PROPHECY IN REAL TIME

While the books of Daniel and Revelation contain the most well-known passages in the Bible for studying prophecy of the last day events. There are many other Old and New Testament passages that speak of the end times. 

Today, April 21st, 2025, condolences are coming into the Church of Rome regarding Pope Francis's death.

 

So, who was Pope Francis?

Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 17 December 1936 – 21 April 2025.

He was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 2013 until his death in 2025. 

He was the first pope from the Society of Jesus or the Jesuit Order (which is not a Christian organization) since 1958. 

He was the first Pope from the Americas.

He was the first from the Southern Hemisphere, and the first Pope born or raised outside of Europe since the 8th-century Syrian Pope Gregory III.

He was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. 

He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1969, and from 1973 to 1979, he was the Jesuit provincial superior in Argentina. 

He became the archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and was created a cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II.

Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI on 28 February 2013, a papal conclave elected Bergoglio as his successor on 13 March. He chose Francis as his papal name in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi. 

He is the first Jesuit Pope of the Catholic church. 

He was a Jesuit Pope who never stopped being a Jesuit.

How do you become a pope and the Catholic Church?

Note, 135 cardinals will elect the next pope, and Pope Francis picked 108 of them.

According to an analysis by Religion News Service, as of April 21, 2025, of the 135 members of the College of Cardinals eligible to vote, 108 — 80% — were appointed by Francis. An additional 16.3% were appointed by Pope Benedict, and only 3.7% were tapped by Pope John Paul II.

The big question today is, how many of these cardinals elected by Pope Francis are Jesuits?

Around the world today, the character and aims of the Papacy or Romanism are now regarded by Protestants with far greater favor than in former years. 

"In those countries where Catholicism is not in the ascendency, and the papists are taking a conciliatory course in order to gain influence, there is an increasing indifference concerning the doctrines that separate the reformed churches from the papal hierarchy; the opinion is gaining ground, that, after all, we do not differ so widely upon vital points as has been supposed, and that a little concession on our part will bring us into a better understanding with Rome. The time was when Protestants placed a high value upon the liberty of conscience, which has been so dearly purchased. They taught their children to abhor popery and held that to seek harmony with Rome would be disloyalty to God. 

How widely different are the sentiments now expressed? 

The defenders of popery declare that the church has been maligned; and the Protestant world are inclined to accept the statement. Many urge that it is unjust to judge the church of today by the abominations and absurdities that marked her reign during the centuries of ignorance and darkness. They excuse her horrible cruelty as the result of the barbarism of the times, and plead that the influence of modern civilization has changed her sentiments. 

Note, REVELATION 13:1-10 also repeats what was said in Revelation 12:6, 13-16, but adds significant new information. The purpose of the repetition is to indicate that the religiopolitical power that the dragon used during the Middle Ages will rise again to life and will be a key player in the attack against the remnant. Revelation 13:11-18 is a development of Revelation 12:17, which talks about the dragon's enraged attempt to make war against the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. The beast from the earth (starting in Rev. 13:11) is the second instrument used by the dragon to revive the beast from the sea and to attack God's last-day church.

Have these persons forgotten the claim of infallibility put forth for eight hundred years by this haughty power? So far from being relinquished, this claim has been affirmed in the nineteenth century with greater positiveness than ever before. As Rome asserts that she “never erred, and never can err,“ how can she renounce the principles which governed her course in past ages? 

The papal church will never relinquish her claim to infallibility. All that she has done in her persecution of those who reject her dogmas, she holds to be right; and would she not repeat the same acts, should the opportunity be presented? Let the restraints now imposed by secular governments be removed, and Rome be re-instated in her former power, and there would speedily be a revival of her tyranny and persecution. 

Outline of Revelation 13:1-11:

  1. Description of the beast (vss. 1, 2)

  2. Experience of the beast (vss. 2-4)

  3. Work of the beast (vss. 5-7)

  4. Experience and evaluation of the beast (vss. 8-10)

  5. Exhortation to God's people (vss. 10, 11)

  Review these verses until the sequence of events is clear.  

What does the phrase "coming out of the sea" (NIV) mean?  Isa. 17:12; Dan. 7:2, 3; Rev. 13:1; see also Jer. 46:7, 8.  

Which elements of this beast in Revelation 13:1 point to the prophecy of Daniel 7?  Make a list of the common elements (see Dan. 7:2-7; Rev. 13:1, 2).  

One of the first things that John observed about this second beast was its seven heads and ten horns. Because the dragon of Revelation 12:3 had those same features, the vision emphasizes the close connection between these two entities. The ten horns point to Daniel 7, in which ten horns symbolize the division of the Roman Empire (Dan. 7:7).

By pointing to Daniel 7, John helps identify the historical moment when the beast appears within the historical flow of apocalyptic prophecies. In Revelation 13, the beasts of Daniel 7 appear in inverted order: leopard (Greece), bear (Media-Persia), and the lion (Babylon). John moves from his time backward to Babylon and then forward to the future. The great beast he describes here is not one of those three from the past but a different one, the terrible beast of Daniel 7:7, the Roman Empire.

