There was no Papacy at the time that John said thusly.
1John2:18-22
Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
19They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would
no doubt have continued with us: but
they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
20But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
21I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
22Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
The antichrist will be a person just as there are presently antichrist's at work back then and now and they are individuals.
There was no papacy nor protestants when John declared that antichrist's were already here and the antichrist would come.
Correct ! No Papacy,
as it is today, was present in the time of John, in the first century .. As soon as Jesus, the Christ, was IN the world, there was the antichrist spirit, also, of which John is referring to in 1 John 2:18-22. Many Biblical scholars, looking at extra-Biblical history, believe that
Simon Magus, in Acts 8:9-24, went on to become the magician to Emperor Neo. You can well imagine, someone, thinking they are God, wanting to have the power of Christ, mixing pagan worship, witchcraft, the spirit of Satan, with Christianity, forming the very early Antichrist spirited "church" in Rome.
Prophecy says that the AntiChrist, “the man of Lawlessness”
2 Thessalonians 2:1–12 “will have eyes like a man, and speak pompous words, against the Most High”.
Pope’s, for over a millennia, have been saying that they are God on Earth” and are here in place of Christ. Being His “Vicar” !
Daniel 7:25 “And he shall speak great words against the most High, and
shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to
change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time."(
Roman Church killed 50+ million of us, in those 1260 yeats) Also the Popes have changed the 10 commandments, God’s Law, and they
changed the “Time” of God’s Sabbath from the Seventh Day Sabbath, to a spurious Sabbath, > Sunday, another Lord’s Day. The UN-Holy Roman Church claims, that this change is the
“Mark, of her authority.” which we prophetical consider to be the, Mark of the Beast.
So, Yeah ! You are right, there wasn’t a Papacy, OFFICIALLY, until 538 ad, which lasted for 1260 years, Daniel 7 = “and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time". This period is interpreted as 1260 years, based on the day-year principle, where a "time" equals a year in prophecy.”
Roman / Church Empire - Read Daniel 7:23-26
The Roman Emperor enabled the Bishop of Rome to exercise greater authority following Justinian's decree of 533 AD, which recognized the Pope's supremacy over the Church.
The year 538 AD is also noted for the
transition of the Roman Empire from a pagan to a Christian entity, with Justinian's shift from a military leader to a theologian, which further solidified the Church's influence. This period saw the Church's growing power, as the Byzantine Empire's military successes, including the defeat of the Ostrogoths, eliminated opposition to the Pope's authority.
Additionally, the year 538 AD is significant in religious contexts, as it is cited as the beginning of a 1260-year period during which the papacy had Religious / State dominance, according to interpretations of biblical prophecy.
1260 years from 538 ad takes it to the year, 1798,
in 1798, French troops under General Louis-Alexandre Berthier captured the Pope and removed the Papacy from power. Which is;
=> Bible prophecy => Rev 13:3 ~~
“And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.” Many scholars understand that the Papacies “
deadly wound” was healed in 1929 with
Benito Mussolini, Lateran Treaty reinstating the Catholic Church in Roman, officially establishing the Vatican as a Church/ State, AGAIN
(Deadly wound healed) =>The Church & State union, that we protestants have been protesting for over 500 years. You can look out your front door and see the Deadly wound has been healed and the whole world is “
wondering after the beast”
She is
"the moral authority of the world," according to
Catholic President Joe Bidon. (
New World Order Joe) They killed Catholic Prez John F Kennedy, for not going along with what the Papacy wanted .. Listen to JFK’s
"Freedom from Secret Societies" speech, where He talks about not going along with ,
"dictates of prelates"
(Vatican) = what they wanted. The assassination was orchestrated by the Jesuit's who where controlling the CIA at the time.
That is the last 2000 years, since Christ, ascension, condensed, to just SOME historical / prophetic high points. Enough to make a Christ
BELIEVERS out of US. This whole 2000 yr history, is presented in
Symbols and Signs in
The Book of Revelation, fulfilling Daniel's prophecies, presenting our Lord / King, Jesus, (The Head) and His Church ( the body). The relationship between Jesus and us, and our interaction with the Beast powers, Babylon, The Dragon, and the False Prophets, making war with, we, the saints, until Christ's SOON Return. Maranatha Dear Lord.