Introduction: When a Man Claims God’s Throne, You Should Start Asking Questions

Let’s set the tone early: if someone shows up in white robes, calls himself the "Holy Father," claims he’s the earthly head of the church, speaks ex cathedra as if his words share authority with Scripture, and demands submission to his authority as a requirement for salvation — maybe, just maybe, you should raise an eyebrow. Or ten. Because when a man starts playing God, history shows us one thing consistently: he’s not a shepherd, he’s a wolf in a shepherd costume.

Now before anyone accuses me of overreacting, let’s be clear: this isn’t a tantrum against Catholic people. Most Catholics are sincere, devout, and spiritually hungry folks trying to follow what they believe is the church of Christ. This is not about Catholics. This is about Catholicism, particularly the office of the Pope—the so-called "Vicar of Christ."

The purpose of this article isn’t to sling mud. It’s to hold up a mirror and ask a hard, biblical question:

What happens when a religious office rises to claim Christ’s place, Christ’s authority, Christ’s glory, and Christ’s prerogatives?

Scripture answers with sobering clarity: That man becomes a type of Antichrist.

The Rise of a Man-Centered Throne

The Pope of Rome claims to be the supreme and infallible head of the Church on earth. He claims to speak on behalf of God, interpret Scripture with divine authority, and bind the consciences of all believers. He is addressed as "Holy Father" and considered the chief shepherd of Christ’s flock.

Just to put it in perspective:

He sits in a literal throne room.
He wears a literal crown (well, technically a triple-tiered tiara when in full regalia).
He receives the praise and veneration of men.
His decisions—when made ex cathedra (from the chair)—are considered infallible by Roman Catholic doctrine.

That’s not pastoral humility. That’s imperial blasphemy.

The Roman Catholic Catechism, paragraph 882, states:

"The Pope, Bishop of Rome and Peter's successor, is the perpetual and visible source and foundation of the unity both of the bishops and of the whole company of the faithful... He is the supreme pastor and teacher of all the faithful... and by reason of his office as Vicar of Christ, and as pastor of the entire Church, has full, supreme, and universal power over the whole Church, a power which he can always exercise unhindered."

Read that again slowly. Supreme... universal... unhindered power. That doesn’t sound like a humble servant following Jesus. That sounds like the kind of kingdom Christ explicitly rejected in Luke 22:25:

"The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them... But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves." (Luke 22:25-26, ESV)

The Pope doesn’t resemble Christ. He replaces Him. And that’s the entire point of the antichrist motif in Scripture: it’s not just "against Christ," it’s "in place of Christ."

Antichrist Defined: Not Just a Devil in Red, But a Pretender in White

Too many people hear the word "antichrist" and immediately picture some horror-movie villain: glowing red eyes, horns, and a beast tattooed with the number 666. That’s not what the New Testament describes.

John, Paul, and Jesus all warn us that the most dangerous threats to the church won’t be from the outside but from within.

1 John 2:18 (ESV): "Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour."

Notice: there’s not just one antichrist. There are many. And they were already active in John’s day. They show up as false teachers, spiritual authorities, and deceivers who twist the gospel and exalt themselves over Christ.

Paul expands the warning in his second letter to the Thessalonians:

2 Thessalonians 2:3–4 (ESV): "Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God."

Do you see the connection?

Exalts himself — The Pope claims spiritual supremacy.
Takes his seat in the temple — The Pope presides over what millions wrongly believe is the true church.
Proclaims himself to be God — Not directly, but when he claims infallibility, the authority to forgive sins, and power over heaven and hell—he assumes divine attributes.

And if you're still unsure, remember Jesus’ own command:

Matthew 23:9 (ESV): "And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven."

Rome: "Let’s call him Holy Father."

Jesus: "Did I stutter?"

The Warning to All Who Listen: Counterfeit Christianity is the Most Dangerous Kind

Rome doesn’t come to you with a pitchfork. It comes with candles, vestments, Latin chants, and an aura of ancient holiness. But underneath the rituals is a theology that replaces Christ with a man, grace with works, and Scripture with tradition.

The office of the Pope isn’t just unbiblical. It’s anti-biblical. It’s not just corrupt. It’s antichrist in nature. Because it doesn't merely oppose Christ—it substitutes Him.

And that, dear reader, is the greatest deception of all.

