“Held by them in Common”: Is the Deadly Wound Healed?
By Pastor Hal Mayer
Dear Friends,
Welcome to Keep the Faith Ministry once again. Today, we’re going to have a look at the impact of the ecumenical movement on the world. It has opened the secret doors of opportunity for a certain global organization that is seeking to rule the world and bring God’s people to their end. But let me first say how much I appreciate your support for our mission. We rely on your prayers and gifts, for they are the only way we can provide you with spiritual messages that bless your soul. So, many thanks for your support.
Let us pray. Father in heaven, we see the signs of the times unfolding around us and we realize that we need Your grace and power in our lives to prepare for the coming events. We realize that we are in the last days and that we are the last generation with a unique message and mission. As dangers arise, may our courage and strength be renewed, and may You take the fear away by Your presence. I pray that I will be faithful to Your message. I pray that all those within the sound of my voice will also be faithful. And as we study the ecumenical movement today, I pray that You will speak to us through Your Holy Spirit. Teach us what we need to know. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Turn with me in your Bibles to Revelation 13:3.
“And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.”
I would like you to think about the healing of the deadly wound for a minute. Napoleon’s general Berthier inflicted the wound to knock back the Papacy from its position of persecution and political prestige. But the Bible tells us that it won’t be that way forever. In the end of time, the deadly wound will be healed. This healing has been happening gradually for many decades now, particularly since the end of Vatican II in 1965. The Second Vatican Council began the process of reconciliation with the separated churches from her communion. It has been a long, slow and arduous task involving several popes in the intervening years from Paul VI, who oversaw the conclusion of the council; John Paul I, the 33-day pope; and John Paul II, who reigned for 26 years. Benedict XVI and now Pope Francis followed them. Anglicans and Episcopalians, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Methodists, and other mainstream churches have long been involved with the ecumenical movement and have been moving closer and closer back to Rome. Pope Francis has drawn in the Waldenses, the Pentecostals, and the evangelicals. He has even started to draw in the last remaining global church that has a message to come out of Babylon and join Christ’s remnant people.
The ecumenical movement has been around a long time. One of its underlying purposes is to reach out to the other non-Catholic churches and reduce or eliminate their objections to Rome’s teachings and practices. But there is something more important to the Vatican’s endgame that we need to understand. Some of the key purposes of the ecumenical movement are hidden from most people. Rome sees it, but most Protestants do not.
Let me also point out that the Jesuits were established to undo all that Protestantism has done. And since the ecumenical movement has targeted the Protestants among others, it is no surprise if the Jesuits are involved as well. Listen to this important statement.
“Throughout Christendom, Protestantism was menaced by formidable foes. The first triumphs of the Reformation past, Rome summoned new forces, hoping to accomplish its destruction. At this time the order of the Jesuits was created, the most cruel, unscrupulous, and powerful of all the champions of popery. Cut off from earthly ties and human interests, dead to the claims of natural affection, reason and conscience wholly silenced, they knew no rule, no tie, but that of their order, and no duty but to extend its power. … There was no crime too great for them to commit, no deception too base for them to practice, no disguise too difficult for them to assume. Vowed to perpetual poverty and humility, it was their studied aim to secure wealth and power, to be devoted to the overthrow of Protestantism, and the re-establishment of the papal supremacy.” The Great Controversy, page 234
But it wasn’t just the Jesuits; Rome had to come up with some well-thought-out ways of undermining the Protestants without them even knowing it. Right up until the 1960s and the Second Vatican Council, hostilities and polemics had continued between Roman Catholics and Protestants. Rome had to think about how to bring the whole world back under her global political power and heal that deadly wound.
One of the key elements in doing so was the introduction of liberalism into the Protestant churches. Liberalism moved Protestants away from their biblical moorings and moral barriers, leaving them vulnerable to the approach of Rome. All manner of conflicts arose within the Protestant churches, because they no longer had a focal point to unite them. As a result, Rome’s ecumenical approach would seem inviting.
Another key element in getting the churches to join the ecumenical movement is Rome’s collaboration in various social projects of importance to the Protestants. These projects include everything from soup kitchens, abortion protests, to even the defense of religious liberty. In fact, Rome has taken the religious liberty issue away from Seventh-day Adventists, especially as SDAs have diminished their role and engagement in religious liberty.
