Extinction of Religion Forecast for New Zealand, Australia, Austria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Switzerland?

White Horseman Related to “Antichrist”

A new report that has looked into religion forecasts that it will become extinct in many countries:

Religion set for extinction in NZ, says US study

5:28 PM Tuesday Mar 22, 2011

A study using census data from New Zealand and eight other countries suggests religion is set for extinction in all these nations, researchers say…

The American research used “nonlinear dynamics” put a numerical basis behind the decline of religion as seen in census data from New Zealand, Australia, Austria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.

“The result, reported at the American Physical Society meeting in Dallas, US, indicates that religion will all but die out altogether in those countries,” the BBC reported today. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10714235

While religion is on the decline in many lands, it will not become extinct. Researchers apparently have overlooked the Bible as it teaches that a false religion will rise up and be at least partially accepted all around the world:

3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. 4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”

5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. 6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. 7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:3-8, NKJV)

So, according to the Bible, there will be two types of people in the end, those who worship the Beast and those whose names are written in the Book of Life. Hence, despite what some American researchers have concluded, religion will not become extinct. On the other hand, some of the countries mentioned themselves will become “extinct” as Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, as descendants of Ephraim, will relatively soon be taken over and eliminated.

But prior to that, an ecumenical religion will rise up and start to take over more and more lands.

The Book of Revelation tells of a time that the first seal will be opened by Jesus. Notice what happens:

1 Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” 2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. (Revelation 6:1-2)

In 1976, the old WCG taught:

In the book of Revelation we find a disturbing vision of four fearsome horsemen (Rev. 6:1-8). Each of these horsemen is a symbol of the four major punishments to be inflicted upon a rebellious mankind — probably in the not-too-distant future! (Ritter G. The First Horse, False Religion. WCG booklet, 1976).

LCG’s Dr. Meredith taught:

Rome’s constant promotion of the ecumenical movement—encouraging her wayward daughters to “come home”— will also resonate with increasing urgency throughout Europe and even here in North America. It is time for all Bible-believing Christians to WAKE UP! A MASSIVE religious/political union is now in the making in Europe.(Meredith RC. Is the —Beast— Awakening?, Tomorrow’s World, Sep-Oct 2000)

The relentless pressure of the ecumenical movement will also intensify.

The Great Mother Church will be calling with increasing fervor for her daughters to come “home.” Within the next several years, the “second” Beast of Revelation 13 will appear on the scene. We read of this man in Revelation 13:11–14: “Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.” This coming powerful religious leader will look like a “lamb.” In Revelation 14 we see that Christ is described as the “Lamb.” So this coming religious leader will appear to be like Christ! But, John writes, he “spoke like a dragon.” (Meredith RC. Who or What Is—The Antichrist? LCG booklet, March 2008)

…even many evangelical Christians—and their ministers—will eventually be caught up in the euphoria of this powerful Babylonish system! For it will be part of the “ecumenical movement.” It will seem like “the thing to do.”(Meredith RC. The Two Babylons. Tomorrow’s World, May-June 2004)

LCG’s Richard Ames taught:

Some commentaries wrongly interpret the first seal to mean that Christianity will evangelize the world and conquer it spiritually. But when we examine Christ’s words in Matthew, we come to a very different conclusion. Jesus warns his followers: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many” (Matthew 24:4). Compare this to Revelation 6 and we can see that the first horse and its rider represent FALSE Christs and FALSE religion. (Ames R. Mystery of Revelation. Tomorrow’s World, Jul-Sep 1999).

