Where did human church government derive its present form? The first Pope, in real sense of the word was Leo the First, 440-461 A.D. To him the form of government of the Roman Empire was the most marvelous thing on earth. He applied the principles of the government to the Church; this organization is the image of the beast: Rome.

     Myers Ancient History says: “During the reign of Leo 1st, the Church set up within the Roman Empire an Ecclesiastical State, Government, which in its constitution and its administrative system was shaping itself upon the imperial model.” This church government, then, according to this historical authority is in fact a model, a counterpart, an image of the beast, which is the Roman Empire Government.

     This image, design and man, rules the Church Government, which compelled people to worship the Church! Since the Church was organized into a worldly government, this was the worship of the image-a false worship-idolatry!

     This Church was the Mother Church; her Daughter Churches which came out of Her in “Protest” calling themselves “Protestant.” Even though coming out of her, they all had the worldly political Church Government behind them. Revelation 17:5 says; “Upon her forehead was a name written Mystery Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots.” Her daughters, Protestants, are called “Harlots.” Together, they are called “Babylon,” confusion. They are pagan, teaching pagan doctrines and customs, cloaked in the name of Christianity! All nations are deceived.  Yes, human-organized church, not Bible, designed spiritual organized government, is the image of the beast. It is the Pagan Political Counterfeit of God’s Government.

     Truly, God has declared the end from the beginning, (Isaiah 46:9-11).  In Daniel 7:19-27, God foretold the rise of a great false system that would make war with the Saints of God and think to change Times and Laws (Romans 7:25). This great persecuting power was to arise and rule during the Roman Empire. That fourth beast in Daniel 7 was Rome.  Paul, in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 tells of a great apostasy in the Church, “A falling away,” that would climax in this great false Church system with the “Man of Sin” sitting in the Temple of God showing himself that he is God.  Paul said that the “Mystery of Iniquity doth already work.” That falling away had already begun in Paul’s days. This apostasy did continue until they created a great False Church system, a “Spiritual Monarchy” with one man at the head claiming power belonging only to Jesus and to God the Father. This False Church is described as a “Great Whore” in Revelation 17:5.  The earth was corrupted with her false doctrine for centuries, and John saw her drunken with the blood of the saints. The blood of millions of God’s children was shed because they refused to bow to her false authority.

     In Revelation 13:1 the ten horns represent ten successive kingdoms.  This beast was none other than the Roman Empire and the ten horns are part of the beast that continues until the second coming of Jesus Christ.