Poster for 500th Reformation Anniversary Reconciliation
By COGwriter
What is going on in the Protestant world? Are Protestants turning back to their 'mother church' in Rome? Does the Bible warn about something like this? What are some Catholic plans and prophecies related to this? Is Protestantism doomed?
Since the Continuing Church of God is not Protestant (see Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God differ from most Protestants), why bother with any of this?
Well the messages in the Bible are to be taken to all people (Matthew 28:19-20; Revelation 22:9-10), and since there are a couple of hundred million, at least nominal Protestants, they should to be told what is and what will affect them! Two videos of related interest would be: Charismatic Kenneth Copeland and Anglican Tony Palmer: Protestants Beware! and Should you be concerned about the ecumenical movement?
Growing up Roman Catholic, I remember the words to a hymn that went something like the following (which is from my memory):
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord. We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord. And we pray that our unity may one day be restored.
The prayer that the song makes reference to basically is for the non-Catholic faiths to accept the authority of the Vatican and cease to be separate from Rome. Specifically, the Eastern Orthodox and Protestant faiths, but also including others as well. I remember singing that hymn in the late 1960s. That was after Vatican II. Vatican II was a conference that seemed to awaken many in the Roman Catholic Church to attempt to work towards overcoming theological divides between Rome and others.
Wikipedia had the following synposis about the ecumenical movement:
One understanding of the ecumenical movement is that it came from the Roman Catholic Church's attempts to reconcile with Christians who had become separated over theological issues. Others see the 1910 World Missionary Conference as the birthplace of the ecumenical movement. Others yet point to the 1920 encyclical of the Ecumenical Patriarch Germanos of Constantinople “To the Churches of Christ Everywhere” that suggested a "fellowship of churches" similar to the League of Nations.
After World War I, which had brought much devastation to many people, the church became a source of hope to those in need. In 1948 the first meeting of the World Council of Churches took place. Despite the fact that the meeting had been postponed due to World War II, the council took place in Amsterdam with the theme of “Man’s Disorder and God’s Design”.
The focus of the church and the council following the gathering was on the damage created by the Second World War. The council and the movement went forward to continue the efforts of unity the church globally around the idea of helping all those in need whether it be a physical, emotional, or spiritual need. The movement led to an understanding amongst the churches that despite difference they could join together to be an element of great change in the world. To be an agent of hope and peace amongst the chaos and destruction that humans seem to create. More importantly the council and the movement lead to not only ecumenism but to the forming of councils amongst the denominations that connected churches across continental lines.
Today, the World Council of Churches sees its role as sharing "the legacy of the one ecumenical movement and the responsibility to keep it alive" and acting "as a trustee for the inner coherence of the movement". (Ecumenism. Wikipedia, viewed 02/27/14)
While other items could be added (and Vatican II is conspiciously missing), the reality is that the ecumenical movement is having major effects and impacts. The Church of Rome, while not originally officially part of the World Council of Churches, now strongly supports it (watch also World Council of Churches Peace Plan):
June 24, 2015
Pope Francis says that dialogue with the World Council of Churches that began 50 years ago "must continue" despite divisions that inhibit Christian unity.The Joint Working Group is an ecumenical legacy of improved relations among churches growing from the Second Vatican Council under and it began in 1965. ...
Pope Francis wrote a 50th anniversary message June 24 to Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the WCC, for ecumenical endeavors of the Joint Working Group of the world council and the Catholic Church.
"Reflecting on these past 50 years, we should be encouraged by the collaboration which the Joint Working Group has promoted, not only in ecumenical issues, but also in the areas of interreligious dialogue, peace and social justice, and works of charity and humanitarian aid," said Pope Francis in his message to Tveit. ...
Over the past 50 years, Roman Catholics have become full members of the Faith and Order Commission coordinated by the WCC.
They have provided staff in the WCC areas of evangelization and theological education and sent observer delegations to participate in WCC assemblies and other major conferences.
Reciprocal arrangements have been implemented, with active Orthodox and Protestant participation in Catholic forums.
"We must recognize, though, that in spite of the many ecumenical achievements of the past half century, Christian mission and witness still suffer due to our divisions.
"Disagreements on various subjects - in particular anthropological, ethical and social issues, as well as issues related to the understanding of the nature and conditions of the unity we seek - demand further sustained efforts," said Francis in his letter.
He turned to areas where more work on Christian unity is needed.
"Looking at the present state of the ecumenical landscape and the world at large, we have to confess that divisions among Christians are there, that we are not sharing the gifts of the Triune God and the fruits of the works of our hands through the holy Eucharistic fellowship."
While common purpose has been achieved between Roman Catholics and those in WCC member churches on baptism, the Roman Catholic Church does not allow shared Eucharist.
Involvement in other faiths used to be prohibited by Rome in canon 1258 of the 1917 Code of Canon Law:
But that changed after Vatican II, which had no corresponding canon. Now canon 1983 forbids Roman Catholic priests to concelebrate the Eucharist with members of communities which are not in full communion (canon 908), but allows, in certain circumstances and under certain conditions, other sharing in the sacraments. The Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism, 102 states: "Christians may be encouraged to share in spiritual activities and resources, i.e., to share that spiritual heritage they have in common in a manner and to a degree appropriate to their present divided state."
This was a major step by Rome to allow it to reach Protestants and others. As far as 'others' go, this includes atheists, Muslims, Hindus, etc., see Will the Interfaith Movement Lead to Peace or Sudden Destruction?
The Catholics have an office called the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. It is currently held by a former Swiss Bishop, now Cardinal, named Kurt Koch. He is supposed to have great insight with the "reformation" churches (meaning the Protestants) and also has held meetings with Eastern Orthodox leaders and others.
Over the past several decades, the Catholics have held a lot of ecumenical meetings. Other than important ones with the Eastern Orthodox and various Protestants, those involved with the Lutherans and Anglicans are more relevant to this article.
In terms of the Lutherans, two groundbreaking events of their ecumenical dialogue was a joint statement on the doctrine of Justification by Faith in 1983 and the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification (JDDJ) on October 31, 1999. Here is part of the Preamble to the JDDJ:
1.The doctrine of justification was of central importance for the Lutheran Reformation of the sixteenth century. It was held to be the "first and chief article"[1] and at the same time the "ruler and judge over all other Christian doctrines."[2] The doctrine of justification was particularly asserted and defended in its Reformation shape and special valuation over against the Roman Catholic Church and theology of that time, which in turn asserted and defended a doctrine of justification of a different character. From the Reformation perspective, justification was the crux of all the disputes. Doctrinal condemnations were put forward both in the Lutheran Confessions[3] and by the Roman Catholic Church's Council of Trent. These condemnations are still valid today and thus have a church-dividing effect.
2.For the Lutheran tradition, the doctrine of justification has retained its special status. Consequently it has also from the beginning occupied an important place in the official Lutheran-Roman Catholic dialogue.
3.Special attention should be drawn to the following reports: "The Gospel and the Church" (1972)[4] and "Church and Justification" (1994)[5] by the Lutheran-Roman Catholic Joint Commission, "Justification by Faith" (1983)[6] of the Lutheran-Roman Catholic dialogue in the USA and "The Condemnations of the Reformation Era - Do They Still Divide?" (1986)[7] by the Ecumenical Working Group of Protestant and Catholic theologians in Germany. Some of these dialogue reports have been officially received by the churches. An important example of such reception is the binding response of the United Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Germany to the "Condemnations" study, made in 1994 at the highest possible level of ecclesiastical recognition together with the other churches of the Evangelical Church in Germany.[8]
4.In their discussion of the doctrine of justification, all the dialogue reports as well as the responses show a high degree of agreement in their approaches and conclusions. The time has therefore come to take stock and to summarize the results of the dialogues on justification so that our churches may be informed about the overall results of this dialogue with the necessary accuracy and brevity, and thereby be enabled to make binding decisions.
5.The present Joint Declaration has this intention: namely, to show that on the basis of their dialogue the subscribing Lutheran churches and the Roman Catholic Church[9] are now able to articulate a common understanding of our justification by God's grace through faith in Christ. It does not cover all that either church teaches about justification; it does encompass a consensus on basic truths of the doctrine of justification and shows that the remaining differences in its explication are no longer the occasion for doctrinal condemnations.
[1] The Smalcald Articles, II,1; Book of Concord, 292. [2] "Rector et judex super omnia genera doctrinarum" Weimar Edition of Luther's Works (WA), 39,I,205. [3] It should be noted that some Lutheran churches include only the Augsburg Confession and Luther's Small Catechism among their binding confessions. These texts contain no condemnations about justification in relation to the Roman Catholic Church. [4] Report of the Joint Lutheran-Roman Catholic Study Commission, published in Growth in Agreement (New York; Geneva, 1984), pp. 168-189. [5] Published by the Lutheran World Federation (Geneva, 1994). [6] Lutheran and Catholics in Dialogue VII (Minneapolis, 1985). [7] Minneapolis, 1990. [8] "Gemeinsame Stellungnahme der Arnoldshainer Konferenz, der Vereinigten Kirche und des Deutschen Nationalkomitees des Lutherischen Weltbundes zum Dokument 'Lehrverurteilungen - kirchentrennend?'," Ökumenische Rundschau 44 (1995): 99-102; See also the position papers which underlie this resolution, in Lehrverurteilungen im Gespräch, Die ersten offiziellen Stellungnahmen aus den evangelischen Kirchen in Deutschland (Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1993). [9] The word "church" is used in this Declaration to reflect the self-understandings of the participating churches, without intending to resolve all the ecclesiological issues related to this term.
(JOINT DECLARATION ON THE DOCTRINE OF JUSTIFICATION by the Lutheran World Federation and the Catholic Church. http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/documents/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_31101999_cath-luth-joint-declaration_en.html viewed 02/27/14)
In the wake of the JDDJ of 1999, round XI, "The Hope for Eternal Life" is seen as a precursor leading up to a shared Lutheran/Roman Catholic commemoration of the October 31, 2017, 500th anniversary of Martin Luther's posting of his 95 Theses. It appears that the Church of Rome and many of the Lutherans wish to declare an end to much of the theological divides between the two groups.
Some feel that the above agreement has already effectively eliminated Protestantism and that Protestants and Catholics are now unified as the 'justification doctrine' is seen by many to have been amongst the most significantly theological differences between Roman Catholicism and Martin Luther's movement (as far as how the Protestants differ from the CCOG, check out the free book, online at: Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God differs from most Protestants).
In the 21st century, there were major strides towards moving towards acceptance of the Anglicans as well. On October 20, 2009, CNN reported that the Vatican announced that it would allow Anglicans (and American Episcopalians) to become part of the Church of Rome without having to change much of their practices and rituals (Messia H. and Hanna J. Vatican welcomes Anglicans into Catholic Church. CNN, October 20, 2009. http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/10/20/vatican.anglican.church/).
Yet this is in conflict with certain Catholic teachings. Pope Leo XIII declared in 1896, “ordinations carried out according to the Anglican rite have been, and are, absolutely null and utterly void” (Pope Leo XIII: On the Nullity of Anglican Orders, Apostolicae Curae, 1896. Modern History Sourcebook. http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1896leo13-apost.html)–which means for the Vatican to now accept those baptized, etc. by Anglican priests as Roman Catholic shows that compromise has occurred. The Vatican of the 21st century has since amended its constitution to accept the Anglicans.
On November 9, 2009, an Episcopal cleric explained how this would work and clearly stated that this allows for “the faculty to celebrate the Holy Eucharist and the other Sacraments … according to the liturgical books proper to the Anglican tradition” (Franklin. B. Vatican’s Apostolic Constitution explained. Episcopal Life Online, November 9, 2009. http://www.episcopal-life.org/80050_116538_ENG_HTM.htm).
