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Many past and present Protestant scholars, like Luther, Spurgeon, Wesley, Calvin, Knox, or Moody, have identified the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) as the beast of Revelation, and the papal office as the Antichrist. We are not talking here about individuals, but institutions. In Revelation 13:1-10, Jesus portrays the papacy as a combination of church and state. In Revelation 17, Jesus depicts the RCC (the harlot) and state (the beast) as separate entities, though related. The woman is riding the beast, which signifies that the church is in control of the state (Revelation 17:13). The RCC teachings and practices are in clear contradiction with the Bible. -For example, the Bible teaches that we are not to bow down to statues (Exodus 20:4, 5); RCC says that we should bow down and pray to saint’s statues. -The Bible teaches that all have sinned except Jesus (Romans 3:10-12, Hebrews 4:15); RCC teaches that Mary was sinless. -The Bible says that Jesus is the only mediator between man and God (1 Timothy 2:5); RCC says Mary is co-mediator with Christ. -The Bible teaches that Christ offered His sacrifice on the cross once and for all (Hebrews 7:27,28 10:10); RCC teaches that the priest sacrifices Christ on the altar at every mass. -The Bible teaches that we should call no religious leader “father” (Matthew 23:9); RCC teaches that we may call the priests and pope “father.” -The Bible teaches to not pray in vain repetition (Matthew 6:7); RCC says to pray the Lord ’s Prayer or Hail Mary’s in vain repetition. -The Bible teaches to confess your sins to God, for only God can forgive sin (Isaiah 43:25, Luke 5:24); RCC says you must confess your sins to the priest for forgiveness. -Moreover, the teachings of purgatory, limbo, and prayers for the dead are nowhere in Scripture, but clearly relics of paganism. http://www.amazingfacts.org/media-library/media/e/13116/t/revelation-the-bride--the-beast-and-babylon
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