The Protestant churches have also lost their footing in many other ways:
“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. The Roman Church is far-reaching in her plans and modes of operation. She is employing every device to extend her influence and increase her power in preparation for a fierce and determined conflict to regain control of the world, to re-establish persecution, and to undo all that Protestantism has done.” The Great Controversy, page 565
Most people have no idea what the real purposes of Rome are. They do not see that, while Rome has engaged them in the ecumenical movement, they have opened the secret door for Rome to regain the supremacy she had in the old world. They do not realize that, by letting Rome have more political opportunities and engagement with government leaders, they have given Rome the tools she needs to become the world ruler. But people don’t see it, because they don’t really believe the Bible. If they did believe, they would see that Rome has been predicted to become the world puppet master.
Right now, people think it is okay for Catholics to be in national or even global leadership, and they think it is better if a politician has Jesuit training. They don’t recognize the danger from Rome. And the reason is because of the ecumenical movement. The reason for Rome’s ascendency and her increasing power, and the muted voice of Protestants, is the ecumenical movement. The Bible predicted these occurrences when it said the deadly wound would be healed. Consider this important statement from the Great Controversy.
“When the leading churches of the United States, uniting upon such points of doctrine as are held by them in common, shall influence the state to enforce their decrees and to sustain their institutions, then Protestant America will have formed an image of the Roman hierarchy, and the infliction of civil penalties upon dissenters will inevitably result.” The Great Controversy, page 445
The ecumenical movement began by engaging the Protestant churches in social projects and culture wars to solve dilemmas that were common to both Roman Catholics and Protestants alike. These dilemmas included abortion and “religious liberty” in the marketplace, especially in light of the LGBTQ+ equality issues.
The ecumenical movement was the means of reducing objections to Rome. After all, how could Protestants object to Rome when they were working together in the “trenches”? How could they object to Rome’s involvement in American politics when the culture wars were strongly political? Protestants began to view Rome as a very important ally in dealing with an increasingly secular America.
Gradually, Protestants were led to think that the Roman Catholic Church had changed and that it no longer had a hostile agenda toward them. Rome was friendly with all. And they fell for it. In fact, since most Protestants keep Sunday, they are fundamentally in sympathy with Rome.
Soon, Rome began to invite them to discuss doctrine with her. And justification by faith became the burning issue among those in dialog with Rome. Rome tampered with the wording of her catechism so that Protestants would accept it. But Rome hasn’t changed her core doctrines of penance, pilgrimage, Mariology, indulgences, or even salvation.
Protestants are enthusiastic about collaboration with Rome. They are enthusiastic about progress on doctrinal discussions, but they are willing to believe more than what Rome has actually done with her adjustments. They do not see that Rome is like a chameleon. But did you notice that part in the quote about “doctrines which are held by them in common”? That’s where the ecumenical movement starts! It focuses on points of agreement, thus drawing the Protestants in. We’ll say more about that later.
“The papacy is just what prophecy declared that she would be, the apostasy of the latter times. 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4. 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. … Shall this power, whose record for a thousand years is written in the blood of the saints, be now acknowledged as a part of the church of Christ?” The Great Controversy, page 571
But that is exactly what is happening. Now, Protestants view Rome with much favor. And if anyone objects, they are accused of being a bigot. Listen to this one:
“Romanism is now regarded by Protestants with far greater favor than in former years. In those countries where Catholicism is not in the ascendancy, and the papists are taking a conciliatory course in order to gain influence…” The Great Controversy, page 563
This statement is very insightful and points out clearly where Rome is headed. Think about this. This was written long before Rome officially sanctioned the ecumenical movement. The point is that Rome has been at this much longer than Vatican II. I’ll read on.
“…[T]here 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 Great Controversy, page 563
So, who is making the concession? In the fundamental understanding of salvation, it is the Protestants, not the Catholics. Protestants are ready to yield their doctrinal principles in order to have fellowship with Catholics. This will lead to the loss of liberty, not for those who go along with Rome’s Sunday laws, but for those who maintain the Bible Sabbath. Protestants do not see that, in order to maintain liberty, they need to defend even the smallest group of people whose liberties are in the minority. Reading on.
“The time was when Protestants placed a high value upon the liberty of conscience which had 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 express!” The Great Controversy, page 563
Now, they work together. Now, they collaborate on all manner of social projects, but they have even been cooperating on church services and Catholic rituals, like Lent.
Friends, here is a Bible verse that reveals what is happening in our time. Rome is truly the leader in the apostasy of the latter times.
