The following quotes show just how far the churches of today have strayed from the wisdom of their
founding fathers regarding the awareness of the Antichrist.
Martin Luther (1483-1546 Lutheran)
We here are of the conviction that the papacy is the seat of the true and real Antichrist...personally, I declare that I owe the Pope no other obedience than that to Antichrist. (Aug 18, 1520, from The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, Vol. 2, pg. 121 by Froom).
John Calvin (1509-1564 Presbyterian)
Some persons think us too severe and censorious when we call the Roman pointiff Antichrist. But those who are of this opinion do not consider that they bring the same charge of presumption against Paul himself, after whom we speak and whose language we adopt...I shall briefly show that Paul's words in II Thess 2 are not capable of any other interpretation than that which applies them to the Papacy. (Taken from Institutes by John Calvin).
Cotton Mather (1663-1728 Congregational)
The oracles of God foretold the rising of an Antichrist in the Christian Church; and in the Pope of Rome, all the characteristics of that Antichrist are so mavelously answered that if any who read the Scriptures do not see it, there is a marvelous blindness upon them. (Taken from The Fall of Babylon by Cotton Mather in Froom's book The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers Vol. 3. pg. 113.)
John Knox (1505-1572 Scotch Presbyterian)
Knox wrote to abolish that tyranny which the pope himself has for so many ages exercised over the church and that the pope should be recognized as the very antichrist, and son of perdition, of whom Paul speaks. (Taken from The Zurich Letters pg. 199 by John Knox.)
Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556 Anglican)
Whereof it followeth Rome to be the seat of antichrist, and the pope to be very antichrist himself. I could prove the same by many other scriptures, old writers, and strong reasons. (Taken from Works by Cranmer, Vol. 1, pp. 6-7)
John Wesley (1703-1791 Methodist)
Speaking of the papacy, he said, He is in an emphatical sense, the Man of Sin, as he increases all manner of sin above measure. And he is, too, properly styled the Son of Perdition, as he has caused the death of numberless multitudes, both of his opposers and followers...He it is...that exalteth himself above all that is called God, or what is worshipped...claiming the highest power, and highest honour...claiming the prerogatives which belong to God alone. (Taken from Antichrist and His Ten Kingdoms by John Wesley, pg. 110.)
Roger Williams (1603-1683 First Baptist Pastor in America)
He spoke of the Pope as the pretended Vicar of Christ on earth, who sits as God over the Temple of God, exalting himself not only above all that is called God, but over the souls and consciences of all his vassals yea over the Spirit of Christ, over the Holy Spirit, yea, and God Himself... speaking against the God of heaven, thinking to change times and laws: but he is the son of perdition (II Thes 2). (Taken from The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers by Froom, Vol. 3 pg. 52.)
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; I Timothy 4:1