II. The Scriptural Test: What Does God Say About Antichrist?

Let’s stop guessing and start reading. The term "antichrist" isn’t a theological Rorschach test. It’s defined by Scripture. Not by fiction writers. Not by prophecy speculators with charts that look like conspiracy theory corkboards. Not even by guys in pulpits with nice smiles and bad theology. If we want to know what "antichrist" means, we go to God’s Word.

Spoiler: the Pope checks almost every biblical box.

1. 1 John 2:18 — There’s Not Just One, and They’re Already Here

"Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour." (1 John 2:18, ESV)

John isn’t talking about some future Hollywood villain with a bar code on his forehead. He’s talking about people _already_alive in his time—plural antichrists, not a single boogeyman.

So what is an antichrist?

Someone who stands in the place of Christ (anti = "instead of")
Someone who distorts, replaces, or opposes Christ’s gospel
Someone who misleads the church

This isn’t your local atheist. It’s not your drunk uncle ranting at Thanksgiving. It’s someone inside the religious sphere, claiming spiritual authority while leading people away from the true Christ.

Which brings us to...

2. 1 John 2:22 — The Antichrist Denies the Son by Distorting Who He Is

"Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son." (1 John 2:22, ESV)

Catholics will say, "But the Pope doesn’t deny Christ! He exalts Him!"

Really? Let’s ask a few questions:

Does the Pope teach that Christ’s one-time sacrifice on the cross was enough?
Or does he offer Him up again in the Mass, claiming that the Eucharist is a literal re-sacrifice?
Does the Pope point sinners directly to Jesus for forgiveness?
Or to priests, penance, and purgatory?
Does the Pope affirm salvation by grace through faith alone in Christ?
Or does he add sacraments, indulgences, works, and the Church itself as necessary?

The Pope doesn’t deny Jesus’ name—he denies Jesus’ sufficiency. And according to Scripture, that’s enough to earn the antichrist label.

3. 1 John 4:3 — Antichrist Is Spiritual, Religious, and Deceptive

"Every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already." (1 John 4:3, ESV)

Notice: this isn’t a guy standing on a street corner denying Jesus exists. This is a spirit operating within the religious realm, claiming to be from God, yet distorting who Jesus is and how He saves.

The Pope invokes Jesus, preaches morality, and wears the garb of holiness—but he delivers a twisted gospel, not the good news of salvation by grace through faith.

4. 2 Thessalonians 2:3–4 — The Man of Lawlessness: Claims God’s Place

"Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God." (2 Thess. 2:3–4, ESV)

Paul paints a picture that should make every Catholic tremble.

Opposes and exalts himself — Sound familiar? "Supreme Pontiff," "Holy Father," and "Vicar of Christ" aren’t exactly humble titles.
Takes his seat in the temple of God — The Pope sits in a literal throne in a building people call "St. Peter’s Basilica."
Proclaims himself to be God — The Catholic Church teaches the Pope can speak infallibly. That’s not a man who preaches under God. That’s a man claiming to speak for God, with the authority of God.

That is antichrist behavior, plain and simple.

5. Daniel 7:25 — He Shall Speak Words Against the Most High

"He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law..." (Daniel 7:25, ESV)

The Roman Catholic Church literally changed the Ten Commandments in its catechism:

Removed the commandment against idols and graven images
Split the tenth commandment into two to keep the number at ten

Rome has attempted to "change the law." The Pope and his councils dare to edit God's Word to suit their theological system.

6. Revelation 13:1–10 — A Beast Dressed Like a Lamb

"It performs great signs... deceives those who dwell on earth... and it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image might speak and cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain." (Rev. 13:13–15, ESV)

Rome loves to say Revelation is about future empires, but Protestant Reformers had no issue identifying the Papal system as this very beast:

A religious authority
Deceptive miracles (Eucharistic adoration, Marian apparitions, etc.)
A demand for loyalty and worship

7. Matthew 24:24 — False Christs, False Prophets, and Deception

"For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect." (Matt. 24:24, ESV)

The Pope wears the title Vicar of Christ — "in the place of Christ." That’s not just bad branding. That’s false Christ territory.

If anyone’s looking for a man who:

Speaks with assumed divine authority,
Commands global allegiance,
Twists the gospel,
And exalts himself as Christ’s representative on earth...

Look no further than the Roman Papacy.

The Antichrist Isn’t Coming in the Future. He’s Already Here—in a Throne Room, Dressed in White.

The Pope doesn't need to deny Jesus' name to be antichrist. He just has to replace Jesus' work, distort Jesus' gospel, and claim Jesus' authority. And he does all three, with global applause and incense to boot.