The reference to the ten horns makes the prophecy even more specific. The fact that each of the ten horns has a crown indicates that pagan Rome had already fallen and that the nations that sprang up after its demise are exercising their political authority. Thus, the work of this beast happens after the division of pagan Rome, which means that, like the little horn in Daniel 7, it represents ecclesiastical Rome.

Compare this idea that no one was like the beast (Rev. 13:4) with these verses: Exod. 15:11; 1 Sam. 2:2; Ps. 71:19; Ps. 35:10; Ps. 86:8; Ps. 113:5; Jer. 10:6. 

Questions for you to answer!

1. In what ways can you see the great controversy theme in this contrast? 
2. Why is whom we worship so important? 
3. Why would God even care whom we worship? 
4. After all, if we are "good" people, live good lives, and treat our neighbors kindly, why does it matter whom we worship or even how we worship? 

Rome to Regain Control of the World

"For centuries, papal Rome was involved in immorality, corruption, wars, torture, murder, and intrigue. Most Protestants and some Catholics of yesteryear, therefore, concluded that the papacy had to be the antichrist of prophecy, and with that opinion, many others agree.

According to Bible prophecy, the deadly wound of the beast of Revelation 13:3 is the papacy that lost its power in 1798 at the hands of Napoleon Bonaparte. The healing of that wound in 1929 would be the papacy that has regained its lost supremacy, and is actively trying to regain its lost power.

In other words, "The Roman Church is far-reaching in her plans and modes of operation. She is employing every device to extend her influence and increase her power in preparation for a fierce and determined conflict to regain control of the world, to re-establish persecution, and to undo all that Protestantism has done.” 

“God's word has given warning of the impending danger; let this be unheeded, and the Protestant world will learn what the purposes of Rome really are, only when it is too late to escape the snare. She is silently growing into power. . . . Stealthily and unsuspectedly she is strengthening her forces to further her own ends when the time shall come for her to strike. All that she desires is vantage ground, and this is already being given her. We shall soon see and shall feel what the purpose of the Roman element is. Whoever shall believe and obey the word of God will thereby incur reproach and persecution." — Ibid., p. 581.

Really? Is the Vatican bent on regaining control of the world and rekindling persecution?

“Before we continue, one thing should be pointed out. Daniel 8:24 says that the little horn's "power shall be mighty, but not by his own power." Through the centuries the papacy controlled the minds of men by getting others to do her bidding. While her power was indeed "mighty," it was only so because of the might of the kings and nations that supported her. Thus, any regaining of its previous power would likely involve control of world leaders and their policies, not direct ownership of the entire globe.

Soon, "the Vatican church would be "employ every device to extend her influence and increase her power in preparation for a fierce and determined conflict to regain control of the world," is ever to come to pass." Today, we are seeing examples of her trying to "extend her influence and increase her power. 

The sign of power over nations.

"Does the Vatican discriminate on the basis of religion in its hiring practices for positions in its government? Sure, churches should be allowed to hire only those of their own persuasion, but for a country to do that seems totally unacceptable. The U.S. Constitution forbids religious tests for office, and it should. Because of that provision, Catholics today hold numerous offices at all levels of government. Should not the Vatican do likewise in the name of religious freedom, and thus demonstrate that no one has anything to fear about its rapid rise in popularity and power since 1929?

Arguably, the United States of America is the most powerful nation on the globe today. And yet, not even the president of the United States hosts the pope at the White House. The president always goes to see the pope at the Vatican or some other agreed place, but the pope never goes to see the president at his office or home. This sends a clear message that the pope is the greater of the two, whether that be the truth or not."

"There are stormy times before us, but let us not utter one word of unbelief or discouragement." The word of God says, “But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.” 1 Peter 4:7.

Biblical History of the first beast of Revelation 13.

1. It would rise from the sea (Revelation 13:1).

The sea (or water) in prophecy refers to people or a populated area (Revelation 17:15). So the beast—antichrist—would arise amid the established nations of the then known world. The papacy arose in Western Europe, so it fits this point.

2. It would be a composite of the four beasts of Daniel chapter 7 (Revelation 13:2).

Study the comparison below to see how it all fits together:

Daniel chapter 7 Revelation chapter 13

Babylon Lion-like beast (vs. 4) "Mouth of a lion" (vs. 2)

Medo-Persia Bearlike beast (vs. 5) "Feet of a bear" (vs. 2)

Greece Leopard-like beast (vs. 6) "Like unto a leopard" (vs. 2)

Rome Ten-horned beast (vs. 7) "Having ... ten horns" (vs. 1)

The four beasts of Daniel 7 are depicted as part of Antichrist, or the beast, because the papacy incorporated pagan beliefs and practices from all four empires. She clothed them in spiritual garb and spread them to the world as Christian teachings. Here is one of many supporting statements from history: "In a certain respect, she [the papacy] has copied her organization from that of the Roman Empire, has preserved and made fruitful the philosophical intuitions of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, borrowed from both Barbarians and the Byzantine Roman Empire, but always remains herself, thoroughly digesting all elements drawn from external sources." 1 This point definitely fits the papacy.

