Political Religion

In early 2018, Pope Francis was seen as favorable by more than 60 percent of American adults. While this was less than the popularity of Pope John Paul II, who had an approval rating of over 75 percent, the respect and influence of the papacy as a whole continues to remain strong enough to garner respect from a large majority of Americans.

These statistics are significant when considering that the papacy had lost much of its power during the 19th century and did not regain its popularity until the late 1970s. The decline and rebirth of the papacy was foretold in the prophecies of the apostle John. Using the symbol of a beast, John spoke in Revelation 13:3 of how a religious and political power would die out but then regain its power.

The apostle Paul also spoke of this power as gaining its strength just before the second coming of Christ. Although he was not speaking of any particular pope or Catholic person, Paul was clear that a religious institution that did not receive its power from God would be used by the enemy of God: “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders” (2 Thessalonians 2:9).

John confirms that a religious-political power would become the means for forced worship. Although this persecution has not yet begun, prophecy states that, among other things, a death decree will be used to compel worship: “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” (Revelation 13:15).

Unless a religious institution refrains from using the state power, it will be fulfilling at least one of the prophecies of John.

Apply It:

Use your vote to advocate for religious liberty.

Dig Deeper:

Revelation 16:13, 14; Revelation 13:13, 14; Revelation 14:12

Key Bible Texts

And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. (Revelation 13:3 KJV)