Let me be clear: The Pope of Rome is not merely a misguided bishop. He is a theologically certified, historically confirmed, Scripture-fulfilling type of antichrist.

You don’t have to wait for the antichrist to show up on the world stage. He already has. And he brought a papal procession with him.

III. A Brief History of Heretics in Robes: Popes Who Preached Paganism

Let’s take the gloves off.

If we’re going to claim the papacy is antichrist in spirit, let’s back it up with facts. Not emotions. Not opinions. Not exaggerated stereotypes. Just the cold, hard, blood-stained, indulgence-sold, heresy-signed historical record.

And spoiler: it’s worse than you think.

Let’s Begin with the Obvious: The Papacy Was Built on Power, Not Scripture

There is zero biblical basis for the idea of a single supreme leader over the entire universal church.

Peter was never a pope. He called himself a "fellow elder" (1 Peter 5:1), not a pontiff.
The early church had plurality of elders, not monarchs with tiaras.
The concept of papal supremacy developed through political and imperial power, not through apostolic authority.

But once the office existed, oh boy, did it spiral quickly.

Let’s meet a few of the crowned wolves in shepherd’s clothing.

🩸 Pope Boniface VIII (r. 1294–1303): The Salvation-Through-Submission Pope

This guy wrote one of the most blasphemous documents ever penned by a religious leader: Unam Sanctam (1302).

"We declare, say, define, and pronounce that it is absolutely necessary for the salvation of every human creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff."

Translation: If you don’t bow to the Pope, you’re going to hell.

This wasn’t theological misstep. This was tyrannical blasphemy. He claimed authority over kings, eternal destinies, and essentially usurped the throne of Christ.

But wait, there’s more!

He was accused of simony (selling church offices), adultery, and even dabbling in occult practices.
Dante placed him in the Eighth Circle of Hell in The Divine Comedy.

Good company, huh?

💰 Pope Leo X (r. 1513–1521): The Indulgence Salesman of the Apocalypse

Remember when Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses in 1517? Yeah, Leo X is the guy he was aiming at.

Leo X turned the grace of God into a fundraising campaign. The selling of indulgences—pieces of paper that claimed to reduce punishment in purgatory—was under his blessing.

"As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs.”

That was the slogan of Johann Tetzel, Leo’s man on the ground. And Leo knew about it. Approved it. Blessed it. And used the money to build St. Peter’s Basilica—the ultimate monument to spiritual abuse.

Leo X allegedly said:

"It has served us well, this myth of Christ.”

Now, whether he said it or not, he lived like it was true. His papacy was decadent, greedy, and godless. And it helped spark the Reformation.

🍷 Pope Alexander VI (r. 1492–1503): The Borgia Blasphemy

This guy wasn’t just unfit for spiritual leadership—he was morally subhuman.

He bought the papacy through bribery.
He fathered at least 7 children (while Pope).
He openly lived with his mistress, Vannozza dei Cattanei.
He hosted orgies in the Vatican—yes, literally. The infamous “Banquet of Chestnuts” featured prostitutes, cardinals, and the Pope himself.

This wasn’t just a bad pope. This was a demon in vestments. Even secular historians call him one of the most corrupt figures in church history.

👑 Pope Pius IX (r. 1846–1878): The Inventor of Infallibility

He was the guy who decided, with a straight face, that the Pope could speak infallibly when issuing doctrine ex cathedra (from the chair of Peter).

Because apparently Jesus' perfect Word wasn’t enough. We needed a backup Jesus in Rome.

In 1854, he also invented the Immaculate Conception of Mary, despite:

Zero scriptural support.
Contradiction from early church fathers.
Opposition from many Catholic scholars at the time.

The idea of papal infallibility didn’t descend from heaven. It ascended from one man’s throne in a desperate bid to solidify power.

🌍 Pope Francis (r. 2013-2025): The Ecumenical Heretic

Modern Catholics like to say, “But Pope Francis is different! He’s humble and loving!”

Let’s check the receipts:

2013: Said atheists can go to heaven as long as they do good.
2015: Participated in interfaith prayers with Hindus and Buddhists.
2019: Allowed Pachamama idols (Amazonian fertility goddess) to be honored inside the Vatican.
2021: Declared climate change one of the biggest moral issues facing humanity, while remaining relatively silent on abortion.

