Brief Statement of the Doctrinal Position 
of the Missouri Synod. [Adopted 1932]
(St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, N.D.) Pt. 17 

Of the Antichrist

43. As to the Antichrist we teach that the prophecies of the Holy 
Scriptures concerning the Antichrist, 2 Thess. 2:3-12; 1 John 
2:18, have been fulfilled in the Pope of Rome and his dominion. 
All the features of the Antichrist as drawn in these prophecies, 
including the most abominable and horrible ones, for example, that 
the Antichrist ``as God sitteth in the temple of God,'' 2 Thess. 
2:4; that he anathematizes the very heart of the Gospel of Christ, 
that is, the doctrine of the forgiveness of sins by grace alone, 
for Christ's sake alone, through faith alone, without any merit or 
worthiness in man (Rom. 3:20-28; Gal. 2:16); that he recognizes 
only those as members of the Christian Church who bow to his 
authority; and that, like a deluge, he had inundated the whole 
Church with his antichristian doctrines till God revealed him 
through the Reformation -- these very features are the outstanding 
characteristics of the Papacy. (Cf. Smalcald Articles, Triglot, p. 
515, Paragraphs 39-41; p. 401, Paragraph 45; M. pp. 336, 258.) 
Hence we subscribe to the statement of our Confessions that the 
Pope is ``the very Antichrist.'' (Smalcald Articles, Triglot, p. 
475, Paragraph 10; M., p. 308.)

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Rev. Robert E. Smith
Walther Library
Concordia Theological Seminary

E-mail: smithre@mail.ctsfw.edu

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