LCG’s Dr. Winnail taught:

The Roman Church is leading an “ecumenical” drive to bring all professing-Christian churches together under one umbrella, even though it has made clear that it considers itself the one true Church (see Isaiah 47:1–8). The Roman Church is promoting a united Europe, in which it can regain the prominent role it played in the “Holy Roman Empire.”…

The history of medieval Europe sheds light on how a deceptive and militant false form of Christianity will operate when the first horseman of the Apocalypse begins his ride. We are watching these prophecies come alive today! (Winnail D. The Mysterious First Horseman. Tomorrow’s World, Nov-Dec 2004)

Two of the most significant events in the last 2,000 years of religious history were the Great Schism and the Reformation. In 1054ad, church leaders in Rome and Constantinople mutually excommunicated each other over doctrinal differences, creating the Great Schism that has separated the western Roman Catholic Church from the Eastern Orthodox Church for almost a thousand years. The 15th century saw the birth of the Protestant Reformation… Many ecumenically minded church leaders believe that the Holy Spirit is leading them toward greater unity. (Winnail D. A Return to Rome? Tomorrow’s World, Nov-Dec 2008).

There have been many interesting ecumenical developments since the Feast of Trumpets in 2009.

In September 2009, the Eastern Orthodox held a significant pan-Orthodox conference; working towards unity was one of the objectives (World Council of Churches Inter-Orthodox Preparatory Consultation Towards the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation (IEPC) Leros, Greece. 15-22 September 2009). By itself, the meeting does not seem like too much, but it was partially in response to the World Council of Churches and later Orthodox developments suggest that it might have been important.

On October 15, 2009, the Vatican’s then top ecumenical official reported:

The official dialogue between the Catholic Church and the mainline Protestant Churches — Anglican, Lutheran, Reformed and Methodist — is entering a new phase, says the president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. Cardinal Walter Kasper pointed this out Thursday during a press conference at the Vatican…(Cardinal Kasper on 40 Years of Dialogue Says Catholic-Protestant Relations Entering New Phase. Zenit, October 16, 2009)

Notice this was called “a new phase” in the official dialogue, suggesting that major changes were occurring. On the next day, the Vatican and the Orthodox began a new round of ecumenical negotiations.

The eleventh meeting of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church took place in Paphos, Cyprus, a city with a rich history, having received three Apostles, Paul, Barnabas and Mark. The meeting took place from 16-23 October 2009…The Orthodox meeting discussed among other things the negative reactions to the Dialogue by certain Orthodox circles, and unanimously considered them as totally unfounded and unacceptable, providing false and misleading information. (Comminique. JOINT INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION FOR THEOLOGICAL DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH AND THE ORTHODOX CHURCH. 11TH PLENARY SESSION.Paphos, Cyprus, 16-23 October 2009. Paphos, Cyprus, 22 October 2009. http://www.ec-patr.org/docdisplay.php?lang=en&id=1124&tla=en).

The International Mixed Commission for Theological Dialogue Between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church has progressed in its reflection on the role of the bishop of Rome. The meeting was attended by 20 Catholic members; all Orthodox Churches were represented, with the exception of the Patriarchate of Bulgaria. The commission worked under the guidance of two co-presidents: the Catholic representative was Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity; and the Orthodox representative was Metropolitan Ioannis Zizioulas of Pergamum. (Orthodox-Catholic Commission Studies Primacy of Peter Concludes 11th Plenary Session in Paphos. Zenit, October 23, 2009)

As reported here previously, I personally was told when I was in Istanbul in May of 2008 at the office of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, that the Vatican stated that it would compromise doctrine to attain unity with the Orthodox. The Vatican basically wants the Orthodox to bend on the primacy of Peter/Rome issue, as it is willing change on most of the rest of the doctrinal differences. So, it is interestingly that both groups had a major meeting on the “primacy of Peter” subject.

On October 20, 2009, the Vatican announced that it would amend its constitution to allow for the change to allow the Anglicans to be in communion with Rome–without the Anglicans really having to do much of anything. Obviously, the decision was made prior to this formal announcement. The timing of this seems to have been meant to send a signal to the Eastern Orthodox that if they want something like was offered to the Anglicans, Rome would also offer them unity while allowing their priests to be married, and without changes to their liturgy.