Francis isn’t a reformer. He’s a universalist with a Jesuit smile. He offers spiritual anesthesia to a dying world.

The only thing he hasn’t done yet is declare himself the fourth person of the Trinity—and give it time.

A Pattern of Paganism, Corruption, and Theological Insanity

Here’s the truth:

Popes have bought their office.
Popes have murdered rivals.
Popes have had mistresses, fathered children, led wars, hosted orgies, sold salvation, and rewritten doctrine.

Tell me again how this is the holy, apostolic, and infallible leadership of Christ’s Church.

What Scripture Says About False Shepherds

Jeremiah 23:1–2 (ESV):
“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! declares the Lord.”

Matthew 7:15 (ESV):
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”

Revelation 17:4–6 (ESV):
“The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels... and on her forehead was written a name of mystery: Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations. And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.”

Purple and scarlet. Gold and jewels. A city on seven hills. Drunk on the blood of martyrs. Do we really have to draw you a map to Rome?

This Isn’t a Few Bad Apples. The Whole Orchard Is Rotten.

This isn’t about a few wayward men in history. The entire papal institution is built on:

Unbiblical claims
Spiritual tyranny
Historical blasphemy
False gospels

It is not the church Christ established. It is the very thing He warned us about.

“If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting…” (2 John 1:10, ESV)

The Pope isn’t the Vicar of Christ. He is a type of antichrist, and the papacy is the longest-running counterfeit religionin Christian history.

IV. What Biblical Theologians Said (And How They Didn’t Hold Back)

Let’s be honest: the Reformation wasn’t started by a bunch of timid theologians sipping chamomile and whispering about concerns they had with Rome. No, it was lit ablaze by lion-hearted men of God who looked at the Pope, squinted real hard, cracked open their Bibles, and said, “Oh yeah... that’s the guy the apostles warned us about.”

And once they saw it, they unleashed.

We're not talking about fringe preachers with theological axes to grind. These were your Bible-quoting, Christ-exalting, gospel-clarifying, sin-hating, grace-loving, Scripture-alone types who didn't just think the Pope was mistaken. They called him the Antichrist to his face.

These weren't reckless words. They were biblically reasoned, historically anchored, and pastorally burdenedstatements from men who had everything to lose and eternity to gain.

So let’s take a tour through the spiritual artillery shed of Church history and see how the true theologians spoke. Spoiler: they didn’t hold back.

Martin Luther: The Hammer-Wielding, Latin-Slaying Lion

Luther didn’t merely disagree with the Pope. He dismantled him brick by brick, thesis by thesis.

“We here are of the conviction that the papacy is the seat of the true and real Antichrist.” — Smalcald Articles, 1537

That wasn’t a late-night blog post. That was an official Protestant confession. He meant every word.

And then this:

“The Pope is the very Antichrist who has exalted himself above, and opposed himself against Christ... For he will not permit Christians to be saved except by his own power... this is properly to oppose Christ, because he does not allow salvation to be sought except through himself.”

Translation: the Pope isn’t just wrong. He’s standing in the path of salvation, waving people toward hell while wearing a cross.

Luther didn’t mince words. He melted them down, forged them into cannonballs, and launched them directly at Rome.

John Calvin: The Cold-Steel Surgeon of Reformation Theology

Calvin didn’t yell like Luther. He dissected like a surgeon with a Bible scalpel.

“I deny that the Pope is the vicar of Christ... He furiously persecutes the gospel, demonstrates by his conduct that he is Antichrist.” — Institutes of the Christian Religion, IV.7.25

Boom.

Not "he may be mistaken." Not "he needs a theological tune-up." No. He persecutes the gospel. He is a theological hitman wearing a bishop’s robe.

Calvin saw it clearly:

The Pope exalts himself.
He substitutes tradition for Scripture.
He offers a gospel of works instead of grace.
He enslaves consciences through sacraments instead of freeing them by faith.

In Calvin’s view, this wasn’t a Christian leader gone astray. It was a false shepherd guiding the sheep off a cliff.

The Westminster Assembly: Theologians With Teeth

When the English divines wrote the Westminster Confession of Faith, they didn’t tiptoe around Rome. They slammed the door on her pretensions with theological concrete.

“There is no other head of the Church but the Lord Jesus Christ. Nor can the Pope of Rome, in any sense, be head thereof; but is that Antichrist, that man of sin, and son of perdition...” — WCF Ch. 25.6

Let that sink in.