“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition. Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3
Rome virtually fell away from the very beginning, but the Protestants are now falling away. What Martin Luther did; what John Calvin did; and what the Methodists did is now being swept away by the new fanaticism to meet and fellowship with Rome. These men would have opposed this movement with every sinew of their bodies.
But think about it. It is very flattering to a mega-church leader like Rick Warren to be invited to the Vatican to present a paper on family life. It is flattering for someone like Kenneth Copeland to be invited by the pope to travel to Rome along with a few other Pentecostals and to have a 3.5-hour meeting with Pope Francis. No one gets that much time with the pope. No one outside the Roman hierarchy has lunch with the pope at the Vatican.
The ecumenical movement has played on the insecurity of the Protestant churches about teaching Bible truth about the Catholic Church. So, they no longer preach it. The dynamic among the Protestant churches has changed and now they all want to become friends with Rome.
The ecumenical movement even softens the impact of the global sex scandal. Evangelicals are not so concerned about it for their own reasons, including the need for Rome to help them with the culture wars. It is the secularists that have been exposing Rome’s corruption and seeking to discredit the pope, the Papacy, and the hierarchy. Why? So that Rome will be weak in its effort to oppose their lifestyle issues. They do not want Rome’s religious voice to be heard in the war over abortion and religious liberty, among other things. They don’t want Rome’s voice to be heard when it angles and presses for a Sunday law. After all, how can Rome press for a Sunday law when she has these shameful scandals swirling around her?
So, Rome has to clean up her act. She has to make amends where she can. She has to apologize for her sins and corruptions. And this she is doing. Her apologies have an ecumenical impact, because Protestants can then say, “Well, Rome is humble; she apologized for that. We don’t need to discuss this with her.” This situation will also make it difficult for those who give the three angels’ messages to expose Rome, because Protestants will make excuses for her.
As we have seen, the ecumenical movement is anything but worthy. It is part of the end time apostasy that is healing the deadly wound. Paul said that the coming of Christ could not yet happen in his day because the great apostasy must come first. What greater apostasy could there be than for a global church that claims to follow Christ or act in the name of Christ to actually be worshipping and trying to force worship to Satan? That is exactly what Paul is speaking about. The man of sin is an apostate ruler who presides over religious people, but who is really a representative of Satan. You see, Satan must be given opportunity to manifest himself on a grand scale in order for the issues in the great controversy between Christ and Satan to be matured and resolved. He must be permitted to demonstrate his principles of sin. And one way in which he does so is through pretending to be Christ and getting deceived people to follow him as if he were Christ. The apostle John in Revelation 13:3, 4 also says that, when Rome’s deadly would is healed, the world will worship the dragon and the beast.
The apostasy includes many things. It involves moral apostasy. It involves doctrinal apostasy. It involves seeking the aid of the civil government to force its dogmas on the people. This is the work of the man of sin. The man of sin turns true worship on its head, so that, instead of worshipping Christ, the people actually worship Satan. It involves a spiritual control system known as spiritual formation. It involves the destruction of the home and family. It involves disgusting moral crimes. It involves spiritualism, in which the dead are considered to be alive and in heaven, communicating with us or interceding for us with Christ, even though these things are condemned by Scripture as of Satan. This apostasy represents a system of teaching and worship, which involves deceptive satanic influences, like fear, to keep the people from having a true understanding of God and of salvation.
But the apostasy is not just a bit of backsliding on an individual scale. It is not only a personal sin, but also a corporate sin that involves many nations or churches among the nations. It is a massive system of deception that necessarily involves the geopolitical world too. It involves money, finance, and global politics, as well as lifeless rituals and ceremonies. It involves the veneer of beautiful churches and massive cathedrals, candles, penance, pilgrimages, indulgences for sin and loads of other worthless rubbish that are designed to keep the people under spiritual control.
When a church cannot rely on the power of God, it must resort to earthly power. So, this apostate church appeals to the state, or nations of the world, to help her resurrect her power and might. She appeals to kings and rulers to assist her in restoring her ancient control over society. And this is happening very effectively right before our eyes. In fact, Protestants, or evangelicals as they now like to be called, won’t protest, because Rome helps them with things that are important to them in the culture wars.
Now, I would like you to think about where we are in the stream of time in light of the ecumenical movement. The world has passed several irreversible tipping points. All of these are required as part of the end-time principles that will unfold in our day. In fact, they are unfolding right now.
