TWO BEASTS RISING / the book

TWO BEASTS RISING

Foretold Final 2 Beasts of World History: IN PLAIN VIEW

US Library of Congress / Rob Conrad

CHAPTER 4 the PAPACY of ROME

[ Revelation's False Prophet & 2nd BEAST ]

'And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon.' [Revelation 13:11]

Only a simple bit of research of history about the Papacy of ROME is necessary in order to identify & confirm its fulfillment over the last 1700 years of being the Bible's False Prophet & rising 2nd BEAST of Revelation 13:11. Also, Revelation's foresight was pinpoint accurate in that the murderous rampage of Nero of ROME [54AD - 68AD] has been dwarfed by the magnitude of the subsequent centuries of a global killing spree [from 300's AD through mid-1800's] by the 'rising' beastly reli- gious leaders of ROME.

Without question, the Papacy is the foretold False Prophet, Revelation's sole evil figure, having risen from the 4th century when the concept of the Papacy was invented & grown into its final End Time global status today. As Revelation & Daniel predicted, no other evil religious icon & phoney religious system, except the Popes of Rome, has cloaked itself with a longer lasting and more deceptive 'Christian' mask in readiness for its End Time fulfillment in today's generation.

54AD - 313AD:

ROME's first century torturing & slaughtering of hundreds of thousands of Christians & Jews [under Nero/Titus] resulted from ROME's disatisfaction with true Spirit-filled Christians and their explodingly popular Christian faith which exalted 'Jesus' as their 'king' rather than exalting ROME's Caesar as 'king'. Nero topped off his horrendous reign by imprisoning the great Apostle Paul for 2 years [66AD-68AD], having Paul beheaded in ROME & then committIng suicide in 68AD. However, ROME's unceasing persecution & killing of Christians & Jews continued. In 70AD ROME's armies under Titus invaded Jerusalem, killed hundreds of thous- ands of Christians & Jews , destroyed the city of Jerusalem & leveled its 2nd Temple [fulfilling Dan.9:26], then leaving Jerusalem without a temple to this day. Over 1 million were killed by the Roman Empire by 100AD.

Also, ROME under Emperors Domitian [81AD - 96 AD] & Trajan [111AD-117AD] caused Christianity to be illegal which suddenly made all Christians & Jews outlaws to ROME through the next 200 years into the 300's AD. 'Illegal Christianity' also made ROME's flourishing crimes against humanity lawful from its own eyes as its persecutions & killings of Christians & Jews advanced 'legally'.

313AD - mid-1800's P A P A L K I L L I N G M A C H I N E

However, in 313AD, Constantine [2] [3] lifted ROME's verdict against Christians & Jews, allowing true Christians to freely worship & talk of their faith under the still dominating Roman Empire. It is at that time [300's AD] when Revelation's predicted beastly False Prophet took its beginning form & began 'rising' [Rev.13:11] with ROME's sudden decision to become its very own 'Christian' empire. During this 4th century AD, ROME quickly created its very own religious leader naming him as the 'Bishop of ROME'. These new self-exalted 'Bishops' experienced such rapid acclaim & prestige through the next 200 years that by the 500's AD they crowned themselves with a new name as 'Pope' ['father' in Latin]. At that time the new 'Popes' also began their new philosophy that all others on earth were to be subserviant to their self-designed God-like religious status.

From this point on [6th century AD] , the Papacy's self-declaration as being the highest 'Christian' leader on earth coupled with its anti- Biblical doctrines swung the door wide open for the following 1300 years [through the 1800's] for world history's most horrific persecutions, horrors, tortures & atrocities upon humanity, all carried out by the Popes of ROME. Historic records estimate as many as 100 million persons were slaughtered in total by the Roman Catholic Popes during this period, more than all other wars in world history combined. This 13 century stretch included the vicious Papal Crusades [1095AD-1291AD] & the following 600 genocidal years of the Inquisitions [1232AD- 1800'sAD]. During the Inquisitions, anyone who dared to oppose or even challenge the supremacy of the Roman Catholic Popes of ROME met their fate of being tortured and/or murdered legally by the Papal judicial court. [ *Pope Gregory IX himself having ordered the legal 'start' of the Inquisitions in 1232 AD] .

Finally, in the mid-1800's, ROME's barbaric 1500 year string [from the the 4th century] of wholesale persecution & killing of tens of millions of Jews & Christians at the hands of the Bishops & Popes of ROME dissipated. However, by that time, Revelation's evil False Prophet rising as the ultimate 'Christian' impostor & 'beast' [Rev.13:11] had been virtually identified & solidly confirmed by history as being the Papacy. Only the Popes with their anti-christ doctrines, satanic rituals & historically unmatched genocidal track record have unequivocally proven themselves as fulfillment of Revelation's religious man of sin.

