[johngrace]

Even given the identification of the Antichrist with the beast, the pope is the last person who would fit the biblical requirements for being the individual Antichrist (or any Antichrist). The epistles of John clearly indicate that the Antichrist is one who denies that Christ has come in the flesh. However, the basis for the pope’s position in the Church is that Christ has come in the flesh and has ascended to heaven, leaving the successor of Peter as his vicar or representative on earth.

"For the pope to deny that Christ has come in the flesh would be to undercut the basis of his position. Since no pope historically has made such claims, it is easily verifiable that no pope in history has been an Antichrist. Neither will any future pope be inclined to deny the basis of his position. The anti-papal argument simply is not credible.

Further, in Scripture the beast is clearly a political leader, not a Church leader. In fact, the beast is literally identified with one of the Roman emperors, who had no part of the Church."

------------------------ttp://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2003/0304bt.asp

[johngrace]

http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2003/0304bt.asp

[wagglebee]

Even given the identification of the Antichrist with the beast, the pope is the last person who would fit the biblical requirements for being the individual Antichrist (or any Antichrist).

Nearly all legitimate Biblical scholars (Catholic and Protestant) dismiss outright the idea that Saint John's Revelation suggested that there was more than one Antichrist or that the Antichrist could be an office or institution.