Prophecies about Catholics

 
       Before I begin I must first say that the following
        information is not intended to say that Catholics are evil
        or that they won't be saved.  As in all religions, there 
        are many of God's children in the Catholic Church.  It is the
        papacy itself that is represented as the Beast in Revelation.



          To begin this study of the Catholic Church in prophecy, let's first read Revelation 17: 4-6.

  Rev 17:4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked 
   with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of 
         abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
         Rev 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE 
         GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE
         EARTH.
         Rev 17:6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with
         the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great
         admiration.


                
                Click
  here to enlarge video



              As you can see at right, the Pope is seen
           at the Papal Apology Mass wearing purple
           and holding a golden cup. No one can deny this fulfillment of prophecy.









             At left Pope John Paul II is again wearing
           purple while his attending Cardinals are
           dressed in scarlet.









          Here are Cardinals wearing both scarlet and
        purple at the Papal Apology Mass.

Osservatore Romano Arturo Mari / AFP - Getty Images World religious leaders applaud to Pope Benedict XVI during a meeting in the Sala Clementina at the Vatican on Monday.  The Associated Press 1:41 a.m. ET April 25, 2005 

As we follow Revelation 17: 4-6, we can see that both scarlet and purple are
          identified with the harlot woman, as well as the golden cup filled  with abominable 
          things.  But what about Revelation 17: 6.  Can anyone deny that the Catholic church
          was responsible for the deaths of millions of saints who were preaching the Word of
          God?  Of course not.  The pictures above are from the Papal Apology Mass, the
          purpose of which was to apologize for past wrongs.  So they even admit it themselves.
          Here is an excerpt from Pope John Paul II during the proceedings:

                "... we cannot fail to recognize the infidelities to the Gospel committed by
          some of our brethren, especially during the second millennium. Let us ask pardon
          for the divisions which have occurred among Christians, for the violence some 
          have used in the service of the truth and for the distrustful and hostile 
          attitudes sometimes taken towards the followers of other religions."

                The Pope is pretty much just saying that the Church was only overzealous
          in forcing the truth on "heretics."  He's not really saying that the church
          is sorry for the persecutions.  For it's entire existence, the Church has held
          the notion that it is infallible!  Now here, as they apologize for the deaths of
          countless saints, is only one example of their fallibility.
    
      Revelation 17 goes on to say:

   Rev 17:9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven
    mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
          Rev 17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore
          sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
          Rev 17:18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over
          the kings of the earth.

                This says that the harlot woman, or church will "sit" or rule in a place with seven
          mountains.  Does the papacy fit this description?  Yes, it does.  Rome is known as the
          city of seven hills.  Verse 15 shows that the place where the harlot church rules is a 
          place with many people and nations.  This fits the description of Europe.  And also, in
          verse 18, it says that the woman will rule over the kings of the earth.  The Catholic
          Church proudly claims that it rules universally over all the people of the world, both
          kings and commoners.


By admitting the past wrongs of the Catholic Church,
          the Pope strengthens the idea that the Roman church is
          indeed Mystery Babylon.  And what does Revelation say 
          will happen to Babylon?


          

    Rev 18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen,
    is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, 
          and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
          Rev 18:3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication,
          and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of 
          the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
          Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, 
          that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
          Rev 18:5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her 
          iniquities.
          Rev 18:6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according 
          to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.


                So what should you do if you find yourself in Mystery Babylon,
          the Roman Catholic Church?  Heed God's voice in Revelation 18: 4 and
          'Come out of her...'  For the church has filled up the cup of her 
          iniquity and will soon be called forward to answer for her sins.

