Will the Antichrist Deceive You?

by Leonard V Johnson

THIS present evil age has a new pope. Pope Leo XIV ── the first American pope in the Roman Catholic Church. A pope who spent years retweeting criticism of our President Donald Trump. Some events continue to plunge this world toward a most terrible climax just before the glorious and powerful return of our Lord Jesus Christ ── our true High Priest! Will the final Antichrist deceive you? 

IS THIS NEW POPE ignorant of the fact that God’s living word labels him as an “antichrist”? Remember, brethren, “the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time” left (Revelation 12:12).

The LORD God warns us that this man ── masquerading himself as a great “vicar of God,” and a “Christian” will eventually declare himself to be God! ──  

“And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.” – 2 Thessalonians 2:8. 

Why An American Pope?

“For the first time ever, the most famous American in the world is not the president or a Hollywood icon or tech billionaire—it’s the Pope,” wrote Christopher Hale of Time. 1 In a world that often equates the United States of America with wealth, might, power, and celebritism ── now this world has a pope that is likened to a rock star! 

Notice what I had posted in ‘Is This the Beginning of Sorrows’? ──

This great religious leader within a United States of Europe becomes like a rock star! With this religious leader coming onto the scene with all of this ‘power to make lightning fall from the sky,’ and other signs and wonders, that organization will become highly relevant. And this religious leader will become like a rock star! 

Will this pope be like Simon Magus before him ── in whom his followers revered him as “the Great Power of God”? (Acts 8:9-10). Just like Satan the Devil himself, his servant cannot go beyond what the LORD God allows. But let us keep in mind that the bounds that the LORD God has allowed are about to be loosened. 

As Satan the Devil knows God’s living word forwards and backwards ── though he twists it for his pleasure – see Genesis 3:1; Matthew 4:6 ── so also does the head of the great MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. This Robert Francis Prevost, the new vicar of God, showed this same attitude when he argued with our Vice President JD Vance ── tweeting, “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others.” Apparently, he doesn’t know God’s living word ── cf. Matthew 10:37; John 14:15; 15:13, 17.  

The LORD God Is Permitting This Deception

The LORD God commands all men ── everywhere ── to repent, but He does permit deception! Our Lord Jesus’ reference to Judas Iscariot is certainly applicable to today’s fast-moving prophetic world events ──  

“’ WOE to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!’” – Matthew 18:7. 

Sadly, just as the far-left leaning Democrats (at least the seemingly overall majority) here in the United States of America are unaware of their being human instruments of Satan the Devil ── so too are millions of people around the world unaware of what the LORD God’s living word says regarding an end-time antichrist who will oppose our Lord Jesus Christ! The Roman Catholic Church knows just enough prophecy to perform its abominable deeds. They know ── and have known throughout their nearly 2,000 years ── enough prophecy to prepare and to pervert the LORD God’s true prophecies regarding themselves! 

The Catholics Have Their Own Prophecies 

God’s living word ── even including the Catholic Saint Joseph ‘New Catholic Edition’ Bible I have in my home library ── declares unequivocally that the end time pope will be a false prophet – an inspired speaker.

Certainly, Satan the Devil knows the LORD God’s general Plan. He has been working in the minds of millions throughout this present evil age, laying the groundwork for this great delusion. And, even though terrible trials of troubles will come soon for mankind, they will ‘blaspheme the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and will not repent of their deeds.’ – cf. Revelation 16:11. Millions upon millions of people around the world will continue in their sin ── not turning to the LORD God of heaven, but will rather turn to the end-time vicar of the Roman Catholic Church! – screaming to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!’ – cf. Revelation 6:16. 

Why will they be so enamored with this Pontiff?

Because, “the man of sin … the son of perdition, 4) who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 9) The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10) and with ALL UNRIGHTEOUS DECEPTION AMONG THOSE THAT PERISH, …” – 2 Thessalonians 2:3-10.

Into the ears of those who do not have the love of truth, he will pour out his lies that our returning King of kings and Lord of lords is an alien force from the outer reaches of the cosmos that is coming to destroy humanity. And they will believe him ── after all, the majority of our last two and and-a-half generations have been conditioned to believe in UFOs and “little green men.” And, they “for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie.” – 2 Thessalonians 2:11. 

Upon what will this end-time pope base his claim? 

By the own admission of the Roman Catholic Church ── their own interpretation of their own prophecies and traditions as explained by their early church “fathers.”

Any attempt to adjust the horizontal or vertical ── any attempt to teach the LORD God’s living truth on these matters will be greeted with severe tribulation and death (Matthew 24:9), and they will becry “HERETIC!” They will brand you as a false minister or prophet. 

“ … Furthermore, in order to restrain petulant spirits, It decrees, that no one, relying on his own skill, shall, in matters of faith, and of morals pertaining to the edification of Christian doctrine…presume to interpret the said sacred Scripture contrary to that sense which holy mother Church […]” (Fourth Session (8 April 1546; Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent).

