“Voices that should now be heard presenting the truth are silent. Souls are perishing in their sins, and ministers and physicians and teachers are asleep. Wake up the watchmen!” (Pacific Union Recorder, February 20, 1908).
Loma Linda University, a Seventh-day Adventist organization that operates directly under the auspices of the General Conference and whose Chairman of the Board of Trustees is a General Conference Vice President, will be sponsoring an event that explores the shared beliefs and practices that connect Seventh-day Adventists and Roman Catholics. Representatives from the two churches will discuss the common principles of their respective faiths and what this means for their shared journey. The event is called “Adventism and Catholicism in a Changing World” and will be held on October 12, 2024.
Loma Linda University published the following:
“The Seventh-day Adventist and Roman Catholic Churches have had a turbulent relationship through the years. But in today’s world many people see them as having much more in common than what separates them. The panel will explore the intriguing question of what the two churches can learn from each other and what that might imply for the future.” [1]
The modern interfaith movement is actively fulfilling the vision and dream of Rome, which explicitly stated during its famous ecumenical council of 1962-1965 that the “restoration of unity among all Christians is one of the principal concerns of the Second Vatican Council.” [2] Make no mistake: this is Rome’s highest priority. That is the final outcome. This is the Vatican’s endgame. Rome aspires to bring healing, reconciliation, and unity to the various Protestant branches, including Seventh-day Adventists, by overcoming theological, historical, and cultural divides that have kept them apart from the “Holy Mother Roman Catholic Church.”
The goal of erasing the division between Catholicism and Protestantism is a process, and if Adventists are to be convinced to embrace the Pope, the spiritual leader and head of the Roman Catholic Church, with open arms, they will have to be persuaded that, despite their perceptions of being ecclesiological polar opposites, they actually have more in common with Rome than they ever imagined.
All the other steps and intermediate goals—interfaith worship, mutual respect, dialogue, cooperation on common causes, joint statements—are only the means to reach the final outcome, which is harmony with “Rome sweet home.” The goal is to change, but Rome is not changing. Rome will never change. It is Protestantism that is currently changing. According to Rome, we need healing. We have to go through a recovery and be brought into an improved relationship so that we can better understand the role of the Bishop of Rome. Today Adventists are told that we need to appreciate the diversity within the Christian faith. We need to abandon our misconceptions and apologize for our past negative words and feelings and instead respect each other’s unique identity. This is the process that will break down barriers and build up a new spirit of unity, solidarity, and fraternity, even despite our differences.
The Second Vatican Council Versus the Second Angel’s Message
Our only protection and safety is the word of God. Thank God for the Second Angels’ Message, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen (Revelation 14:8),” and the Loud Cry Message, “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues” (Revelation 18:4). Instead of following the Second Vatican Council, we must obey and proclaim the Second Angel’s Message. Following God’s instructions is crucial to choosing the correct path that leads to salvation while avoiding the wrong path that, during the mark of the beast crisis, will result in the seven last plagues.
The Second Vatican Council and the Second Angel’s Message are opposite ideas that cannot be reconciled because they are fundamentally incompatible with each other. Rome says, “Come in,” and God says, “Come out.” The two commands are diametrically opposed, and therefore it becomes virtually impossible to find common ground without compromising one’s beliefs. Attempts to reconcile opposing ideas while hoping to find some middle ground will only lead to even more confusion.
This is why Rome’s interfaith movement has withered our tongues and silenced our voices when it comes to the Three Angels’ Message. Who benefits today from our silence? Who stands to gain the most when we diminish nearly every word from God’s last message of mercy? Who wins when Bible truth and Reformation history are replaced with ecumenism and common ground with Rome? The Vatican wins, and her objective is complete.
Instead of becoming preachers of righteousness, many of our ministers have become champions of silence. They deviate away from our divinely appointed mission. And it’s not just some in the ministerial work doing this; the sin of silence is everywhere. It’s in our religious liberty work, our humanitarian work (ADRA), our educational work, and even our medical work (Loma Linda and AdventHealth).
The era of the silent church must end, because a silent people are not a true people. A silent pastor is not a true pastor. A silent watchman is not a true watchman. The horrible silence that exists in Adventism is not the result of ignorance. It is the result of willful disobedience and rebellion. The problem today is that our people are silent on purpose. No wonder they can run with Rome.