This decision to amend the Vatican’s constitution to allow for the Anglicans would have involved many Catholic leaders, and one of them might become the False Prophet (the final Antichrist). This Vatican announcement allowed married Anglican priests to remain married and still be part of the clergy. This is something that the Eastern Orthodox would also likely insist upon to end its “schism” with Rome.

Interestingly, even the Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill started to sound “ecumenical” in later 2009. Yet, then Metropolitan Kirill was so opposed to unity with the Vatican, that a few days prior to his election to his current post in January 2009, he publicly stated “there is no room for compromise” with the Vatican. However, by mid-November 2009, he apparently changed his mind (Cooper R. Russian Orthodox and Catholic church may end 950-year rift. Telegraph, November 13, 2009).

In February 2010, leaders of the Ecumenical Lutherans had a:

“2010 Ecumenical Journey,” and…visited Anglican, Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic world leaders…In its 22-year history, the ELCA has established full communion relationships with the Episcopal Church, the Moravian Church, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Reformed Church in America, the United Church of Christ, and most recently the United Methodist Church. (ELCA Delegation, Roman Catholic Ecumenists, Discuss Future Vision. ECLA News Service, February 14, 2010)

The Lutheran leaders met with the Vatican and others in that “ecumenical journey”.

Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople (who has a certain primacy among the “sees” of the Eastern Orthodox) even came out in an encyclical and publicly warned against those who would oppose Vatican-Orthodox unity in late February 2010 (Patriarch of Constantinople’s new encyclical defends Catholic-Orthodox dialogue. Catholic News Agency, February 20, 2010).

In May 2010, a meeting between the leaders of the somewhat estranged Eastern and Russian Orthodox (Kishkovsky S. Orthodox leaders meet to heal a rift. New York Times, May 24, 1010.). The top two leaders of this group, however, have long had a personal working relationship, prior to being elevated to their current positions (Lipich O. The visit of Patriarch Bartholomew to Russia is intended to strengthen intra-Orthodox ties. Voice of Russia, May 22, 2010). Ecumenism is blooming amongst the Orthodox (though there will likely be some problems).

Behind the scenes in early February 2010, a Catholic Bishop from the German-speaking portion of Switzerland, by the name of Kurt Koch, privately accepted Pope Benedict XVI’s offer to be president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. This was not publicly announced until July 1, 2010.

About his appointment, Catholic Archbishop (and now Cardinal) Kurt Koch himself stated:

The Holy Father told me in February, in a personal audience, his desire that I would begin to lead this council. It is a great joy for me because ecumenism has always been in my heart since in my country, Switzerland, Protestants are very close to us and I have also had a particular interest in the Orthodox Churches…

The Holy Father has done much. In the first homily after his election he said openly that ecumenism is a challenge that comes from Jesus Christ and that, at this time dialogue finds good foundations in the documents of the Second Vatican Council.

In pastoral journeys he has always dedicated a part to ecumenism. Let us consider for example the trip to England, which will take place in September. It won’t be easy because the Anglicans’ situation isn’t easy. It’s said that Benedict XVI wishes especially to foster ecumenical dialogue with the Orthodox. For me it is impressive.

The Holy Father has asked me to do this work and an element that he has stressed much is that he wants a bishop who knows the churches of the Reformation not only in books but by personal experience. This tells us how close the Holy Father is to the churches of the Reformation. (Why a Swiss Bishop for the Unity Council. Zenit, July 13, 2010. http://www.zenit.org/article-29881?l=english)

Notice that Kurt Koch has his new position to get the Protestants (”the churches of the Reformation”) and the Eastern Orthodox to be part of an ecumenical deal (though he differs from Pontiff Benedict by calling the Protestant groups ”churches”). This is ecumenical plan is consistent with biblical, Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox prophecies. And while he will likely have issues this month with many of the Anglicans in the UK, he and the pontiff plan to move ahead with their ecumenical agenda.

