Evangelicals Unable to Resist the Papal Power
Advent Messenger | Editorial
"The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in stretching their hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of Spiritualism; they will reach over the abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power; and under the influence of this threefold union, this country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of conscience." Great Controversy, p. 588.
Every day it seems that more and more Protestant leaders are lining up to meet with the Pope. Evangelicals are going to Rome, not just to meet with the Pope, but to touch him, to laugh with him, for fellowship with him and to bond with him. This is what prophecy has declared would take place. The Protestant Reformation has gone full circle—from fleeing from Rome for their lives with godly fear to fleeing to Rome with teary eyes and humility. “Rome never changes” says the book Last
Day Events p. 130. The Evangelic Protestants have no idea what they are getting into. These are the same kinds of hugs and kisses that were given to Christ the day that He was betrayed. And another betrayal is coming. Notice the warning given to us through the Spirit of Prophecy:
“God’s Word has given warning of the impending danger; let this be unheeded, and the Protestant world will learn what the purposes of Rome really are, only when it is too late to escape the snare. She is silently growing into power. Her doctrines are exerting their influence in legislative halls, in the churches, and in the hearts of men. She is piling up her lofty and massive structures, in the secret recesses of which her former persecutions will be repeated. Stealthily and unsuspectedly she is strengthening her forces to further her own ends when the time shall come for her to strike." Great Controversy, p. 581.
Televangelists and mega-church pastor James Robinson high-fives the pope with sheer joy and excitement.
What has changed in Rome that is causing the Protestant world to put their arms around the Pope with overflowing love and joy? These “glorious” pictures of unity and solidarity are an indication that Protestants have taken their final step towards the Vatican’s New World order.
One problem remains for the Protestant-Catholic path to unity. What about Rome’s claim of papal supremacy? The pope claims to have universal authority over the Bible and over all of the visible churches. Historically, this is what has caused division in the church in the first place. The rise and development of the papacy or the papal office which is the seat of authority in the Roman Catholic Church has absolutely no foundation in either early Christianity or in the Scriptures.
The rise of the papacy is however found in Bible prophecy, but not in the favorable light. Passages like Daniel 7:25, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12, Revelation 13:1-10, Revelation 17:1-5, and several others speak of the rise of this power that will lead the world into the final rebellion against God and His truth. The reality is that the Protestant world is not fulfilling the unity that Christ said would exist between Him and His church; rather, they are fulfilling the prophecies that have to do with the final takeover of the Antichrist by uniting with the great apostate.
The ancient churches of the East known as the Eastern Orthodox never accepted the claims of the Pope from the West. The historical division between East and West took place in 1054 and was not based upon doctrinal division but rather on the illegitimate claims of power and authority by the pope. A further split in the West during the time of the Protestant Reformation was not only about the doctrinal points of justification by faith, but a major point of contention was over the pope’s claim of having absolute authority and jurisdiction over all of Christianity and over the secular powers. This is known in Catholic theology as “temporal” power.
Have Protestants today forgotten this important history? The true path to unity does not lead us to Rome, to Jerusalem, to Silver Springs, MD, or to any other city. The road to Christian unity begins and ends with Jesus and with His truth—as found in His word.
What has changed in Rome that is causing the Protestant world to put their arms around the Pope with overflowing love and joy? These “glorious” pictures of unity and solidarity are an indication that Protestants have taken their final step towards the Vatican’s New World order.
One problem remains for the Protestant-Catholic path to unity. What about Rome’s claim of papal supremacy? The pope claims to have universal authority over the Bible and over all of the visible churches. Historically, this is what has caused division in the church in the first place. The rise and development of the papacy or the papal office which is the seat of authority in the Roman Catholic Church has absolutely no foundation in either early Christianity or in the Scriptures.
The rise of the papacy is however found in Bible prophecy, but not in the favorable light. Passages like Daniel 7:25, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12, Revelation 13:1-10, Revelation 17:1-5, and several others speak of the rise of this power that will lead the world into the final rebellion against God and His truth. The reality is that the Protestant world is not fulfilling the unity that Christ said would exist between Him and His church; rather, they are fulfilling the prophecies that have to do with the final takeover of the Antichrist by uniting with the great apostate.
The ancient churches of the East known as the Eastern Orthodox never accepted the claims of the Pope from the West. The historical division between East and West took place in 1054 and was not based upon doctrinal division but rather on the illegitimate claims of power and authority by the pope. A further split in the West during the time of the Protestant Reformation was not only about the doctrinal points of justification by faith, but a major point of contention was over the pope’s claim of having absolute authority and jurisdiction over all of Christianity and over the secular powers. This is known in Catholic theology as “temporal” power.
Have Protestants today forgotten this important history? The true path to unity does not lead us to Rome, to Jerusalem, to Silver Springs, MD, or to any other city. The road to Christian unity begins and ends with Jesus and with His truth—as found in His word.
It seems that most of the churches, including the Protestant Charismatics, are arrogant and ignorant in their pride and sense of church unity. No one is more important or superior than anyone else, at least not in God’s true church. The true path to unity is found in a repentance, conversion, and in a return to Christ and a return to the truths that He gave to us as described in the Holy Scriptures.
Labels: Editorial, Pope Francis, Protestant Churches
posted by Advent Messenger @ 8:51:00 PM
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