ANSWER: No! The “abomination of desolation” and the “beast” in Revelation thirteen have reference solely to the Roman Empire, just as in the book of Daniel. Through Matthew 24:36, Jesus his foretelling of the destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman Empire. Notice that the events foretold by Christ in these verses were to happen during the lifetime (generation) of the people who were alive at that time. All of this came to pass in 70AD, over nineteen hundred years ago. From Matthew 24:36 through Matthew 25:46, Jesus is discussing the end of the world and the final Judgment.

In Revelation thirteen, John is discussing the great persecution by the Roman Empire being brought upon Christian at that time (after the destruction of Jerusalem ) and which would continue into the future. This could not have reference to Pope Paul, or any other Pope, since the first Pope, as we know him today, was not seated until 606AD. Since there was no Pope at the time of the writing of the book of Revelation (about 96AD), nor was there any for the next five hundred years, the suggestion that reference in this passage is to him is without scripture or logic!