ACTIVE. Buckley operates a ministry called Bethany, which counsels women who have been involved with priests. He says, “From the top down it is hypocritical. We are preaching compulsory celibacy, but very few are living it.” He describes as common the practice of priests and their housekeepers living secretly as husband and wife and says that relationships between priests and nuns is so common that it is unofficially called the “third way.” 

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1) In regards to the Popes: So what? There are Protestant and Fundamentalist pastors and leaders that have committed great wrongs. In fact, WE ARE ALL SINNERS- we have all done wrong things. Does that somehow invalidate the Christian faith or our denomination? Does that make Fundamentalism, Protestantism, or Christianity the Whore of Babylon? Of course not!

2) When dealing with Fundamentalists, it's a good idea to see where they're getting their facts (when they actually provide the source). You'll often find that they are anti-Catholic as opposed to actual, unbiased sources. In the above, I have noted the fact that these people are all horrible sources from which to try and cite Truth.

3) The most important question in regards to the misdeeds of Christians is... so what? Do we question Christ because He chose Judas, His betrayer, to be an Apostle? No, we don't. So do we question a denomination or religion because a few of its members are sinners, or because in the past some of it's leaders have been? No, we don't.

If our basis for belonging to a denomination or religion was the holiness of its members, than there would be NO Christians and NO Fundamentalists.

3. HER WORLDWIDE REACH IDENTIFIES HER WITH ROME (“that sitteth upon many waters,” Rev. 17:1). 

No matter where you go in this dark world, Rome’s tentacles have extended there. 

Further, Rome is busy extending her influence by yoking together with the Christian denominations and pagan religions of the world. A statement made in recent decades by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the head of the Anglican and Episcopalian churches, shows how far the ecumenical movement has gone toward reconciliation with Rome. On August 7, 1977, Michael Ramsey said he would accept the pope as “President-Bishop” of a united “church” (Focus, Jul.-Aug. 1988, p. 5). Ramsey also said: “We should like to see the churches of England, Scotland, the United States and any other countries, bound together in one body. If the pope would like to come in as chairman, we should all welcome him” (Why Were Our Reformers Burned?). 

What organization is not trying to reach out to others and spread its message? Fundamentalist Churches do the same... it's called evangelizing. Maybe the author is just upset that the Catholic Church is better at it than their group.

My books Evangelicals and Rome and The Directory of Contemporary Worship Music documents the back to Rome movement within practically every segment of Protestantism.

Not only are apostate Christian denominations returning to Rome, but so are pagan religions. At the last two general assemblies of the World Council of Churches, the speakers included Hindus, Buddhists, Jewish rabbis, Muslims, Sikhs, Native American Indians, and Australian aborigines. Pagan altars were erected and fire offerings made to various pagan gods. “Ecumenical” means universal, worldwide, and the present-day movement of Christian unity, represented by groups such as the World Council of Churches, is the fore-view of this worldwide apostate “church.” The WCC itself is indeed worldwide, being composed of more than 300 denominations representing some 500 million people in 100 nations. This large body of apostate Christianity has already become one in spirit with the Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox Churches, and even recognizes the so-called spirituality of non-Christian religions.

Wait... what does the World Council of Churches have to do with the Catholic Church? The Catholic Church is not a member of the WCC. Instead, the Church sends a few observers. How can the WCC "become one in spirit with the Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox Churches" when the Catholic Church isn't even a member? Furthermore, the Catholic Church has no say on how the WCC conducts its meetings, so any problems one might have with that are best laid at the feet of the WCC, not the Pope.

The emerging “harlot church” was seen on Jan. 24, 2002, when Pope John Paul II led the third Day of Prayer for Peace in Assisi, Italy. (The first was held in 1986 and the second in 1993.) The 2002 interfaith prayer gathering featured some 200 religious leaders, including representatives of “Christian” denominations (Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Reformed, Baptist, Lutheran, Mormon, Mennonite) as well as representatives of Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Bahai, Confucianism, Shintoism, Hinduism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, and members of African and North American “traditional religions.” Prominently featured were 29 Muslim leaders from such countries as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Sudan, Morocco, and Libya, all of which persecute Christians to some degree. Thus, there is already a harlot “church” taking shape and sitting upon many waters.

Yeah, how dare the Catholic Church come together with other people from around the world and hope and pray for peace.

The Pope's goal in forming the Day of Prayer for Peace was not to unite with those religions as a single entity, but rather to bring together various beliefs, cultures, and peoples who have a common goal- peace. What's wrong with that?

Rome’s worldwide reach was evident at the funeral of Pope John Paul II in April 2005. The ultra large front page banner for the April 8 edition of theEvening Standard of London, England, announced “UNITED BY THE POPE,” and that about sums it up. Claudira Ribeira Santos, a Brazilian nun who attended the Pope’s funeral, observed: “The entire world is here. John Paul tore down the walls of countries, of classes, of religions.” As The Times of London observed, “This reflected not just the charisma of the late Pope but also ‘a better understanding of the Catholic Church with the growth of ecumenicism” (The Times, April 7, 2005). This funeral, called “the greatest the world has seen,” was watched on television by an estimated two billion people. This was the first papal funeral attended by 200 world leaders, including at least 70 presidents and prime ministers. This was the first papal funeral attended by an Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury, the first attended by a British prime minister, and the first attended by a future monarch of England (Prince Charles was representing the Queen). This was the first papal casket before which a president of the United States bowed (The Times, London, April 7, 2005, p. 36) and the first papal funeral to draw an entourage of the current and two former presidents of the United States.

