The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 2

V. Conradus-Italian Convert Holds Millennium Yet Future

ALFONSUS CONRADUS (16th century), of Mantua, was one of the many Italians who were compelled to leave their fatherland because of religious convictions. Conradus found refuge in Graubunden, Switzerland, where, in 1560, he wrote a large commentary on the Apocalypse, in which he declared the Roman Papacy to be the Antichrist. ³⁰ Further biographical details of this energetic opponent of the Roman church are unknown. PFF2 318.4

1. PROPHESIED ANTICHRIST IS HISTORICAL PAPACY

Asserting that the seven churches and the seven seals represent the church, and that the trumpets are aspects and periods of the church and its tribulations, Conradus takes the position that it is useless to wait for the coming of Antichrist, for the pope is Antichrist. ³¹ PFF2 319.1

The 1260 days of Antichrist are the same as the forty-two months, and the three and a half times, with each day standing for a literal year. This application discloses approximately the duration of the persecution by Antichrist. ³² The first six trumpets signify calamities for the church, Conradus thought, but the seventh will bring victory to the cause of God and defeat for Antichrist. ³³ PFF2 319.2

2. PAPACY IS BEAST, LITTLE HORN, ANTICHRIST, AND BABYLON

The dragon is Satan, ruler of this world, and the seven heads signify earthly powers. ³⁴ Of the specifications of Revelation 13 and 17, the following is the gist of Conradus’ position: PFF2 319.3

The Beast coming out of the sea is the Antichrist. This same Beast is seen in the seventh chapter of Daniel in the role of the Little Horn. The Beast with the ten horns is the Roman Empire. The Antichrist is the head of the fourth beast. The pope is the Antichrist, the Man of Sin. PFF2 319.4

The number 666 is the number of the name of the pope. PFF2 319.5

Babylon the great is Rome. His name is also Egypt, and Sodom. PFF2 319.6

The seven heads are seven ruling kingdoms. PFF2 319.7

The woman on the seven hills is the Papacy. The Papacy sits on top of the kingdoms of this world, is supported by them, and controls them. The seven kingdoms are enemies to the people of God. ³⁵ PFF2 319.8

3. SEVEN HEADS ENUMERATED WITH POPE THE SEVENTH

The seven heads are Egypt, Israel, Babylonia, Medo-Persia, Greece, the Rome of the Caesars, and the Rome of the Popes. ³⁶ PFF2 320.1

4. SATAN’S BINDING BELIEVED FUTURE, NOT PAST

As to the one thousand years, and the conflicting views that were cur rent, Conradus is not so clear, but he did not believe that Satan’s one thousand-year binding began in the early centuries, and, significantly, challenged the standard Catholic view, which had its origin with Augustine. ³⁷ PFF2 320.2