Significantly, history also records many great & true Christians over the centuries who easily differentiated between true Christianity & the truths of the Bible from the hypocricies & monstrous evil deeds of the Popes of ROME. Many of these devout believers were also accurate & bold in their public naming of the Papacy as the foretold False Prophet ['antichrist'] to come, including: John Calvin, William Tyndale, J.A. Wylie, John Wycliffe, Sir Isaac Newton, Galileo Galilei, John Huss, John Knox, George Fox, Charles Finney, Charles Spurgeon, Rev. Roger Williams, D.L. Moody, John Wesley, to name a few. [*View list] [2].

Also significant is that the true Spirit-filled Christians were the prime ones named by the Roman Catholic Popes as 'heretics' & were persecuted & killed as outcasts of the 'Holy Roman Church'. This exact attitude amongst the Popes of ROME [including the current Pope Benedict XVI ] towards true Spirit-filled Evangelical believers & all others outside of the Catholic religion still exists today as found in Vatican Council's Canon Laws [>News / 2007] & is ready to rear its ugly head again in the coming horrors of the Great Tribulation of these End Times. [*News / Benedict cracks down on Pentecostal upsurge in Latin America.]

1870 - through today

But amazingly, after 1500 years [from 300's AD - 1800's] of ROME's virtual bloodbath upon humanity [especially Christians & Jews], the next bold step of the proven & powerful Popes did not include any apologies or even an acknowledgement of their evil deeds whatsoever. In fact, in 1870 the unrepentant Papacy raised themselves even higher in god-like status to the world with the in-your-face newly-established 'laws' of

the First Vatican Council.

The Popes & his religious cronies finalized [in 1870] its own religious official 'law' containing the many outrageous anti-christ Catholic doctrines & rituals which oppose the Bible & made official the exalting on earth of the Popes of ROME. For instance, Vatican Council I made as Roman Catholic law the exalting of the Pope himself to the 'Supreme' ruler on earth, above all others & in subjection to no one, and being the 'infallible' ultimate 'Christian' ruler on earth. Popes even created for themselves the ultimate authority to pronounce a person to eternal hell, a false self-made authority which dares to attempt to oppose & usurp God's highest authority. Of course, to students of the Bible all of this is pure folly. Vatican Council I also had the audacity [after 15 consecutive centuries of atrocities] to brazenly name the Pope's phony religious organization as the 'Holy' Roman Catholic Church which it is still called today by 1 billion Catholics, billions of other unsuspecting onlookers in the world, history's scholars & even the world's top international leaders. Today's world & its leaders also blindly address the Pope as 'Holy Father' , the Papacy's blasphemous self-created title designed to enhance the prestige of the Bishops of Rome.

However, even as the horrendous crimes of the Popes of ROME subsided in the mid- 1800's, ROME's deceptions plus its anger & condemnation of the Jews for 'killing Jesus' had not. Not even 70 years after the first Vatican Council [1870] history records that Benito Mussolini picked up exactly where the Popes of ROME had left off. In 1936 & again in 1939, ITALY's Catholic dictator Mussolini literally shook hands with Adolph Hitler binding ROME, Italy with the German Nazi Leader in 'The Pact of Steel' [1939] at the beginning of World War II .

Then, as proven in ROME's unequalled past record of anti-semitic nature, historical records emphatically show the Papacy of ROME's own response to the horrors of WWII. Clearly, ROME's reaction to the genocide of over 6 million Jews was a 'remain silent & look-the-other- way' mode. This was demonstrated during the holocaust by Pope Pius XII [reigned 1939-1958] who maintained a passive & disattached appearance. This stayed completely in line with Pius XII's prior Reich Concordat in 1933 made with Hitler agreeing to submit the Vatican to the dictator's German Third Reich. The agreement was written by Pius XII himself when he held the Vatican's top position under the Pope as the Vatican's Secretary of State, Pius XI's right hand man. Then, at the start of the war in 1939, Pius XII [having just been elected as Pope] casually observed from the sidelines as the Papacy's own monstrous & historically proven nature of anti-semitic genocide was publicly unleashed again. Only this time, it was by ROME's own Catholic Dictator Mussolini & carried out by the racist & satanic Hitler until the end of the war in 1945.

But, over the last 60 years since the end of WWII, Jewish leaders

around the world have asked politely & more recently legitimately demanded [Dec 2006] [2001] that the Popes open the Vatican's 'entire' Holocaust archives. This is in order to confirm [or disconfirm] the Vatican's staunch denials for 60 years of any wrong-doing against the Jews on Pope Pius XII's part. More specifically, opening the Holocaust files could prove conclusive regarding Pope Pius XII's overall misconduct which, so far, is proven to be an evil lack of help for the Jewish Holocaust victims of 1942 - 1945. Or more likely, whether Pius XII & his wartime Catholic hierarchy possibly collaborated with Hitler in the actual condemnation of the Jews. However, without question, Pius XII's actions of saying & doing nothing to stop Hitler's slaughtering of Jews is a far greater sign of Pius XII being a condemner of Jews rather than a helper of Jews.

