What event do you think holds the record for the fastest ever sell out of Belgiums national stadium? Perhaps a match with the Belgium national football team? Maybe another sporting event? Perhaps one of the many global pop stars who have performed concerts there? Its none of these.

The record was broken this week. An event sold out all 50,000 seats in under 90 mins.

What was the event?

Pope Francis' beatification mass in Belgium which will be held on September 29.

With this news we are once again reminded of the immense influence the Roman Catholic Church continues to wield in the modern world - especially in central Europe. The event, held in Brussels' national stadium, is one more in a long series of high-profile religious ceremonies that stand in stark contrast to the teachings of Scripture and provide a timely illustration of Bible prophecy.

The Man of Sin

The prophecy concerning the "Man of Sin" in 2 Thessalonians 2 comes sharply into focus. Paul, moved by God’s Holy Spirit power, writing to the believers in Thessalonica, foretold of a great apostasy and the revelation of "that man of sin, the son of perdition" (2 Thessalonians 2:3). This individual, described as one who “opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God" (v.4), is  a prophecy of the papal system.

In 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, the apostle Paul warns the believers of a "falling away" and the manifestation of the "Man of Sin" before Jesus would return to the earth.

The passage reads:
"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

This "Man of Sin" is a system of apostasy that developed during the time of the apostles and lead to the formation of a system that continued down through time to our day - and it will exist beyond our day.

We see this because:
v7 “the mystery of iniquity doth already work” - e.g. it existed within the early Christian community at the time the epistle to the Thessalonians was being written
v8 “then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:” - e.g. the system will exist at the time of Christs return.

The man of sin system exalts itself, claiming divine authority and power that rightly belongs only to God.  

One news outlet records that “In Belgium, a constitutional monarchy, the pope will greet King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, and have time with Prime Minister Alexander De Croo. He will also have meetings with professors and students at the country’s two Catholic universities and with Catholic clergy and religious.”

No other religious leader, whose history can be traced back to the 1st century, has such power and access as the Papacy enjoys.

The rise of the papacy, with its doctrines that contradict the Bible, such as papal infallibility, the veneration of saints, and the beatification process, fulfils the prophecy of a religious system that exalts itself above all that is called God.

Pope Francesi Belgium Mass
One of the things the Pope plans to do in September at Brussels national stadium is to begin the process of making a saint.

One news outlet states: “During the Mass, Pope Francis will beatify Carmelite Sister Ana de Jesús, a spiritual daughter of St. Teresa of Ávila and a friend to St. John of the Cross.”

The beatification of individuals by the Catholic Church, which supposedly raises them to a special status of "saint," is a prime example of the apostasy we are warned about in the Bible.

The Church’s claim to the authority of determining who is worthy of such a status is contrary to the teaching of the Scriptures, where sainthood is not a posthumous title conferred by ecclesiastical decree but a status given to all believers.

The Unscriptural Doctrine of Beatification

The practice of beatification and canonization has no foundation in the Bible. Instead, Scripture teaches that all belivers in the gospel and faithful followers of Christ are saints, regardless of whether they are recognized by the Papacy or not. 

In the epistles of scripture, the penmen consistently address the entire body of believers as "saints":
"To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints..." (Romans 1:7)

In Christ, all who are baptized into His name and live faithfully are regarded as "holy ones" or saints, and there is no scriptural distinction that elevates certain individuals to a special class of sainthood after death.

The Catholic practice of beatification, with its associated miracles and prayers to the deceased, is rooted in pagan practices and not in the teachings of Christ or His apostles.

Religious Apostasy in Our Time

The fervor surrounding Pope Francis’ upcoming mass highlights the enduring influence of the Catholic Church, even in an increasingly secular world. This event is more than a religious celebration—it is a demonstration of the power of a system that has, for centuries, led many away from the simplicity of the gospel.

The crowds flocking to the beatification mass in Belgium are, unfortunately, participating in a ritual that perpetuates falsehoods about the nature of salvation and the afterlife. The idea that certain individuals can intercede for others or be venerated posthumously detracts from the mediatorial role of Christ, the only true mediator (1 Timothy 2:5).

Paul’s inspired warning about the "Man of Sin" sitting in the temple of God, showing himself to be God, resonates strongly when we observe events like this. The papacy claims divine prerogatives, issuing decrees about sainthood and directing the worship of the masses in ways that detract from the worship of God alone. The Catholic Church, in exalting the Pope and saints, fulfils Paul’s description of a religious system that sets itself above God’s word.

The Hope of Christ’s Return
As students of Bible prophecy, we recognize that the rise of the "Man of Sin" is not an end in itself, but a sign that the return of Christ is near. The establishment of such a system of apostasy is a prelude to the ultimate revelation of Christ in glory, who will destroy the system of falsehood with the brightness of His coming (2 Thessalonians 2:8).

The apostle Paul exhorts us to be watchful and discerning in these last days. While the world continues to be drawn into the deception of false religion, we must remain rooted in the truth of God’s word, eagerly awaiting the return of our Lord, when the systems of men will be destroyed, and God’s kingdom will be established on earth.

Let us take comfort in the knowledge that though the "Man of Sin" has been revealed, his time is short. Christ will soon return to establish His righteous reign and to glorify the true saints—those who have faithfully followed Him, not according to the doctrines of men, but according to the eternal truth of God’s word.

Psalm 118:8-9 says this:
“It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.”

This has been Matt Davies joining you. Come back next week for another Bible in the News.