Understanding the Historicist View from the Covenant Israel Perspective
When it comes to interpreting Bible prophecy, few topics are more vital than identifying the powers described in Daniel and Revelation. For those who embrace the Covenant Israel Message, one truth stands out clearly: The Papacy is not only mentioned in Bible prophecy—it is a central figure in it. The Scriptures do not leave us guessing. Through detailed prophetic visions, God reveals the rise, power, and long-lasting influence of the Papal system.
This understanding is not new. It was the unwavering conviction of the Protestant Reformers, and it is a key element of Historicist Bible interpretation, the only method that traces prophecy from the days of Daniel through the Church Age and into our modern era. Unlike Futurism and Preterism—systems that either project prophecy entirely into the future or trap it in the past—Historicism sees the Papacy as the fulfillment of the Antichrist power described throughout the prophetic Word.
The Rise of the Papacy in Bible Prophecy
Bible prophecy outlines the rise of a religious-political power in exact detail. Let’s examine where and how the Papacy is prophesied:
1. The Little Horn of Daniel 7
In Daniel chapter 7, the prophet is shown a vision of four great beasts representing successive empires: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. From the fourth beast—Rome—a “little horn” arises, distinct from the ten horns (nations) that grow from the fallen Roman Empire.
“I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn… and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.” — Daniel 7:8
This Little Horn is:
- Different from the other horns (a religious power, not purely political)
- Rises among them (from within the territory of the Western Roman Empire)
- Uproots three kings (the Heruli, Vandals, and Ostrogoths)
- Speaks against the Most High
- Wears out the saints (persecution)
- Thinks to change times and laws
- Reigns for “a time, times, and half a time” (1,260 prophetic years)
The Papacy fulfills every one of these marks. It rose within Europe, amidst the ten Gothic kingdoms, claimed religious supremacy, and launched centuries of persecution against Bible-believers who opposed its authority.
2. The Man of Sin in 2 Thessalonians 2
The apostle Paul provides more clarity:
“Let no man deceive you… that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed… who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God.” — 2 Thessalonians 2:3–4
This “Man of Sin”:
- Rises from within the Church
- Exalts himself in the temple of God
- Shows himself as God on Earth
- Is restrained until a certain point in history (the fall of the Roman Caesars)
The Papacy again fits perfectly. The office of the Pope arose after the fall of the Roman emperors, and throughout history, Popes have claimed titles such as “Vicar of Christ” and even “God on Earth.” This blasphemous exaltation of man above God is a clear marker of the Antichrist spirit.
3. The Beast of Revelation 13
Revelation 13 paints a graphic picture of a powerful beast:
“And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard… and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.” — Revelation 13:2
This beast:
- Has features of previous empires (Babylonian, Greek, Roman)
- Receives power from the dragon (Satan, working through Rome)
- Speaks great blasphemies
- Wages war against the saints
- Rules for 42 months (again, 1,260 prophetic days/years)
There is no question: this is the same power as Daniel’s Little Horn. And in history, the Papacy held religio-political dominance for 1,260 years (from A.D. 538 to 1798), during which millions of believers in Western nations were martyred for refusing to submit to Rome’s authority.
4. Mystery Babylon the Great (Revelation 17)
“And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” — Revelation 17:5
The great harlot represents a false religious system:
- She is arrayed in purple and scarlet (the official colors of the Roman Catholic hierarchy)
- She holds a golden cup full of abominations (rituals and traditions)
- She is drunk with the blood of the saints (persecution)
- She sits upon many waters (peoples, nations, and tongues)
This is none other than the Papal system, the central religious authority of the West during the Middle Ages. The Reformation-era Reformers unanimously identified Rome as Mystery Babylon, and her influence as the spiritual counterpart to ancient Babylon—filled with idolatry and corruption.
The Reformers Knew the Truth
It was not just individuals, but entire nations in the West—especially the Anglo-Saxon-Celtic, Scandinavian, and kindred peoples—who broke from Papal control and reclaimed the Bible.
- Martin Luther wrote that the Papacy was “nothing else than the kingdom of Babylon and of the true Antichrist.”
- John Calvin declared that the Pope was “Antichrist.”
- John Knox, leader of the Scottish Reformation, said, “the Papal system is the very Antichrist.”
This historic understanding gave birth to the freedoms and Christian institutions now enjoyed in the modern Western nations. It was in those countries—Britain, America, Germany, and the broader Protestant world—that the Gospel was printed, preserved, and spread.
Covenant Israel and the Resistance to Rome
The Covenant Israel Message teaches that the Lost Tribes of Israel migrated over centuries and became the Anglo-Saxon-Celtic, Scandinavian, and related European peoples. These same peoples were those who stood against the Papal tyranny, embraced the Bible, and founded Christian civilizations in the West—including Great Britain, the United States, Canada, Australia, and other Western nations.
This is no coincidence.
God preserved His covenant people through dispersion, and they re-emerged in history at the appointed time to:
- Reject false religion
- Translate and distribute Scripture
- Carry the Gospel to the ends of the earth
- Stand against the Antichrist system
Their stand against Rome was a prophetic fulfillment of God’s plan to bless the nations through Israel, even in her dispersed condition.
The Papacy Today
Although the Papacy was dealt a deadly wound in 1798, Revelation 13 tells us it would be healed—and we now see the Papacy’s revival on the world stage:
- The Pope is once again a powerful political figure, engaging in global diplomacy.
- Rome leads the charge in interfaith movements, promoting unity over truth.
- The Vatican aligns itself with globalist ideologies, influencing Western policy and culture.
The Beast system lives on, even if many no longer recognize it.
Conclusion: Bible Prophecy Clearly Identifies the Papacy
There is no ambiguity when the Bible is read through the lens of Historicism and the Covenant Israel Message. The Papacy is clearly and repeatedly mentioned in Bible prophecy—as the Little Horn, the Man of Sin, the Beast, and Babylon the Great. It is the long-standing Antichrist system that has persecuted the true saints and defied God’s Word for over a millennium.
The Anglo-Saxon-Celtic, Scandinavian, and kindred peoples—the modern heirs of ancient Israel—have historically led the charge against this power. Their continued witness, faith, and love for God’s Word show that the covenant is still at work in the Western nations, and the final conflict will once again involve this ancient adversary.
Let us stand boldly, proclaim the truth, and await the glorious return of Christ, who will destroy the Man of Sin with the brightness of His coming.