What compounds this belief is that each Pope [since WWII 's end] has declined to open more than just the currently opened superficial files of Pius XII [2] , most of which precede the war. In fact, the current Pope Benedict's first real response to this matter just over 2 years into his Papacy was to abruptly close the Vatican Library & Archives in July 2007 for the next 3 years for 'remodeling'. Curiously, now only Benedict XVI himself & his 2 other appointed officials have access to the vast Vatican files which, if opened, would likely ignite a fresh global awareness of the Papacy's anti-semitic nature & atrocities carried out for almost 2000 years. Not to mention, the revealing of Pope Pius XII's & the Catholic hierarchy's potential collaboration with Hitler's Nazis. [*News / Lawsuits-Claims against Vatican's cooperation with Nazis].

Amazingly in 1965, 20 years after the horrors of World War II, the Vatican still had not publicly expressed sorrow whatsoever towards the prior genocide of Jews during the Holocaust. In fact, the only gesture of the Popes towards the Jews was to finally consider [in September 1964] removing the term 'perfidious Jews' [deceitful, treacherous] from their annual Roman Catholic liturgical prayers and to refrain from traditionally describing the Jews as 'an accursed' people who are 'guilty of deicide' [the 'killing of God'] meaning 'Jesus'. After all of the horrors carried out by Hitler upon the innocent Jews, for the Papacy to only respond by deciding to stop naming the Jews as accursed was [& still is] a major slap in the face & re-confirms the Papacy's anti-semitic nature. [ July 2007 / News: Benedict XVI re-instates version of ancient Catholic prayer offensive to Jews ] [ *News: Historic adverse Vatican and Israel Relations over 2000 yrs. ]

However, after World War II the next real major move of the self-serving Popes of ROME was to re-crown themselves publicly again in Vatican Council II [1965]. This time it was to a newly-modernized world as they boldly re-announced their self-made & highest-exalted religious 'Christian' status on earth. Prophetically, both Vatican Councils clearly re-solidified the role of the False Prophet for these End Times & tested [twice] the world's response & acceptance of the claims of the Popes of ROME. And both times, the world's people & world leaders blindly shrugged their shoulders to ROME's deceptions, anti-Biblical doctrines & outrageous self-exalting claims made public to the world in 1870 & 1965. Since then [with the 1800's end of the Inquisitions & Vatican Council 1 in 1870] & without question, today's generation has lost completely the acute awareness which true Christian Protestants & Reformers had [during the 1500's - 1800's] in their bold identifying of the evil nature & antichrist history of the Popes of ROME.

By 1978, the world was then fully primed for what the Bible predicts will be the False Prophet's 'holy' & charismatic personna, finally 'appearing as a lamb' [Rev.13:11] on the world's End Time stage right before the 'start' of the 7 Year Tribulation period of history. Scriptures show that the rising False Prophet's beastly track record will have become craftily transformed into an attractive, fully accepted & globally exalted religious icon at the end of the age, second to no other. This is exactly what has occurred over the last 180 years or so since the Inquisitions ended in the 1800's, allowing the Papacy to re-invent its religious image as upright & righteous to an unsuspecting world. With the appearance of John Paul II [1978 - April 2005] came the most charismatic & mesmerizing Pope in history as he travelled the globe for 28 years dressed in radiant white & created a worldwide choir of 6 billion unsuspecting admirers.

However, from Revelation's perspective, the Papacy of ROME [under John Paul II's era] suddenly began to clearly match the 'conquering rider on the white horse' . Again, this is Revelation's specific depiction of the appearance of the False Prophet to the world in the End Times and at the 'start' of the 7 Year Tribulation. [Rev.6:2]. As previously mentioned, today's generation is not only blind to ROME's past 17 century murderous history, but has now bought into the Papacy's successful re-portrayal of itself [since Vatican 1 in 1870] as the world's ultimate 'holy' spokesperson & model for 'Christian' values & morality. As emphasized, this total reversal of the Pope's world image is divinely on time with all other prophecies which are also obviously in place today for near-future fulfillment.

Today's NEW & Historic Diplomatic Relations Between the Popes & Israel

In the 1990's the Papacy's new & successful 'you can trust me, I'm your friend' mode suddenly turned its 'friendly' focus towards Jerusalem. Here again, this is the exact major scenario predicted of the False Prophet in the End Times just before Christ's return. Daniel 9:26, 27 show that the 'prince who is to come' [False Prophet from ROME] will have gained enough favor with the Jews of Israel in the End Times that he will actually be the ultimate world leader who the Jews of Israel will look to in order to 'make a firm covenant' with the Jews in a 7 year Mideast Peace agreement. [Dan.9:27].

