In Revelation 17, Babylon (papal Rome) is described as a bloodthirsty power that persecutes and kills God’s people:

I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus (Revelation 17:6).

It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue (remnant) with its feet. (Daniel 7:7 NKJV).

This description certainly describes the history of the Roman system. Whether under pagan control or papal control, Rome seems to have always persecuted any who stands in its way or refuses to acknowledge its supremacy.

History

For 1260 years, the Catholic Church had total dominion of the Roman world. Under its control, people were kept ignorant, chained by superstition and tradition. Anyone who refused to bend to the Church’s supremacy was persecuted mercilessly. Thousands were tortured and put to death. The Church seized lands and assets of those who refused to participate in its political and religious aspirations.

The Protestant Reformation
After those long years of dark oppression, God brought light and life back to the people. Through the invention of the printing press, the Bible was given to the common people in their own language. Through the efforts of reformers such as Wycliffe, Tyndale, Luther, Huss, Calvin, Knox and others, the Catholic Church no longer had control over the world.

The Catholic Counter Reformation
The Roman system did not remain powerless. As soon as it had opportunity, the Catholic Church launched an elaborate scheme to counter the Reformation’s effects. Now known as the Counter Reformation, the plan was spearheaded by the Jesuit order and was carried out under the guise of sincere devotion to the cause of Christ.

The doctrines of preterism and futurism, published in 1585 by Jesuit priests Alcasar and Ribera, countered the Reformation truths. Preterism stated that the Antichrist was the Greek king Antiochus Epiphanus IV, and not the papal system. Futurism pushed the Antichrist into a future time of tribulation just before Christ’s Second Coming. Futurism is tied in with dispensationalism, which includes the belief that during the end-time tribulations God’s people won’t be present on Earth but will be silently and secretly whisked away.

The doctrine of higher criticism, started in 1678 by the Catholic theologians Richard Simon and Dr. Alexander Geddes, called into question the plainest Scripture teachings on history and origins. The writings of Moses were dismissed as myths, and faith was thrown out.

Read of the key tools that were used to counter the Reformation and that are still being used today: