The Signs of the Times is an official publication of the Seventh-day Adventist Church that was first published in 1874 by James White. On October 13, 1881, page 7, the Signs of the Times published an article written by J. N. Andrews titled “The Change of God’s Sabbath.” This article clearly and unequivocally identified the Antichrist. We read:
“The nature of the work of this wicked power as here represented by Daniel, clearly determines whose are the times and laws which he shall think to change. It is a part of his warfare against the cause of God. He blasphemes the name of God, he wears out his saints, and he thinks to change his law … This great Antichrist is the papal power. Of this there can be no just doubt.” [1]
All of that has changed today. “The Antichrist,” written by David Lackey, was the featured article in the Signs of the Times for March 2023. Despite the fact that the article “The Antichrist” contained a total of 2,167 words, it is quite remarkable that the words “Papacy,” “pope,” “Rome,” “Vatican,” or “Catholic” don’t appear anywhere in this essay. Instead, the current editors and writers at the Signs of the Times are telling us that the Antichrist is Satan and that he will appear in the future, sometime after the sealing work is finished. The article does mention the beast of Revelation, the man of sin, and the Antichrist, but they are not identified with the Papacy. The Signs of the Times writer applies all those terms to Satan when he seeks to impersonate Christ sometime in the future after the close of the sealing message. The March 2023 article about the Antichrist said in part:
“As you can see, the Bible uses many terms to describe the antichrist, but in the end, the antichrist has a singular goal: he is focused on harming God’s children. However, God will not allow the antichrist to appear until His special messengers, the 144,000, have been sealed.” [2]
“The Bible tells us that Satan, the great deceiver, is working to counterfeit the ministry of Jesus Christ. For centuries now, he has been positioning himself to take the place of the Son of God, ultimately planning to mimic the second coming of Jesus! The Greek word translated as antichrist can mean either “against Christ” or “taking the place of Christ.” As it turns out, Satan does both.” [2]
How can an article about the Antichrist be published without actually identifying him or, at the very least, showing that the Protestant Churches historically associated the term “Antichrist” with the Papacy? How did the Signs of the Times editorial staff fail to reveal the true nature and objectives of the Papacy?
Ever since the Protestant Reformation, the view that has dominated Protestantism has been that the Papacy is the Antichrist. Among its supporters were the Waldenses, Huguenots, Hussites, Anabaptists, Wycliffe, Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, Tyndale, Latimer, John Wesley (Methodists), George Foxe (Quakers), Menno Simons (Mennonites), John Knox (Presbyterians), and many others, including the founders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. As the leaders of the Protestant Reformation grew in their understanding and appreciation of the gospel and the Holy Scriptures, they also grew in their recognition that the Papacy was the Antichrist. This was becoming more obvious as their understanding of the truth became clearer.
This became known as the historic Protestant view. Most Protestant prophetic interpretations, from the Reformation of the 16th century all the way down to the rise of Seventh-day Adventists during the 19th century, have identified the Papacy as the Antichrist. And those who reject the historical view of Antichrist are undermining one of the historical pillars of Protestantism. The Reformation would not have happened without the belief that the Pope was and is the Antichrist. If the Pope wasn’t Antichrist, then why leave the fellowship of the Roman Catholic Church? What right do we have to be separate if the reasons for being a Protestant don’t exist anymore? Why did the Protestants “come out”? We owe our very existence to the Reformers’ convictions that the Pope is the Antichrist.
Catholic/Jesuit Refutation that the Papacy is Antichrist
Naturally, Rome came up with a theory to counter the Protestant view of the Antichrist. Rome needed a theory to refute the Protestants’ claim.
“The Jesuits were commissioned by the Pope to develop a new interpretation of Scripture that would counteract the Protestant application of the Bible’s prophecies regarding the Antichrist to the Roman Catholic Church. All the reformers’ studies pointed the finger directly at the Roman Catholic Church as the Antichrist power described in Daniel as the ‘little horn.’ Francisco Ribera (1537-1591), a brilliant Jesuit priest and doctor of theology from Spain, answered Papacy’s call … He then developed the doctrine of futurism. His explanation was that the prophecies apply only to a single sinister man who will arise up at the end of time. Rome quickly adopted this viewpoint as the Church’s official position on the Antichrist.” [3]
One of the most amazing developments that is assisting in the healing of Rome’s deadly wound is the rejection of the Protestant churches’ interpretation that the Papacy is the Antichrist. The Papacy has gone from being the Antichrist to becoming our brother in Christ. The new interpretation that the rise of the Antichrist will occur at some distant future time is being accepted by the churches today. Catholics, Protestants, and even some Seventh-day Adventists are espousing this futuristic interpretation of the Antichrist. How does this happen? Is this the result of our 60-year involvement in the ecumenical movement? Or is it because of Jesuit infiltration? Or is it both?
Regardless of why this is happening, true Seventh-day Adventists, along with the early Protestant Reformers, have identified the Papacy as the Antichrist. This was the position that was taken in our publications for many generations. It is still valid. Ellen G. White shared this same historical view:
“When the papal bull reached Luther, he said: ‘I despise it, and resist it, as impious and false … It is Christ himself who is condemned therein. I glory in the prospect of suffering for the best of causes. Already I feel greater liberty; for I know now that the pope is antichrist, and that his throne is that of Satan himself’.” (Great Controversy, p. 141).
“Yet it was not without a terrible struggle with himself that Luther decided upon a final separation from the church. It was about this time that he wrote: ‘I feel more and more every day how difficult it is to lay aside the scruples which one has imbibed in childhood. Oh, how much pain it cost me, though I had the Scriptures on my side, to justify it to myself that I should dare to make a stand alone against the pope, and hold him forth as antichrist!’” (Great Controversy, p. 143).
“Satan has carried his first great work of deception down through all the ages, and will until the close of time. In antichrist, he has a living agent. When the Christian world shall make void the law of God when church and state are united, when Protestantism shall reach its hands across the gulf to unite with Romanism, allegiance to the law of God will be fully thrown off and the decree will go forth against the people of God” (Manuscript 104, 1893).
“Men have assumed despotic power, and human laws have been put in the place of the law of God. It is the reign of Antichrist. God’s law is set aside” (Review and Herald, December 15, 1904, par. 1).
“The fourth commandment has been trampled upon, therefore we are called upon to repair the breach in the law and plead for the desecrated Sabbath. The man of sin, who exalted himself above God, and thought to change times and laws, brought about the change of the Sabbath from the seventh to the first day of the week. In doing this he made a breach in the law of God. Just prior to the great day of God, a message is sent forth to warn the people to come back to their allegiance to the law of God, which antichrist has broken down. Attention must be called to the breach in the law, by precept and example” (Life Sketches, p. 96).
Unfortunately, the classical Protestant view of the Antichrist is almost nonexistent today. It is not a message to be given by the faint-hearted. The identification of Antichrist is not politically or ecumenically expedient. It is not socially acceptable. It never has been, nor will it ever be. Many Protestants lost their lives over this during the Middle Ages. Holding this position today will certainly cause you to stand in Christ all alone and away from popular ecumenical circles. However, God placed the terms little horn, man of sin, the beast, and Antichrist in scripture. These are meant to be interpreted. What should concern us is not whether these messages are considered popular. Our only concern should be: Are they true? And can those teachings be sustained by the Scriptures?
It is critically important that we fully understand Antichrist’s workings. Failure to do so will ultimately cause us to be on the side of Antichrist.
“Those who become confused in their understanding of the Word, who fail to see the meaning of antichrist, will surely place themselves on the side of antichrist. There is no time now for us to assimilate with the world” (Bible Commentaries, Vol. 7, p. 949).
“The religion of Jesus is endangered. It is being mingled with worldliness. Worldly policy is taking the place of the true piety and wisdom that comes from above, and God will remove His prospering hand from the conference. Shall the ark of the covenant be removed from this people? Shall idols be smuggled in? Shall false principles and false precepts be brought into the sanctuary? Shall antichrist be respected? Shall the true doctrines and principles given us by God, which have made us what we are, be ignored? Shall God’s instrumentality, the publishing house, become a mere political, worldly institution? This is directly where the enemy, through blinded, unconsecrated men, is leading us” (Counsels to Writers and Editors, p. 95).
The Signs of the Times magazine is not giving people the real signs of the end times or the real interpretation of Bible prophecy. Unfortunately, like many of our other publications, it has become a generic, non-doctrinal, ecumenical publication. How can we trust them to tell us who the beast is, what the mark is, and, most importantly, how to avoid it, if they can’t even tell people who the Antichrist is?
Sources
[1] https://documents.adventistarchives.org/Periodicals/ST/ST18811013-V07-39.pdf
[2] https://www.signstimes.com/?p=article&a=40093254289.645
[3] https://amazingdiscoveries.org/RT_encyclopedia_Futurism_Jesuit_Ribera
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Probably this will answer all:
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Good morning
Your article on the antichrist is very enlightening.
Thank you so much
False worship through deception and force (not being able to buy or sell) is soon coming when the anti-christ appears in the Middle East. Chaos and unrest in several
regions of the world will trigger this drama. And who will be there to cover it? The Bible ignorant media! And who gets deceived like the devil wants it? Nearly the
whole world. Do your homework on Chrislam and the One World Religion that is in its infancy. There’s no need to be deceived if we are good Bible students.
What can we expect when they use the NKJV, and other versions of the Bible as their proof? Walter Veith has clearly shown that all other Bibles are inaccurate and have been changed, or in many cases, deleted passages all together! Everyone should get the video “Battle of the Bibles” by Walter Veith. It is an eye opener!
With all the different winds of doctrine out there, ie: There is no Holy Spirit, and that Christ was some how “created”, we need to be in our KJV Bibles. I stopped my subscription to Signs of the Times many years ago. I am so glad I did.
Having grown up in the SDA faith, I have heard both of these points of views espoused. Thank you for the enlightened clarification and history of these ideologies.
It is disappointing to see so much compromise to the beast power.
Would love to hear Elder Wilson Rebuke this article from “Signs of the Times”
(Would be incredibly surprised if he did though)
Ted Wilson would have to “Hold the Line” in order to correct this serious error. That may be asking too much.
Wow, how far has the “church” of God fallen.
Thank you Andy for opening eyes.
“And if it were possible, the very elect will be deceived.”
These words are coming alive in a manner over the last 60 years I NEVER would have imagined or guessed.
May all Father’s truly elect be given wisdom, discernment and perseverance in their walk with Him.
The seeds have been sown and are bearing their wicked fruit. Guaine Diop has a article in the latest issue of Advent Journey to the Lake of fire. it is chilling article how he uses WACO tradegy to view a narrative that will be used for the justification of ostgarazing brethren that will at the end come with a message that will be seen as Dangerous. Diop lays the groundwork here at the end he brings it together that the structures of the GC are our protection. It is not the Word and the prophet counsel to us through EGW but the church. What does this sound like ??
Its the second to last paragraph in the article that is the ominous one. The article has naturally some well founded and sensible reasoning to it about the dangers of offshoots. There is also a seed of abuse there in it when God does raise up a offshoot of the 144000 that they will be seen has the coming of the branch Davidians. The writing is on the wall. It is just a matter of time before more than just a few now will interpret correctly that we are on the cusp of the final event.
Revelation 5 is placed in the year 31 by Uriah Smith, in the ascension of Christ. That´s not an inspired book, i know. But it is confirmed by the Bible and the SOP. Here are some arguments:
The description of the Desire of Ages of the ascension is quite similar to Revelation 4 and 5. “Who is worthy?” is very similar to the description of the Desire when Christ stop the worship of the heaven hosts until his sacrifice become accepted by the Father. Read it by yourself. The Desire of Ages is very descriptive:
“There is the throne, and around it the rainbow of promise. There are cherubim and seraphim. The commanders of the angel hosts, the sons of God, the representatives of the unfallen worlds, are assembled. The heavenly council before which Lucifer had accused God and His Son, the representatives of those sinless realms over which Satan had thought to establish his dominion,—all are there to welcome the Redeemer. They are eager to celebrate His triumph and to glorify their King. { DA 832
The Book or the Books?