The Catholics and Orthodox are being portrayed as “Europe’s Brothers”:

High-ranking representatives of the Catholic and Russian Orthodox Churches embraced on Monday in a moment reflecting a will for unity between the two Churches.

A photo of the embrace between Cardinal Peter Erdo and Metropolitan Filaret was printed with the title “Europe’s Brothers.”

…The Catholic and Russian Orthodox Churches are already united in their common stance on many issues affecting Europe… (Catholic, Russian Orthodox Churches Embrace: Cardinal and Metropolitan Show Will for Unity at Rimini Meeting. Zenit, August 24, 2010)

Last week (March 16, 2011), Cardinal Koch was in Russia meeting with Orthodox Patriarch Kirill on matters of ecumenical unity (see Vatican’s Cardinal Koch Meets Russian Orthodox’s Patriarch Kirill). He also met with other Orthodox leaders in Russia.

Thus, the idea of unity is becoming more and more public.

Perhaps I should state that the Eastern Orthodox have long believed that they will get the Vatican to change. Notice what my “2012” book reports:

The Orthodox have long taught that the Church of Rome (known sometimes as Latins) will change doctrines to those of the Orthodox. A document known as the Anonymou Prophecy of 1053 refers to this as the “Deferring of the Latins to the error-free faith of the Orthodox.”

Unity has long been both a Vatican and Eastern Orthodox goal. However until recently, it seemed more of a longing than something anyone would try to resolve. But now, that is changing.

The old WCG (Ritter G. The First Horse, False Religion. WCG booklet, 1976) and the current LCG recognize that the four riders in Revelation 6 are in the same order as the first four events Jesus listed as part of the “beginning of sorrows” in Matthew 24. Partially because of this, we understand that the rider of the first horse represents a deceiving religion that claims that Jesus is the Christ (e.g. Matthew 24:5; Revelation 6:3). Since the Bible, in several places, suggests a world-encompassing religion (Isaiah 47:6-9; Revelation 13:3-4; 13:12-17; 17:17-18; cf. Daniel 11:37-39), some type of ecumenical meetings likely need to take place before “ecumenical unity” is attained.

Ecumenical Council?

On February 21, 2010, after blasting critics of Roman Catholic-Eastern Orthodox unity as “fanatical”, Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople stated that:

“union between the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches…is not decided by theological commissions but by Church Synods” (Bartholomew I. Patriarchal and Synodal Encyclical on the Sunday of Orthodoxy. Prot. No. 213, February 21, 2010. http://www.ec-patr.org/docdisplay.php?lang=en&id=1168&tla=en). This is actually a hint that Bartholomew I expects an ecumenical synod, or what some in the Orthodox world have called the 8th synod or ecumenical council (the Orthodox accept seven councils as authoritative and ecumenical).

But he neglected to pointed out that theological commissions seem to be the vehicle that leads to synods. And that he likely expects such a synod. Interestingly, there is an old Orthodox prophecy and a Roman Catholic one, that Patriarch Bartholomew I should be aware of, which tells of a coming ecumenical synod/council:

Saint Nelios the Myrrh-Gusher (died 1592): During that time the Eighth and last Ecumenical Synod will take place, which will satisfy the contentions of the heretics…(Tzima Otto, Great Monarch and WWIII, Verenikia Press, Rock Hill (SC), 2000, p. 111)

Venerable Bartholomew Holzhauser (Born in the 17th century, in Germany): There will be an ecumenical council which will be the greatest of all councils. By the grace of God, by the power of the Great Monarch, and by the authority of the Holy Pontiff, and by the union of the most devout princes, atheism and every heresy will be banished from the earth. The Council will…be believed and accepted by everyone (Dupont, Yves. Catholic Prophecy: The Coming Chastisement. TAN Books, Rockford (IL), 1973, p. 40).

This “synod” should not be looked forward to, but feared. By satisfying “heretics”, clearly this council compromises and changes the religion, which will be called “Catholic”.