There is already a harlot “church” taking shape and sitting upon many waters.

The Pope was a world-wide figure, and he positively affected the lives of people across the world... why wouldn't his funeral and death be a world-wide event?

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The thing that always thwarts Fundamentalists is the Bible. Let's see what Scripture has to say about trying to evangelizing the entire world and trying to bring them into the flock of His Church:

Matthew 28:19 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

John 17:24 "That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me."

One would think, therefore, that Christ's True Church would have a world-wide reach. That would be evidence that it is the True Church, because it means that His Church is fulfilling its obligation. I would anyone who cites this as a reason the Catholic Church is the Whore of Babylon "how much of the world does your group evangelize?"

4. HER UNHOLY EFFECT UPON MEN IDENTIFIES HER WITH ROME(“and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication,” Rev. 17:2). 

Apostate religion allows men to continue in their sinful pleasures while having a form of religion to soothe their guilty consciences. 

The term “fornication” in Rev. 17:2 refers to the seducing power of the Romish system in drawing away the affections from Christ, who is the only true and proper object of faith for the heart. “The priest comes between the heart and the blessed Lord; the Bible is concealed; the mind of God is unknown; the people are intoxicated with her exciting falsehoods; and worship they know not what” (Miller’s Church History). 

The attraction of apostate Christianity to the people of the world, in spite of the fact that apostate Christendom has constantly discredited itself, is amazing to behold. 

This is illustrated by the world’s supernatural attraction to the pope. Even the secular, humanistic press gives the Roman pope great acclaim; something that is not accorded any other Christian leader. 

Of Pope John Paul II’s journey to South America in 1980, Time magazine said: “The Polish-born pontiff proved a spell-binding presence, drawing crowds of a million or more on at least six occasions.” 

Following the first visit ever made by a pope to America, Time magazine gushed: “ A gentle shepherd with a will of steel, John Paul II thrilled the U.S. with a glorious pilgrimage that won hearts—and challenged the nation. ... After only a year in office, the Pontiff is emerging as the kind of incandescent leader that the world so hungers for--one who can make people feel that they have been lifted above the drabness of their lives and show them that they are capable of better emotions, and better deeds than they may have thought.” 

Several people have been trampled to death in the great crowds that flock to see the pope during his world travels. In 1980, nine people died and dozens were hospitalized in Africa, while three died and 30 were injured in El Salvador. These duped millions are indeed drunk with the wine of the fornications of the harlot “church.” 

That the supernatural attraction to the office of the pope has increased dramatically in recent decades was evident at the funeral of John Paul II in April 2005. The ultra large front-page banner for the April 8 edition of the Evening Standard of London, England, announced, “UNITED BY THE POPE,” and that about sums it up. Claudira Ribeira Santos, a Brazilian nun who attended the Pope’s funeral, observed: “The entire world is here. John Paul tore down the walls of countries, of classes, of religions.”

The funeral was watched on television by an estimated two billion people. It was the first papal funeral attended by 200 world leaders, including at least 70 presidents and prime ministers. It was the first papal funeral attended by an Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury, the first attended by a British prime minister, and the first attended by a future monarch of England. It was the first papal casket before which a president of the United States bowed (The Times, London, April 7, 2005, p. 36) and the first papal funeral to draw an entourage of a current and two former presidents of the United States. 

The world is indeed drunk with the wine of the fornications of the harlot “church.” 

The attraction of the world toward apostate Christianity will continue to increase as the Great Tribulation draws nearer. Finally, the antichrist’s prophet will “cause the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed ... and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do...” (Rev. 13:11-15) “... God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” (2 Thess. 3:11-12)

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There are two ideas that I want to touch on for this one.

1) There is no place in Catholicism for anything that supplants or takes away anything belonging to G-d. That said, does Mary, the saints, and priests take away from that which is due to G-d? NO!

Mary points to G-d, and says that He is the Creator, the Redeemer, Love, and King of Kings. We do NOT worship Mary, and we don't pretend to. We do NOT worship the priest, and we don't pretend to.

These things and people point towards G-d, much like the Bible does. The Bible doesn't take away from our worship of G-d, even if we sing hymns about Scripture. Instead, the Bible points out the amazingness and awesomeness of G-d.

Actually, that's a great analogy. Mary, the saints, priests, etc. work in a similar way to Scripture, in so far as they both point us to G-d, enlighten us about G-d, and help spread His love to us all. Love of G-d and love of something else is not an either/or proposition. It's an and/both. I can love my wife AND G-d. I can love Scripture AND G-d. I can read both Les Miserables AND Scripture. I can pray to Mary AND to G-d. I can flock to see the Pope AND flock to see Christ (in the Eucharist during Adoration).


2) Does the attractiveness of the Pope and the Catholic Church as a sign of the anti-christ mean that His True Church will be unattractive?

Fundamentalists often fall into this trap. They talk about how Christ and His love is so attractive, and then how obviously the Catholic Church is the anti-christ because the Church is so attractive. Wouldn't seem that the Church that was founded by Christ would be similar to Him? The Church is attractive because Christ is attractive. The people that show up in crowds to see the Pope aren't really coming to see him, or at least aren't coming for the sole fact of seeing him. Instead, they're coming to hear about Christ, about Christ's love, and to see the Successor of St. Peter, who was appointed by Christ to lead His Church.

Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V