The Catholics Have Their Own Definition

Notice what is written in the Catholic Encyclopedia, “ … that the Abbot really believes that Antichrist will overthrow the pope and usurp his See; …” (Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, “Antichrist,” 1907, pg. 561). 

The Roman Catholic Church believes that an Antichrist will one day usurp the pope. Yet, all throughout God’s living, eternal word, our Lord Jesus Christ will ultimately annihilate the pope and any power and authority he will have!  

One such false Catholic prophetess (who had died in 1824) had written of a vision ──

“I saw again a new and odd-looking Church which they were trying to build. There was nothing holy about it … THIS IS BABEL.” 2

Another false Catholic prophet (a German priest and founder of a religious community, who had died in 1658) wrote ── 

“Antichrist will come as the Messiah … his mother being a prostitute to the Jews … Antichrist and his army will conquer Rome, kill the Pope, and take the throne. The Jews, knowing from the Bible that Jerusalem will be the seat of the Messiah, will come from everywhere and accept Antichrist as the Messiah.” 3

Now, it might be nearly impossible to believe that those of the Roman Catholic Church could believe this ── but they will. And, a great many do even today!  

One more to illustrate the Roman Catholic’s satanic definition. Here is one from Richard Rolle of Hampole, who died in 1349 ── 

“After the destruction of Rome, Antichrist will appear and exalt himself above pagan deities and the Trinity. His name signifies one who is against Christ. Begotten of a sinful man and of a woman into whom the devil has entered, … Coming to Jerusalem, he will proclaim himself Christ and at first feign to be holy. He will succeed through false preaching, miracles, gifts, terror, aided throughout by the devil. An evil spirit will come out of the air and descend upon his followers. He shall feign a resurrection from the dead, cause rain to fall... and perform other wonders, all through the power of the devil.... The Jews will welcome him.” 4

So, you can see from these illustrations how the Roman Catholics ── from their false prophets and their mystics ── have twisted God’s living word to say what they desire! 

LQQK AT YOUR OWN BIBLE!

Hippolytus of the third century. The Catholic Encyclopedia claims that Hippolytus is a Catholic saint and was “the most important theologian…of the Roman Church in the pre-Constantinian era.” 5 One of their “early church fathers” upon whom they rely heavily for their inspiration and dogma.

Look into your own Holy Bible, and compare God’s living clear words ── the very Word and Authority of our Lord Jesus Christ ── with the blasphemous and vile prophecies made by this Hippolytus ── 

“Believe not the enemy who is to come and be seen; for he is an adversary 1964 and corrupter and son of perdition, and deceives you; 1965 and for this reason he will kill you, and smite them with the sword.” 6

Satan the Devil has very cleverly inspired this false prophet to pen these fallacies, and Catholic men and women since that time have been sprinkling such false prophecies on this subject ever since ── even as recent as 100 years ago.

Notice the clear living word of God ── 

“Behold, He [our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ] is coming with clouds, and EVERY EYE WILL SEE HIM, even they who pierced Him [meaning, the future end-time final resurrected “Holy” Roman Empire]. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.” – Revelation 1:7.

“And the armies in heaven [speaking of the atmosphere here], clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him [our Lord Jesus Christ] on white horses. 15) Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations [Our Lord Jesus only needs to speak His Word, and it is done! e.g., “Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light.” – Genesis 1:3]. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” – Revelation 19:14-15. 

Notice that this blasphemous Hippolytus had written ──

“At that time the whole earth will bewail the life of anguish, and the sea and air in like manner will bewail it; and the sun, too, will wail; and the wild beasts, together with the fouls, will wail; mountains and hills, and the trees of the plain, will wail on account of the race of man, because all have turned aside from the holy God and obeyed the deceiver, and received the mark of that abominable one, the enemy of God. INSTEAD OF THE QUICKENING CROSS OF THE SAVIOUR.” 7 

However, God’s clear living word shows us that the time when the people of the earth are going to “bewail” in anguish is at the time of our Lord Jesus Christ’s powerful second coming!

“’ And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her [speaking of the revitalized, powerful, and highly influential Mother Church of all daughter churches around the world ── the Roman Catholic Church that will come to her annihilation], for no one buys their merchandise anymore: 12) merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, … 15) The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, 16) and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city [Vatican City] that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious pearls! 17) For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.’” – Revelation 18:11-12, 15-17.

