Actually "anti-" means in place of.
If you read the epistles of John, he gives a description of "antichrist". Interesting to note, that nowhere else in the Bible is that term used except in 1 and 2 John.
1John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
1John 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
1John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
2John 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
As you can see, antichrist is a group or person that went out from among those who had the truth, and began to deny that Jesus was the Christ(Messiah), deny that Jesus came in the flesh, or according to the nature of flesh.
If you look at the title given to the pope which is "the vicar of Christ" it means "substitute for Christ, or in place of Christ".
The popes believe that they are the voice of God and claim they are infallible. They offer forgiveness of sins based on their word, denying that Christ is the one who alone provides forgiveness.
Roman Catholic theology denies that Christ was born without sin. They say that Mary was sinless, and the divine child received his nature from his mother, thus denying His sinlessness, while venerating her!
There is much, much, much, more and it would take awhile to put up, but here is a kicker.
The Council of Trent is the goal of the roman catholic system it always has been, and always will be. Here are two key points-
[b]Justification[/b] (sixth session) was declared to be offered upon the basis of faith and good works as opposed to the Protestant doctrine of faith alone, and faith was treated as a progressive work. The idea of man being utterly passive under the influence of grace was also rejected.
The greatest weight in the Council's decrees is given to the sacraments. [b]The seven sacraments were reaffirmed and the Eucharist pronounced to be a true propitiatory sacrifice as well as a sacrament, in which the bread and wine were consecrated into the Eucharist (thirteenth and twenty-second sessions). The term transubstantiation was used by the Council, but the specific Aristotelian explanation given by Scholasticism was not cited as dogmatic. Instead, the decree states that Christ is "really, truly, substantially present" in the consecrated forms.[/b] The sacrifice of the Mass was to be offered for dead and living alike and in giving to the apostles the command "do this in remembrance of me," Christ conferred upon them a sacerdotal power. The practice of withholding the cup from the laity was confirmed (twenty-first session) as one which the Church Fathers had commanded for good and sufficient reasons; yet in certain cases the Pope was made the supreme arbiter as to whether the rule should be strictly maintained.
These have not changed! Not even in Vatican 2. If you ever feel led, browse through the Catechism of the Catholic Church. You will be amazed at what they believe.
I fear that if we forget our heritage, we will be sucked into the harlot. And most forget harlots seduce people with enticing words, and things that seem good to the flesh. Read Proverbs 7:4-19.