In fact, this is exactly what has now shaped up in perfect line with End Time prophecy & as dozens of Headline News articles show. Both Popes John Paul II & Benedict XVI have capitalized on their increased 'friendly' religious clout in the world over the last 30 years or so [since the election of John Paul II in 1978] by pushing the Papacy right into the middle of the Mideast Peace world negotiations. Without question, this is the single-most confirming sign of the nearness of the 'start' of the predicted final 7 year Tribulation period.

To be specific, in 1994 and right on time with this generation's prophetical ticking timeclock, Pope John Paul II initiated & signed the historic 'Fundamental Agreement' with Israel. Amazingly, it officially established the Vatican's diplomatic relations with Israel for the first time in 1700 years of Papal history. This enormous prophetical action put in fast-forward motion the foretold End Time concept of the False Prophet's deceptiveness in luring Israel into the predicted final End Time 7 Year Mideast Peace Agreement. [Dan.9:27]. As previously stressed, this is a direct result of the Papacy's self-created facade almost 2 centuries ago of presenting its own appearance to be 'like a lamb' and appear as the greatest 'Christian' leader in the world. [Rev.13:11].

Outwardly, 1994's 'Fundamental Agreement' has been hailed publicly as a great conciliatory gesture by the Vatican towards Israel. However, the content of the short document clearly shows ROME's overwhelming intent on having 'custody of Israel' & being recognized by Israel as a legal & internationally sovereign 'personality' which is authorized [by Israel] to operate, at the Popes' will, within the very borders of Israel [& at all Holy sites] & without any challenge from Israel or even the international community. [Fundamental Agreement of 1994, 1997].

Significantly & from the Biblical End Time perspective, no other 'religious' leader or religion in the world [including Muslims] has ever been able to secure any kind of legal agreement with Israel whatsoever, with the exception of the Papacy of ROME in 1994. Not to mention having Israel's leaders today offering to roll out the red carpet for the Popes of ROME to visit the Holy Land, offering the Pope free manueverability in the Holy Land and now looking to the Pope as a major voice in Israel's current Mideast Peace negotiations.

But, even after the Fundamental Agreement's signing in 1994, it virtually sat on the table for the next 10-11 years having not yet been officially accepted by Israel's highest governing body, the Knesset, which is required. However, this dramatically changed with ROME's April 2005 election of the aggressive & demanding Pope Benedict XVI. Now, the Agreement is being heavily pushed by the Vatican in 2007 and 2008 with a hardball approach towards Israel to make its final official acceptance of the Vatican-authored Agreement. [*Headline News / Nov-Dec2007]. [*News: April 2008: Vatican-Israel near agreement on pact].

Understandably, from Israel's Knesset's perspective today, is their reluctance to officially accept the 1994 Agreement since ROME's cleverly crafted document virtually 'opens the door' for the Popes of ROME to have free reign within Israel, legally. The document also specifically allows the Popes of ROME to freely perform any/all Catholic rituals within Israel & all Holy sites as ROME sees fit. This would include the foretold newly-built 3rd Temple in Jerusalem of the End Times [Rev.11:1-3] in which the False Prophet will perform the 'abomination of desolation' [Dan.9:27] , another major End Time Biblical event astonishingly in plain view for near future fulfillment. [Headline News / 2005].

Clearly, the Papacy's proposed 'custody' & upperhandedness over Israel & Jerusalem as presented in 1994's Agreement is a dress rehearsal which is leading to Israel's inevitable acceptance of the False Prophet's terms of trickery to devour Jerusalem as the Bible clearly shows. Namely, scriptures specifically show that once the 'friendly' False Prophet mediates a 7 year Peace Treaty with Israel to 'start' the 7 Year Tribulation, then 3 1/2 years later [at mid-point] he will relocate his headquarters from ROME to Jerusalem, 'take his seat' in the newly-built 3rd Jerusalem Temple and then 'declare himself as being God' . [2 Thess.2:4]. This is the abomination of desolation.

Right now, all of these aspects of these major Biblical events are in their solid place now for near-future fulfillment in this generation. [ie. Pope's own exalting of himself as 'God' on earth, the Papacy's strong claims of the Catholic church's right to Jersualem, Mideast Peace between the Pope & Israel, 3rd Temple preparations, abomination of desolation].

But, exactly 'how' the Fundamental Agreement will play into the soon-coming 7 Year Mideast Peace Treaty remains to be seen. Conceivably it could be a template or become an essential part to the larger scope of the Vatican's ultimate Mideast Peace solutions.

In any case, the Vatican's 1994 Agreement has been an obvious End Time springboard which has allowed Pope Benedict's overbearing pushiness towards the Holy Land & its leaders to speed this generation right up snug to the 'signing' of the Biblically foretold 7 Year Agreement in these Last Days. [Dan. 9:27]. Remarkably, in just the last 30 years of this End Time generation, many Headline News articles show that Israeli top leaders today have not only lowered their 2000 year old guard of leariness towards ROME & the Vatican's Popes, but Israel has literally made a complete reversal & has now become just short of begging Pope Benedict to mediate the Mideast Peace problem.