The current ecumenical movement only confirms what we already knew. Over 100 years ago, God warned us against becoming silent with our message while at the same time seeking to unite with those who “depart from the faith.” The following statement reveals not our ignorance but our disobedience to God’s instruction. Is it any wonder why Rome is laughing at us?
“The world knows very little of the truths that we believe, and in clear, straight lines the message for this time must be given to all the world. The message comes to me, ‘Wake up the watchmen.’ Let every one now come into working order … We have a testing message to give, and I am instructed to say to our people, Unify, unify. But we are not to unify with those who are departing from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. With our hearts sweet and kind and true, we are to go forth to proclaim the message, giving no heed to those who lead away from the truth” (Review and Herald, April 19, 1906).
Finding common ground between Seventh-day Adventists and Roman Catholics would require us to set aside our differences and come together under a false definition of “love.” The ecumenical movement’s overarching cry is “love, love, love,” demanding that we disregard God’s truth and the devil’s lies. That is not love.
“It is not from love for their neighbor that they smooth down the message entrusted to them, but because they are self-indulgent and ease-loving. True love seeks first the honor of God and the salvation of souls. Those who have this love will not evade the truth to save themselves from the unpleasant results of plain speaking. When souls are in peril, God’s ministers will not consider self, but will speak the word given them to speak, refusing to excuse or palliate evil” (Prophets and Kings, p. 141).
When considering ecumenical unity, we must ask ourselves whether the gospel is being presented clearly and whether God will be glorified by our participation. The answer to those questions is a resounding “no!” God has called us to proclaim a special message to the world, not to be Rome’s ambassadors of ecumenism.
“Romanism is now regarded by Protestants with far greater favor than in former years … there is an increasing indifference concerning the doctrines that separate the reformed churches from the papal hierarchy; the opinion is gaining ground, that, after all, we do not differ so widely upon vital points as has been supposed, and that a little concession on our part will bring us into a better understanding with Rome. The time was when Protestants placed a high value upon the liberty of conscience which has been so dearly purchased. They taught their children to abhor popery, and held that to seek harmony with Rome would be disloyalty to God. But how widely different are the sentiments now expressed” (Great Controversy, p. 563).
“Protestants have tampered with and patronized popery; they have made compromises and concessions which papists themselves are surprised to see, and fail to understand. Men are closing their eyes to the real character of Romanism, and the dangers to be apprehended from her supremacy. The people need to be aroused to resist the advances of this most dangerous foe to civil and religious liberty” (Great Controversy, p. 566).
“Let the restraints now imposed by secular governments be removed, and Rome be re-instated in her former power, and there would speedily be a revival of her tyranny and persecution” (Great Controversy, p. 564).
“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. All that she desires is vantage-ground, and this is already being given her. We shall soon see and shall feel what the purpose of the Roman element is” (Great Controversy, p. 581).
Sources
[1] https://events.lluh.org/events/adventism-and-catholicism-in-a-changing-world
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The Lord has pronounced a curse upon those who take from or add to the Scriptures. The great I AM has decided what shall constitute the rule of faith and doctrine, and he has designed that the Bible shall be a household book. The church that holds to the word of God is irreconcilably separated from Rome. Protestants were once thus apart from this great church of apostasy, but they have approached more nearly to her, and are still in the path of reconciliation to the Church of Rome. – ST February 19, 1894
Rome never changes. Her principles have not altered in the least. She has not lessened the breach between herself and Protestants; they have done all the advancing. But what does this argue for the Protestantism of this day? It is the rejection of Bible truth which makes men approach to infidelity. It is a backsliding church that lessens the distance between itself and the Papacy. – ST February 19, 1894
“Thou shalt make no covenant with them,” God had said; and those who had recently rededicated themselves to the Lord at the altar set up before the ruins of His temple, realized that the line of demarcation between His people and the world is ever to be kept unmistakably distinct. They refused to enter into alliance with those who, though familiar with the requirements of God’s law, would not yield to its claims. {PK 570.1}
The principles set forth in Deuteronomy for the instruction of Israel are to be followed by God’s people to the end of time. True prosperity is dependent on the continuance of our covenant relationship with God. Never can we afford to compromise principle by entering into alliance with those who do not fear Him. {PK 570.2}
The decision makers of the GC who meet with the team from Rome will not bend the knee to Popery at the expense of those of the Remnant!
Just study how God reacted to Israel & Judah’s alliances with heathen nations and their adoption of those cultures & God’s. Lot of parallels here