“There is one pointed out in prophecy as the man of sin. He is the representative of Satan. Taking the suggestions of Satan concerning the law of God, which is as unchangeable as His throne, this man of sin comes in and represents to the world that he has changed that law, and that the first day of the week instead of the seventh is now the Sabbath” (Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, p, 910).
“Those who become confused in the understanding of the Word, who fail to see the meaning of antichrist, will surely place themselves on the side of antichrist” (Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, p. 949).
Ganoune Diop is the global face of Adventism for interfaith relationships. When he sits down in unity and engages the leaders of other churches he does this in behalf of Seventh-day Adventists worldwide. When Ganoune Diop met with Pope Francis and when he meets with top Vatican officials year after year he is representing all of us. [1] It is not the laity or the rank and file members who are having these interfaith encounters with Rome – it’s the leadership, and Ganoune Diop has the full blessings of the General Conference. In fact, all of Diop’s interfaith activities are being done on your behalf.
What Ganoune Diop and others have completely forgotten is that we are not dealing with just another religion. We are not just joining up with an organization or some kind of earthly institution. Rome is not just a government or a political agency. When Ganoune Diop and other church leaders get together for interfaith unity with the papal system they are joining in with “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” (Revelation 17:5).
We are talking about the beast of Bible prophecy that makes the earth tremble when they say, “Who shall make war against him?” (Revelation 13:4). This is the same beast that was given by the dragon “power, a seat and great authority” (Revelation 13:2). This is the same power that changed God’s law (Daniel 7:25) and that is responsible for the deaths of “all who were slain on the earth.” (Revelation 18:24).
And even though Diop claims to have valid reasons for engaging the beast power of Bible prophecy, Rome also has her own motives for engaging Seventh-day Adventists. We are told through inspiration that Rome has her sights on converting the world, but not to God or to His truth. Rome’s conversion will only be a form of godliness without the power of the gospel that leads to salvation.
“Papists, Protestants and worldlings will alike accept the form of godliness without the power, and they will see in this union a movement for the conversion of the world” (Great Controversy, pp. 588, 589).
Roman Cardinal André Vingt-Trois is blessing with holy water the restored campus of the Institut Catholique de Paris. This is the same Catholic seminary that Ganoune Diop is currently enrolled. [2]
The interfaith movement is taking the religious world on the journey back to Rome. This is helping to heal the “deadly wound” and is preparing the world to “worship the dragon” (Revelation 13:4). But to make this bad situation even worse, Ganoune Diop, the face of Adventism and the one leading Seventh-day Adventists back to Rome, is also currently receiving special training and nurturing at one of Rome’s most prestigious theological seminary – the Institut Catholique de Paris. [3]
Top Agents of Rome at the Institut Catholique de Paris. Diop is a member of this Catholic school community.
Rome has become the teacher of the one who represents all of Adventism; while Ganoune Diop is just merely a pupil in development. Rome has become the fatherly figure of the one who is the face of Adventism; while Diop is the willing novice seeking Rome’s instruction. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE read carefully the following Spirit of Prophecy statement. Take each sentence separately and relate these inspired counsels to the behavior, actions and mission of Ganoune Diop. The contrast is beyond belief. The fulfillment is unnerving. The last three sentences, while challenging all of us, especially apply to Ganoune Diop and the General Conference. Talk about going against the counsel of the Almighty as relayed to us in the Spirit of Prophecy!
“It is souls like Luther, Cranmer, Ridley, Hooper, and the thousands of noble men who were martyrs for the truth’s sake, who are the true Protestants. They stood as faithful sentinels of truth, declaring that Protestantism is incapable of union with Romanism, but must be as far separated from the principles of the Papacy as is the east from the west. Such advocates of truth could no more harmonize with ‘the man of sin’ than could Christ and his apostles. In earlier ages the righteous felt that it was impossible to affiliate with Rome, and, though their antagonism to this system of error was maintained at risk of property and life, yet they had courage to maintain their separation, and manfully struggled for the truth. Bible truth was dearer to them than wealth, honor, or even life itself. They could not endure to see the truth buried under a mass of superstition and lying sophistry. They took the word of God in their hands, and raised the standard of truth before the people, boldly declaring that which God had revealed unto them through diligent searching of the Bible. They died the cruelest of deaths for their fidelity to God, but by their blood they purchased for us liberties and privileges that many who claim to be Protestants are easily yielding up to the power of evil. But shall we yield up these dearly bought privileges? Shall we offer insult to the God of heaven, and, after he has freed us from the Romish yoke, again place ourselves in bondage to this antichristian power? Shall we prove our degeneracy by signing away our RELIGIOUS LIBERTY, our right to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience?” (Signs of the Times, February 19, 1894 par. 5).
Can we not grasp the magnitude of what is happening? We are witnessing an attempt to completely surrender our historic, Protestant heritage. God tells us that unity with Rome doesn’t protect our religious liberties, it endangers them. We are also warned that “a large class” of our own people will adopt the ecumenical mindset in these last days, and this will lead to an abandonment of the Three Angels’ Message:
“As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the third angel’s message, but have not been sanctified through obedience to the truth, abandon their position and join the ranks of the opposition. By uniting with the world and partaking of its spirit, they have come to view matters in nearly the same light; and when the test is brought, they are prepared to choose the easy, popular side. Men of talent and pleasing address, who once rejoiced in the truth, employ their powers to deceive and mislead souls. They become the most bitter enemies of their former brethren. When Sabbathkeepers are brought before the courts to answer for their faith, these apostates are the most efficient agents of Satan to misrepresent and accuse them, and by false reports and insinuations to stir up the rulers against them” (Great Controversy, p. 608).
