That “man of sin,” “son of perdition,” or, as in Rotherham’s translation, “man of lawlessness,” and “son of destruction,” is what arose and obscured the sunlight. This epithet is given to Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of Christ, in John 17:12, this “man of sin” is a betrayer of Christ and his pure doctrine. This “man of lawlessness,” no doubt, has reference directly to the pope of Rome as the prime factor in the apostasy; but in its broadest sense it includes the whole of the beast religion, both Romanism and Protestantism. This “man of sin” is a manism, or a power under the government of man, and is identical with the beast power of Rev. 13. This “son of destruction” “opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God.” He opposes or denies, and perverts the doctrines of God that are not congenial to his desires. He denies in a measure the divine authority, and forms creeds and laws for the government of God’s people, thus arrogating to himself what properly belongs to God. They take upon themselves such titles as “Father,” “Holy Father,” “Vicegerent of the Son of God,” “Doctor of Divinity,” “Reverend,” etc. These are titles or distinctions belonging to God only. “Call no man your Father,” is the command of Jesus; and, “Be ye not called Rabbi.” Vicegerent is one acting in the place of another. The pope’s claim was that God had ceased to reign and had delegated all power unto himself—the power to forgive sins and to grant indulgences. An indulgence is an act of the Roman pontiff, wherein men by making certain vows and paying certain sums of money receive pardon of their sins. By the payment of certain amounts they can commit most any crime and their purchased indulgence absolves them from guilt. The Price Of Pardon. Below we will give an extract from page 263 of “The Master Key to Popery,” by Anthony Gavin, formerly one of the Roman Catholic priests at Saragossa, Spain. He says: According to a book called the “Tax of the Roman Chancery,” in which are contained the exact sums levied for pardon of each particular sin, we find some of the fees to be thus: Robbing a church $ 2.25. Simony 2.25. Perjury 2.00. Forgery and lying 2.00. Robbery 3.00. Burning a house 2.75. Eating meat in Lent 2.75. Killing a layman 1.75. Striking a priest 2.75. Procuring abortion 1.50. Priest to keep a concubine 2.25. Ravishing a virgin 2.00. Murder of father, mother, brother, 2.50. sister or wife Nun for fornication in or out of 5.00. the nunnery Marrying on a day forbidden 10.00. Adultery committed by a priest with 10.00. nuns and others Absolution of all crimes together 12.00.