A Catholic prophecy shows that after its church is changed (reformed below), the Orthodox will come back:

Roger Bacon (died 1294): There shall arise a…priest to reform the Church. The Greeks will return (to the Church)…there will be one fold, one shepherd. (Culleton, The Prophets and Our Times, p. 149)

Also notice the following warning from a Catholic nun:

Anna-Katarina Emmerick (October 1, 1820): The Church is in great danger…The Protestant doctrine and that of the schismatic Greeks are to spread everywhere. I now see that in this place (Rome) the (Catholic) Church is being so cleverly undermined, that there hardly remain a hundred or so priests who have not been deceived. They all work for the destruction, even the clergy. A great destruction is now at hand…

(April 22, 1823): I saw that many pastors allowed themselves to be taken up with ideas that were dangerous to the Church. They were building a great, strange, and extravagant Church. Everyone was admitted in it in order to be united and to have equal rights: Evangelicals, Catholics, sects of every description. Such was to be the new Church (Dupont, pp. 66, 71).

Various events around the globe suggest that people of many faiths are getting to the point where they are likely to accept some type of ecumenical religion.

Notice carefully the following Catholic prophecy:

Frederick William Faber (died 1863):…Antichrist…Many believe in a demonical incarnation—this will not be so—but he will be utterly possessed…His doctrine as apparent contradiction of no religion, yet a new religion…He has an attending pontiff, so separating regal and prophetic office (Edward. Prophecy for Today. Imprimatur + A.J. Willinger, Bishop of Monterey-Fresno; Reprint: Tan Books and Publishers, Rockford (IL), 1984, p. 87).

That prophecy, which is in a book with an official imprimatur from a Catholic bishop (as well as others), suggests that there soon may be a change to the “Catholic” religion that will make it the religion of the final Antichrist.

This change will not seem to be a contradiction, but it will be a new religion—like a new order within the Catholic religion.

Speaking of the end times, Jesus warned:

… they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake (Luke 21:12).

All (Catholic or otherwise) should be careful, compare their teachings with the Bible, pray to God, and not accept doctrines that are unbiblical for the sake of this coming ecumenical unity.

Anyway, despite what some researchers have concluded, religion will not become extinct. A false religion will rise up that will deceive nearly all in the world. Persecution from the false ecumenical religion that is developing will affect the faithful. And both of these are predicted in your Bible.

Those who wish to learn why the ecumenical discussions are dangerous may wish to read the following articles:

Why Should American Catholics Should Fear Unity with the Orthodox? Are the current ecumenical meetings a good thing or will they result in disaster?
Orthodox Must Reject Unity with the Roman Catholics The talks for unification involve compromise and the apparent rising up of a changed religion that no one should accept.
Catholic Prophecies: Do They Mirror, Highlight, or Contradict Biblical Prophecies? People of all faiths may be surprised to see what various Roman and Orthodox Catholic prophets have been predicting as many of their predictions will be looked to in the 21st century.
Persecutions by Church and State This article documents some that have occurred against those associated with the COGs and some prophesied to occur. Will those with the cross be the persecutors or the persecuted–this article has the shocking answer.
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States?
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe?
2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect This is a link related to a book by Bob Thiel (COGwriter). This link also has YouTube videos. This book documents and explains hundreds of prophecies. And since it was published, world events have aligned with at least 15 predictions in the book and many more will to come to pass. It discusses the coming ecumenical religion and who the faithful will be.
2012 y el surgimiento de la secta secreta 2012 libro del Dr. Thiel en Español.
2012 und das Auftreten der geheimen Sekte (German Edition) 2012 Buch von Dr. Thiel in deutscher Sprache.
2012 e o Surgimento da Seita Secreta (Portuguese Edition) 2012 livro do Dr. Thiel em Português. Este livro documenta e explica centenas de profecias. E desde que foi publicado pela primeira vez, pelo menos 14 já começaram a acontecer.