Martin Luther and many of the Protestant Reformers attempted to reform the Catholic Church but were unable. Because Rome as a geopolitical system is incapable of reforming Luther and the other Protestants decided that separation was the only means of preserving the faith. Some today mistakenly believe that Rome has since changed. They tell us that after Vatican II the Catholic Church has changed many of its views. But inspiration also reminds us that Rome is a chameleon and only gives the appearance of changing to accomplish her ultimate objective:
“Popery is just what prophecy declared that she would be, the apostasy of the latter times. It is a part of her policy to assume the character which will best accomplish her purpose; but beneath the variable appearance of the chameleon, she conceals the invariable venom of the serpent” (Great Controversy, p. 88).
Today many are embarking on a journey that is leading us into the arms of the Papacy. They ignore the prohibitions of the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy. They betray our Protestant heritage and ignore the errors of Rome that ruptured the church during the Reformation – errors she has never forsaken. They sign away our religious liberties. They even betray our charity work! Acts of mercy, charity work and helping the downtrodden is never a justification to enter into a partnership with Rome. What does inspiration have to say about Seventh-day Adventists partnering with other groups to pursue charity work?
“If charity work is to be done, the church is its own almoner (distributor of alms). We do not need to unite with societies of a worldly character in order to visit the sick, clothe the naked, or help the needy. This work we can do through God’s own appointed agencies, and in the name of Jesus Christ. God does not design that we shall be placed in any subservience to the world in this regard, or that any communication shall be made by us to them that will give them an advantage over us” (Manuscript Release, Vol. 8, p. 108).
Has unity with Rome by any means and at all costs become the new virtue today? Should interfaith worship and partnerships with the papacy become our new mission? These are the same questions that our Protestant forefather rejected 500 years ago. What has changed? Who has changed? Not Rome. Today, interfaith leaders lament the lack of unity among the churches and work to restore this while ignoring the sins and abominations that created the disunity in the first place.
“But Romanism as a system is no more in harmony with the gospel of Christ now than at any former period in her history. The Protestant churches are in great darkness, or they would discern the signs of the times.” (Great Controversy, p. 565).
Grasping Hands, Not Shaking Hands
“Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of Roman power” (Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 451).
We all have shaken hands with people, but what Ganoune Diop and the so-called “Holy Father” did was not your average hand shake. This was a double-handed, fist-gripping hand grasp. This is exactly what the prophet described would come to pass nearly 130 years ago. Look at the picture below. Look at the smiles and look at the firm hand embrace. It speaks volumes.
The face of ecstasy and bliss.
Here we have the face of Adventism with the head of the beast of Bible prophecy in a gesture of unity, harmony, brotherhood and acceptance. This is betraying the clear teaching of history and of Scripture. The so-called “Holy Father” today still claims primacy and universal supremacy as Vicar of Christ on earth! The Reformers rejected, repudiated and denied all of these claims. By grasping the hand of Rome we are betraying Martin Luther, William Tyndale, John Calvin, John Huss, Zwingli and millions more.
So many gave their lives for the Protestant faith during the Roman Catholic inquisition. They were martyred for refusing to accept and even acknowledge the authority of Rome, and there is absolutely no question that these heroes of the Reformation, including our Seventh-day Adventist pioneers, would openly denounce this and call us to repentance.
Are Seventh-day Adventists now trying to close the gulf between Protestants and Catholics by making interfaith peace with Rome and by healing all of the past misunderstandings? The historic gulf between Protestantism and Romanism was created 500 years ago when Martin Luther took a stand for the word of God. The gulf was created when Luther posted his 95 Theses condemning the sale of indulgences. Pope Francis is still offering indulgences today. [4]
We as a people have lost our urgency. We don’t see the danger that God has revealed in his word about this power. We as Seventh-day Adventists should have an urgency to share the final warning messages of Revelation 14 with the entire world – and especially with the fallen churches. This urgency is predicated on the fact that God is about to bring “punishments” and judgment upon all these churches. Where is our love for them? Where is the urgency to warn them about the coming danger?
“The Lord is about to punish the world for its iniquity. He is about to punish religious bodies for their rejection of the light and truth which has been given them. The great message, combining the first, second and third angels’ messages, is to be given to the world. This is to be the burden of our work. Those who truly believe in Christ will openly conform to the law of Jehovah. The Sabbath is the sign between God and His people, and we are to make visible our conformity to the law of God by observing the Sabbath. It is to be the mark of distinction between God’s chosen people and the world” (Kress Collection, 105).
If we refuse to give this message and instead embrace the Antichrist’s agenda of joining together with them into a false, compromised, fallen witness then we are betraying the sacred calling and sacred trust that has been given us. May the Lord help us to instead stand alone in the power of God and proclaim these messages in their fullness. Under the power of the Holy Spirit we can have a much more powerful and effective witness for the truth. God’s own appointed agencies will enlighten the earth with the glorious truths for this time. If we refuse we will perish with the “nominal churches” who oppose the law of God:
“Those who have had opportunities to hear and receive the truth and who have united with the Seventh-day Adventist church, calling themselves the commandment-keeping people of God, and yet possess no more vitality and consecration to God than do the nominal churches, will receive of the plagues of God just as verily as the churches who oppose the law of God” (Manuscript Release, Vol. 19, p. 176).
Sources
[2] https://www.infocatho.fr/institut-catholique-de-paris-icp-inauguration-campus-restaure/
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