Not the head of the Church. Not the vicar of Christ. But the Antichrist, the very one Paul warned us about in 2 Thessalonians 2.

This wasn’t fringe. It was the official, confessional position of faithful, historic, Bible-believing Protestants.

And they weren’t being edgy. They were being accurate.

Charles Spurgeon: The Prince of Preachers, the Slayer of Superstition

You thought this was just for the 16th and 17th centuries? Nah, son. Let’s jump to the 1800s and hear from Spurgeon.

“It is the bounden duty of every Christian to pray against Antichrist... and in the Pope of Rome we have a great Antichrist.” — Sermon: Antichrist and Her Brood, 1861

He said every Christian should be actively praying against the Pope.

But Spurgeon wasn’t done. He followed it up with fire:

“Popery is as much the masterpiece of Satan now as it was in the days of the Reformation... it is a lie, a blasphemy, a defiance of the truth of God.”

Not outdated. Not improved. Not reformed. Still hell-born heresy, painted with fresher gold and deeper deception.

Spurgeon wouldn’t be invited to ecumenical prayer breakfasts. He’d be flipping tables and quoting Galatians.

William Tyndale: Bible Translator, Papal Fugitive

You know that Bible in your hand? Thank Tyndale.

He was burned at the stake for translating Scripture into English. Why? Because Rome didn’t want common people reading God’s Word.

Tyndale said:

“The Pope's doctrine is the doctrine of the devil, and the Pope himself is the very Antichrist.”

Not because he was angry. Not because he had a grudge. But because he read his Bible and saw the match.

The Common Thread: Scripture Reigns, Rome Blasphemes

Every one of these theologians didn’t arrive at this conclusion because of politics. They weren’t Protestants trying to be spicy. They were biblicists staring into the pages of God's Word and realizing:

The Pope usurps the authority of Christ.
He distorts the gospel.
He controls consciences by fear instead of liberating them by grace.
He claims titles that belong to God alone.
He sits in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God (2 Thess. 2:4).

They read Paul, John, Peter, and Jesus’ warnings and said, "This isn’t theoretical. This is happening. In Rome. Right now."

And here we are, five hundred years later, with modern Protestants trying to hold hands with the Vatican while the Pope prays with pagans and kisses Qur'ans.

The Reformers wouldn’t have walked with him. They would’ve called him out, again.

But What About Now? Isn’t That All a Bit... Harsh?

To that we say: not nearly harsh enough.

Rome has only become more cunning:

More ecumenical: let's pretend we agree.
More sentimental: look how humble the Pope seems.
More universalist: even atheists can be saved?
More dangerous: because now the deception wears a softer smile.

But false gospels don’t become true just because the heretic smiles more and sins less.

“Even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.” — Galatians 1:8 (ESV)

Paul didn’t say hug him. He said curse him.

So no, we won’t soften the edges. We won’t call him "our Christian brother." We won’t pretend the Reformers were overreacting.

We’ll call him what they did:

The Antichrist. A usurper. A gospel-twisting imposter who points to himself when Christ alone should be seen.

If the Reformers Were Alive Today, They’d Be Rejected by Modern Evangelicals

Luther would be deplatformed. Calvin would be called divisive. Spurgeon would be mocked for his lack of nuance. Tyndale would be called a fundamentalist zealot.

But all of them would be right.

Because when Christ’s glory is eclipsed by a man, and when the gospel is buried under robes, rituals, and Roman superstition, someone has to speak up.

They did. Will you?

V. The Theology of the Papacy: Replacing Christ, Distorting Grace

Let’s be crystal clear: The most dangerous thing about the Pope isn’t the outfit, the Latin, or the smell of incense. It’s not even the golden throne or the creepy papal handwave. The most dangerous thing is his theology — a theology that replaces Christ, distorts grace, and enslaves souls in a web of ritualistic deception that masquerades as the gospel.

You want to know what really makes the papacy antichrist? It’s not just the blasphemous titles. It’s that the Pope puts himself at the center of a religious system that pretends to be Christian but is utterly Christ-replacing.

And that, according to Scripture, is the definition of an antichrist system.

1. The Pope Claims to Be the Head of the Church

Let’s not dance around it. Roman Catholic doctrine teaches that the Pope is the visible head of the Church on earth.

“The Roman Pontiff, by reason of his office as Vicar of Christ... has full, supreme and universal power over the whole Church, a power which he can always exercise unhindered.” — Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) §882

Funny. Scripture has a different opinion:

Colossians 1:18 (ESV): "And he [Christ] is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent."

