The Healing of the Antichrist's Deadly Wound Explained

The healing of the Antichrist's deadly wound began in 1800 with the election of a new pope and the restoration of his temporal domains, a process that continues today to unify global support under papal policyDAR1909 160.1+1.

The Timing of the Healing

The restoration of the papacy occurred in stages following the catastrophic events of the late 18th century:

• Initial Recovery (1800–1815): After Pope Pius VI died in exile in 1799, a new pope was elected in 1800, and his palace and temporal powers were largely restoredDAR1909 160.1+1. By 1815, after the fall of Napoleon, the allied powers reinstated the pope in his ancient domain with both civil and ecclesiastical powerARSH August 5, 1851, page 3.29.

• A Gradual Process: While the wound was "slightly healed" by the restoration of civil authority over small territories, the papacy has continued to gradually regain influence and prestige throughout the 19th and 20th centuriesDAR1909 160.1+1.

• Contemporary Prominence: Today, the wound is in a visible state of healing as the world "wonders after the beast," with Protestant and secular powers increasingly showing respect to papal authority Revelation 13:3FEE 162.1+1.

The Reason for the Healing

The healing occurs to fulfill divine prophecy and to establish a final deceptive power structure on earth:

• Restoration of Political Power: The deadly wound originally stripped the papacy of its political and civil elements; therefore, the healing represents the restoration of this political influence to the religious churchEVRR629.

• Global Worship and Deception: The healing allows the papacy to regain its position as a world power so that "all that dwell upon the earth" will eventually worship it Revelation 13:8EVRR444+1.

• The Role of the Second Beast: A second power, symbolized by a lamb-like beast, arises to facilitate this healing by persuading the world to make an "image to the beast" and honor the first beast whose wound was healed Revelation 13:12-14EVRR444+1.

• Religious Uniformity: This restoration serves Satan’s goal to lead the world into a confederacy that honors human enactments, such as Sunday worship, over the law of GodTM 36.2+1.

The Scriptural Context

The Bible describes this event as a marvelous recovery that captures the attention of the entire world:

• "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" Revelation 13:3.

• This power is characterized by its return to life, eventually becoming an "eighth" phase that is "of the seven" heads Revelation 17:11EVRR629.

• The ultimate aim of this healed power is to make war with the Lamb, who will eventually overcome all earthly opposition Revelation 17:14RH November 29, 1892, par. 4.