That is not the only relatively recent compromise. In April 2014, Fouad Twal, the Patriarch of Jerusalem of the Latins, was interviewed by the pro-Vatican news agency Zenit. Notice one question and his answer:
ZENIT: Beginning, perhaps, with us Christians, how do you regard the Holy Father’s steps towards rapprochement with the Eastern Churches?
–Fouad Twal: One of our crosses here in the Holy Land is also the division of Christians. We have three great families, the Catholic, the Orthodox and the Reformers. We are thirteen Churches in total, each one with its own administration. Through our institutions, the Catholic Church has broken down these divisions, because we accept all Christians.
Before God and history, I feel responsible for the whole Christian community in the Holy Land, regardless of the rite. A rite can be richness, but it can never be a source of division. With the arrival of the Holy Father, who wishes to commemorate the meeting of 1964 (between Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras, ndr), I hope that this ecumenical movement will take on new life and hope. http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/may-jerusalem-be-the-capital-of-the-world
The position of many earlier pontiffs and bishops was that the Church of Rome did not accept all Christians, but only those who accepted the authority of the Roman pontiff. Rome is more and more adopting an ecumenical stance. A stance that many leaders in the Eastern Orthodox and Protestant churches like. Historically, the Church of Rome has tended to consider those in groups like the Continuing Church of God as apostates, and will do so in the future. It is those of the Greco-Roman persuasion that the current ecumenical movement considers to be ‘Christian,’ but the ecumenical movement errs in that as well (to learn more about the history of true Christianity, check out the free booklet: The Continuing History of the Church of God).
Much more ecumenical compromise is expected. But not just from the Church of Rome.
Rome has also been trying to reach Protestant leaders of various sorts, and with a certain amount of success. Notice, for example, something from an interview with Protestant author Dr. Alvin Plantinga by Zenit (a pro-Vatican news agency), in an article titled On a Catholic-Protestant Philosophical Alliance:
March 4, 2014
ZENIT: You've taught for nearly two decades at Notre Dame, one of America's foremost Catholic universities, and that, from within a Reformed (Calvinist) framework. This gives you a special vantage point from which to speak about the developments in ecumenism, at least those occurring within philosophy. Is there much dialogue of an ecumenical nature between Catholic and Protestant philosophers today, and if so, what are the most promising areas of dialogue between these two groups?
Where do philosophers from these two traditions differ most?
Plantinga: In philosophy, there isn't much debate or difference of opinion between Catholic and Protestant philosophers; differences between Catholicism and Protestantism don't show up much at the level of philosophy (although on the whole Catholic philosophers seem to hold a higher opinion of Thomas Aquinas than Protestant philosophers do). There is more debate, within each of those philosophical communities, between philosophers who are more or less conservative or orthodox and those who are more or less liberal. Conservative Protestants have more in common with conservative Catholics than with liberal Protestants; conservative Catholics have more in common with conservative Protestants than with liberal Catholics...
I follow Augustine, in thinking that to do philosophy properly, one starts with the opinions one actually has, and investigates their interconnections, considers objections to them, tries to deepen your understanding of them and the like. This can obviously be of use to Christians, in that, for example, it can provide answers to objections to the Christian faith, and enable a deeper understanding of that faith, and enable one to see what implications that faith has for various philosophical questions. http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/on-a-catholic-protestant-philosophical-alliance
Basically, Dr. Plantinga is expressing a greater acceptance of Catholicism with few real differences. His following of Augustine should set off alarms amongst Protestants, but few will realize that at many levels ecumenism is moving forward.
In February 2014, I watched a YouTube video where Kenneth Copeland endorsed Catholicism, and also had a visiting Anglican bishop speak (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehFpeVGLyxs) who was referring to JDDJ. Here is something about it:
“The Catholic and Charismatic Renewal is the hope of the Church,” exclaims Anglican Episcopal Bishop Tony Palmer, before a group of cheering followers at the Kenneth Copeland Ministries. Palmer said those words are from the Vatican. Before playing the video message from Pope Francis to Kenneth Copeland, Palmer told the crowd, “When my wife saw that she could be Catholic, and Charismatic, and Evangelical, and Pentecostal, and it was absolutely accepted in the Catholic Church, she said that she would like to reconnect her roots with the Catholic culture. So she did.
The crowd cheered, as he continued, “Brothers and sisters, Luther’s protest is over. Is yours?”
Even Kenneth Copeland finds this development incredible: Said Copeland, “Heaven is thrilled over this…You know what is so thrilling to me? When we went into the ministry 47 years ago, this was impossible.” http://standupforthetruth.com/2014/02/pope-to-copeland-catholics-and-charismatics-must-spiritually-unite/
The last Anglican Episcopal Bishop Tony Palmer (he died July 20, 2014 as a result of a motorcycle accident) stated that Pope Francis told him that the Charismatics were the “hope of the Church.” He also called Pope Francis his spiritual father. Furthermore, Tony Palmer claimed that Jesus was ‘sacramental’ and implemented the sacraments, presumably referring to those that the Church of Rome uses. This is in severe biblical and historical error (notice one example in the article Marcus, the Marcosians, & Mithraism: Developers of the Eucharist?).
Anglican Episcopal Bishop Tony Palmer made many ecumenical statements in the video. He also made a variety of positive statements about Pope Francis, whom he knew before Francis became Pope.
In this video, Anglican Episcopal Bishop Tony Palmer and Kenneth Copeland encouraged ecumenical unity with Catholicism. They are endorsing this.
Tony Palmer also quoted an Elijah prophecy and indicated that ecumenism was what the final Elijah would endorse, and then he said:
I have come in the Spirit of Elijah...to turn the hearts of the children to the fathers...to prepare the way of the Lord...
Elijah will come before the Second Coming...
The spirit of Elijah is the spirit of reconciliation…We know for a thousand years, there was one church called the catholic church... Catholic does not mean Rome...
Redeem what belongs to you…We are Catholic…Division destroys our unity…Fear keeps us divided…most of that fear is based upon propaganda…Brothers and sisters, Luther’s protests are over…The protests have been over for 15 years…If there is no more protests, how can there be a Protestant church…We now teach the same gospel, we now teach the same faith…The protest is over, the protest is over.
The gospel that these groups teach is one that the Apostle Paul warned against (see Galatians 1:6-9). It needs to be understood that the Greco-Roman church was NOT Christ's church for the first 1000 years, there was a split no later than the second century (see some details in the free online pdf booklet Continuing History of the Church of God). Tony Palmer is NOT here in the Spirit of Elijah (see also Elijah: Past and Prophesied and The Elijah Heresies). The relatively young Tony Palmer, also died, a few months after this in a motorcycle accident (see Ecumenical ‘Anglican’ Bishop Tony Palmer died; Pope Francis continues his ecumenical meetings).
Tony Palmer mentioned that there was an agreement between the Church of Rome and Lutherans in 1999 that ended the primary disagreements between those groups. That is why he declared that the protests were over and told people that they were once again Catholic. But as those of us in the Continuing Church of God are not Protestant, nor do we trace our history through that movement, he was referring to Protestants such as himself.
After Tony Palmer spoke, a mainly translated message from Pope Francis was shown in which Francis said the following:
God is working all over the world ... We are separated ... We all share the blame ... And let us pray to the Lord that He unites us all ... Let God complete the job He has done ... He will complete this miracle of unity.
Improper unity with those who do not teach the true gospel is NOT the work of God!
It also should be noted that future ‘miracles’ associated with a forced ecumenical unity are all warned against in the Bible (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12; Revelation 13:11-18). As far as blame, yes the Church of Rome and the Protestants have a lot of blame, but the biggest blame is perhaps their failure to misunderstand the following:
3 ... contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3)
Because many do not understand original and real Christianity, they are confused about who has the original faith now.
Kenneth Copeland, after the papal message was shown, said the following related to Pope Francis and his message:
Glory, glory, glory ... Father ... we agree with him in his quest ... for the unity of the body of faith.
After this, Kenneth Copeland began to speak gibberish (he would suggest he was speaking in tongues). Kenneth Copeland then said, again mainly addressing the Pope (he was separately videoed then to send a message directly back to the Pope):
My dear sir… Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart… We love you… Our desire sir, is in the fourth chapter of the Book of the Ephesians…unity…
Thank you sir, we do bless and receive your blessing…We thank God for you…Amen, amen, amen, amen, amen, amen…
I'm telling you. I'm telling you right now. Heaven is thrilled over this. Thank you Lord.
Heaven, meaning God, is not thrilled by this. Pope Francis not God’s leader.
Notice that false leaders are warned against:
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)
9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)
Kenneth Copeland, the late Bishop Palmer, and Pope Francis are false leaders. Protestants, who have CLAIMED to believe in sola Scriptura (which Martin Luther did not really believe; see Sola Scriptura or Prima Luther? What Did Martin Luther Really Believe About the Bible?), are already being deceived. How much worse will it be when there are more false miracles?
Ecumenical unity is getting closer. The Bible warns against a version of it, but more and more Protestants are embracing it. While being peaceable with groups other than your own is biblical, do not embrace a false gospel, even if it might appear to have supernatural support (Galatians 1:6-9). I have warned from the beginning of his pontificate that Pope Francis was ecumenical and needed to be watched. He continues to take dangerous ecumenical steps, while some think he looks like a lamb, sometimes he actually speaks like a dragon (Revelation 13:11)–and so, to a degree, do his Protestant supporters.
A related video would be Charismatic Kenneth Copeland and Anglican Tony Palmer: Protestants Beware!
Pope Francis, himself, took another step towards the Pentecostals:
The Pope’s presence at a charismatic event in Rome’s Olympic stadium on Sunday was a Papal first and a widely anticipated event.
Fifty-two thousand people from 55 countries gathered for the 37th Annual National Convocation of “Renewal in the Spirit”. They welcomed Pope Francis' entry with loud applause and sang in Spanish “Vive Jesus, el Senor,” a hymn the Pope said he enjoyed greatly when he celebrated Mass in the cathedral of Buenos Aires with members of this movement.
Inaugurating the two-day event, which featured participation and addresses by senior Vatican officials and world leaders of the Renewal, Francis called upon the Renewal participants to “remember that the Church was born to go forth that morning of Pentecost, so go forth onto the streets and evangelize, proclaim the Gospel."
“Do not cage the Holy Spirit!,” he said. “Evangelization, spiritual ecumenism, attention to the poor and needy, and welcome to the marginalized,” is where their future efforts should be concentrated, he said.
Earlier, he surprisingly extended an invitation to the charismatics of the world to celebrate their 2017 Jubilee at the Vatican. (Invites Movement to Celebrate Jubilee at the Vatican in 2017. Zenit, June 2, 2014. http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/francis-celebrates-charismatic-movement-at-rome-s-olympic-stadium)
The ecumenical movement is gaining traction and this will not end well for the Catholics or the Protestants.
And then Ken Copeland and others later met with the Pope (the original report is in Italian, with the machine-translated English version below it):
Francesco si è incontrato con degli importanti ‘leaders evangelici’ per pianificare l’alleanza tra la Chiesa Cattolica Romana e gli Evangelici, o meglio sancire una «unità nella diversità». L’incontro si è tenuto il 24 giugno 2014 in Vaticano presso il Palazzo Santa Marta. Ecco i nomi di coloro che si sono incontrati con lui: John e Carol Arnott (fondatori di Catch The Fire), Kenneth Copeland (fondatore di KCM Ministries), James Robison (fondatore di Life Outreach Int.), Geoff Tunnicliffe (Capo della Worldwide Evangelical Alliance ossia l’Alleanza Evangelica Mondiale). C’era anche Tony Palmer (Vescovo della Communion Evangelical Episcopal Churches)...
USCITE E SEPARATEVI DALL’AEI. Guardatevi e ritiratevi da tutti coloro che promuovono questa diabolica alleanza o unità nella diversità.