Jesus doesn’t share headship. No vice presidents. No co-chairs. No substitute messiahs. Preeminent means exclusive.

When the Pope steps up and says, "I am the visible head of the Church," he doesn’t exalt Christ — he displaces Him.

2. The Pope Claims Infallibility

In 1870, the First Vatican Council declared that when the Pope speaks ex cathedra, he speaks without error in matters of faith and morals.

"Such definitions of the Roman Pontiff are irreformable of themselves and not by the consent of the Church."— Vatican I, Pastor Aeternus

Let me translate that for you: The Pope doesn’t need Scripture. He doesn’t need the Church. When he speaks from his spiritual chair, he is God’s mouthpiece, period.

Well, someone forgot to tell Scripture:

Psalm 19:7 (ESV): "The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple."

2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV): "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness."

Scripture is infallible. The Pope is not.

To claim otherwise is to compete with the authority of God Himself, and that’s not piety. That’s cosmic arrogance.

3. The Pope Controls the Means of Grace Through Sacraments

Catholicism teaches that salvation flows through seven sacraments, all administered by the Church. The Pope is the administrator-in-chief.

No sacrament? No grace. No Church? No salvation. No Pope? No access.

This turns the gospel into a spiritual hostage negotiation.

But here’s what the Bible says:

Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV): "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Notice the absence of:

Priests
Confession booths
Penance
Eucharistic magic
Papal mediation

Grace isn’t doled out by Rome. It’s given freely by God.

When the Pope claims to control it, he doesn’t extend grace. He obstructs it.

4. The Pope Offers a False Christ and a False Gospel

Rome's Jesus is never finished.

He is re-sacrificed at every Mass.
He is made present through the hands of a priest.
He is approached through Mary and the saints.

The real Jesus?

Hebrews 10:12, 14 (ESV): "But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God... For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified."

You want contrast?

Rome's Jesus keeps bleeding.
The real Jesus sat down.

Why? Because it is finished (John 19:30).

The Pope's system creates a Christ you need to re-access constantly, through rituals, relics, and Rome. It turns Jesus from a Savior into a spiritual subscription service. That is not gospel. That is bondage.

5. The Pope Puts Himself in the Place of the Holy Spirit

Catholicism says the Pope is the Vicar of Christ. But according to Jesus, that job’s already taken:

John 14:26 (ESV): "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."

The true Vicar of Christ isn’t wearing a hat. He’s indwelling the saints.

The Pope doesn’t illuminate Scripture. He muddies it with man-made traditions. He doesn’t sanctify. He substitutes.

To claim to stand in Christ’s place while silencing the Holy Spirit is not just error—it’s spiritual treason.

6. The Pope Demands Worship, Not Service

Let’s be real: the Pope doesn’t just lead. He receives veneration:

People kiss his hand.
They call him "Holy Father."
They kneel before him.

And the Vatican loves it.

Acts 10:25–26 (ESV): "When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, 'Stand up; I too am a man.'"

The actual Peter rejected worship. The so-called "successor of Peter" receives it gladly.

Tell me again who’s acting more like Jesus.

7. The Pope Exalts Himself Above All That Is Called God

2 Thessalonians 2:3–4 (ESV): "Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God."

If that doesn’t send a chill down your spine, it should.

The Pope:

Claims supreme authority over the Church.
Speaks infallibly.
Determines doctrine, canon law, and even who goes to heaven.
Proclaims salvation is impossible apart from him (see Unam Sanctam).

He has taken his seat in the temple of God, exalting himself, demanding obedience, and presenting himself as the final arbiter of truth.

That’s not a bishop. That’s a theological tyrant.

This Isn’t Just Error—It’s Another Gospel

The Pope doesn’t just make mistakes. He peddles a system that perverts the gospel, enslaves souls, and robs Christ of His glory.

He:

Claims to be Christ’s voice.
Claims to control Christ’s grace.
Claims to be the mediator of Christ’s salvation.

But there is only one gospel:

Galatians 1:8 (ESV): "But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed."

Rome’s gospel is contrary. The Pope’s theology is false. And the system he sits atop is cursed.

Don’t fall for the Latin. Don’t bow to the hat. Don’t submit to the system.

Cling to Christ, not to the counterfeit.