3. The beast must receive its power, seat (capital), and authority from the dragon (Revelation 13:2).

To identify the dragon, we go to Revelation chapter 12, where God's end-time church is pictured as a pure woman. In prophecy, a pure woman represents God's true people or church (Jeremiah 6:2 Isaiah 51:16). (In Study Guide 23, we will present a detailed study of God's end-time church of Revelation chapter 12. Study Guide 22 explains Revelation chapters 17 and 18, where fallen churches are symbolized by a fallen mother and her fallen daughters.) The pure woman is portrayed as pregnant and about to deliver. The dragon crouches nearby, hoping to "devour" the baby at birth. However, when the baby is born He evades the dragon, fulfills His mission, and then ascends to heaven. Obviously the baby is Jesus, whom Herod tried to destroy by killing all the babies in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:16). So the dragon represents pagan Rome, of which Herod was a king. The power behind Herod's plot was, of course, the devil (Revelation 12:7-9). Satan acts through various governments to accomplish his ugly work in this case, pagan Rome.

We will quote just two supportive references from history, though there are many: (1) "The Roman Church ... pushed itself into the place of the Roman World-Empire, of which it is the actual continuation. ...The Pope ... is Caesar's successor." 2 (2) "The mighty Catholic Church was little more than the Roman Empire baptised. Rome was transformed as well as converted. The very capital of the old Empire became the capital of the Christian Empire. The office of Pontifex Maximus was continued in that of Pope." 3 So this point also fits the papacy. She received her capital city and power from pagan Rome.

4. It would receive a deadly wound (Revelation 13:3).

The deadly wound was inflicted when Napoleon's general, Alexander Berthier, entered Rome and took Pope Pius VI captive in February of 1798. Napoleon decreed that at the death of the pope, the papacy would be discontinued. The pope died in France in August of 1799. "Half Europe thought ... that without the Pope the Papacy was dead." 4 So this point also fits the papacy.

5. The deadly wound would be healed, and the entire world would give homage to the beast (Revelation 13:3).

Since its healing, the strength of the papacy has grown. Today she is one of the most

powerful religious-political organizations and influence centers in the world.

6. It would become a strong political power (Revelation 13:3, 7).

7. It would become a very powerful religious organization (Revelation 13:3, 8).

8. It would be guilty of blasphemy (Revelation 13:5, 6).

The papacy is guilty of blasphemy because her priests claim to forgive sins and her popes claim to be Christ.

9. It would war with and persecute the saints (Revelation 13:7).

The papacy did persecute and destroy millions of saints during the Dark Ages.

10. It would reign for 42 months (Revelation 13:5).

The papacy reigned for 42 prophetic months, which equals 1,260 years, from A.D. 538-1798.

Points H through J also clearly fit the papacy. We touched on them only briefly here because they were covered thoroughly in Study Guide 15, question 8.

11. It would have the mysterious number 666 (Revelation 13:18).

This verse says, “It is the number of a man,” and Revelation 15:2 refers to “the number of his name.” What man do you think of when you think of the papacy? Naturally, we think of the pope. What is his official name? Here is a Catholic quote: “The title of the pope of Rome is Vicarius Filii Dei” (English: “Vicar of the Son of God”).6 Malachi Martin, in The Keys of This Blood, uses the same title for the pope on page 114. A footnote for Revelation 13:18 in some Douay versions of the Bible says, “The numeral letters of his name shall make up this number.” Notice the chart at right, which shows what happens when we total up the Roman numeral value of the letters of the name. Again, the papacy fits the identification point. The beast with the “mark” is the papacy. No other power in history could possibly fit these 11 divine descriptive points."

"The signs of the times tell us that the end of all things is at hand. Prophecies fulfilled have become facts of history, clearly defining our position. We are standing upon the verge of the eternal world.... Our Lord forewarned His people that iniquity would abound in the last days and would have a paralyzing influence upon true godliness. Wickedness is seen and heard and felt all around us. It seems to permeate the very atmosphere, and affects the faith and love of God's professed people. It is difficult to hold fast Christian integrity. The fact is, much which is current in our day as Christianity is indebted for its very existence to the absence of persecution. When the test of fiery trial comes, a great proportion of these who profess the faith will show that their religion was hollow formalism....

The days in which we live are days of peril. Carelessness, levity, love of pleasure and selfish gratification, are seen in the lives of very many professed Christians. Is this the time for Seventh-day Adventists to lose their faith and grow cold and formal? God forbid! Shall we turn traitor at the very moment when God would be most glorified by our steadfast adherence to principle? Shall we turn from the heavenly attractions now, when we can almost see the glories on the other shore? We are living in the most important period of earth's history. By maintaining our allegiance to God, we may bear the noblest testimony for Christ and the truth.

The true Christian will cling to the promises of God more firmly now than ever before. His heart is where he has laid up his treasure—in heaven. When right principles are despised and forsaken, then the true and loyal will show their warmest zeal and deepest love; then they will stand most firmly for truth, unpopular though it be....

The Lord is coming.... Let us be consistent; let our works correspond with our profession of faith."

By GARDEN MINISTRY