It is interesting to note that the Preterist view was developed by a Jesuit named Luis de Alcazar (published posthumously in the 1600s), and the Futurist (Dispensational) view was developed by a Jesuit named Francisco Ribera de VillacastÃn (published during the 1500s), in order to refute the Historicist view.
Catholicism has always been engaged in the practice of hiding the Scriptures from the public, or obscuring them by one means or another. Catholicism has never been interested in TRUTH, which is why they elevated tradition over God's Word. Even by distracting and misleading believers with different doctrines or systems of theology, it does not help Catholicm in one iota because, other than the essentials, it does not matter what one believes. You could have everything wrong, but as long as you trust Christ Jesus the Messiah as your Lord and Saviour, you have nothing to fear. The non-essentials, or secondary issues, do not affect your relationship with God, your interaction with others, or your salvation.
Some people might claim this as the Genetic Fallacy (for either position), but that simply is not the case and they are begging the question. Sometimes the genesis of something does, in fact, matter greatly and have great weight behind it. The proof is in the pudding.
What other way to distract from the fact that the Catholic Church is the woman riding the beast in Revelation and that the position or office of Pope is Anti-Christ than to develop arguments that the Anti-Christ either appeared much earlier during the first century, or will appear much later in the future? The fact is, every single detail in Daniel, Thessalonians, and Revelation is a perfect match to Catholicism. Observe:
Daniel 7
- It is a little kingdom (v.8).
- It comes up among them, among the ten nations of the divided Roman Empire (v.8).
- It comes up after them (v.24).
- It plucks up three kingdoms by their roots (v.8, 24), leaving no trace of their bloodlines behind.
- It is different from the other kingdoms (v.24), being a religious and political kingdom. Do you know of any such kingdom?
- It has a man at the head of it (v.8, 20, 24-26). What religious, political kingdom do you know that has a man at its head?
- It speaks blasphemy (v.8, 20, 25). How do the Scriptures define blasphemy? Do any of these sound familiar?
- Blasphemy is the claim to have power to forgive sins (Mark 2:7).
- Blasphemy is a man making himself to be God (John 10:33).
- Blasphemy is persecuting the church in the name of God (1 Tim. 1:12-13).
- It is a persecuting power (v.21, 25). Who do you know that has persecuted the saints of the Most High?
- It seeks to change times and laws (v.25).
- It reigns sovereignly for 1260 prophetic days (v.25).
- The apostasy must come first (v.3). You cannot be an apostate unless you once held to a claim of the true faith and have abandoned it, or you hold to a perverted form of that faith—keeping parts, omitting parts, and changing parts.
- The man of sin is revealed through apostasy (v.3). This man would come out of the midst of the apostasy, claiming either to have been a “Christian” or to be a “Christian.”
- The man of sin exalts himself against every god (v.3).
- The man of sin sits in the temple of God—the church (v.3). Who do you know of that sits in the church as its ruler?
- The man of sin proclaims himself to be God (v.3).
- The beast is given great power and authority (v.2).
- The beast received a mortal wound that would be healed (v.3).
- Those who dwell upon the Earth worship the beast because of this healing of the wound (v.4).
- The beast is given 42 prophetic months to exercise its authority (v.5).
- The beast is allowed to persecute the saints (v.6). Who do you know that has severely persecuted the saints for many centuries?
- The beast is given authority over multitudes (v.6). Who do you know that has great authority over multitudes of people?
- The kings of the Earth are involved with this illicit infidelity (v.2).
- Those who dwell upon the Earth are greatly affected by it (v.2).
- This city rests upon or is built upon the foundations of a previous kingdom or empire (v.3). What city do you know of that has this sort of foundation?
- This city’s colours are purple and scarlet, and she is rich with gold and jewels that she displays without shame (v.4). Catholic clerics wear purple and scarlet.
- Through a “cup,” this city fornicates with political powers (v.4). Whom do you know who dispenses salvation via the means of a cup?
- This city represents ancient Babylon at heart (v.5).
- This city is responsible for the deaths of the saints and martyrs (v.6). What city do you know of that has killed hundreds of thousands of Christians from the first century to present day?
- Two things may be said: the very sight of this city results in great admiration, but moreover John marveled at her because she put to death the saints and martyrs of Jesus (v.6).
- This city sits on seven hills (v.9). What city do you know of that is called “The City on Seven Hills”?
- This city holds sway over the bodies and souls of many peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages (v.15). What city do you know of that has this kind of influence?
- This city reigned over the kings of the Earth (v.18).
- This city is a source of demonic presence and powers (v.2).
- This city is responsible for the economic riches of certain individuals associated with her (v.3).
- God calls His elect children out from under this city’s abominable influence (v. 4).
- In contrast with God’s people, whose sins He has forgotten, God has remembered this city’s sins (v.5).
- This city claims to be the seat of a “Queen” (v.7). What city do you know of that has a “queen” as part of its religion?
- This city has always been a great foe against God’s people, from the day she became an empire until modern day (v. 20).
- Splendid music and craftsmanship have been a spectacle from this city, but will eventually be no more (v.22).
- This city is guilty of deceiving the nations (v.23).
- This city was found guilty of the blood of God’s children (v. 24).