VI. Why It Matters: The Pope Isn’t Just Wrong—He’s a Roadblock to the Gospel

This isn’t theological trivia. This isn’t some dusty debate between Protestants and Catholics with no bearing on real life. This is eternity-level serious.

Because the papacy isn’t just doctrinally incorrect. It isn’t just a little confused. It is, at its core, a spiritual barricade built right across the narrow road that leads to life.

The Pope stands in front of Christ and says, “Come to me first.”

And that, dear reader, is not a shepherd. That is a thief, a hijacker, and a roadblock to saving grace.

1. The Papacy Replaces the Simplicity of the Gospel With a Labyrinth of Lies

Jesus said it plainly:

John 14:6 (ESV) “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

But Rome says:

You need baptismal regeneration.
You need confirmation.
You need the Eucharist, which re-sacrifices Christ.
You need confession to a priest.
You need penance.
You need purgatory.
You need Mary.
And you need the Pope.

Instead of, “It is finished,” the Vatican declares, “Not until we say so.”

That is not gospel. That is bondage wrapped in liturgy and dipped in holy water.

2. The Papacy Substitutes Grace With Control

Jesus offers free grace. Rome charges installments.

Isaiah 55:1 (ESV): “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”

The Pope doesn’t just offer grace. He claims the exclusive rights to distribute it. As if Christ’s blood were a Vatican patent, only available in limited release through sacraments.

Rome has made grace into a product, sold through rituals, indulgences, and a hierarchy of power.

“The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

That verse alone decimates Rome's system.

3. The Papacy Glorifies a Man and Steals Glory From Christ

The Pope doesn’t just lead. He dominates. He accepts titles that belong to God alone:

Holy Father — This directly violates Matthew 23:9: "And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven."

When Jesus explicitly says not to do something, and your entire religion does it anyway, that’s not reverence. That’s rebellion.
Head of the Church — Colossians 1:18 couldn't be clearer: "And he [Christ] is the head of the body, the church."

No bishop, cardinal, or pope holds that office. To claim otherwise is to commit spiritual identity theft of the highest order.
Vicar of Christ — The title "vicar" means "in the place of." But John 14:26 says the Holy Spirit is the one Christ sent to be His vicar: "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things."

So either the Pope is wrong, or Jesus is lying. (Spoiler: It’s not Jesus.)
Infallible Teacher — Psalm 19:7 says, "The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul."

The Pope’s decrees aren’t Scripture. They aren’t perfect. And they don’t revive. Only the Word of God does that.

These titles aren’t honorary. They’re blasphemous. They elevate a man into a position only God should hold. That’s not spiritual leadership—that’s theological identity theft with eternal consequences.

He is not content to point people to Jesus. He demands allegiance, veneration, and obedience.

And what does God say about those who steal His glory?

Isaiah 42:8 (ESV): “I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.”

To accept worship that belongs to Christ is to mock God to His face.

4. The Papacy Is a Roadblock for Millions

There are over 1.3 billion Roman Catholics in the world. That’s not a fringe group. That’s a spiritual empire.

And every single one of them is being taught a false gospel that leaves them trusting in:

Their works
Their baptism
Their mass attendance
Their submission to Rome
Their devotion to Mary
And their Pope

Instead of trusting in the finished, sufficient, all-glorious work of Jesus Christ.

Acts 4:12 (ESV): “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Rome has obscured that Name with the smoke of incense and the noise of a thousand rituals. And the Pope is the gatekeeper of that confusion.

5. The Papacy Is Not Just a Religious Error — It Is a Soul-Damning System

You don’t get to add to the gospel and still call it good news. You don’t get to install a man as Christ’s equal and still claim orthodoxy. You don’t get to twist grace into a system of control and still claim biblical faith.

Galatians 1:6–9 (ESV): “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—not that there is another one... But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.”

Let him be accursed. Not misunderstood. Not ecumenically respected. Accursed.

This is why it matters. Because we’re not talking about theological disagreement. We’re talking about souls hanging over hell, trusting in a system that looks holy but is saturated with deception.

6. To Catholic Readers: Come Out. Now.

We’re not writing this because we hate you. We’re writing this because we love the gospel too much to let it be buried beneath Roman rubble.

Revelation 18:4 (ESV): “Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues.”

You don’t need the Pope. You don’t need Mary. You don’t need beads, relics, novenas, or Mass. You need Christ.