Chi ha orecchi da udire, oda (http://giacintobutindaro.org/2014/06/26/francesco-incontra-predicatori-pentecostali/)
June 26, 2014
Francis met with the important 'evangelical leaders' plan for the alliance between the Roman Catholic Church and the Evangelical, or rather establish a "unity in diversity". The meeting was held at the Vatican June 24, 2014 at the Palace of Santa Marta. Here are the names of those who met with him: John and Carol Arnott (founder of Catch The Fire), Kenneth Copeland (founder of KCM Ministries), James Robison (founder of Life Outreach Int), Geoff Tunnicliffe (Head of Worldwide Evangelical Alliance that is the World Evangelical Alliance). There was also Tony Palmer (Bishop Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches)...
Shameful and scandalous.
LEAVE AND SEPARATE FROM THE AEI { l’Alleanza Evangelica Italiana}. Look and turn away from all those who promote this unholy alliance or unity in diversity.
The ecumenical movement is going forward, though some few are realizing some of the dangers of where it seems to be leading.
The Pope spoke in South Korea and attracted Protestants:
August 16, 2014
...the Vatican said about 800,000 people had turned out. The number was significant given that Catholics represent only about 10 percent of South Korea's 50 million people.
The Mass kicked off a busy day for Francis as he passed the halfway mark of his five-day South Korea visit...
Even non-Catholics turned out for the Mass, impressed by Francis' humble gestures and call for South Koreans to pay more attention to the poor than their own material gain.
"I do not know much about Catholics and South Korea's Catholic history, but it seems that the pope is making sure to reach out equally to everyone," said Eom Yae-sung, 49, a Protestant who said Francis had inspired her to make changes in her own life.
"I plan to do volunteering and a lot of sharing so that when I look back at my life 10 years from now, I will think that the pope's visit motivated me to change," Eom said. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/08/16/huge-crowds-greet-pope-at-martyr-beatification/14154907/
The ecumenical movement is going forward and many do not realize what is happening. Protestants may wish to consider that the Church of Rome made many changes from the original Christian faith--see Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Continuing Church of God? and/or the free online booklet: Continuing History of the Church of God.
In addition to Lutherans, Pentecostals, and Charismatics, Joel Osteen met with Pope Francis in 2014 (in his case, June 5th) and was pleased with the Pope's ecumenical agenda:
Joel Osteen, the pastor of Houston's Lakewood Church, was meeting Thursday with Pope Francis at the Vatican.
Osteen said Friday it was a great honor to represent the pastors of America in the meeting with the pontiff, whom he described as warm, personable and full of joy.
"I like the fact that this pope is trying to make the church larger, not smaller," Osteen said. "He's not pushing people out but making the church more inclusive. That resonated with me."
The unofficial meeting also included Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah; former U.S. Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne; Tim Timmons, a pastor and author based in Newport Beach, Calif.; and Gayle D. Beebe, president of Westmont College in Santa Barbara, Calif., according to the Deseret News of Salt Lake City. (Christian C. Osteen meets with Pope Francis at Vatican. June 6, 2014. http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Osteen-meets-with-Pope-Francis-at-Vatican-5533805.php viewed 06/008/14)
Joel Osteen has a widely viewed television program and is a best selling author. He mainly preaches self-improvement on his telecast. Yet he is among the more influential Protestant leaders in the USA.
There are many Protestant/evangelical leaders and groups that are embracing the broad ecumenical movement.
Notice something related to evangelical Pastor Rick Warren:
Is Rick Warren a Closet Catholic?
The Eternal Word Television Network, a Catholic station conducted an interview with Rick Warren that reveals how much he embraces the Roman Catholic religion and his push for ecumenical unity.
During the interview, Warren praises all the Catholic mystics and the Pope over and over again. At the 24:20 mark, Warren says "he watches EWTN more than any Christian channel." He said if you don't understand the roots of your faith you're like a tumbleweed. One of his favorite shows on EWTN is "Chaplet of the Divine Mercy." After a stressful day, he comes home and watches it with his wife Kay. He said "I sit back, relax and worship." He said one episode was a Catholic prayer service in front of the Monstrance.
About the 25:30 mark, the interviewer says he was struck by three images in Warren's office - Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King and Billy Graham. Warren said the only one missing was Pope John Paul "because those four people were the greatest influences on the 20th century" and he has tried to learn lessons from each of them. (Gendron M. Is Rick Warren a Closet Catholic? Proclaiming the Gospel, e-newsletter, September 2014)
Rick Warren to Speak at Papal MassMore than 1.5 million people are expected for the Mass with Pope Francis in Philadelphia in September during the World Meeting of Families. Some of the speakers listed include Cardinal Tagle of Manila, Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston, Scott Hahn, Rick Warren and Rabbi Abraham Skorka. Underlining the ecumenical and interfaith element of the meeting, Archbishop Chaput said 30 percent of the speakers would be non-Catholic...
Mike's Comment. The Vatican has been looking for compromisers in the evangelical world... Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church in southern California, has been an easy target for many years. In a recent interview he said, "We have far more in common (with Catholics) than what divides us. We believe in the trinity..."... (Gendron M. Rick Warren to Speak at Papal Mass. Proclaiming the Gospel newsletter, August 2015)
EWTN is a Roman Catholic television network.
Whether or not he is a 'closet Catholic,' Rick Warren is not the only evangelical to be embracing ecumenical unity with the Church of Rome. Joel Osteen, Ken Copeland, and other Protestant leaders have embraced the movement as have various mainstream Protestant denominations.
Notice also the following:
Evangelical Anglicans Seek Unity with Pope
The leaders of the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches (CEEC) articulated their vision for what they say is "organic unity, not corporate unity" among Christians worldwide that is based on the Nicene Creed and the Great Commission. "We want to try to emulate what Christ left the world," said David Scott the General Secretary for the CEEC International House of Bishops. This convergence or unity movement received a dramatic boost when one of its bishops, met with Pope Francis to record his greeting to a group of American evangelical leaders. (Gendron M. Evangelical Anglicans Seek Unity with Pope. Proclaiming the Gospel, e-newsletter, September 2014)
Worship Pastor Encourages Unity with Rome
Darlene Zschech, who has published many popular worship albums under Integrity Music and Hosanna labels, is calling for her followers to unite with Roman Catholics. Her most popular Christian hymn has been "Shout to the Lord." Last week, she performed on stage as a headliner at the Vatican's Renewal of the Holy Spirit rally. On her Facebook page, Zschech breathlessly gushed, "The prep has begun in Rome. I can feel the prayers. Honoured to be singing this week, with Andrea Bocelli, Don Moen (Praise & Worship Leader), Noa (Achinoam Nini) with Pope Francis and thousands of worshippers gathering in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. This is a celebration of unity and peace in the Renewal of the Holy Spirit. Amazing days for the Body of Christ." (Gendron M. Worship Pastor Encourages Unity with Rome. Proclaiming the Gospel newsletter, August 2015)
As far as music and ecumenism goes, check out the article Music and the False Gospel of Ecumenical Music and also a related sermon: Music, Hillsong, and the False Gospel.
Notice the following about the late Billy Graham's group:
Roman Catholic Bishop David Zubik of the archdiocese of Pittsburg gave the opening prayer at Franklin Graham's Three Rivers Festival of Hope on Aug. 15th at the Consol Energy Center. During the bishop's prayer he implied Protestants and Catholics are all part of the same church. This type of ecumenical unity with the apostate Roman Catholic Church is a continuation of the unbiblical practice his dad started in the 1960's. Catholics who responded to Graham's invitation to make a decision for Christ were given the opportunity to go to Epiphany Church - a Catholic Church, across the street from the festival, for the sacrament of reconciliation. (Gendron M. Catholic Bishop Prays at Graham Crusade. Proclaiming the Gospel, e-newsletter, September 2014)
Billy Graham, himself, made a deal with the Church of Rome years ago, and now that there is less ecumenical resistance among Protestants, apparently his group has come out more publicly in support.
According to E. Bynum, Billy Graham, for one prominent example, in 1948 taught against Catholicism, but a later he changed his mind:
In 1948, Graham said, "The three gravest menaces faced by orthodox Christianity are communism, Roman Catholicism, and Mohammedanism," NOW, he is continually saying nice things about the Catholics. In 1963 Dr. Graham spoke at Belmont Abbey College, a North Carolina Catholic school. On Nov. 21, 1967, he returned to Belmont Abbey to receive an honorary degree. At that time he made a shocking statement. He said, that he "knew of no greater honor" than the receiving of this degree. Then the shocker comes when he said, "The gospel that built this school and the gospel that brings me here tonight is still the way to salvation"…
A disturbed Roman Catholic wrote Graham about some of the changes going on in the Catholic Church. In his answer, Graham wrote, "Above all, don't pull out of the church! Stay in it, stay close to the Lord, and use these experiences as an opportunity to help your church be what God intends and what the world needs." What an answer for a Baptist preacher to give. This was published in his newspaper column, "My Answer".
Billy Graham says: "Anyone who makes a decision at our meetings is referred to a local clergyman, Protestant, Catholic, or Jewish." (1957) Roman Catholic Cardinal Cushing said: "I am 100% for the evangelist . . . I have never known a religious crusade that was more effective than Dr. Graham's. I have never heard the slightest criticism of anything he has ever said from any Catholic source." (1964) In 1963 Billy Graham said that he had a Roman Catholic bishop stand beside him and bless the "converts" as they came forward in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Bynum EL. Why We Cannot Support The Billy Graham Crusade. Tract # G-603. TABERNACLE BAPTIST CHURCH, Lubbock, Texas)
Perhaps I should add that the magazine “Christianity Today” had a piece about Billy Graham that I read years ago were Billy Graham was explaining that he had become more supportive of the Church of Rome. Billy Graham's doctrinal compromises signalled to many that ecumenism was fine. He should have, instead, turned to the original biblical faith.
More and more Protestants are supporting the Vatican's ecumenical agenda. And some prominent ones are becoming more public about it.
I would add that my wife and I visited TBN's 'Holy Land Experience' in Orlando, Florida in late 2014. Its "Church of All Nations" resembles the Coliseum in Rome and it has a display of Crouch family antiques which consisted of a lot of Roman Catholic ornaments including what Catholics call a Monstrance. A monstrance is something used to venerate the eucharistic host that Roman Catholic use as a substitute for the type of bread Jesus used for Passover. The rounded eucharistic host that Roman Catholic use comes from paganism and not the Bible nor the practices of the early faithful Christians (documented details are in the article Marcus, the Marcosians, & Mithraism: Developers of the Eucharist?). TBN was founded by the late Paul Crouch and Andrew Crouch is one of the two editors for the publication, Christianity Today.
Christianity Today has long endorsed aspects of the ecumenical movement. On November 25, 2014 it had an article titled What Was the Best News of 2014? Observers weigh in on the year’s events that will most shape evangelical life, thought, or mission. Notice the first item:
“Engagement between evangelicals and Catholics has gone to a whole new level. In June, I had a three-hour project meeting with Pope Francis—with no agenda. In my tenure, I have not seen that kind of openness. There’s a shift taking place under Francis. He seems clearly geared toward evangelicals.”
~Geoff Tunnicliffe, secretary general, World Evangelical Alliance http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2014/december/what-was-best-news-of-2014.html?utm_source=ctdirect-html&utm_medium=Newsletter&utm_term=9471290&utm_content=324850779&utm_campaign=2013
Although getting along with others is normally fine, gaining acceptance by the pontifex maximus of Rome was certainly NOT THE BEST NEWS OF 2014. It could be a prelude to the rise of the final Babylonian system that the Bible condemns. Yet, many within the Protestant world keep endorsing aspects of it.
