Every time a new pope is elected, a wave of speculation rolls through certain corners of Christianity—especially among our friends in the Seventh-day Adventist tradition and other end-times-focused groups. The latest round of hysteria includes the claim that this pope, surely, is the Antichrist foretold in Scripture.
But is there any biblical or theological ground for this? Or are we misreading Revelation through a lens of fear rather than faith?
Let’s walk through this carefully and biblically.
The Bible Cannot Mean Today What It Didn’t Mean Then
A foundational principle of good Bible interpretation is this: The Bible cannot mean to us what it never meant to its original hearers. Revelation—like every other biblical book—was written to real people in real historical contexts. It spoke to their fears, hopes, suffering, and endurance.
The apostle John didn’t write the Book of Revelation in a vacuum. He wrote to seven specific churches in Asia Minor during Roman persecution. These believers would have had no concept of the modern papacy, which developed centuries later. If our interpretation wouldn’t have made sense to them, we’re likely misreading it.
But Didn’t the Book of Daniel Talk About Future Empires?
A fair question some might raise is: “If Daniel predicted future empires, isn’t it possible that Revelation predicts things that hadn’t happened yet—like the rise of the papacy or the modern world order?”
On the surface, this seems reasonable. But it’s really an apples and oranges comparison.
1. Daniel’s Prophecies Were Future to Him—and Explicitly Interpreted
Daniel, writing in the 6th century BCE, was given visions of coming empires—Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. These visions weren’t left ambiguous. God provided divine interpretation (see Daniel 2:38, 7:17–18), giving clear meaning to the symbols.
2. Revelation Was Written After These Empires Had Risen and Fallen
When John wrote Revelation in the late first century, the Roman Empire was already ruling. Revelation’s beasts, horns, and imagery aren’t about undefined future empires—they are theological critiques of present-day empire (at the time of John) meant to encourage the churches under persecution.
3. Daniel’s Visions Were Explained. Revelation Is Not a Secret Code
Daniel is told what his visions mean. Revelation expects readers to know their Old Testament and draw connections accordingly. The goal is not cryptic forecasting, but pastoral encouragement and spiritual formation through symbolic storytelling.
Don’t Read the Bible Through an American (or European) Lens
Another common interpretive error is reading the Bible as if it were written in a modern Western context. But the Bible is a product of the Ancient Near East, shaped by Hebrew thought, first-century Roman oppression, and Jewish apocalyptic tradition.
When we assume America or modern institutions are central to God’s prophetic timeline, we distort the text. Revelation is not about Washington D.C. or the Vatican—it’s about resisting empire, remaining faithful to Jesus, and trusting in God’s final justice.
What Is the Antichrist?
Here’s a surprise: the word Antichrist never appears in Revelation. It only shows up in 1 and 2 John—and there, it refers not to a specific individual, but to anyone who denies Jesus is the Christ and comes in the flesh (1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3). John says “many antichrists have come.”
If we want to understand antichrist-like behavior, we should look for false teaching, spiritual deception, and anything that undermines Jesus—not just political or religious figureheads.
Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Issues: Holding Unity with Conviction
We love and respect our Seventh-day Adventist neighbors and others who are wrapped up in end-times prophecy and speculation. We have real theological disagreements—some of which are significant enough that we worship in separate communities. But many Adventists are our brothers and sisters in Christ and part of the global Church.
The same is true of believers in other traditions. We may not worship alongside Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Presbyterians, Methodists, or Pentecostals every week, but many of them affirm the same gospel. We may differ on practice and interpretation, but we share faith in Christ.
To understand this, it’s helpful to think in terms of primary, secondary, and tertiary doctrines:
Primary issues are the core beliefs of the Christian faith: the Trinity, the full divinity and humanity of Jesus, salvation by grace through faith, the bodily resurrection, and the authority of Scripture. These form the foundation of what it means to be a Christian.
Secondary issues include baptism (infant or believer’s), Sabbath observance, church governance, or how we understand the sacraments. These convictions often define denominational differences and impact how we worship, but they don’t mean we’re not family in Christ.
Tertiary issues are disputable matters like end-times timelines, Bible translations, or worship styles. These should not divide the body of Christ and should be held with humility and grace.
We’re called to hold the essentials with boldness, the non-essentials with humility, and everything with love. We strive for unity in the essentials, grace in our disagreements, and love for everyone—because that’s what Christ has modeled for us.
What Are the Essentials of the Christian Faith?
Here’s a brief summary of the fundamental beliefs that unite Christians across the centuries and across the globe:
One God in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Jesus Christ as fully God and fully man
The authority and inspiration of the Bible
Salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone
The death and resurrection of Jesus for our sins
The return of Christ and final judgment
The presence of the Holy Spirit in every believer
The Church as the global body of Christ
If someone affirms these, we can call them a fellow Christian—even when we disagree about other important matters.
Reading Revelation Responsibly
Revelation is not a crystal ball. It’s a rich, symbolic book meant to comfort persecuted believers, challenge idolatry, and declare Jesus as King over every earthly power.
Here are four helpful principles for reading it well:
Start with the original audience—what did these visions mean to them?
Use Scripture to interpret symbols, especially the Old Testament prophets.
Read the whole book, not isolated fragments.
Keep Jesus at the center—this is a Revelation of Jesus Christ (Rev. 1:1), not a revelation of fear.
A Better Way Forward
When we give in to fear, conspiracy theories, or spiritual panic, we often bear bad fruit—division, suspicion, pride, and distraction from our mission. But the Spirit of God produces love, peace, patience, and truth.
So let’s be people marked by:
Sound interpretation rooted in context and Scripture
Hopeful faith in Jesus’ reign and return
Gracious disagreement on non-essential issues
Commitment to truth without fear
Final Thought: Keep Watch, But Don’t Panic
Jesus never told us to panic or draw prophecy charts. He told us to abide in Him, love our neighbors, and stay faithful. The future is in His hands—not Rome’s, not Washington’s, and not ours.
Let’s be ready, but let’s also be rooted.