Again, Hippolytus ── 

“And in the presence of all he exhibits himself as taken up into heaven with trumpets and sounds, and the mighty shouting of those who hail him with indescribable hymns; the heir of darkness himself shining like light, and at one time soaring to the heavens, and at another descending to the earth with great glory, and again charging the demons, like angels, to execute his behests with much fear and trembling. Then will he send the cohorts of the demons among mountains and caves and dens of the earth, to track out those who have been concealed from his eyes, and to bring them forward to worship him.” 8

Again, God’s living, immutable word ── inspired by the Spirit of God ──

“For the Lord Himself [our Savior Jesus Christ] will descend from heaven [low earth orbit] with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trump of God [the SEVENTH TRUMPET]. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17) Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds [the atmosphere] to meet the Lord in the air. …” – 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17. 

Hippolytus, “charging the demons, like angels”! WHAT!? 

Another Blasphemous Writing From This Hippolytus 

“Then that abominable one [and if this is not blasphemous against God Most High, what is!?] will send his commands throughout every government by the hand at once of demons and of visible men, who shall say, “A mighty king has arisen upon the earth; come ye all to worship him; come ye all to see the strength of his kingdom: for, behold, he will give you corn; and he will bestow upon you wine, and great riches, and lofty honours. For the whole earth and sea obeys his command. Come ye all to him.” 9 

God’s living word; and compare this with Matthew 24:14 the soon-coming end-time prophets arise and begin proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom before ‘the god of the earth, kings, every free man and every bond man, every mighty man and every weak man as a witness to all nations, and then the end will come’ ──

“Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven [the atmosphere], having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth ── to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people ── 7) saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.’” – Revelation 14:6-7.

Sadly, when the FALSE PROHECIES OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH (much of which has been integrated into Protestant prophecies) are pointed out in homilies, addresses, or speeches, by a Catholic pope proclaiming himself as God ── the people of the earth will believe the only meaning they have ever learned concerning these signs and lying wonders, and they will be convinced that our glorious and powerful living Savior Jesus Christ is the Antichrist!

It Will Get Worse For Those Being Led By God’s Spirit 

Soon, the Catholic Church will have prestige once again. Soon ── the left-leaning Democratic Party that is being led by Satan the Devil will get what they lust after! Ultimate power! All the implemented policies and mandates imposed upon the United States of America within our last four years will once again be imposed ── with many more. Such as – dismantle all of the Trump-era regulations, establish once again a variety of environmental “protections” and sweeping changes to illegal immigration policies, rejoin the Paris Agreement on climate change, the reestablishment of D.E.I., order banning discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation, etc. COMPLETE AND UTTER DICTATORSHIP WILL RULE OVER THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA! And, brethren, our religious freedom to be able to say such things concerning the Roman Catholic Church’s “fathers” will be gone! We will be viciously attacked for saying such things.

Notice this false prophecy from Dionysius of Luxemberg (d. 1682) ── 

“Antichrist will be an iconoclast [against idols]. Most of the world will adore him. He will teach that the Christian religion is false. confiscation of Christian property is legal, Saturday is to be observed instead of Sunday, and he will change the Ten Commandments. All his wonders could not be written in a book. They will be more wonderful than the Old and New Testaments. … He will read people’s minds, raise the dead, reward his followers, and punish the rest.” 10 

Will the Antichrist Deceive You? 

Sadly, the very existence of those blasphemous prophecies over the centuries have captured the abiding interest of religious people around the world. What is obvious to the LORD God’s begotten children is that we must be certain what are the LORD God’s prophecies so that we will not be deceived. 

Our Lord Jesus Christ has warned us ── 

“ … ‘Take heed that NO ONE deceives you. 5) For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. … For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.’” – Matthew 24:4-5, 24. 

Are you sure that you can discern counterfeit prophecies properly? These Roman Catholic prophecies and many others will soon be foisted upon an unsuspecting world. □

Bibliography

1 Hale, C., The True Meaning of an American Pope, Time, 9 May 2025. 

2 Dupont, Yves, Catholic Prophecy The Coming Chastisement, Tan Books and Publishers, Inc., Rockford, Ill. 1970, pgs. 60 ¶ 53.3 – 53.4, 116 ¶ 88. 

3 https://www.cathinfo.com/the-catholic-bunker/ven-holzhauser-(7-ages-of-the-church)/. Reviewed 10 May 2025.

4 Culleton, R.G., The Reign of Antichrist: A Sourcebook of Catholic Prophecies About ‘the Man of Sin,’ Tan Books and Publishers, Inc., 1974, pg. 138. 

5 The Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. 7, Knight of Columbus Special Edition, “Hippolytus” 1913, pg. 361. 

6 Schaff, P., Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 5, Grand Rapids, MI.: Christian Classics Ethereal Library, 1819-1893; Originally published in 1885, § XXIX, pg. 626.

7  Ibid. (6) § XXXIII, pg. 630. 

8  Ibid. (6) § XXIX pg.626. 

9  Ibid. (6) § XXVIII pg. 625.

10 Conner, E., Catholic Prophecy For Today, Third Revised Edition - 1963, Academy Library Guild, Apostolate of Christian Action, Fresno, CA., 1956, pgs. 69-70.