Notice two items from 2015 and then another from 2016:
As Pope Francis traveled to the United States last month week for a six-day visit, megachurch leaders Rick Warren, T.D. Jakes, Robert Jeffress and Joel Osteen expressed their excitement and support for the papal pomp and circumstance. Pastor Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Church in Dallas said, "I have great respect for Pope Francis. He´s a humble Christ follower. We all can learn from him." Jeffress went on to say, "I have much more in common with my Catholic friends than I do even with liberal Baptist because we are fighting together against a common enemy, the kingdom of darkness." ...
On Wednesday, T.D. Jakes of The Potter's House posted a photo on social media of himself and his wife at the White House, outlining that he had been invited by Barack Obama to be among the VIP's welcoming Francis to the nation's capital. Read more.
Mike's Comment: How can Pastor Jeffress say Pope Francis is a "Christ follower" when he denies the words of Christ and points people to Mary for her protection? How can Jeffress say Catholics are fighting together with him against the kingdom of darkness when the Catholic religion is the kingdom of darkness? We should not be surprised that a recent poll revealed over half of evangelical pastors think the pope is a brother-in-Christ. (Gendron Mike. Evangelicals Applaud Pope's Visit. PTG Newsletter, November 2015).
More than half of evangelical pastors say Pope Francis is their brother in Christ.
More than one-third say they value the pope's view on theology, and 3 in 10 say he has improved their view of the Catholic Church.
Those are among the findings of a new study of 1,000 Protestant senior pastors, released this week from Nashville-based LifeWay Research.
Overall, the survey found that many Protestant pastors have taken a liking to Pope Francis.
Nearly 4 in 10 say the pope, known for his humility and concern for the poor, has had a positive impact on their opinions of the Catholic Church. Almost two-thirds view Pope Francis as a genuine Christian and “brother in Christ.” http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2015/september/antichrist-brother-christ-protestant-pastors-pope-francis.html
On July 16th, Pope Francis will be calling for unity among all Christians at an ecumenical prayer rally in Washington, D.C. Hundreds of thousands of Christians will hear his video message along with messages from evangelical leaders Ronnie Floyd, Ravi Zacharias, Luis Palau, Josh McDowell, Francis Chan, Ann Voskamp, and others. Organizers of the event are attempting to gather one million Christians and Catholics in unified prayer and worship with a goal to bring unity to all who "love Jesus." The event, called Together 2016, is about laying aside what divides us to lift up Jesus who unites us.
Nick Hall, the founder of PULSE, who came up with the idea for Together 2016, said adding the Pope to the lineup is the best news yet. He said, "We are humbled and honored by his involvement and are eager to share his message with the crowd that gathers. That His Holiness would choose to speak into this historic day is a testament to the urgency and the need for followers of Jesus to unite in prayer for our nation and our world." While some may admire Hall's zeal, it is clearly not based on knowledge. For him to refer to a wolf in sheep's clothing as "His Holiness" demonstrates his lack of knowledge of God's Word. God alone is holy! Anyone who does not know Scripture cannot discern between holiness and depravity or between true and false prophetsThe evangelicals who will speak with the pope need to know that the Lord Jesus did not come to bring peace on earth but rather division (Luke 12:51). His Gospel has always divided believers from unbelievers. The Lord Jesus said He is the door that must be entered for salvation (John 10:9). Those words caused division among the people who heard them (John 10:19). Clearly, those who have been sanctified by the Gospel must avoid uniting with those who embrace another gospel and have deserted Christ (Gal. 1:6-9).
The evangelical leaders scheduled to speak with the false prophet of Rome either do not know the exclusivity of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, or they do not know the false and fatal gospel of Catholicism; or perhaps they know, but chose to be disobedient to Scripture. God's Word gives us a clear command: "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols?" (2 Cor. 6:14-16). Evangelicals who worship God in Spirit and truth must have no agreement with Catholics who worship idols, relics and a false Christ. To do so would be seeking to please men over God (Gal. 1:10).
The evangelical leaders who are planning to stand with the Pope will betray the Gospel, the Reformation, and all those martyred by Rome. It was the Word of God proclaimed by the Reformers that broke the tyrannical hold of the popes over the visible church. Now these evangelicals are aiding and abetting the Pope's attempt to reverse the Reformation. The truths that set the Reformers free from religious bondage and deception are being suppressed or ignored.It is very disturbing to see evangelical leaders cooperating with the enemies of Christ and His Gospel. The apostate church of Rome has condemned Christians with over 100 anathemas for believing the infallible truths of God's Word. We must wonder if these evangelicals know that the worship of the Eucharist and veneration of Mary is idolatry (Ex. 20:3-5)? Don't they know that Rome's plan of salvation is a false gospel that condemns those who teach it (Gal. 1:6-9)? Don't they know that the sacrifice of the Mass and the dogma of Purgatory is a blatant denial of the finished, perfect, and sufficient work of Christ's atonement (Heb. 10:10-18)?
(Gendron Mike. Professing Evangelicals Are Assisting the Pope in His Agenda to Reverse the Reformation. PTG Newsletter, July 2016).
The ecumenical movement has been going on for some time, but it seems to be accelerating and is taking many forms. More and more Protestant leaders are supporting it. Watch also the video World Council of Churches Peace Plan.
Notice something a Methodist leader stated in an interview with the pro-Vatican news agency Zenit:
January 25, 2016
Dr. Macquiban has been a minister in the British Methodist Church since 1987 …
ZENIT: This is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Why is praying for Christian unity important?Reverend Macquiban:. After 50 years of dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church we pray because prayer changes things and when we pray together our attitudes, centred on the recognition of our common baptism and incorporation into the One Body inpels us to learn to love and respect each other whatever our differences.ZENIT: How is Pope Francis advancing ecumenical relations?Reverend Macquiban: All that Pope Francis says and does, particularly now in this Year of Mercy, opens doors once shut and the wind of change blows through. His warmth for those who are other, whether Christian or not, is evidence of God’s love reaching out to all. http://zenit.org/articles/interview-all-pope-francis-says-does-opens-doors-once-shut-says-christian-leader-in-rome/
But the Bible says that God, not a human, opens and closes the doors:
6 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”‘
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,
‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”: 8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. (Revelation 3:6-8)
While being friendly is fine, what is being opened now by Pope Francis is not of the biblical God.
The Freemasons are a 'secret society' that pushes ecumenism and "religious tolerance." It seems that the interfaith and ecumenical movements are something that they, at least philosophically, would support.
Historically, most Freemasons have been Protestant.
So, there have long been Protestants who supported the interfaith and ecumenical movements.
Yes, I believe that in the 21st century, they will be supporting them even more. An article of related interest is also available: Freemasonry and the Destruction of Rome?
Former Roman Catholic Mike Gendron published the following in his newsletter of February 1, 2016:
In his first-ever video declaring his “prayer intentions,” Pope Francis called for dialogue and collaboration among those of the various world religions asserting that they are simply “seeking or meeting God in different ways.” Francis contends that all the religions of the world simply represent mankind’s diversity in seeking God. He says that despite the differing beliefs, everyone is a child of the same God. The pope said, “Many think differently, feel differently, seeking God or meeting God in different ways, but there is only one certainty that we have for all: we are all children of God.”
Mike’s following comments are from his interview with CNN: Tragically, those who do not know the Bible or who refuse to submit to it as the supreme authority for truth, will be deceived by the pope’s latest pronouncement. The pope’s assertion that all mankind seeks after the same God, just in different ways, is false according to the Word of God. No one seeks for (the true) God (Rom. 3:11), but there are many who seek after false gods of their own imagination or false gods of their religious traditions. The only way to meet with the true God is His way, through the one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus (1 Tim. 2:5). The Word of God reveals that the human race is made up of people who are either children of God or children of the devil (1 John 3:10). When the Lord Jesus rebuked the religious leaders of His day for refusing to believe the truth of His Word, He told them that their father was the devil (John 8:44). This remains true today in that the god of this world (Satan) has created a variety of religions to blind all of his children from the light of the Gospel and the glory of Christ (2 Cor. 4:4). Everyone is a child of the ‘god of this world’ until they exchange their religion for a relationship with the one true God through Jesus Christ. Only those who receive Jesus by believing in His name become children of God (John 1:12-13).
The Apostle Peter taught:
10 … the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:10-12)
Yet, Pope Francis has an interfaith agenda that does NOT teach that one must accept Jesus in order to be saved. This is s FALSE GOSPEL! Yet, many are being taken in by it.
Mike Gendron also had a link in his newsletter today to the following from the improperly named publication Christianity Today regarding the growing acceptance of the pontiff’s agenda by Protestant ministers.
From Antichrist to Brother in Christ: How Protestant Pastors View the Pope
More than half of evangelical pastors say Pope Francis is their brother in Christ.
More than one-third say they value the pope’s view on theology, and 3 in 10 say he has improved their view of the Catholic Church.
Those are among the findings of a new study of 1,000 Protestant senior pastors, released this week from Nashville-based LifeWay Research.
Overall, the survey found that many Protestant pastors have taken a liking to Pope Francis.
Nearly 4 in 10 say the pope, known for his humility and concern for the poor, has had a positive impact on their opinions of the Catholic Church. Almost two-thirds view Pope Francis as a genuine Christian and “brother in Christ.” …
Evangelical pastors report more skepticism about Pope Francis than their mainline Protestant counterparts. While 80 percent of mainline Protestant pastors believe the pope is a true Christian, only 58 percent of evangelical pastors agree. About a quarter of evangelicals (23%) disagree, while one-fifth (19%) are not sure.
“The fact that some pastors don’t see the pope as their ‘brother in Christ’ seems strange to many outside Protestantism and evangelicalism, I imagine,” Stetzer said. “However, the forerunners of most Protestant pastors—from Luther, to Wesley, to Spurgeon, to many others—certainly did not see the pope as their ‘brother in Christ.’
“Within a few centuries, the pope has gone from anti-Christ to ‘brother in Christ’ for a lot of Protestants.”
In an editorial for CT this week, evangelical pastor Chris Castaldo argued that among Protestants and Catholics, disagreement over religious authority and salvation fades as piety trumps doctrine. http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2015/september/antichrist-brother-christ-protestant-pastors-pope-francis.html
Piety trumps doctrine?
Christianity Today really means that it believes that outward claims of piety trump truth.
Consider what Jude wrote from the New Jerusalem Bible (a Roman Catholic approved translation into the English language):
3 I felt that I must write to you encouraging you to fight hard for the faith which has been once and for all entrusted to God’s holy people. (Jude 3, NJB)
That scripture would also not suggest that doctrinal compromise is appropriate for the faithful. Jude does not say go along to get along. Actually, Jude advocates the opposite.
Notice also what Jesus taught:
17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. (John 17:17-19)
Christians are to be sanctified, meaning be SET APART for religious purposes, by the truth in the word of God. Those who compromise the word of God are not true followers of Jesus.
The Seventh-day Adventists support some of the goals of the ecumenical movement, but also see that it has dangers:
Ecumenical Movement
The General Conference Executive Committee has never voted an official statement regarding the Seventh-day Adventist relationship to the ecumenical movement as such. A book has been written dealing at length with the subject (B. B. Beach, Ecumenism-Boon or Bane? [Review and Herald, 1974]) and a number of articles have appeared over the years in Adventist publications, including the Adventist Review. Thus, while there is not exactly an official position, there are plenty of clear indications regarding the Seventh-day Adventist viewpoint.
Generally, it can be said that while the Seventh-day Adventist Church does not completely condemn the ecumenical movement and its main organizational manifestation, the World Council of Churches, she has been critical of various aspects and activities. Few would wish to deny that ecumenism has had laudable aims and some positive influences. Its great goal is visible Christian unity. No Adventist can be opposed to the unity Christ Himself prayed for. The ecumenical movement has promoted kinder interchurch relations with more dialogue and less diatribe and helped remove unfounded prejudices.