What is a tipping point? A tipping point is the point at which an issue crosses a certain threshold and gains significant momentum. It is often triggered by some minor event or development that pushes it forward rapidly. Once the tipping point is reached, there is no turning back. It is irreversible. There may still be delays and complications in reaching the issue’s ultimate goals, but the progress continues. Keep in mind that, before a tipping point on a given issue is reached, those that are working to achieve its goals are silent. They work quietly and stealthily until they see that the tipping point has been reached. Then, they come right out in the open with it, because they know that nothing can stop them from achieving their goals sooner or later.
I have watched the signs of the times for many years. I sense that we have reached several tipping points all at once in our lifetime. I have always looked to the future for these things to be fulfilled. And I wondered how the predictions of the Bible would unfold in practical ways. But now I see that quietly, stealthily, surreptitiously, the politics and economics of this earth are being aligned with the power of Satan, and he is constructing the very elements needed for the end-time prophecies to be fulfilled in every detail. These signs are no longer future. We are nearing the completion of the full complement of devices that are required for Satan to rule the world through his church on earth.
Those angels holding back the four winds on the earth must be permitting rather rapid progress at the moment. They must understand that time – probationary time – on this earth is limited and that matters must develop so that all can see the purposes of Satan and his cohorts and make an informed choice. They see that a few precious souls are being sealed by overcoming all their sins in Christ.
I think it is worthy for us to note the tipping points that have reached the point of no return, so that we can understand the role of the ecumenical movement.
First, there is the tipping point of globalization. It is no longer a conspiracy theory, for it is now in the open. Every day, every week, the news is full of globalization or its consequences. Globalists don’t like Mr. Trump because he is working against their principles. But that will only last so long. In fact, what Mr. Trump achieves will be used by globalists in their agenda. Without globalization you cannot have a universal Sunday law. Without a global system of government; without a global economic system; and without a global enforcement mechanism, it can’t happen. Well, now globalization is happening, and Rome is right in the middle. Globalization leads to centralization of power politically, economically, and educationally, as well as in other ways. This consolidation and centralization involves wealth redistribution and digitization of currency. It involves massive surveillance and climate change prevention. It’s all there.
The second tipping point is the Jesuit influence on the leadership of the world. It is phenomenal. The Jesuits train many, if not most, of the political leaders, judges, and business leaders, generation by generation. They mentor them, and then they work with them while they are in office. Even Donald Trump had some training at a Jesuit school in New York.
Currently, Mr. Trump’s choices for federal judges are being guided by Leonard Leo, a lawyer and committed Roman Catholic who has dedicated many years of his life to building a nationwide infrastructure of lawyers, judges, and business leaders who seek to foster the application of our nation’s founding principles, thus advancing a limited, constitutional government. He is picking Mr. Trump’s judges both for the Supreme Court and for the federal bench. Many of these judges are Roman Catholic, and some of them have been trained in Jesuit schools. Therefore, Leo’s efforts will eventually undermine the religious freedoms enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and the very principles it claims to defend and uphold. There’s a point here that should be made. Rome has even learned how to co-opt limited government and religious freedom in developing her power.
Listen to this statement from The Great Controversy, page 566.
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.
I believe we have reached a tipping point concerning the Jesuit ascent to political prominence. And with a very popular Jesuit in the papal office, it is inevitable that Jesuit training will bring more such individuals into political prominence. The Jesuits are no longer hiding their activity. They are no longer afraid to be seen out in the open politically, economically and in every other way.
A third tipping point is the dramatic momentum that the homosexual rights movement has achieved. Same-sex marriage has gripped the center stage of social change nearly everywhere in western societies as well as some other large nations. Homosexual rights have marched right into prominence after years of investment and strategic planning on the part of activists. One law after another that defended traditional marriage has collapsed in nations around the globe. The courts accepted reformulated definitions of lifestyle and marriage and have struck down laws that stand in the way of the gay agenda.
The days of Lot have come upon us. The men of the city are surrounding the legal house of western nations. They would tear it down if permitted to do so. And they may be permitted, because Jesus Himself said:
“Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot… even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.” Luke 17: 28, 30
Another tipping point is the destruction of western constitutions, especially that of the United States. Prior to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the U.S. Constitution had some substance. Now, it is but a shell, having been increasingly stripped of its significance. Judges, legislators, and presidents do what they want, regardless of the Constitution.