                The Catholic Church's Papal Apology Mass was predicted to 
          occur over a century ago by the Seventh-day Adventist prophetess
          Ellen White!  Read what she has to say:

       The Romish Church now presents a fair front to the world, covering with apologies her record of horrible cruelties. She has clothed herself in Christ-like garments; but she is unchanged. Every principle of popery that existed in ages past exists today. The doctrines devised in the darkest ages are still held. Let none deceive themselves. The popery that Protestants are now so ready to embrace and honor is the same that ruled the world in the days of the Reformation, when men of God stood up at the peril of their lives to expose her iniquity. She possesses the same pride and arrogant assumption [pg. 388] that lorded it over kings and princes, and claimed the prerogatives of God. Her spirit is no less cruel and despotic now than when she crushed out human liberty, and slew the saints of the Most High.
    Popery is just what prophecy declared that she would be--the apostasy of the latter times. It is a part of her policy to assume the character which will best accomplish her purpose; but beneath the variable appearance of the chameleon, she conceals the invariable venom of the serpent. "We are not bound to keep faith and promises to heretics," she declares. Shall this power, whose record for a thousand years is written in the blood of the saints, be now acknowledged as a part of the church of Christ?
    It is not without reason that the claim has been put forth that Catholicism is now almost like Protestantism. There has been a change; but the change is in Protestants, not in Romanists. Catholicism indeed resembles the Protestantism that now exists; but it is far removed from Protestantism as it was in the days of Cranmer, Ridley, Knox, and other reformers.
    As the Protestant churches have been seeking the favor of the world, false charity has blinded their eyes. They do not see but that it is right to believe good of all evil; and as the inevitable result, they will finally believe evil of all good. Instead of standing in defense of the faith once delivered to the saints, they are now, as it were, apologizing to Rome for their uncharitable opinion of her, begging pardon for their bigotry.
    A large class, even of those who look upon Romanism with no favor, apprehend little danger from her [pg. 389] power and influence. Many urge that the intellectual and moral darkness prevailing during the Middle Ages favored the spread of her dogmas, superstitions, and oppression, and that the greater intelligence of modern times, the general diffusion of knowledge, and the increasing liberality in matters of religion, forbid a revival of intolerance and tyranny. The very thought that such a state of things will exist in this enlightened age is ridiculed. It is true that great light, intellectual, moral, and religious, is shining upon this generation. In the open pages of God's holy word, light from Heaven has been shed upon the world. But it should be remembered that the greater the light bestowed, the greater the darkness of those who pervert or reject it.
    A prayerful study of the Bible would show Protestants the real character of the papacy, and would cause them to abhor and to shun it; but men are so wise in their own conceit that they feel no need of humbly seeking God that they may be led into the truth. Although priding themselves on their enlightenment, they are ignorant both of the Scriptures and of the power of God. They must have some means of quieting their consciences; and they seek that which is least spiritual and humiliating. What they desire is a method of forgetting God which shall pass as a method of remembering him. The papacy is well adapted to meet the wants of all these. It is prepared for two classes of mankind, embracing nearly the whole world,--those who would be saved by their merits, and those who would be saved in their sins. Here is the secret of its power. [pg. 390]
    A day of great intellectual darkness has been shown to be favorable to the success of popery. It will yet be demonstrated that a day of great intellectual light is equally favorable for its success. In past ages, when men were without God's word, and without the knowledge of the truth, their eyes were blindfolded, and thousands were ensnared, not seeing the net spread for their feet. In this generation there are many whose eyes become dazzled by the glare of human speculations, "science falsely so called;" they discern not the net, and walk into it as readily as if blindfolded. God designed that man's intellectual powers should be held as a gift from his Maker, and employed in the service of truth and righteousness; but when they are idolized, and laid upon the shrine of Satan to be employed in the service of a false religion, then intelligence can accomplish greater harm than ignorance.
    In the movements now in progress in this country to secure for the institutions and usages of the church the support of the State, Protestants are following in the steps of papists. Nay, more, they are opening the door for popery to regain in Protestant America the supremacy which she has lost in the Old World. And that which gives greater significance to this movement is the fact that the principal object contemplated is the enforcement of Sunday observance, --a custom which originated with Rome, and which she claims as the sign of her authority.

Source: Spirit of Prophecy, Volume 4, by Ellen G. White, published in 1884, pages 387-390. Also found in Great Controversy, published in 1911, pages 571-573.