On December 19, 2024, Pope Francis and outgoing US President Joe Biden held a telephone conversation yesterday in which they discussed social global issues, with particular attention to efforts to promote peace in the world. The call comes just weeks before Biden’s term ends, which will give way once again to Donald Trump, who swept the presidential elections held in November.
According to the White House, the US president expressed his gratitude to the Pope, which reflects Biden’s admiration for Pope Francis. The White House released the following statement:
• “Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke with His Holiness Pope Francis to discuss efforts to advance peace around the world during the holiday season. The President thanked the Pope for his continued advocacy to alleviate global suffering, including his work to advance human rights and protect religious freedoms. President Biden also graciously accepted His Holiness Pope Francis’s invitation to visit the Vatican next month.” [1]
This meeting will mark the symbolic end of the current US presidential term and underlines the importance of the relationship between the United States and the Holy See. This type of collaboration between the two beasts of Revelation 13 will continue to grow and will ultimately be seen as a necessary alliance for bringing permanent religious, social, and political change. Rome is taking a more active role in facilitating global policy, and politicians and governments are coming together to implement these so-called reforms. This trend towards political and religious unity is the foundation for the final crisis.
Let us beware of such a union. Prophecy declares that such a framework will be used to implement the mark of the beast through the establishment of Sunday observance by law:
“And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Revelation 13:8.
“And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.” Revelation 13:12.
The above verses describe a religious requirement imposed by the state. The seed of this development will come as a result of the close cooperation between Rome and the United States. And although the whole world may be in favor of this cooperation, God is against it. The beast power of Revelation 13 will eventually pronounce a death penalty on those who refuse to worship the beast and receive his mark, but God will pronounce the penalty of everlasting death upon those who do (Revelation 14:9).
The stage for this final conflict is unfolding before our eyes. Governments must be very careful not to participate in any attempt to impose religious propaganda on their people by law. That is not part of the state’s business, and religion is always in a much healthier spiritual condition when its doctrines are confined to its own legitimate sphere and away from politics. Establishing a religious test in these last days is something that God never authorized or commanded, and it will only bring persecution to minorities.
“Sooner or later Sunday laws will be passed. But there is much for God’s servants to do to warn the people. This work has been greatly retarded by their having to wait and stand against the devisings of Satan, which have been striving to find a place in our work. We are years behind” (Review and Herald, February 16, 1905).
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