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Prophecy: The antichrist power was to receive a deadly wound after his 1260 - year reign. However, this deadly wound will be healed, and the entire world will wonder at him (Revelation 13:3; Revelation 17:8). Fulfilment: After her terrible reign of 1260 years, the Papal power received a deadly wound. In 1798, the French general; Alexander Berthier, under the command of Napoleon, marched his armies into Rome and pulled the pope off his throne. Berthier brought the pope to France as a captive. All the properties of the church were confiscated, and the French directory government decreed that there would never be another bishop of Rome. From the book Church History, p. 24, we read: "The enemies of the church rejoiced. The last Pope, they declared had resigned." In fact, as far as the world was concerned, and by all outward appearances, the Catholic Church was dead. "But careful students of Bible prophecy knew that this fatal blow was not the end of the Catholic Church; for the prophecy predicted that his deadly wound will be healed and that the entire world will come to wonder at him (Revelation 13:3). In early 1929, the Papal power began a journey that was to heal the sore wound that she received from France in 1798. On February 11 1929, Cardinal Gasparri (representing pope Pius XI) and Benito Mussolini (representing king Victor Emmanuel III of Italy) signed the Lateran Treaty which gave the Papacy absolute and sole jurisdiction over the Vatican State. From the San Francisco Chronicle, February 11, 1929 we read: "The Roman question tonight was a thing of the past and the Vatican was at peace with Italy ... In affixing the autographs to the memorable document healing the wound ... extreme cordiality was displayed on both sides." On the next day, that is, February 12 1929, the same paper came out with the headlines: "Mussolini and Gasparri Sign Historic Roman Pact … Healed Wound of Many Years". it is interesting to discover how the editors of the San Francisco article utilized almost the same wording from Revelation 13:3 to describe this important Bible prophecy event. After this memorable event in 1929, the Papal power has risen to world influence and recognition at a speed that has surprised many. The Bible clearly predicted that his deadly wound will be healed and all the world will wonder after him. We are living at a time in the history of our world where this prophecy is being fulfilled right before our eyes. Today, almost the entire human race is wondering at the power and prestige of the Catholic system. The pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church is revered not just by almost all religious entities, but political leaders as well. No human being, how high his office, will be able to compete with the pomp, display and preparations that go into welcoming the bishop of Rome into any country of the world today. The sore wound of the Catholic Church is forever healed; and she is just bidding her time for the right opportunity to assume total control of the world.

Prophecy: The antichrist power was to reign for a thousand two hundred and sixty years (Daniel 7:25; Revelation 13:5). Fulfilment: History records that the papacy rose to power after Emperor Justinian’s decree in 538 A. D. From 538 A. D., the Papal power reigned over the world until 1798; an exact period of 1260 years.

Prophecy: The antichrist power sits on seven mountains (Revelation 17:9). In other words, this false religious system is actually sited or located on seven different mountains. The angel reveals unto the apostle John that this power is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth (Revelation 17:18). Besides the geographical location of this power, which we have noted to be Western Europe; the Lord actually goes the extra mile to give us the exact location of the antichrist power so we will not be misled as we strive to identify her. Fulfilment: For over 2000 years, it is only one city that has consistently been known as the city on seven hills. And friends; that city is Rome. From the Catholic Encyclopaedia, we read: "It is within the city of Rome, called the city of seven hills, that the entire area of Vatican State proper is now confined."

Prophecy: The antichrist power is decked with gold and precious stones and pearls. In other words, this power is an extremely rich organization (Revelation 17:4). Fulfilment: Unlike the humble Carpenter of Nazareth, this apostate woman is extremely wealthy; and is decked with gold and precious stones and pearls. The Roman Catholic system is one of the richest organizations in the world. The Catholic system actually controls the highest percentage of the cash that flows across the world. Concerning investments in trusts and properties such as banks and other corporate businesses, sports, schools, hospitals, and other institutions, the Catholic system comes second to none.