In fact, the prophetical table is so perfectly set right now for this next Apocalyptic 'signing' event to occur [Dan.9:27] that virtually any future Pope could easily take the reins & fulfill the role as Revelation's ultimate False Prophet. However, to be 100% sure scripturally, the Pontiff who actually executes a 7 Year Treaty with Israel, is himself the foretold final False Prophet of these End Times, 'antichrist'. [News: Benedict XVI - Israel / Mideast Peace].

The Papacy's rise to TOP WORLD AUTHORITY:

Both religious & political

Although the world's general view of the Papacy is as a 'religious' concept only, history clearly proves the Popes of ROME have always operated in demonstrative 'political' clout. As emphasized, the Papacy's deathly iron hand was inherently used for 1500 consecutive years in its religious politics until the end of the Inquisitions in the 1800's. But, Papacy politics virtually started immediately with the 4th century's newly created 'Bishops' of ROME concept, Revelation's predicted rising 2nd Beast, the False Prophet.

Today, after 1700 years, the Roman Catholic Papacy has successfully expanded its religious & political machine through the centuries into a massive global institute, all under the false cover of 'Christian' religion. Unbelievably, ROME's Popes have amassed about 1 billion religious followers in today's End TIme generation who are kept in the dark by the Papacy & its empty & anti-christ doctrines & rituals. [As shown later in Chapter 5]. Also today, over 400,000 [1] priests, cardinals & archbishops make up ROME's beastly hierarchal downline of false prophets stationed globally. These fully-pledged [ 1 ] religious cronies of the Papacy are also in their prophetical place now in readiness to support & comply to the False Prophet's coming global dominance & evil dragnet which is foretold for the Great Tribulation. Today and as a group, only the Papacy's swarm of religiously costumed Catholic leaders worldwide stands above all other religions in fulfilling End Time prophecy that 'many false prophets will arise'. [Matthew 24:11, 24].

In fact, Roman Catholic politics & religious influences are infiltrated in 177 [a] countries worldwide & can be found virtually in every aspect of society & today's major global affairs, including the United States politics, Mideast Peace negotiations, European Union politics, the United Nations politics [1] , 3rd world countries, etc.. This is exactly why both Daniel & Revelation foresaw the final Beastly Icon [the Papacy as recognized today in retrospect] as outgrowing & outlasting all other beastly kingdoms in world history.

As a historic fact, no other organization, institute or kingdom in history comes even close to the Roman Catholic Papacy in terms of its 1700 year endurance, having its global tentacles now in every facet of life and its unmatched world acclaim & favor amongst today's world leaders and the world itself. Exactly as scriptures predicted, the Papacy has now risen to the very top & stands alone in today's 6 billion populace as the number one respected religious icon of morality & charisma, and even on the verge [as foretold] of becoming second- to-none in today's intensified global geo-political affairs. [News Links/Papacy].

In Daniel's vision in 586 BC, he saw this development 2500 years in advance as the Papacy was seen by Daniel as the 'little horn with eyes' & 'uttering great boasts' & 'growing larger than all others' through centuries & into the End Times. [Dan. 7: 8, 20]. Later in 95 AD, Revelation clarified this by putting a face on the final man of sin, naming him as a 'False Prophet' , and 'coming up out of the earth' [Rev.13:11] over the centuries as the greatest religious 'Christian' fraud the world will have ever known. Now, in exact fulfillment of Bible prophecies, the Papacy has propelled itself through history & to the verge today of its climactic End Time world acclaim, world authority and world domination, both politically and religiously.

Without any question, only the Papacy qualifies for Revelation's 95 AD vision which predicted the ensuing 20 centuries to streamline towards one ultimate man who would rise as the greatest religious & political leader in world history. In fact, the Pope is Revelation's sole evil figure , the False Prophet, who is foretold to come to full power in these End Times, today's generation.

Prophetically, the next two predicted major events to occur [in this order] in this generation by the Papacy will be: 1] the Pontiff's mediation of Mideast Peace with Israel executed in a 7 year Treaty [Daniel 9:27] and, 2] the Pope being given top authority from a soon-coming alliance of 10 nations from within western Europe's European Union, which will include ROME, Italy. [Dan.7:24; Dan.9:26; Rev.13:12].

Pope: the official, sovereign 'King' of his very own country

Although the Papacy of ROME is the most well-oiled & longest lasting institution in history [both religiously & politically], the Lateran Treaty in 1929 itself was the actual major pivotal stepping stone which flung the international doors wide open for Popes to begin officially establishing their religious voice into the world's international 'political' arena. Again, right on time prophetically in today's End Times. And this is exactly what the Papacy has done for 80 years now, having expanded its authoritative voice 'politically' in virtually every aspect of global politics & in its relations with 177 different countries.

