On May 22, 2024, the Hong Kong Christian Council, made up of various Protestant churches and members of the World Council of Churches, traveled to the Vatican to meet Pope Francis. The Pope greeted the Protestant delegation and reminded them that we are all brothers and sisters with Christ because we all share the same baptism. This meeting with Protestants underscores the influence and political authority of the papacy as more and more Protestants travel to Rome to seek the Pope’s blessing.
The following greetings from the Pope during his meetings with Protestants were published by the Vatican Press Office:
• “Thank you! Thank you very much for this visit, which is a true consolation: to see all brothers united, Christian brothers and sisters united.” [1]
• “This is very important: working together, because we all believe in Jesus Christ; praying together, praying for unity.” [1]
• “We have the same Baptism and this makes us Christians. We have many enemies outside. We are friends! Enemies outside; here, friends.” [1]
Although it might appear that unifying the various Protestant churches into a single body under the leadership of Pope Francis would foster unity, there are serious risks involved in this action. Prophecy warns that this coalition of Catholic and Protestant churches will create a political voting bloc that will pressure the state to secure Sunday rest by law.
“How the Roman Church can clear herself from the charge of idolatry we cannot see … And this is the religion which Protestants are beginning to look upon with so much favor, and which will eventually be united with Protestantism. This union will not, however, be effected by a change in Catholicism; for Rome never changes. She claims infallibility. It is Protestantism that will change. The adoption of liberal ideas on its part will bring it where it can clasp the hand of Catholicism” (Review and Herald, June 1, 1886).
“When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with Spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near.” (Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 451).
“Protestantism shall give the hand of fellowship to the Roman power. Then there will be a law against the Sabbath of God’s creation, and then it is that God will do His ‘strange work’ in the earth” (Bible Commentary, Vol. 7. p. 910).
The end is near. God’s word warns us that when we see the healing of the deadly wound and the union of the great religious bodies, these acts will precede the final conflict in the great controversy. In this conflict, Seventh-day Adventists cannot be neutral or ecumenical. The third angel’s message is more true and necessary in this generation than ever. This is not the time to give up or concede our position. We must move forward with “the mighty, the most solemn, testing message ever given to the world” (Manuscript Release, Vol. 5, p. 314).
Sources
[1] https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2024/05/22/240522b.html
Elijah says
In the Bible, the word: Oikumene in Hebrews 2:5 means the future world perfected in GOD’s love. In contrast, here on this sinful earth, ecumenism – that is, attempts to unite everyone under the banner of the devil is always of the devil. He invents good and bad ecumenism (like white and black magic), which resonates in the SDA church. Don’t be fooled, there is no good ecumenism on earth, everyone means submitting to the authority of the papacy ie the right hand of the devil.
Fred says
“She is the mother of all churches”
YesMsJane says
The Pope calling for “unity” should be a wake-up call for many of our pastors who have been trained to push unity and only the love of Christ…
Their thinking that they can convert people from other churches by agreeing with them when they already are onboard with the man of sins sentiments simply won’t work.
The SOP reveals the answer to unity issue is to Uplift God’s Commandments.
The Real Love of Jesus would be share The 3 Angels messages with them,
and call them out of Babylon because God wants them to follow Him in Truth.