Prophecy: The antichrist power was to receive a deadly wound after his 1260 - year reign. However, this deadly wound will be healed, and the entire world will wonder at him (Revelation 13:3; Revelation 17:8). Fulfilment: After her terrible reign of 1260 years, the Papal power received a deadly wound. In 1798, the French general; Alexander Berthier, under the command of Napoleon, marched his armies into Rome and pulled the pope off his throne. Berthier brought the pope to France as a captive. All the properties of the church were confiscated, and the French directory government decreed that there would never be another bishop of Rome. From the book Church History, p. 24, we read: "The enemies of the church rejoiced. The last Pope, they declared had resigned." In fact, as far as the world was concerned, and by all outward appearances, the Catholic Church was dead. "But careful students of Bible prophecy knew that this fatal blow was not the end of the Catholic Church; for the prophecy predicted that his deadly wound will be healed and that the entire world will come to wonder at him (Revelation 13:3). In early 1929, the Papal power began a journey that was to heal the sore wound that she received from France in 1798. On February 11 1929, Cardinal Gasparri (representing pope Pius XI) and Benito Mussolini (representing king Victor Emmanuel III of Italy) signed the Lateran Treaty which gave the Papacy absolute and sole jurisdiction over the Vatican State. From the San Francisco Chronicle, February 11, 1929 we read: "The Roman question tonight was a thing of the past and the Vatican was at peace with Italy ... In affixing the autographs to the memorable document healing the wound ... extreme cordiality was displayed on both sides." On the next day, that is, February 12 1929, the same paper came out with the headlines: "Mussolini and Gasparri Sign Historic Roman Pact … Healed Wound of Many Years". it is interesting to discover how the editors of the San Francisco article utilized almost the same wording from Revelation 13:3 to describe this important Bible prophecy event. After this memorable event in 1929, the Papal power has risen to world influence and recognition at a speed that has surprised many. The Bible clearly predicted that his deadly wound will be healed and all the world will wonder after him. We are living at a time in the history of our world where this prophecy is being fulfilled right before our eyes. Today, almost the entire human race is wondering at the power and prestige of the Catholic system. The pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church is revered not just by almost all religious entities, but political leaders as well. No human being, how high his office, will be able to compete with the pomp, display and preparations that go into welcoming the bishop of Rome into any country of the world today. The sore wound of the Catholic Church is forever healed; and she is just bidding her time for the right opportunity to assume total control of the world.

The English word 'canon' is derived from the Greek word 'kanon' which basically mean "a rule or standard for testing straightness"*. The canon of Hebrew Scriptures describes the set of the sacred books which the Jews accepted as authoritative Scripture. In regard to the work of assembling the authoritative Scriptures of the Jews, God had prepared the hearts of men such as Ezra and Nehemiah. Concerning Ezra, the priest and scribe, the Scriptures testify: "For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments" (Ezra 7:10). Jewish history makes it clear that it was during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah that the sacred writings of the people of Israel were assembled, and placed into a unit. In fact, when the Messiah walked among the Jews, the people were unanimously united in the writings that formed the Holy Scriptures; for Christ could affirm the authenticity of the Scriptures through the words: "that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me" (Luke 24:44). Even though the people of Israel were earlier united on the writings that formed the Scriptures, it was not until AD 90, at the council of Jamnia, that the Jews took a more formal approach to acknowledge and unite on the writings that they regarded as authoritative Scriptures. In the compilation of this Jewish canon of sacred Scriptures, there are some writings which are mentioned in the Old Testament [such as The Book of the wars of the Lord (Numbers 21:14, 15); The Book of Jasher or the Upright One (Joshua 10:13); the records of Nathan the prophet and the records of Gad the seer (1 Chronicles 29:29); the records of Shemaiah the prophet (2 Chronicles 12:15); the annals of the kings of Israel (1 Kings 14:19); the annals of Jehu (2 Chronicles 20:34) etc.], yet were not included in the canon. Moreover, the Old Testament Apocrypha comprising of various books which were written during the inter-testamental period were also excluded from the Jewish canon. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the leaders of the Jews were able to select the sacred writings that were to constitute the Holy Scriptures for the people of God in succeeding generations. Unlike the Old Testament, several of the writings of the New Testament gained immediate acceptance with the disciples of Christ. These writings include the Gospels, Acts and Paul's letters (see Colossians 4:16). The general epistles and the book of Revelation however took a much longer time to be accepted into the body of inspired New Testament writings. As the Christian faith grew and expanded to diverse regions, the church was harassed with several uninspired gospels and writings (commonly referred to as pseudepigrapha). As this negative development began to plague the early Christian church, it became necessary for the leadership of the church to assemble together the body of truly inspired New Testament writings. Through the first four centuries after Christ, the Holy Spirit moved upon faithful men in the church to begin to distinguish, and set aside the inspired books of the New Testament from those that were not inspired. The men who worked on the New Testament canon utilised the criteria below to separate the inspired writings from those which were not inspired: a) Was the writer one of the apostles of Christ? b) Was the writer a companion of an apostle? c) Was the book internally consistent? d) Did the content of the book harmonise with other Scriptures? e) Did the book conform to expected Christian experience? Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, these men assembled together the 27 books that form the New Testament of our current Scripture. The Lord led them to see through the various writings which were written without the stamp of the Holy Spirit, and thus removed them from the canon of the New Testament Scriptures.