Incredibly, at the signing of the Lateran Treaty between fascist Italian Leader Benito Mussolini & Pope Pius XI [1929] , the document gave Vatican State [Popes] legal international recognition as being a true, independent & sovereign country amongst all other nations of the world. At its signing, the Holy See [synonomous with the Pope himself] became an officially recognized 'country' , and caused Vatican State to become the smallest country in the world since it sits on just over 100 acres. In addition to many other Papal benefits, the Treaty amazingly & suddenly made the Pope himself the internationally recognized & official Supreme Ruler of his very own country.

Since then, the participation of the Pope or any one of his Catholic delegates in the world's politics, like the United Nations or other world leadership conferences, requires all of the world's leaders to respectfully view the Pope in his unique dual capacities: as the top religious dictator of 1 billion people and as the official 'political' leader of his very own country, Vatican State.

Amazingly, the Lateran Treaty also made the Holy See a monarchy [a] . But, unlike most monarchy's whose Supreme Rulers receive their 'king' status through inheritance, the Pope made himself a 'king' by his simple signature on the 1929 Treaty. That immediately made him the legal 'king' of his own religious monarchy & the literal 'owner' of his very own country. For example, the Treaty makes every sitting Pope the legal & sole rightful owner of all of the Catholic church's financial holdings worldwide, just like any other 'king's' inherent ownership rights of all things within his kingdom. Literally, the Pope has supreme sovereign authority alone to initiate or change any law, expand or terminate 'legally' any part of his kingdom, and without being subjected to any challenge by anyone internationally, since he is the sovereign 'king' of his own country.

Today, a conservative estimate of $8 billion [1] is plausibly the Papacy's global net worth which includes ALL: real estate properties [religious & commercial] , hard & liquid assets, bank deposits, the Vatican Bank itself, the Vatican Palace itself, Vatican library & its historic archives, valuable historic relics & art, etc. . The Papacy also, like all 'kings', has the sole authority & control over all of its 1 billion Catholic people & all subsidiaries [a] within the Catholic church like the Vatican police, Vatican court & the entire Vatican Judicial system, Catholic schools worldwide, Catholic leaders [religious & political] worldwide, its global printing press entities, Museums, Vatican mint, etc. .

All of these 'kingly' rights & claims of Papal ownership created by the Lateran Treaty of 1929 play perfectly along side the 'religious' rights & claims of the Pope which were accepted as Roman Catholic 'law' by Vatican Councils 1 & 2, in 1870 & 1965. Two of these many 'legal' religious claims include naming the Pope as: 'Supreme Ruler on earth & in subjection to no one' and even giving the Papacy the alleged sole authority on earth to pronounce any person as 'accursed' and damned to eternal hell at the Pope's sole discretion. [Vatican Council].

Without any doubt, the global implications today from the Pope's unsurpassed religious acclaim, his world class political charisma and his sovereign international rights as a world leader fit exactly into the near-future event when the False Prophet will 'exalt himself above God or every object of worship' . [2 Thess.2:4]. This will occur at the exact mid-point of the 7 Year Tribulation when the Pope will be 'revealed' in his final vicious role as antichrist in the Great Tribulation period of horror & genocide.

The Papacy's near-future rise to the top of western Europe

With all of the Papacy's unparalleled world clout from every angle in plain view today, then it is not difficult to understand the ease by which the Pope will soon accomplish his foretold next two steps in this generation. Namely, the 'signing' of a coming 7 Year Mideast Peace Treaty & his rise to the helm of the coming 10 nation EU. For example, the Vatican [being its own official 'sovereign country' with the Pope as its 'king'] sits right in the middle of western Europe's super-power, the EU. This enhances today's already spring-loaded scenario of the False Prophet arising from within the final End Time kingdom in western Europe with ROME as its headquarters. [Dan.7: 24; Dan.9:26]. [*News: Benedict addresses EU at its 50th Anniversary].

Again, this exact scenario for these End Times was described by the prophet Daniel when he foretold that 'A despicable person [Pope] will arise on whom the honor of kingship has not been conferred...' . [Dan.11:21]. This shows the world's final 'king' [Papacy] as being one who will have not inherited his 'kingship' like other kings do. As stressed earlier about the 'kingship' of the Pope, Daniel's foresight identifies the End Time 'kingly' status of the False Prophet which is recognized today as concocted by the Pope himself [and for himself] in 1929.

Importantly in the same verse, Daniel also stipulates that the appear- ance of the 'despicable person' ['beast' as Revelation later labels the Papacy] during the End Time generation, 'will come in a time of tranquility.......' . Today, this is easily recognized as referring to history's sudden subsiding of the previous 15 consecutive centuries of Papal horrors from 300's AD, then ending in the 1800's. As mentioned earlier, the ending of the Inquisitions about 180 years ago is what started 'a time of tranquility' in today's End Times which has allowed the Papacy to put on its new friendly & righteous 'face' as predicted of the False Prophet prior to the 'start' of the 7 Year Tribulation. But, unbelievably, after 15 consecutive centuries of slaughtering millions of innocent people finally ended in the mid-1800's, the world was ready immediately to naively accept the Papacy's self- exalting religious claims of Vatican 1 [in 1870] plus then accept the Papacy as an official 'political' global voice just 59 years later, created in the 1929 Lateran Treaty.