Through its various organizations and activities, the ecumenical movement has provided more accurate and updated information on churches, spoken for religious liberty and human rights, combated against the evils of racism, and drawn attention to socioeconomic implications of the gospel. In all this the intentions have been good and some of the fruit palatable. (Official Statement Documents. Seventh-day Adventist Church. http://www.adventist.org/information/official-statements/documents/article/go/0/ecumenical-movement/ accessed 10/13/15)
The type of unity that Jesus prayed for, will not occur until after Babylon falls (Zechariah 2:6-7) and Jesus returns (cf. Zechariah 2:10-11)--and that is something that the SDAs should teach. Historically, the SDAs were a bit more forceful in their resistance to the ecumenical movement than they currently seem to be (for more details, see SDA/CCOG Differences: Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666).
How is Pope Francis advancing the ecumenical agenda? Well according to Anglican Archbishop Moxon, Pope Francis is doing this in every way:
January 29, 2016
Rome’s Anglican leader says Pope Francis is advancing ecumenism in every way.
In an interview with ZENIT this week in Rome, the director of Rome’s Anglican Centre and the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Representative to the Holy See, Archbishop David Moxon, expressed this.
In addition to exploring how the Pope is advancing these relations, Archbishop Moxon discusses how the Argentine Pontiff makes ‘ecumenical’ personable and attractive and the possibility of closer relations between all Christians much deeper and more accessible.
He also spoke of the great commonalities between Catholics and Anglicans and how work is being done to close the gap.
ZENIT: How is Pope Francis advancing ecumenical relations?
Archbishop Moxon: In every way. He is beginning to advance many of the hopes and ideas of the ecumenical papal encyclical Ut Unum Sint. Also, by his own natural extroversion and genuine love for other churches and ecclesial communities he is making ‘ecumenical’ personable and attractive. There always seems to be room deep in his heart for others in this way, and this is noticed.
ZENIT: What are your hopes for enhanced relations between Catholicism and Anglicans?
Archbishop Moxon: I hope to see us draw closer together in terms of Christian mission in justice and development, including modern slavery and human trafficking where we can agree on so much, on climate change issues where our statements are so similar, and on liaising through networks like caritas and the Anglican Alliance. Then, there is the theological work which identified that we have around 80% of core doctrine in common. The Anglican/Roman Catholic International commission works hard on closing the gap between us in terms of remaining areas of dogmatic difference. Here there are huge challenges but we believe in the Holy Spirit’s power to overcome in the Spirit’s own way and in the Spirit’s own time. We believe there is much more we can agree on even while recognising some fundamental remaining gaps. The more we pray together about this the more these opportunities will arise.
ZENIT: And between Catholics and all Christians?
Archbishop Moxon: The Pope is making this link so much deeper and more accessible by his spirituality, his personality and his overall generosity of approach, using a clear Gospel base to motivate and understand every opportunity for closer relations, in word and deed. http://zenit.org/articles/interview-how-is-pope-francis-advancing-ecumenical-relations-in-every-way-says-romes-anglican-leader/
More and more Anglican and Protestant leaders are encouraging the Vatican's ecumenical actions.
Notice something Pope Francis was involved with in 2015:
Pope hopes 2017 Reformation anniversary will encourage Christian unity
May 6, 2015
Pope Francis says he hopes the 2017 anniversary of the Reformation, as well as a joint document by the Lutheran-Catholic commission for unity, will further encourage steps for Christian accord.
The Pope was referring to the Lutheran-Catholic unity document, “From Conflict to Communion” during a May 4 private meeting with Church of Sweden Archbishop Antje Jackelen. …
Francis said he hopes this initiative will encourage further steps toward unity, with God’s help, “and our collaboration with Him and one another,” Catholic News Agency reported.
On December 18, the general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation, Rev. Martin Junge, said relations between the Lutheran and Catholic churches have reached an epoch-making turning-point.
He spoke during preparations in Rome for the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation in 2017 when Lutherans and Catholics are expected to cooperate in an act of Christian unity. …
Pope Francis said at his meeting with Archbishop Jackelen that Christians seeking unity should not be afraid to broach potential areas of disagreement such as marriage, family, and sexuality.
“All Catholic faithful” are invited “to take up, recognize the signs of the times, the way of unity for overcoming divisions among Christians,” the pontiff said during his audience with Jackelen.
He said division is not only in opposition “to the will of Christ, but is also a scandal to the world and causes damage to the holiest of causes: the preaching of the Gospel to every creature.” …
Born in Germany, Jackelen is the first female head of the Lutheran church in Sweden, and the nation’s first foreign archbishop since the 12th century. http://www.ecumenicalnews.com/article/pope-hopes-2017-reformation-anniversary-will-encourage-christian-unity-29564
So the Church of Rome is striving for unity with the Lutherans, continues to want to work together for 2017, and met with the primate of the Church of Sweden and discussed unity.
While, on the surface, some Roman Catholics will like that, consider, for example, some of the anti-Christian beliefs of the woman, Antje Jackelén, who is the Bishop of the Church of Sweden:
Jackelén has published several works which deal with the relationship between the natural sciences and religious faith, as well as the role of religion in modern society. Jackelén doesn’t believe in the virgin birth of Jesus. She has said that the virgin birth is a mythological term or a metaphor rather than an actual event. She endorses the theory of evolution and sees no contradiction in believing both in God and in evolution.
She supports same-sex marriage in church, while calling for the state to support the institution of marriage as such. (Antje Jackelén. Wikipedia, accessed 05/08/15)
The Bible is clear that Jesus was born of a virgin (e.g. Matthew 1:18-25; see also Virgin Birth: Does the Bible Teach It?), that God created all life (see Genesis 1; Exodus 20:11; also Is Evolution Probable or Impossible or Is God’s Existence Logical?), and that homosexual relations are an abomination (Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; see also The Bible Condemns Homosexuality).
Antje Jackelén is also married (to a man). And while the Bible does endorse that bishops get married, the Church of Rome does not endorse that (see also Was Celibacy Required for Early Bishops or Presbyters?). Furthermore, the Bible specifies that bishops are to be males.
Here is what the Apostle Paul wrote, quoting here from the Roman Catholic approved Rheims New Testament translation into the English language:
1.FAITHFUL saying. If a man desire a Bishops office, he desireth a good work.
2. It behoveth therefore a Bishop to be irreprehensible, the husband of one wife,
sober, wise, comely, chaste, a man of hospitality, a teacher,
3. Not given to wine, no fighter, but modest, no quarreler, not covetous,
4. Well ruling his own house, chaving his children subject with all charity.
5. But if a man know not to rule his own house: how shall he have care of the Church of
God? (1 Timothy 3:1-5).5. For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest reform the things that are
wanting, and shouldst ordain priests by cities, as I also appointed thee:
6. If any be without crime, the husband of one wife, having faithful children, not in the
accusations of riot, or not obedient.
7. For a Bishop must be without crime, as the steward of God: not proud, not angry, nor
given to wine, no striker, nor covetous of filthy lucre (Titus 1:5-7).
The Bible does not endorse the ordination of women, but men. To accept females as bishops is clearly in contrast to what the Bible teaches (information on female religious roles can be found in the article Women and the New Testament Church).
Compromise is not what Jesus taught His Church to do. Jude wrote from the New Jerusalem Bible (another Roman Catholic approved translation into the English language):
3 I felt that I must write to you encouraging you to fight hard for the faith which has been once and for all entrusted to God’s holy people. (Jude 3, NJB)
That scripture would also not suggest that doctrinal compromise is appropriate for the faithful.
I would also add here that the Lutherans, who take their name from Martin Luther, have repeatedly compromised in various areas, including several related to their political quest for ecumenical unity.
Martin Luther, himself, taught against the concept that the Roman Catholic Church was the one true church. And while most modern Protestant leaders would agree on that point, Martin Luther took this much further.
Specifically, Martin Luther taught that the Roman Catholic Church was the “great harlot of the Apocalypse” (O’Hare PF. The Facts About Luther, originally 1916, 1987 ed., p.9). Martin Luther also claimed that the Pope was the “Antichrist” (Ibid). Notice also the following:
(1) Martin Luther: ... We here are of the conviction that the Papacy is the seat of the true and real antichrist ...
(2) John Calvin: I deny him to be the vicar of Christ. … He is an antichrist — I deny him to be the head of the Church (John Calvin Tracts, Volume 1, pages 219, 220). (Standish CD, Standish RR. The Evangelical Dilemma. Hartland Publications, 1996, p. 162)
Samuel Lee (a seventeenth century Rhode Island minister): It is agreed among all main lines of the English Church that the Roman pontiff is the Antichrist (Samuel Lee, The Cutting off of Antichrist, p. 1). (Standish CD, Standish RR. The Antichrist is Here. Hartland Publications, 1988, p. 16)
With all the ecumenical discussions going on these days, not many Protestant leaders seem to believe in the papal-antichrist position of many of their early leaders.
In the 8th century, a document called The Key of Truth, showed that the Paulicians of Armenia made these statements against the Greco-Romans:
Behold, O ye blind, how our Lord deems your procedure false and vain, and pronounces you to be deniers of him, and calls you children of Satan, as was written above. Lo, now do ye recognize right well your lying father; recognize of a truth your spirit; recognize even your false God. Nay, recognize also your teacher; yea, and furthermore do ye recognize the Pope, the Catholicos, and your president; and recognize your sham Messiah, and the rest. Of whom our mediator and intercessor, our life and refuge, doth manifestly speak, saying: ‘And that which he speaketh false, he speaketh out of his own, and his father is Satan.’ Thus our Lord Jesus and the holy universal and apostolic church saw and spoke as we wrote above. (Conybeare FC. The Key of Truth: A Manual of the Paulician Church of Armenia. Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1898, pp. 85-86).
Sadly, today, most who profess Jesus fail to truly recognize important aspects of the truth. And many want to make further compromises away from the truth for the sake of an unbiblical unity.
For the record, I should that I agree with certain Catholic leaders who have claimed that the final Antichrist will be some type of antipope (see Catholic Prophecies: Do They Mirror, Highlight, or Contradict Biblical Prophecies?).
Now the Pope asked for unity at the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation and that was a lot of what the focus ended up being:
May 17 2016
The 500th anniversary of the Christian Reformation in 2017 is to be profoundly ecumenical, with Pope Francis even taking part in a celebratory service with Lutherans in Sweden in October of this year. http://www.ecumenicalnews.com/article/500th-reformation-anniversary-will-be-ecumenical-and-include-pope-francis/44650.htm
Notice something related to some other Greco-Roman church leaders:
For the first time, Pope Tawadros II, Patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandira; Patriarch Ignatius Afrem II of the Syriac Orthodox Church; Catholicos Karekin II, supreme head of the Armenian Apostolic Church and Catholicos Baselios Morthoma Paulose II, Supreme Head of the Malankara Indian Orthodox Church visited Germany together.
They were there to inform political and church representatives on the bad and sad situation in the region where Christianity originates.
For the Berlin Dome it was a historic moment on Oct. 21.
“Never in the 112 years history of this Evangelical church building in the center of the German capital has the colorful variety of Christian faith been more obvious,” wrote Katja Dorothea Buck a journalist who covers religion and politics in Germany.
“Prayers, lectures and hymns were performed in Aramaic, Syriac, Armenian, Coptic, English and German. Ethiopian, Armenian, Syrian and Coptic church choirs contributed with their respective liturgical music.
THERE FOR THE REFORMATIONBishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, chairperson of the Council of the EKD, the alliance of German Lutheran and Protestant churches said, “It’s a great honor for the Evangelical Church in Germany that the four Oriental churches accepted the invitation to come to Germany to commemorate the Reformation, to share their suffering and to pray with us,” …
Syrian Patriarch Ignatius Afrem II thanked EKD for the invitation which gave the patriarchs the opportunity to discuss over four days what his church faces with political leaders and representatives of the churches in Germany.
