Ellen White’s writings strongly associate the papacy (the system of the Roman Catholic Church, led by the pope) with the prophetic symbols of the “antichrist,” “man of sin,” and “beast” in the Bible, especially in the books of Daniel and Revelation. She references Martin Luther’s statement that “the pope is antichrist,” identifies the papal power as the “beast” of Revelation 13:1-10, and equates the papacy with the “man of sin” in 2 Thessalonians 2 and the “little horn” in Daniel 7:25.
However, it is important to note that Ellen White’s identification is with the papal system as a prophetic power, not with individual popes as persons. Her focus is on the institution and its role in prophecy, not on personal condemnation.
References:
- “I know now that the pope is antichrist, and that his throne is that of Satan himself.” (The Great Controversy, 141.3; Spirit of Prophecy, 117.3; The Great Controversy 1888, 141.2)
- “The beast of Revelation 13:1-10 is understood to refer to the papal power. This has been the general opinion of Protestants.” (Spirit of Prophecy, 502.1)
- “The special characteristic of the beast, and therefore of his image, is the breaking of God's commandments. Says Daniel, of the little horn, the papacy: ‘He shall think to change times and the law.’ Daniel 7:25, R.V. And Paul styled the same power the ‘man of sin,’ who was to exalt himself above God.” (The Great Controversy, 446.1; The Great Controversy 1888, 446.1)
- “The papacy is just what prophecy declared that she would be, the apostasy of the latter times.” (The Great Controversy, 571.2)
- “In both the Old and the New World, the papacy will receive homage in the honor paid to the Sunday institution, that rests solely upon the authority of the Roman Church.” (The Great Controversy, 578.3; The Great Controversy 1888, 578.3)