Today and in the forseeable near future, will be the fulfillment of Daniel's last prediction found in the same verse. [Dan.11:21]. He said, 'and he ['a despicable person', the Pope in the End Times] will seize the kingdom by intrigue.' This specifically foretells of the collective 'intrigue' of the EU and the world itself in observing that the top world leader who will have 'seized' the highest ranking position in western Europe's super-kingdom will be recognized as a religious leader instead of the typical 'political' world leader as in past history.

Revelation identifies the peak of the world's 'intrigue' to be fulfilled at the mid-point of the 7 Year Tribulation by saying that 'the whole world was amazed & followed after the beast'. [Rev.13:3]. It is at this coming mid-point when Revelation pinpoints the False Prophet himself at the dictatorial control of all of western Europe. Revelation's chronology specifically shows this in saying that the False Prophet 'excercises all the authority of the beast [first beast, a 10 nation EU] while in its presence'. [Rev.13:12]. This mid-point is when both beasts combine in full power & destruction in the Great Tribulation at the direction of the End Time Pope. [Rev.13:11- Rev.20:3].

Other End Time Facts in relation to the Papacy today...

Although John Paul II got alot done 'politically' in his 28 year pontificate, he was more of a 'PR' Pope who was mostly recognized as the smiling religious icon who non-threateningly traveled the world waving at the adoring crowds. The result was a whole generation became primed for the 'friendly' & charismatic End Time False Prophet. John Paul's political dealings clearly set the table for Bible fulfillment but were very much behind the scenes & away from the world's general view. But, Benedict XVI is the exact opposite, being a demanding & aggressive 'political' Pontiff who primarily stays stationed at the Vatican Palace.

So far, Benedict has picked up the 'political' ball politely laid down by John Paul II, and has speedily met with almost all top world leaders in ROME during his first 3 years in an assembly-line type of pattern. Without question, his quick-action in the political arena has now thrusted this generation to 'reaching' distance of the 'start' of the Tribulation. Leader after leader has met with Benedict to seek his favor & listen to his forcefully expressed views, his agenda & his global desires pertaining to all world affairs today. The very few world leaders who have dared to oppose him have received a quick & definite retort. However, exactly as scriptures predict for the False Prophet of the End Times, Benedict XVI has the general group of world leaders entirely at his feet today, as a 'rider on a white horse'. [Rev.6:2].

Specifically, some of Benedict's religious-political dealings so far show that he: has squared off with China's authorities regarding its dealings with priests, has travelled to Brazil [2] to crack down on the current Evangelical spiritual revival amongst Catholics which decreased the number of Catholics in Brazil, has warned Israel to hurry up in their diplomatic relations with the Vatican, has pushed himself right into the middle of Mideast Peace process, has befriended the Muslims & be- came only the 2nd Pope in history to enter into a Muslim mosque, has opened historic first-time relations with the Saudis, has warned Europe & its leaders of their failures & need to acknowledge him & return to their Roman Catholic faith, has warned Europe of their task to build a new Europe, has proclaimed salvation without need for Biblical faith, has cooperated with Europe's Anglican churches & the World Council of Churches in their efforts in trying to 'unite under the Pope', has officially warned all priests worldwide of their pledge to submit to the Pope as their ultimate leader, has insisted on the Papacy being heard as the ultimate moral & political authority on earth, has declared all other Christian churches as being 'not true churches' who do not acknowledge the Pope, has exploited the Vatican's membership in the United Nations & the Vatican's recent 2004 right to vote by warning the United Nations numerous times in his public speeches, has scheduled himself as the United Nations' guest speaker in his April 2008 trip to the United States, etc. [ News 2008: Benedict addresses U. N. ]

Without question since his election on April 19th, 2005, Pope Benedict has now fast-forwarded the Papacy to only one step short of fulfilling its Last Days' role as the world's consummate dictator. All major key Biblical prophecies foretold of the False Prophet are now in plain view & already in divine process of becoming quickly fulfilled by the Pope including: becoming the mediator of Mideast Peace involving Israel [Dan.9:27], instituting the mark of the beast [Rev.13:16,17], fulfilling 666 [Rev.13:18], initiating that the world honor him by making a statue of himself, exalting himself now above all others on earth [2 Thess.2:4] and the abomination of desolation. [Dan.9:27; Math.24:15].

Papacy exposed in the Days Ahead....

In the days ahead as the 7 Year Tribulation draws even nearer, the Bible is clear that crucial insights from God's Word will flood into the body of Christ globally. These insights will come from fresh understanding from the Word of God which spotlights today's imminent End Time events, the appearance & profile of antichrist [Papacy], the closeness of the 'start' of the 7 Year Tribulation, final coming judgements and the nearness of the divine re-appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ.

