The Prophecy Regarding the “Falling Away” of the Roman Catholic Church: Biblical Facts (King James Version)
2nd Thessalonians 2:1-12
1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Understanding Apostasy
Apostasy means formally abandoning or renouncing one’s religion. It can also mean embracing beliefs that contradict previous religious teachings. Someone who commits apostasy is called an apostate.
The apostate Pope’s actions clearly go against God’s commandments. He led the churches in the apostate Roman Catholic Church to do the same. These are the very practices of the Antichrist. This is why the “falling away” of the apostate Roman Catholic Church fulfills the prophecy in 2nd Thessalonians 2, as revealed by Paul.
Abominations in the Apostate Church
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Images on the altar of God are an abomination to the Almighty.
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Using relics (such as the brain of a dead person) violates God’s commandments.
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These are cult practices tied to the Antichrist and apostasy.
The Roman Catholic Church’s Apostasy
The Roman Catholic Church is apostate, and its founder—the Papacy—is the “man of sin” from Revelation 13 and 2nd Thessalonians 2:1-12. This lawless man sits in the Temple of God and calls himself a “Vicar.”
The word “Vicar” means someone honored, idolized, or worshipped, often with celebrity status. Each Pope acts as God on earth within the Temple of God, taking on a worldly role.
The “General Falling Away”
Before the revelation of this “man of sin,” there would be a general falling away from true faith. This apostate Papacy—the Antichrist—is the son of the Roman Empire. Though born from it, he uses deceit, sorcery, and cunning to manipulate the Empire and establish his control.
This man was the apostate Bishop of Rome.
Why the False Claim about Peter?
The Roman Catholic Church wrongly claims that Peter was the first Pope. Peter could not have “fallen away” from Jesus Christ; he died for the truth. No Roman Catholic Pope is mentioned in the true Bible, though all apostles are.
The Bishop of Rome, this evil man who revolted and “fell away” from the true church, is the Antichrist. He hates God, Jesus Christ, and the truth.
Satan’s Role and the Papacy’s Origin
The Lord revealed how Satan—the dragon, devil, and lawless man—works through the Papacy and the false prophet Rome. Satan was cast from heaven with his angels for rebelling against God and Christ.
He then influenced Adam and Eve to sin, bringing sin to the world. Through disobedient people, nations, and the Roman Papacy, Satan’s evil spread.
During Emperor Constantine’s reign, the apostate Bishop of Rome changed God’s law, replacing the seventh-day Sabbath with Sunday worship around A.D. 321. This was a political move to please the Romans and Constantine.
The Bishop elevated himself and the Roman Catholic Church to papal authority, transferring the true foundation of Christ’s church to this apostate system.
The Great “Falling Away”
This “falling away” was the Bishop’s rebellion against Christ, driven by hatred and Satan’s spirit. He declared Sunday a day of rest for the Roman Empire, dedicated to the “sun god,” thus forcing apostasy on the church worldwide.
Biblical Fulfillment
Daniel 7:25 prophesied this:
“And he (the Pope or Papacy) shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change times and laws… until a time, times, and the dividing of time.”
This persecution lasted 1,260 years and continues to influence the present.
The Papacy’s Deception
The apostate Bishop of Rome created the Vatican City, the smallest kingdom inside Rome, ruling over the apostate Roman Catholic Church and its worldwide followers with false worship and idolatry.
He acted with arrogance, lavish spending, and a false image of a loving leader while spreading idolatry and evil ideologies globally.
Impact on Other Churches
This apostasy influenced many churches, naming them after men rather than Christ—Methodist, Baptist, Church of England, Apostolic, Mormon, Christ Embassy, and many more—turning away from God’s commandments.
Changing God’s Laws
The Papacy removed books from the Bible, declared others non-canonical, and claimed power to change God’s Word and the seventh-day Sabbath.
He made himself “Vicar” (one to be worshipped on earth), fulfilling Paul’s prophecy in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4:
“Let no man deceive you… except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed… Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God… so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”
The True Sabbath
The seventh-day Sabbath was established by God before the foundation of the world (Genesis 2:1-3). Satan’s rebellion led to sin entering the world through Adam and Eve, but God’s command remains.
The Sunday worship promoted by the Papacy is the true mark of the beast, known as “Vicarious Filii Dei,” which is inscribed on the Pope’s mitre—a counterfeit of God’s command that Aaron’s mitre bear the words “Holiness unto the Lord” (Exodus 29:6; Leviticus 8:9).
Conclusion
God is revealing to His saints that the apostate Papacy is the true Antichrist. Evil Rome is the false prophet, working under Satan’s power—lawless, deceptive, and the enemy of God and Christ.
The “falling away” described by Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2 is the apostasy of the Roman Catholic Church, led by the Pope who exalted himself as the “Vicar of Christ,” opposing God and worshiping himself.
Lord, as You have revealed the truth about this apostate Papacy and its corrupt system, we ask for Your continued guidance and protection for Your churches. Let Your light shine brightly through Your faithful, so that none may be deceived by the false teachings and traditions imposed by this lawless power. Help Your people to discern the truth clearly, rejecting all forms of idolatry, false worship, and man-made commandments that contradict Your holy Word.
May Your Holy Spirit empower us all to stand firm in Your truth, to proclaim boldly the message of salvation through Jesus Christ alone, and to call all believers to repentance and holiness. Let us not be afraid to separate ourselves from the false teachings of the Papacy, the Antichrist, and the false prophet Rome, so that we may remain blameless and ready for Your coming.
Lord, strengthen the hearts of Your servants around the world who are laboring to spread Your message. Grant them patience and endurance, wisdom and understanding, as they face opposition and hardship. Let their words be filled with grace and truth, touching the hearts of many, and bringing them into the knowledge of Your salvation.
May Your churches live in such righteousness that they become shining examples of Your kingdom here on earth. Help us to preach without compromise, to expose the lies and manipulations that have corrupted Your Word, and to restore Your commandments in their fullness. Give us courage to confront falsehoods, like the misrepresentations surrounding the death and resurrection of Jesus, the tampering with biblical timelines, and the misinterpretation of Your laws.
We ask for Your cleansing power over all Your people, that every heart may be purified from the influences of Satan and his agents. Deliver us from spiritual blindness, from worldliness, and from the false doctrines that have taken root. Prepare us to be holy and set apart, so we can eagerly await Your return.
Lord Jesus, Your victory over Satan is assured, and we stand firm in the power of the Holy Spirit, which You promised would guide us into all truth and empower us to overcome. We trust in Your promise that the prince of this world has already been judged and defeated.
Help us to remain steadfast, working continuously in Your will, focused on righteousness, ready to serve You fully. We pray for a revival in Your churches worldwide—a revival marked by renewed faith, greater obedience, and deeper love for You and one another.
Finally, we ask for Your protection over all Your servants who preach this truth. Guard them against discouragement, false accusations, and persecution. Keep their minds clear and their hearts strong. Let Your grace flow abundantly through them, so that the work You have begun will be carried forward until the day You return.
In Jesus Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.