“Thousands of people have been killed. Many people had to endure martyrdom. Hundreds of churches were destroyed. We are grateful that we were able to tell our story,” the patriarch said. …”We are thankful to be invited to celebrate with the German Evangelical Church the 500 years of Reformation which brought many positive elements,” Afrem noted.
“The Reformation reminds us all to be faithful in the Gospel. But it also brought division in the body of Christ.”In 2017 Chrisitans are commemorating 500 years since priest Martin Luther nailed his 95 protests to a Wittenberg church against wrongdoing in the Catholic Church to start the Reformation.
In the 18th and 19th century Protestant missionaries came to the Middle East to evangelize among the Orthodox faithful and created new churches, he explained.
“Today we recognize our Protestant sisters and brothers. But we are concerned that there are new Evangelical groups proselytizing among our members. They take advantage of their sad situation,” he said, 10/25/17 http://www.ecumenicalnews.com/article/coptic-pope-and-oriental-patriarchs-pay-historic-visit-to-germany/60441.htm
The persecution of the Catholics, Orthodox, Copts, Protestants, and others in the Middle East is wrong and terrible. Those affected have long been in my prayers.
But the solution is not the type of ecumenical unity that leaders of these groups are working towards.
October 31, 1517 was the day that Martin Luther is believed to have hammered his now famous 95 theses to the door of the Wittenberg, Germany church.
While the Church of Rome now agrees with many of the items on his list, back then this caused tremendous dissension and was a key factor in the so-called Protestant Reformation.
Instead of October 31 being a day of celebration by Protestants denouncing Roman Catholicism, the 500th anniversary was instead is a celebration that much of the rift between Lutherans, Anglicans, Roman Catholics, etc. is mainly over.
The Lutherans, and others, also saw this as good:
Poster for 500th Reformation Anniversary Reconciliation
31 October 2017
Catholic and Protestant leaders will stress their mutual bonds 500 years after the start of the Reformation, a movement which tore apart western Christianity and sparked a string of bloody religious wars in Europe lasting more than a century.
A service in Westminster Abbey on Tuesday will mark the anniversary of the date in 1517 on which the German theologian Martin Luther submitted The 95 Theses to the archbishop of Mainz as well as nailing a copy to the door of a church in Wittenburg, lighting the fuse of the Reformation.
The archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, will present a text by the Anglican communion affirming a joint declaration by the Roman Catholic church and global Protestant bodies described as “a sign of healing after 500 years of division”.
Last week, Pope Francis said Catholics and Protestants were now enjoying a relationship of “true fraternity” based on mutual understanding, trust and cooperation.
He told Derek Browning, moderator of the Church of Scotland, who was visiting the Vatican as part of the Reformation commemorations, that the two traditions were “no longer … adversaries, after long centuries of estrangement and conflict”
The pontiff added: “For so long we regarded one another from afar, all too humanly, harbouring suspicion, dwelling on differences and errors, and with hearts intent on recrimination for past wrongs.” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/31/catholic-and-protestant-leaders-unite-mark-start-reformation-archbishop-canterbury-service
31 October 2017
(Vatican Radio) October 31st 2017 marks the 500th anniversary of the day on which German theologian Martin Luther published his 95 theses, setting in motion the events of the Protestant Reformation.
To mark the occasion, the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the Lutheran World Federation on Tuesday issued a joint statement, giving thanks for the spiritual and theological gifts received through the Reformation and recalling the commemorative events that have taken place over the past year.
On 31st of October 2017, the final day of the year of the common ecumenical Commemoration of the Reformation, we are very thankful for the spiritual and theological gifts received through the Reformation, a commemoration that we have shared together and with our ecumenical partners globally. …
We acknowledge with appreciation the many events of common prayer and worship that Lutherans and Catholics have held together with their ecumenical partners in different parts of the world, as well as the theological encounters and the significant publications that have given substance to this year of Commemoration.
Looking forward, we commit ourselves to continue our journey together, guided by God’s Spirit, towards the greater unity according to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ.
WITTENBERG, Germany – Five hundred years after the 16th century Reformer Martin Luther is said to have nailed his epoch-changing 95 protests to a church door in the eastern German town of Wittenberg, Catholics and Protestants have been through bitter centuries of conflict, but finally seem to be getting on a bit better. …
Protestants, Lutherans and Catholics are commemorating the historic day around the world in ecumenical services with his actions at the Schlosskirche in the town east of Berlin where he worked.
Over the past year Protestants, Lutherans and Catholics have commemorated the historic day around the world in ecumenical services, with Pope Francis joining in a year ago in Sweden. …
A joint statement signed in Lund by Pope Francis and Bishop Munib Younan, president of the Lutheran World Federation, said, “Many members of our communities yearn to receive the Eucharist at one table as the concrete expression of full unity.” …
WITTENBERG
In 2009, 10 years after the JDDJ was signed Cardinal Kasper traveled to Luther’s Wittenberg to plant the first of 500 trees in the Luther Memorial Garden.
The 16th-century events, “divided our people and divided the Church,” said Kasper. “It is a day we hold in common and for which we have a joint responsibility,” he stated.
“Now again that which belongs together grows together,” Kasper said in the Luther Garden in 2009, using a phrase of former West German chancellor Willy Brandt after the opening of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and referring to hopes for unity between East and West Germany.
Not all Catholics or Protestants support the moves towards “true fraternity,” but enough have (along with many Eastern Orthodox leaders) to indicate that the goal of many is ecumenical unity.
This is unity, not based on the Bible (though it is sometimes cited), but more of a worldly political unity with doctrinal compromise. This is consistent with the ride of the rider of the white horse of the apocalypse (Revelation 6:1-2; watch also Ecumenism and the ride of the White Horse of the Apocalypse).
Some believe that the Holy Spirit will bring all who profess Christ together through some known as the 'latter rain' doctrine. A major theme of the ecumenical “Latter Rain doctrine” is “unity” among the “believers” in the church service, the geographic region, and at large.
They expect that in the coming “last days,” the various church denominations would dissolve, and the true Church would coalesce into citywide (or other region) churches under the leadership of the newly restored apostles and prophets.
Here is something along those lines:
Modern Prophets have received “new revelations” of the end-time which, until now, have not been understood by the Church. … Vineyard Ministries Apostle, Jack Deere, believes that the two witnesses in Revelation 11 may very well be Kansas City Prophets, Paul Cain and Bob Jones. Says Paul Cain:
"God is raising up a new standard, a new banner if you will, that’s going to radically change the expression, the understanding of Christianity in our generation…God has invited us to have a role in establishing this NEW ORDER of Christianity…God is offering to this generation something He has never offered to any other generation… Beware lest OLD ORDER brethren rob you and steal this hope from you!
Bob Jones has received special revelation about this new hope:
"I have called the best of every blood line in earth unto this generation…I have elected to bring them forth in this generation…THE ELECT GENERATION…even the bloodline of Paul…of David…of Peter, James and John…They will even be superior to them in heart, stature and love for me’…Your children will possess the spirit without measure…They will move into things of the supernatural that no one has ever moved in before…coming into the DIVINE NATURE of Jesus Christ…a Church that has reached the full maturity of the GODMAN! This generation…is going to see the beginning of this WORLD WIDE NEW ORDER."
Are you having difficulty discerning or receiving this “new revelation”? Then perhaps you have been interpreting your Bible in the “old way” -- comparing Scripture with Scripture, studying diligently to account for every jot and tittle and being careful to rightly divide the Word of truth. If this describes you, then you belong to the “Old Generation” which will not enter in to “possess the land” in the Latter Rain Revival. You may even be a member of a denominational church with its dogmatic confession of faith and statement of doctrine. These legalistic forms will be relics of the past in the up and coming “Postdenominational Church.” Paul Cain advises that you “dump all that carnal stuff” (doctrine) and listen to what the “spirit” is saying to the churches through the Latter Rain Prophets and Apostles, who are dispensing many “new, sacred truths.” …
Over 50 years ago, William Branham, George Warnock, Paul Cain and others attempted to introduce Latter Rain/Manifest Sons of God teachings into the Pentecostal movement. … a “united” Church will celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. The prophetic fulfillment of this Feast is said to occur prior to the return of Christ. Latter Rain prophets claim that this will also be a “Second Pentecost,” since the first was ‘incomplete.’ …
This Latter Rain “Second Pentecost” during Tabernacles is suggestive of the “Planetary Pentecost” preached by Barbara Marx Hubbard as the peaceful “alternative to Armageddon.” At this time, a “quantum leap” in the evolution of mankind will occur as revealed to her by "the Christ": “At the moment of cosmic contact, I will appear to you both through inner experience and through external communication on your mass media.” Says Ms. Hubbard, it will be a time when “the divisions of the religions would be over…We would each know that God is within us…If all who feel we are connected to each other, to nature and to God join in a planetary Pentecost, we shall be transformed in this lifetime. I believe in the peaceful second Coming.” (Aho B. THE LATTER RAIN REVIVAL. http://watch-unto-prayer.org/rain.html Retrieved 03/28/19)
Those so-called “new truths” were not part of “the faith delivered once for all to the saints” (Jude 3) and are themselves heretical. Christians should search scriptures for doctrine (cf. Acts 17:11) as God’s “word is truth” (Psalm 119:60, John 17:17). The scriptures are there for Christians to be “complete, thoroughly equipped” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) and not be swayed by false emotional doctrines (cf. Ephesians 4:14-15).
The Bible does not promote the Pentecostal “latter rain” view, but warns against it (e.g. 2 Corinthians 6:7; cf. Revelation 2-3). Ecumenical unity will not prevent “Armageddon,” but a version of it will be a major factor leading to it (cf. Revelation 17 & 19).
Notice something written against those of us who dare to resist the ecumenical movemnent:
The Latter Rain is God's great end-time ministry. This concept, as revealed in the Bible, comprises the restitution of the church to it's rightful place, the enormous last day revival soon to come, and the harvest of souls before the great and terrible Day of the Lord. It is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon all flesh promised to us in the last days and the restoration of apostolic and prophetic gifts. It has been explained like this, the latter rain, the latter reign and the latter rein; first the spiritual outpouring, then the spirit and Bride says come in power and authority and then the ingathering. (Atkinson J. The Latter Rain. The Latter Rain Page. http://latter-rain.com/eschae/latter.htm retrieved 03/29/19)
The worst churches in Christendom are not those that need to repent but those in pride that are unwilling to repent, especially those that are opposed to ecumenicism. They are easy to identify, they think that they are the chosen saints of God, they have an illiberal nature and are intolerant of others, self-righteous, they oppose dialogue, independent, a sinful spirit of division and particularistic exclusivism. ... The Lord has given Christians the grace to reconcile the children to their Fathers As One Body We prepare for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb Harvest the Fruit of the Latter Rain Follow Him as the Army of the Lord into His Glory (Atkinson J. Ecumenical. The Latter Rain Page. http://latter-rain.com/kingdom/ecu.htm retrieved 03/28/19)
Jesus DID NOT come so that the world would be united in this age. (For biblical teachings on the 'latter rain' check out the free online book: Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God's plan of salvation).
As far as unity goes, notice what Jesus said:
34 "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law'; 36 and 'a man's enemies will be those of his own household.' 37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. (Matthew 10:34-39)
Religious leaders who profess Christ and the interfaith and ecumenical agendas clearly are overlooking what Jesus taught. He taught His people should be willing to stand alone, even among family members.
The Apostle Paul warned about believers being yoked together with unbelievers, including idolaters:
14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
"I will dwell in them
And walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be My people."17 Therefore
"Come out from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you."
18 'I will be a Father to you,
And you shall be My sons and daughters,
Says the Lord Almighty." (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)
Having been raised Roman Catholic, as well as having visited many Eastern Orthodox (Catholic) churches, I can testify that their places of worship are filled with idols and icons.