True believers who have gained these major End Time insights will also provide these vital understandings to many in this generation, opening the eyes of millions worldwide. The prophet Daniel specifically foretells this in saying that End Time believers will be 'those who have insight & will provide understanding to the many.' [Dan.11:33].

Yet, even in the face of the coming global awareness & even controversy regarding the foretold true identity of the Pope, scriptures show clearly that he will stay in character & will continue in his current global masquerade as the world's greatest 'Christian' authority on earth all the way through the first 3 1/2 years of Tribulation. [Rev.6:2]. Revelation states this clearly in saying that at the 'start' of the 7 Years, the white horse rider 'goes out conquering and to conquer.' [Rev.6:2]. This shows that after the success of the Pope's Mideast Peace mediation, he will begin his 3 1/2 year victory lap worldwide while accepting the accolades & awe of those globally who are still spiritually blind admirers.

Two significant points in Revelation's first mention of the False Prophet as he appears symbolically on a 'white horse' play into Revelation's subsequent identifying of him as a 'religious' person, the False Prophet. [Rev.16:13; 19:20; 20:10]. First, his white horse confirms him as mimicking the true white horse ridden by the Lord Jesus in His divine return. [Rev.19:11]. This symbolism re-affirms his masterful ability to have fooled many from under his 'Christian' disguise in the years just preceding the Tribulation & right into the Tribulation. His 'Christian' mimickry is clarified later by Revelation's naming him as a False Prophet [a religious impostor], mimicking the true Lamb of God by 'having two horns like a lamb' [Rev.13:11] and as being one who 'deceives' . [Rev.13:14].

Secondly, the rider on the white horse carries a 'bow', yet no arrows. Again, Revelation provides understanding of this later by revealing the 'rider' to be 'religious' in nature as opposed to a 'military' leader. However, the fact that the 'religious' leader [the 'rider'] is shown holding a 'bow' symbolizes the False Prophet's top decision-making 'control' over all matters, even militarily, at the eventual 7 Year mid- point. This is confirmed later in Revelation Chapter 13's profiling of the False Prophet saying that in his dictatorial role 'he exercises all the authority' [even militarily] of the final EU kingdom. [Rev.13:12].

But, the key insights from God's Word as presented in this book concerning the False Prophet's fulfillment in the Papacy of ROME will soon become a matter of global awareness as God's people 'provide understanding to the many'. [Dan.11:33]. For God's people who will 'see' these truths by the Spirit & embrace the Lord, then a greater strength will result in readiness to meet our Lord in the air. [Luke 21:28, 36]. However, for those who embrace the world & the spirit of antichrist, then they will remain behind in the Great Tribulation. [Dan.11:33, 12:3].

ONLY the Papacy qualifies

Conclusively, no other religious organization or religious leader in the last 2000 years comes close to qualifying for Revelation's greatest religious deceiver who wraps himself in 'Christian' sheep's clothing, except the Papacy of ROME. History has emphatically proven Revelation's vision that the sole successor of the first century's monstrous Roman Empire under Nero has been the much larger, more murderous & longer-lasting 'religious' Beast of ROME from the 4th century, the False Prophet.

Also, ROME & the Popes of ROME have clearly proven to be history's longest continual executor of unmatched anti-Jewish atrocities and the distorting of true Christianity & Biblical truths, second to none. This is exactly why the city of ROME, the number one curser of Jews & mocker of Christ continually since the first century, is shown in Rev- elation as being the sole 'great city' [1] [Rev.17:18] where all of history's evil & sin will have dwelled since the first century's Roman Empire & up through the End Times. In fact, Revelation states that the 'Great Harlot' herself 'is the great city' : ROME.

This is also why ROME is pinpointed by Revelation [& Daniel 9:26] as the exact origin & the producer of world history's ultimate & most self-exalting [2] evil ruler, the religious False Prophet.

However, as stressed in this book, it is not until the mid-point of the coming 7 Year period when the Papacy's true beastly nature which existed within ROME all along since Nero will be unleashed again. At that point is when the Papacy's current short lull [since the 1800's] from 15 centuries of corruption & atrocities upon humanity will suddenly explode again in unprecedented ferocity.

The Papacy's superficial 'friendliness' seen by today's generation will vanish at the mid-point as he will take off his mask & 'be revealed' [2 Thess.2:4] in his true evil nature while carrying out the predicted global horrors of the Great Tribulation. These last 3 1/2 years of human history which are coming in this generation are also called the 'wrath of God'. [Rev.16:1].

During this period, the death toll during the Pope's ferocious final reign in his 1 World Government will be of greater magnitude than all of world history's 6000 years combined. Regarding this coming final period Jesus Himself said, 'Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved.' . [Math.24:21,22].