The result has been a backlash, epitomized by Mr. Trump. With a Republican senate, he is trying to do something about the Constitution’s loss of authority, at least at the court level. He and his evangelical advisors know that they cannot achieve a limited constitutional government through a political revolution; it is too vulnerable to political swings. Nevertheless, Mr. Trump inherited an unprecedented opportunity to seat many new judges on the federal bench (because of the Republican refusal to appoint Obama nominees during Mr. Obama’s last two years in office). And he is using this opportunity to change the way Americans think about their constitution. This will have a long-term effect.
These judges are being vetted by Leonard Leo, a conservative Roman Catholic, who, as I mentioned before, is scouring the country for judges that hold strong constitutionalist views. In this way, Mr. Trump has set out to change America’s judiciary and appoint ideologically conservative judges that will swing the nation back to its conservative underpinnings and force the legislature to enact laws that will support conservative culture.
For instance, once the federal courts are stacked with conservative judges, a ruling in favor of abortion, handed over by a lower local court, can easily be struck down. That would mean that the lower liberal court would have to be much more careful in the way they address their cases if they want them upheld at a higher court.
But there is one other movement that has reached a tipping point.
With the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s 95 Theses, the ecumenical movement has destroyed almost all of what is left of Protestantism. Protestantism was first neutered and now is being completely overthrown. Again, the churches, especially evangelical churches, are vulnerable because they have not followed the Bible, even though they think they are Bible churches. By the fact that most churches keep Sunday, which is a Roman Catholic institution, they show that they are vulnerable to Rome’s deceptive arguments. And are they ever vulnerable!
Rome’s ultimate goal is full, visible, sacramental unity with the other churches. Whether she will achieve that before the end of time remains to be seen. However, Rome now has the respect of the evangelical and mainstream churches. She has the respect of the Orthodox churches, the Protestant churches, and even many in the SDA church.
The pathway to achieve that level of unity involves many discussions and agreements with Protestant or evangelical churches. It involves the acceptance of baptisms of both sides, acceptance of each other’s liturgy, and ultimately the acceptance of each other’s communion table. It involves the exchange of pulpits between Catholics and the other churches. It involves collaboration in political matters, social matters, and religious matters. It involves the World Council of Churches. It involves peace initiatives, climate change initiatives, and collaboration on other core beliefs that are common to all or most of them. Keep in mind that the one common belief to virtually all of them is Sunday worship. So, when they have come together in all the other important areas, they will then come together on Sunday worship. And it will become very political, not just religious.
For instance, President Trump has brought many evangelicals into close consultation with himself concerning political and social matters, giving them a lot of power and influence. Thus, he sounds like an evangelical quite often. What has happened to the Roman Catholics that were swarming all over the Bush administration?
Roman Catholics are still involved, but not as openly right now. They have pulled back in order to let the evangelicals do their work, because they know that Americans relate better to evangelical leaders than to papal leaders. Evangelicals are working to shape White House policies; but make no mistake about it, the bishops are guiding them behind the scenes. They are being advised which political battles to take up and which battles to avoid.
The bishops also know that a big change has happened to the evangelicals, making them much more suitable for political engagement. Back in the 1980s when the Moral Majority got going, it was short lived, really. It didn’t last long, because evangelicals were not in unity. They had so many doctrinal differences that they could not find common ground to work together.
However, they have learned something from the Roman Catholic ecumenical movement that is very important. They have learned how to lay aside their doctrinal differences so that they can work together to achieve certain common goals. Now, not only do Catholics and evangelicals work together, but evangelicals also work together with each other.
This movement leads to the depreciation of things distinctive and leaves nothing but ceremony. Biblical authority is replaced with human authority, particularly that of the pope. As a result, giving God’s last warning message to a lost and fallen world will become increasingly difficult.
There is one more thing we need to think about. The enemy has targeted God’s church. The ecumenical movement has many goals, but deep down, underneath them all, is its ultimate aim against the three angels’ messages and those that uphold these messages. Rome would know this. The enemy would know this. In fact, the enemy has created the ecumenical movement to bring the whole world on its side against a very few faithful seventh-day Sabbath-keeping people who are the remnant of Bible prophecy. He is making war with them in a subtle way. And, as the ecumenical movement influences the whole world, many of God’s people will find themselves involved, inextricably drawn into the bosom of Rome.