Christians are to be separate from paganism. Those who accept the true God as their Father must realize that. Isaiah wrote:
11 Depart! Depart! Go out from there,
Touch no unclean thing;
Go out from the midst of her,
Be clean,
You who bear the vessels of the Lord. (Isaiah 52:11)
To depart means to separate. Notice that Isaiah's sentiments here are captured in the New Testament in Paul's writing (2 Corinthians 6:17) and the Book of Revelation (18:2-4).
Scripture does not endorse the type of coming ecumenical unity that Pope Francis and various Protestant leaders seemingly endorse.
Pope Boniface VIII took a bizarre and highly overreaching step back in 1302. He issued what is known as the bull Unam Sanctum that claimed:
We are obliged by the faith to believe and to hold—and we do firmly believe and sincerely confess—that there is one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church and that outside this Church there is neither salvation nor remission of sins…
Therefore, if the Greeks or others say that they are not committed to Peter and his successors, they necessarily confess that they are not Christ’s sheep…
…in this Church and in her power are two swords…Both are in the power of the Church, the spiritual sword and the material. But the latter is to be used for the Church, the former by her; the former by the priest, the latter by kings and captains but at the will of the priest…
Furthermore, we declare, state, define, and pronounce that it is altogether necessary for salvation for every human creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff. (As cited in Bettenson H, ed., Documents of the Christian Church. London: Oxford University Press, 1943, pp. 126-127).
Notice that his position was quite definite. I mention that because I believe that many within the Vatican now have a different view and will compromise in many, many ways, to ultimately entice most of the Orthodox (called the Greeks above) and others into a revised ecumenical faith that will call itself “Catholic.” As Protestants are not subject to the Roman pontiff, they might wish to consider Pope Boniface VIII's words as well.
Some Catholics believe and teach that Protestants will eventually be eliminated and those who once were Protestant will become in unity with the Church of Rome.
This is also consistent with Catholic prophecies:
Father Laurence Ricci, S.J. (died 1775): ... a valiant duke will arise from the ancient German house which was humiliated by the French monarch. This great ruler will restore stolen Church property. Protestantism will cease... This duke will be the most powerful monarch on earth. At a gathering of men noted for piety and wisdom he will, with the aid of the Pope, introduce new rules, and ban the spirit of confusion. Everywhere there will be one fold and one shepherd." (Connor, Edward. Prophecy for Today. Imprimatur + A.J. Willinger, Bishop of Monterey-Fresno; Reprint: Tan Books and Publishers, Rockford (IL), 1984, p.37)
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, Yves. Catholic Prophecy: The Coming Chastisement. TAN Books, Rockford (IL), 1973, pp. 66, 71).
Bernhardt Rembordt (18th century). "Cologne will be the site of a terrible battle...At that time France will be divided. The German Empire will choose a simple man as the Emperor, who will rule for a short time. His successor will be the man for whom the world has longed. He will be called a "Roman Emperor," and he will give peace to the world. A good and happy era will follow. God will be praised on earth, and war will be no more." (Dupont, pp.34-35)
Werdin d' Otrante (13th century): "The Great Monarch and the Great Pope will precede Antichrist...All the sects will vanish. The capital of the world will fall...The Great Monarch will come and restore peace and the Pope will share in the victory." (Connor, p. 33).
According to an Eastern Orthodox, Byzantine prophet, the final (the Eastern Orthodox recognize seven previous ones) ecumenical synod council satisfies what “heretics” want:
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, H. The Great Monarch and WWIII in Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Scriptural Prophecies. Verenikia Press, Rock Hill (SC), 2000, pp. 5-6, p. 111).
By satisfying “heretics”, clearly this council compromises and changes the religion, which will be called “Catholic.” If heretics are truly heretics, should their complaints be satisfied? Protestants need to be concerned that some meetings may attempt to accept some of their doctrines, but accepting unity with Rome will be a mistake.
The Bible warns about a leader who “he shall think himself able to change times and laws” (Daniel 7:25, Douay-Rheims). The Catholic saint Jerome wrote that this leader was the King of the North (in his commentary on Daniel 11) and Antichrist (in his commentary on Daniel 7 as he, like many, confused the two):
". . .And he shall crush the saints of the Most High, and will suppose himself to be able to alter times and laws." The Antichrist will wage war against the saints and will overcome them; and he shall exalt himself to such a height of arrogance as to attempt changing the very laws of God and the sacred rites as well..." (Jerome. Commentary on Daniel, Chapter 7. Translated by Gleason L. Archer. (1958). http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/jerome_daniel_02_text.htm viewed 07/30/11)
(The Beast/King of the North is primarily a political-military leader who will persecute the saints, per Daniel 11:30-35, while the final Antichrist is primarily a religious leader per 1 John 4:1-3 who will support that Beast per Revelation 13:12.)
But if an antipope convened/attended an ecumenical synod that satisfied heretics, would he not also be supportive of changing laws? Many Catholic prophecies warn about an antipope who will arise and who could be the final Antichrist (see the book 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect as well as the one The Last Pope for details).
One Catholic nun predicted a time when some agreement would deceive many:
Jeanne le Royer (died 1798): One day I heard a voice which said, ‘The new Constitution will appear to many other than what it really is. They will bless it as a gift from heaven; whereas it is really a gift from {haydes} and permitted by God in His just wrath. It will only be by its effects that people will be led to recognize the Dragon who wanted to destroy all and devour all (Dupont, p. 53).
Whether this is a reference to some type of power agreement with the Beast (Revelation 17:12-13) or the ecumenical council (cf. Revelation 13:1-4), notice that it is expected to be satanic (Satan is the Dragon, per Revelation 12:9).
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).
Catholics have long considered Protestantism as false and dangerous:
Priest P. Kramer (21st century): Pope St. Pius V teaches in his Catechism, the Roman Catechism — also known as the Catechism of the Council of Trent — that all of the Protestant religions are false religions, they’re inspired by the devil; and therefore their fruits are evil…The Protestant religions, as such, are inspired by the devil, as Pope St. Pius V teaches in his catechism. (Kramer P. The Imminent Chastisement for Not Fulfilling Our Lady’s Request. An edited transcript of a speech given at the Ambassadors of Jesus and Mary Seminar in Glendale, California, September 24, 2004. THE FATIMA CRUSADER Issue 80, Summer 2005, pp. 32-45 http://www.fatimacrusader.com/cr80/cr80pg32.asp viewed 4/15/08 )
Frederick William Faber (died 1863): Protestantism {is} an anticipation of Antichrist… All its sects unite against the Church. (Connor, p. 88)
Despite the fact that Roman Catholics believe that Protestant religious are inspired by the devil, Pope Francis is dialoguing with them. Yet, even he has warned about what he is doing:
February 14, 2016
Don’t Dialogue With Devil
Off the cuff, the Pope said, “let us be clear about this, we cannot dialogue with the devil, we cannot do this because he will always win.”
“Only the power of Gods’ word can overcome him,” Francis said, https://zenit.org/articles/pope-warns-against-3-temptations-which-shatter-gods-plans-for-us/
Both Roman Catholics and Protestants should heed God's word, instead of dialoguing in ways that Satan will, for a time, win.
Pope Pius V’s late 16th century Catechism says only the Catholic church is faithful and has salvation, with others (like Protestants) part of the “false Church”:
The third mark of the Church is that she is Catholic…To this Church, “built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets”, belong all the faithful who have existed from Adam to the present day, or who shall exist…She is, also, called universal, because all who desire eternal salvation must cling to and embrace her, like those who entered the ark, to escape perishing in the flood…This, therefore, is to be taught as a most reliable criterion, by which to distinguish the true from a false Church…
The true Church is also to be recognised from her origin, which can be traced back under the law of grace to the Apostles; for her doctrines are neither novel nor of recent origin, but were delivered, of old, by the Apostles, and disseminated throughout the world. Hence, no one can, for a moment, doubt that the impious opinions which heresy invents, opposed, as they are, to the doctrines taught by the Church from the days of the Apostles to the present time, are very different from the faith of the true Church…But as this one Church, because governed by the Holy Ghost, cannot err in faith or morals, it necessarily follows, that all other societies arrogating to themselves the name of Church, because guided by the spirit of darkness, are sunk in the most pernicious errors both doctrinal and moral. (The Catechism of the Council of Trent: published by command of Pope Pius the fifth , pp. 77-78)
Related to that last paragraph above, it needs to be understood that by making those claims, Pope Pius V seems to be saying that the true Church should not have changed the doctrines of the Apostles. And while that is true of the most faithful of the Church of God, it cannot be said of the Church of Rome (see Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Continuing Church of God?) or the Protestants (see Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God differ from most Protestants).
All (Church of God, Catholic, Protestant, 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.
Perhaps, I should add here, that the Eastern Orthodox believe that the Church of Rome will compromise and change to accept their doctrinal differences--and based upon discussions I have had with them, I believe a lot of that is true.. For details, and additonal information, please check out the article Why Should American Catholics Fear Unity with the Orthodox? and watch the video Should you be concerned about the ecumenical movement?
The Bible warns about a leader who will have worldwide support, including religious leaders that will support him:
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…
11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 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. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 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. 15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666. (Revelation 13:4-8, 11-18)
36 “Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done. 37 He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all. 38 But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses; and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things. 39 Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain. (Daniel 11:36-39)
The foundational steps for this are taking place now. Between Anglicans and Charistmatics now, and what Pope Francis, along with the Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople is doing, this antichrist movement is moving forward.
Now that the Bible clearly warns against the Babylonian system:
2 And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! 3 For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury."
4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. 5 For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. (Revelation 18:2-5)
That is the system that the ecumenical movement trying to prop up.
Nearly all familiar with the Book of Revelation realize that it contains the following statements:
3 And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. 5 And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 6 I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.
9 Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.
18 And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.” (Revelation 17:3-6, 9, 18).
Even Catholic scholars admit that Rome has seven mountains/hills (Tertullian even called it that in the early part of the third century when he wrote “I appeal to the inhabitants of Rome themselves, to the native population of the seven hills“) and that it seems to fit the description in the Book of Revelation (which they normally call the Apocalpyse):
…the Apocalypse was an inexhaustible quarry where to dig for invectives that they might hurl then against the Roman hierarchy. The seven hills of Rome, the scarlet robes of the cardinals, and the unfortunate abuses of the papal court made the application easy and tempting ( “Apocalypse.” The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 27 Feb. 20145 Oct. 2008 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01594b.htm>).
Note: some Protestant scholars falsely teach that this is referring to Babylon in Iraq–this is wrong because the Iraqi Babylon is located on a flat plain and not seven hills or mountains like Rome is.
Are you aware that the Church of Rome has made statements indicating that it is the Mother of the World’s Churches and that those groups that came out of her (like the Protestants and somewhat according to the Romans, the Orthodox) are her daughters?
The Catholics of Rome consider that they are the 'mother church,' and they want all back in their fold. This is not a new concept. Notice a decades old report:
Referring to the Anglican Church, the Pope has made the following significant statement: The Anglican Church is "a Church which she [the Roman Catholic Church] has loved so much and to which, one might say, SHE GAVE BIRTH!"
The Catholic Church "gave birth" to the Anglican Church? In the eyes of Roman Catholics, yes.
The Roman Catholic Church repeatedly speaks of herself as the "Mother" of the Protestant movement.
"The MOTHER CHURCH of Christendom lovingly invites the descendants of all the CHILDREN torn from her bosom by irrelevant issues to return to the practice of their forebears [meaning the Roman Catholic Church]..." (90 Common Questions about the Catholic Faith, by John O'Brien, p. 11). (McNair R. Why Church Unity Eludes Theologians. Plain Truth, September 1968)
Notice the following inscription, which I have personally seen on at least two trips to Rome on the outside of what, in certain respects, is the most important Cathedral for Rome.
