WORSHIP GOD’S ONLY BEGOTTEN SON

Many of us believe what the Bible says about Jesus Christ being the only begotten Son of God who came in the flesh and died to atone for our sins (John 1:1-4, John 3:16). And he is the only mediator between man and God, whom we should worship and follow (1 Timothy 2:5; John 5:23). 

Nevertheless, the Bible speaks of a “man of sin,” who would  come and  “who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). The biblical Word of God says: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.

There is the danger that some people may be misled away from the Lord God by the powerful deceptive “man of sin. Nevertheless, our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against…the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).

However, the Lord tells his people to come out from among those who do not truly worship God; that you be not partaker of their sins, and receive their plagues (2 Corinthians 6:17: Revelation 18:4). 

The biblical Word of God provides instructions for the person who truly want to know and follow the Lord God (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Jeremiah 13:29) . And the Holy Spirit helps that person to discern the truth and follow God (John 16:13; Hebrew 4:12). 

BIBLE TEACHINGS ABOUT THE SON OF GOD WHOM WE SHOULD WORSHIP

• Jesus Christ is God’s only begotten Son who came in the flesh and died for the sins of mankind (John 1:1-3, 14 Philippians 2:6-8; .John 3:16)
• Jesus Christ is the only God-man we should worship (John 5:23; Philippians 2:10-11).
• Jesus is the only way to God the Father and heaven (John 14:6).
• He is the only mediator between God and mankind (I Timothy 2:5).
• Jesus Christ is the only name under heaven whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12)
• Jesus is the only God-man who can forgive sin (Mark 2:1-12)
• The only one whose demonstrations of power and fulfillment of scriptures manifest that he is God’s Son in fleshly form (John 15:24).

BIBLE TEACHINGS ABOUT THE “MAN OF SIN” WHO RECEIVES WORSHIP

The Bible states the following about the “man of sin” who was to come after the time Paul wrote about him: 

• The Apostle said: “That day [of the Lord’s return] shall not come, except there be a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).

• Daniel wrote about a person who was to come to power during the during the Roman empire, which was to follow the empire of the Greek empire. And this  power, referred to as a “little horn,” was to rise to power by subduing three of ten larger powers of Rome. (Dan 7 and 8:19-25). And this “little horn” power, who was diverse from the other powers, was to talk “boastfully” and “speak against the Most High and oppress his people” (Daniel 7:8,25).

DOES HISTORY REVEAL THE “MAN OF SIN” TO BE THE POPE?

Historical research presented in a you-tube video, titled, Who Is the Antichrist, apparently shows support for the “man of sin,” described in the Bible, being the Pope of Rome. A commentator in the video said he is Catholic, and there are many good Catholic; but he says the Papacy of Rome has shown that it is a false institution of Church leadership. However, this and other Bible-related research relating possibly to the Pope as the “man of sin” are shown below. Except where otherwise noted references are from the video.

ONE

• The book of Daniel said a “little horn” power was to rise among ten powers of Rome (Dan 7 and 8:19-25).
• The Roman Empire was divided among ten European powers, after the demise of the Caesarean Roman Empire. The papacy began its rise to power in 476 AD by uprooting three of the ten powers of Rome—the Vandals, the Ostrogoths, and the Hureli. By 538 the Papacy completed the uprooting and secured a position of religion-politico power.

TWO

• The man of sin was to exalt himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so  that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).
• Pope John Paul’s book, Crossing the Threshold of Hope, reads: “The Pope is considered the man on earth who represents God, who takes the place of the Second Person of the  omnipotent God of the Trinity.”

THREE

• The “little horn” power of Rome, spoken of by the prophet Daniel, was to speak “boastfully”… and oppress his [Lord’s] people” (Daniel 7:8,25).
• A pope’s spokesman, Cardinal Bellarmaine, said, ”in the name of popery…almost an infinite number were either burned; or otherwise put to death.”— “Heretics may not only be excommunicated, but justly killed.”— (Letters in the Roman Catholic Controversy, by W.C. Brownlee, D.D. p.343, re: Bellarmine, De Laisis, chap 22). https://books.google.com/books?id=AZxdAAAAcAAJ
• Foxe’s Book of Martyrs reports about many Catholic heretics who were persecuted by papal authority.

The Word of God shows the Lord objects to what the pope’s spokesman said about justly killing heretics. Jesus said, he did not come into the word to condemn people, but to save them; he has set another time when he will  judge  people  (John 3:17; 2 Corinthians 5:10) . He was opposed to killing those who were not following him. He rebuked his disciples for wanting to call down fire and destroy those who were not following the Lord (Luke 9:53-56). And when

IS THE BLASPHEMOUS AND MURDEROUS POWER SPOKEN OF BY THE LORD THE PAPACY?

The Lord speaks of a blasphemous power “drunk with the blood of God’s holy people” (Revelation 17:3-6; Daniel 7:8,25). Speaking from heaven the Lord said “come out of her, my people that you be not partakers of her sins” (Rev.18:4). We should obey the Lord instructions to his followers to separate from any and all who are out of line with the complete Word of God (John 10: 27; 2 Corinthians 6:17).

EVIDENTLY PEOPLE STILL WORSHIP THE POPE

Today, many people still bow to the Pope.  It is common knowledge today that 

dignitaries and common people kneel before the pope, kiss his ring, a symbol of his 

power; and call him “Holy Father” and “Your Holiness.” But compared to its heyday, the influence 

and power of the papacy has largely been curtailed. The powerful reign of the papacy was 

checked in 1798, when Napoleon’s generals captured and exiled the pope.

EVERYONE SHOULD WORSHIP THE LORD GOD ONLY

The Word of God says, the truth shall set you free: Free to confess your sins directly to God (1 

Timothy 2:5; 1 John 1:8-9). Free to “Worship the Lord your God and serve him only” (Luke 4:8; John 5:23; !0:30).