By John Roberts, May 6, 2001

What is the significance and relevance of this story to last days prophecy?

The relationship between Eugenio Pacelli and Adolf Hitler was a shadow of things to come. Pacelli was to Hitler what the False Prophet will be to the Antichrist. Pacelli was Hitler's pope. The False Prophet will be the leader of a worldwide religion that worships the Antichrist and the Beast that gives him power.

Revelation 13:11-18

  11     Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.
  12     And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
  13     He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.
  14     And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.
  15     He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.
  16     He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads,
  17     and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
  18     Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.

This should be a good lesson for all Christians. God's Church is not a building or institution but rather a body of believers. Real Christians be they Catholic, Protestant, or Orthodox do not harbor racism and they do not negotiate agreements with devils.

It is a historic fact that Jews crucified God 2,000 years ago rather than submit to His will. But this is not justification for persecuting Jews. I find the historical persecution of Jews by the Roman Pontiff extremely hypocritical since Romans were the ones that actually nailed God to the cross, gambled for His robe, and pierced His side.

Real Christians understand that "sin" is what put Christ on the cross. So we all share responsibility for bringing God to the cross.

And never forget that the High Priest and Pilot did not take the life of Christ. The Lord gave up His life as atonement for sin. And all are sinners in need of the grace of God.

Sometimes people forget that Jesus Christ was a Jew. The Apostles were Jews. The first born-again Christians were Jews. God is not through with Israel or the Jews. In the last days one third of all Jews will accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. God will fulfill His promise to set up the kingdom on earth in Jerusalem.

Anti-Semitism is a sin against God. We should pray for Jews. Jews are like the prodigal son that will someday return home to their Father's house.

As far as Romans are concerned it is worth noting that the Roman Empire soon became the infrastructure to spread the good news of Jesus Christ around the known world.

However, there is no denying that the history of the Roman Catholic church is a history of persecution and racism. Pope Pius XII was no saint. He made a pact with a devil. His cooperation with Adolf Hitler paved the way for a world war and the resulting death of tens of millions of Jews and Christians.

History will repeat itself. In the last days a new Roman Pontiff, the False Prophet, will transform Roman Catholicism into Beast worship. This last Pope will join forces with the Antichrist but they will not succeed. They will be defeated at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 20:10

  10     The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

GO BACK TO NEWS STORIES