Inscription in the Basilica of St. John Lateran
Below it is translated from the Latin:
Sacred Lateran Church Mother and Head of All Churches of the City and the World
That inscription is in Latin in the Basilica of St. John Lateran is the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome, that contains its papal throne (Cathedra Romana), This basilca is the official ecclesiastical seat of the Pope (it ranks above all other churches in the Roman Catholic Church, even above St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican).
So it is clear to all who will look that the Vatican claims to be the Mother of the World’s Churches. And the Bible warns that Mystery Babylon is the Mother of the WORLD’s churches. However, the Vatican is NOT the mother of the Church of God which preceded the formation of the Church of Rome (see The Churches of Revelation 2 & 3 and Location of the Early Church: Another Look at Ephesus, Smyrna, and Rome) and did not come from the Church of Rome (like the Protestants tend to admit they did).
Notice what the Church of Rome considers those in other churches to be:
The Dominus Iesus declaration, which has been written by a close aide of Pope John Paul II, says that the Roman Catholic church is the “mother” of all Christian denominations and that it is incorrect to refer to the Church of England and other Protestant churches as “sister” organisations on a par with Rome. (Vatican declaration provokes churches. BBC, September 5, 2000. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/910612.stm)
Perhaps I should add here that since the Church of Rome so highly condemns the beliefs of the Continuing Church of God as essentially apostate, it does not really consider itself to be its mother–which of course it is not.
Hence while the Bible is clear that there will be a false church, based out of the city of seven hills (Rome), who will somehow be a mother of abominations, the Church of Rome itself acknowledges that Rome is the city of seven hills, is the mother of worldly churches, and considers other churches to be its daughters.
Since most Protestant scholars admit that their religion sprang out of Rome, this should give them pause.
And for those Protestants who do not believe that their religion came out of the Greco-Romans, they should look into the beliefs and practices of the early faithful church and compare what they believe now to what the early true church believed (see The History of Early Christianity). For if they do that, they will find that they have a lot more in common with the Greco-Roman religion than the true religion of Jesus Christ and His immediate followers. (Two free online booklets of possibly related interest would be Continuing History of the Church of God and Where is the True Christian Church Today?)
Some act like the Church of Rome is the original faithful Christian church. Yet, notice what a former Catholic, now a type of evangelical wrote:
Christians are called to walk according to the truth which means, as they become more and more passionate for the truth, they will turn away from any falsehood that stands opposed to God's Word.One of Catholicism's false practices is described as a doctrine of demons in the Bible. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Apostle Paul wrote that some will "depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons through the insincerity of liars whose consciences have been seared who forbid people to marry" (1 Tim. 4:1-4). Catholicism is the only religion that names the name of Christ and forbids its clergy to marry, thus proving that some of its teachings are directly opposed to Scripture.
Another reason true converts must leave Catholicism is that it demands submission of every person's will and intellect to the bishops' teachings. Catholic bishops are said to be the only authentic instructors and teachers of the faith, and Catholics are bound to adhere to their teaching with a religious submission of the mind (Canon Law, 753).
A third reason to leave is that the Word of God condemns the Catholic clergy for preaching another gospel (Gal. 1:6-9). The Catholic plan of salvation nullifies God's saving grace by adding works, sacraments, purgatory and law-keeping to the Gospel. (Gendron M. Why Can't Born Again Christians Remain in the Catholic Church? Proclaiming the Gospel, July 1, 2014)
There are other issues, but the above should give people pause.
While some may think that all of this ecumenical unity between the Greco-Roman-Protestant churches is not possible or really happening, the reality is that it is.
Furthermore, some have warned about this for years. Years ago (in 2009), in my book, 2012 and the Rise of the Secret, I had the following related mainly to Protestants:
While some Catholics are concerned that a change to their faith will occur, even atheists, Protestants, Orthodox, and others should also be concerned about this…
Notice that one evangelical Protestant has predicted that there will be a collapse of evangelicals within a decade because of compromise and limited biblical confidence—and that many will join the Catholics and/or Orthodox:
Michael Spencer (2009): We are on the verge—within 10 years—of a major collapse of evangelical Christianity. This breakdown will follow the deterioration of the mainline Protestant world and it will fundamentally alter the religious and cultural environment in the West… Millions of Evangelicals will quit…massive majorities of Evangelicals can’t articulate the Gospel with any coherence…Even in areas where Evangelicals imagine themselves strong (like the Bible Belt), we will find a great inability to pass on to our children a vital evangelical confidence in the Bible and the importance of the faith… Two of the beneficiaries will be the Roman Catholic and Orthodox communions. Evangelicals have been entering these churches in recent decades and that trend will continue, with more efforts aimed at the “conversion” of Evangelicals to the Catholic and Orthodox traditions… (Spencer M. The coming evangelical collapse. The Christian Science Monitor, from the March 10, 2009 edition. http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0310/p09s01-coop.html viewed 03/13/09)
And the above is not even including the fact that those “Catholic and Orthodox communions” will themselves likely come together and change under the guise of the ecumenical movement that will strengthen in Europe—an ecumenical movement that news events show is occurring…
Since Vatican II (a major Catholic ecumenical council that ran from 1962–1965), many Catholics have been justifiably concerned that doctrinal compromise for the sake of ecumenical unity with those outside of fellowship of Rome was inevitable. (Thiel B. 2012 and the Rise of the Secret. Nazarene Books, Arroyo Grande, 2009)
And that was not the only warning I published from others. Notice also in my book, 2012 and the Rise of the Secret, this time from an Eastern Orthodox writer:
Even some Eastern Orthodox writers have been concerned that apparitions of “Mary” will be used as an ecumenical symbol for a false unity for Catholics, Muslims, and others that will lead people to follow the final Antichrist:
Peter Jackson (20th century): To which Mary are Muslims and Protestants being drawn?... Rome began to see her more and more as a "goddess," a fourth Hypostasis of the Trinity…Today, as heterodox Christians become more and more ecumenist and work toward creating a "One World Church," the search has begun for a Mary of universal recognition, one who will appeal not only to those who bear the name Christian, but apparently to Muslims and others as well, just as attempts are likewise being made to identify the "new Christ" with the Muslim concept of their coming Mahdi and with the Messiah still awaited by the Jews. This, of course, will be no Christ at all but the antichrist.
(Thiel B. 2012 and the Rise of the Secret. Nazarene Books, Arroyo Grande, 2009)
Notice something else from a book published in 2012 called Fatima Shock!:
Bishop Kennedy of the Celtic Orthodox Church wrote:
The great deceiver of Fatima promises salvation to those who embrace devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary… We can be very certain that God did not send Mary to earth to change God's eternal plan of salvation. It is just this kind of deceit that leads to other false statements about Mary; Mediatrix of all graces etc. The devil's deceit is felt far and wide within the Church as is evidenced in the number of well meaning but deceived souls proclaiming Mary is Mediatrix of all graces. How would have such a statement sounded to the Apostles? This salvation we enjoy is from God in Christ; “The man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as ransom for all". (1 Timothy 2:1, 3-6 NAB)… We should STOP THE DEVIL in his tracks and proclaim the vision of Fatima to be a fraud, a work of the devil and an abomination to God, Mary and to the Church.
Yet, many who believe that she saw Mary of the Bible in Fatima seem to overlook the fact that Lúcia continually promoted positions contrary to the Bible and the early church. Thiel B. Fatima Shock! Nazarene Books, Arroyo Grande, 2012)
Pope Francis continues to try to turn people to his version of Mary (see Pope Francis: Could this Marian Focused Pontiff be Fulfilling Prophecy?) and this will sadly, also impact Protestants. What is astounding is that many Protestants are turning to Rome now, even without seeing signs and lying wonders, but with Pope Francis reaching out so much to 'Mary.' Many more will once those signs and wonders become more prevalent, including, likely apparitions that people will claim to be Mary (see also and/or get the book Fatima Shock!).
Though many Protestants are 'wary of Mary,' it should be noted that like the Roman and Eastern Orthodox Catholics, most Protestants accept the cross as a symbol, despite the fact that early Christians did NOT (see What is the Origin of the Cross as a 'Christian' Symbol?).
Jesus did NOT come to bring worldwide religious unity in this age:
51 Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. (Luke 12:51)
The Apostle Paul taught that true unity of faith would not happen until after Jesus returns:
13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; (Ephesians 4:13)
While getting along peaceably with one another is biblically promoted (cf. Romans 12:18), those who believe that true unity of faith comes prior to Jesus' return are in error. We are not 'perfect' until after He comes (cf. 1 John 1:8). The prophesied unity of faith does not happen prior to Jesus' return.
The Bible shows that a false ecumenical unity will come (Revelation 13:4-8). It was prophesied to be pushed once the first seal of Revelation 6:1-2 was opened--we have been seeing this being pushed (watch also Ecumenism and the ride of the White Horse of the Apocalypse).
Real Christians are not to be part of this:
6 "Up, up! Flee from the land of the north," says the Lord; "for I have spread you abroad like the four winds of heaven," says the Lord. 7 "Up, Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon." (Zechariah 2:6-7)
Notice that even true believers are warned to get away from this. The next few verses tell about the timing and that God will cause this:
8 For thus says the Lord of hosts: "He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye. 9 For surely I will shake My hand against them, and they shall become spoil for their servants. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me.
10 "Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst," says the Lord. 11 "Many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and they shall become My people. And I will dwell in your midst. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you. 12 And the Lord will take possession of Judah as His inheritance in the Holy Land, and will again choose Jerusalem. 13 Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord, for He is aroused from His holy habitation!" (Zechariah 2:8-13)
So, the Bible is saying that GOD will bring unity--and that is after Jesus returns.
Also, the Bible also teaches that when Jesus actually returns, He will destroy the unity of nations that are against Him (Revelation 11:15-18, 19:6,19-21).
Furthermore, while the true Christian faith will continue (Matthew 16:18), Protestantism (as most understand it) is doomed as that movement does not truly accept scripture as it should (see also Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God differ from most Protestants).
Please, if you are Protestant, believe what the Bible actually teaches, turn to God, and resist the coming, more powerful, ecumenical appeals which will deceive all but the very elect (Matthew 24:24).
Consider that the New Testament teaches:
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism (Ephesians 4:4-5)
The Bible does not endorse multiple religions along with multiple ‘lords’ and baptisms. The time for true religious unity is not now–all religions would have to convert to the true Christian faith (Where is the True Christian Church Today? and Continuing History of the Church of God) and that is not what the ecumenical/interfaith movements are all about.
As far as timing for unity, notice the following:
10 “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,” says the Lord. 11 “Many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and they shall become My people. And I will dwell in your midst. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you. 12 And the Lord will take possession of Judah as His inheritance in the Holy Land, and will again choose Jerusalem. 13 Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord, for He is aroused from His holy habitation!” (Zechariah 2:10-13)
It is only after Babylon falls (Zechariah 2:6-7) and Jesus returns that true Christian unity will occur (Zechariah 2:10-11).
Do not be deceived by the Babylonian ecumenical movement. The Bible warns that nearly all on the earth in the final end times will be deceived (2 Thessalonian 2:9-12) and fall for it (Revelation 13:8). Have the ‘love of the truth’ so that you will not fall for this as more and more are coming to believe that the interfaith/ecumenical movement is the key to peace.
Yet, the Bible says that Jesus is the ‘Prince of Peace’ (Isaiah 9:6) and it will take the return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the millennial kingdom of God to bring peace–not the false interfaith/ecumenical movement.
Thiel B. Beware: Protestants Going Towards Ecumenical Destruction! http://www.cogwriter.com/protestant-ecumenism.htm (c) 2014/2015/2016/2017/2018/2019 /2020 0312