Revelation 5 talks about a misterious book, sealed, that “no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon”. Rev 5.3. The spirit of prophecy reveals the content of this book:
“here in His open hand lay the book, the roll of the history of God’s providences, the prophetic history of nations and the church. Herein was contained the divine utterances, His authority, His commandments, His laws, the whole symbolic counsel of the Eternal, and the history of all ruling powers in the nations. In symbolic language was contained in that roll the influence of every nation, tongue, and people from the beginning of earth’s history to its close. { 9MR 7.2
But, when you read Daniel 7, it talks about “books”, not one, several. And in that open books -not is mentioned any difficultie to open or read them by the judgment- the spirit of prophecy says:
” the only cases considered are those of the professed people of God. The judgment of the wicked is a distinct and separate work, and takes place at a later period”.GC480
That is quite different from the content in the sealed book!
You can also read, in the same GC chapter that the angels always had access to the judgment books for record human lifes purposes:
“Sins that have not been repented of and forsaken will not be pardoned and blotted out of the books of record, but will stand to witness against the sinner in the day of God. He may have committed his evil deeds in the light of day or in the darkness of night; but they were open and manifest before Him with whom we have to do. Angels of God witnessed each sin and registered it in the unerring records”. GC 486
There are several, yes several more hints and evidence that Revelation 5 is NOT 1844. The plain quote says this:
“As in vision the apostle John was granted a view of the temple of God in heaven, he beheld there “seven lamps of fire burning before the throne.” He saw an angel “having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.” Revelation 4:5; 8:3. Here the prophet was permitted to behold the first apartment of the sanctuary in heaven; and he saw there the “seven lamps of fire” and the “golden altar” represented by the golden candlestick and the altar of incense in the sanctuary on earth”.
That is another strong evidence, pointing clearly Revelation 4 to the Holy place, and it related historic time, of course.
Another SOP statement related to REvelation 5 is the following:
This roll was written within and without. John says: “I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon” [verse 4]. The vision as presented to John made its impression upon his mind. The destiny of every nation was contained in that book. John was distressed at the utter inability of any human being or angelic
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intelligence to read the words, or even to look thereon. His soul was wrought up to such a point of agony and suspense that one of the strong angels had compassion on him, and laying his hand on him assuringly, said, “Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof” [verse 5]. { 12MR 296.4 }
John continues: [verses 6, 7, quoted]. As the book was unrolled, all who looked upon it were filled with awe. There were no blanks in the book. There was space for no more writing. [Revelation 5:8-14; 6:8-11; Revelation 8:1-4, quoted.] { 12MR 297.1 }
Again, a book that has records of NATIONS, not only the individuals for judgment, and notably “WAS SPACE FOR NO MORE WRITING”!!. Clearly, this is not the heavenly records.
So… if you place, as the SOP points, Rev 5 in the ascension of Christ, you can see how the seals are parallels to churches and trumpets, as the adventism historicism has always said. This is similar to the recapitulation system used in Daniel.
But, if you place Revelation 5 in 1844, you are following the futurism paradigma, and open the door for place the seals in the future, as well the trumpets.
There are many other evidences, but this ones are the clearer, in my humble opinion.
To be fair to the writer he left at the end of his article a webpage if one would like to learn more.
Going to the webpage you will note that the presentations do become far more exacting on pinpointing the identity of the dragon, the beast, the two horned beast etc.
Not sure why it was not made more clear in the article.
EGW: I saw angels hurrying to and fro in heaven. An angel with a writer’s inkhorn by his side returned from the earth and reported to Jesus that his work was done, and the saints were numbered and sealed. Then I saw Jesus, who had been ministering before the ark containing the ten commandments, throw down the censer. He raised His hands, and with a loud voice said, “It is done.” And all the angelic host laid off their crowns as Jesus made the solemn declaration, “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” {EW 279.2}
Comment: The article is Jesuit propaganda that Evangelicals have promulgated into other denominations. Ellen White states that once the last person is sealed, all cases are locked in. There will be no multitude to witness to, even to try and save. It will be the seven last plagues followed by the second coming.