The Christ who saves by grace, not merit.
The Christ who intercedes constantly, not through intermediaries.
The Christ who finished it all at Calvary and doesn’t need Rome to complete it.

7. Run to Christ. Flee From the System.

If you’ve grown up in Catholicism, this might feel like betrayal. But it’s not.

It’s liberation.

When you realize the Pope doesn’t speak for Jesus, the rosary doesn’t bring you closer to Heaven, and the sacraments don’t earn favor with God — you are free to finally hear the true voice of the Shepherd.

John 10:27–28 (ESV): “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish...”

Jesus doesn’t say, “My sheep follow the magisterium.” He says, “They follow Me.”

So follow Him.

Come out of the system. Come out of the darkness. Come into the light of the gospel.

The Pope cannot save you. But Christ can.

And He already has.

VII. The Real Christ Doesn’t Share His Throne

Let’s wrap this up the way it started: with clarity, conviction, and Christ alone.

Because after all the history, theology, Scripture, and Reformation thunder, one truth rises above every argument and burns through every smokescreen Rome has ever lit:

Jesus Christ does not share His throne. Not with a priest. Not with a pope. Not with anyone. Ever.

1. Christ Alone Is King, Head, and High Priest

Hebrews 1:3 (ESV): "After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high."

Colossians 1:18 (ESV): "And he is the head of the body, the church... that in everything he might be preeminent."

Hebrews 7:24–25 (ESV): "But he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them."

Jesus isn’t co-reigning. He’s not looking for help. He’s not waiting on the Pope’s approval.

He is seated in heaven, crowned with glory, interceding for His people, and ruling the universe without a single assistant.

The Pope claims to be the vicar of Christ? No, friend. The Holy Spirit is (John 14:26).

The Pope claims to be head of the Church? Wrong again. Jesus is, and always has been.

The Pope claims to forgive sins? Only God can do that (Mark 2:7). And the God-man already did at Calvary.

Christ does not rent His office. He doesn’t sublease His authority. He doesn’t sign co-savior contracts.

He reigns. Alone.

2. Heaven Doesn’t Have a Two-Seat Throne

Rome built a spiritual monarchy with two heads:

Christ in heaven.
Pope on earth.

But heaven doesn’t work like that. The throne room isn’t open for rotation.

Revelation 5:13 (ESV): "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!"

There is One on the throne. Not two.

The Pope doesn’t sit beside Christ. He doesn’t stand before Him. He will kneel like every other sinner.

Philippians 2:10–11 (ESV): "So that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Every pope. Every cardinal. Every priest. Every idolater. Every one.

3. Christ Will Judge the Pope

You read that right. The man with golden robes and bulletproof glass will stand before the King he tried to impersonate.

2 Corinthians 5:10 (ESV): "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."

Let that sink in. The man the world bows to will one day be bowed down, not in honor, but in terror unless he repents.

His infallibility will be exposed as fraud. His sacraments will be burned as false fire. His throne will be shattered, and the only words that will matter are Christ’s.

Either: “Well done, good and faithful servant,”
Or: “Depart from me, I never knew you.”

4. Christ Is Enough for You, Right Now

You don’t need Rome. You don’t need the Pope. You don’t need mediators, masses, indulgences, or incense.

You need Jesus Christ — crucified, risen, reigning.

Hebrews 10:19–22 (ESV): "Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus... let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith..."

Confidence. Not in yourself. Not in your rituals. Not in your church attendance.

In His blood.

Jesus paid it all. Jesus finished it. Jesus reigns forever.

And He doesn’t need papal approval to love you, save you, or keep you.

5. Christ Is Coming Back. And He’s Not Bringing a Mitre.

When Christ returns, He’s not showing up for an ecumenical photo-op. He’s not arriving to hug the Pope. He’s not going to ask who held the keys of St. Peter.

He’s coming to judge the living and the dead.

Revelation 19:11–16 (ESV): "Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True... From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron... On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords."

The real Christ doesn’t sit behind Vatican walls. He rides in on clouds with fire in His eyes. And when He comes, there will be no rivals left standing.

Bow Now, Not Later

To every Catholic: Don’t wait for Christ to shatter the illusion. Don’t gamble your soul on a system of smoke and mirrors. Don’t kneel before a man who claims what only God can do.

Bow now. To the real Christ. The sufficient Savior. The Lamb who was slain. The King who reigns forever.

Because the real Christ doesn’t share His throne.

And when He returns, there will be no room left for imposters.

Soli Deo Gloria.