Friends, this is not the time to compromise with Rome. It is time to stand against her teachings. Those who do will be honored of God.
But God’s remnant church is being dragged into ecumenism. Many ecumenical events have become a part of the main activities of the Religious Liberty Department of the General Conference and, no doubt, at other levels. Friends, this is not going to end well. We’re up against the enemy who has far more resources than we do. He has far more influence and power than we do. And he is changing the social dynamic so that we will be drawn in and cannot escape the snare described in the book The Great Controversy.
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. 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. Whoever shall believe and obey the word of God will thereby incur reproach and persecution.
The Great Controversy, page 581
Friends, the Bible instructs us to come out, not get closer. Revelation 18:4 says,
And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
And here is one more verse that emphasizes this point. When God says “come out,” He knows that if we do not, we will be drawn into a web of deception that will lead to our eternal ruin.
“Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say ye, The Lord hath redeemed his servant Jacob.” Isaiah 48:20
Your redemption depends on your obedience to God, my friends. This is not salvation by works. It is avoidance of the destruction that will waste Rome and all who are linked to her.
You may think that things will go on just as they always have. You may think, like in the days of Noah, that there will be no change. But listen to this persistent voice calling you to repentance.
Before we close I want to say that the tipping points we discussed earlier are leading in one direction. They are leading toward the judgments of God. Not one of them is in harmony with heaven. All of them are begging for divine retribution. And the cities are in the middle of it all. If you live in a city, it is time to find out how to get out.
“I am bidden to declare the message that cities full of transgression, and sinful in the extreme, will be destroyed by earthquakes, by fire, by flood.” Last Day Events, page 115
“Strictly will the cities of the nations be dealt with, and yet they will not be visited in the extreme of God’s indignation, because some souls will yet break away from the delusions of the enemy and will repent and be converted.” Last Day Events, page 117
You may think that the cities have already been strictly dealt with. But let me just throw out two more statements to help you see that we have not yet seen the fullness of God’s judgments.
“There will soon be a sudden change in God’s dealings. The world in its perversity is being visited by casualties,—by floods, storms, fires, earthquakes, famines, wars, and bloodshed. … O that men might understand the patience and longsuffering of God! He is putting under restraint His own attributes. His omnipotent power is under the control of Omnipotence. O that men would understand that God refuses to be wearied out with the world’s perversity, and still holds out the hope of forgiveness even to the most undeserving! But His forbearance will not always continue. Who is prepared for the sudden change that will take place in God’s dealing with sinful men? Who will be prepared to escape the punishment that will certainly fall upon transgressors?” Fundamentals of Christian Education, page 356
Think about this astounding statement for a minute. The world is already being visited by floods, storms, fires, earthquakes, famines, wars and bloodshed. So they, at least at the current level, are not this sudden change. The visitations that we see now are only warnings. They are a small token of what to expect when God suddenly changes his dealings with perverse humanity.
Couple that statement with this one from Last Day Events, page 111.
“The end is near and every city is to be turned upside down every way. There will be confusion in every city. Everything that can be shaken is to be shaken and we do not know what will come next. The judgments will be according to the wickedness of the people and the light of truth that they have had.”
Did you hear that about every city being turned upside down? That’s a lot of cities and a lot of people that will be affected.
“O that God’s people had a sense of the impending destruction of thousands of cities, now almost given to idolatry.” Last Day Events, page 111
Thousands of cities? That’s hundreds of millions of people.
“The time is near when large cities will be swept away, and all should be warned of these coming judgments.” Last Day Events, page 111
So, what do cities have to do with ecumenism? It is the cities where the mega churches are. It is the cities where the bishops have much more influence. And it is the cities where the ecumenical movement is being cemented together. Therefore, it is the cities where the judgments of God are going to fall.
My friends, we are near the end. Major developments are gradually, silently and stealthily taking place. We have no time to lose. We must prepare now.
Let us pray. Our Father in heaven, please help us understand that the ecumenical movement is not a friend of truth. It is not a friend of righteousness, even though it may sound pious and even godly. Help us to realize that our role is to warn God’s people wherever they are, that they should come out of Babylon, not get closer to her. Please send us Your Holy Spirit so that we may be overcomers and so that Jesus has the freedom to pour out His Holy Spirit in our lives in latter rain power. Help us to become more versed in Scripture and to be prepared for the crisis and the Second Coming. In Jesus’ name, amen.