I've been thinking, a lot of attempts at uniting the Christian Church seems to focus on compromising on articles of faith, but what about trying to integrate services to have both the high and low church services?
Most protestants hold essentially the same articles of faith, and I would like to see a more united interfaith dialogue.
I am a little bit nervous about this post because I am not into fanaticism, speculation or confrontations. Therefore, this post is not to gloat, criticize, or validate my belief. Instead it is to be faithful to my conscience and God and to warn my dear brothers and sisters in whom Christ shed His blood for. Please do not take any offense and thoughtfully consider the following with this quote from Jesus in mind.
And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. John 14:29
As a Seventh Day Adventist, I can say that we been giving the message, in the love of Jesus for over 150 years. We have proclaimed that this event (protestant unity) would come to pass in accordance with Bible prophecy. Sometimes we been mocked for our views, some people took it personal and were offended. However, many other times the truth was accepted in humility because it was made plain from scripture.
50 years ago + (you can argue less then that), denominational-ism was very strong in protestantism. It was deemed as very unlikely that protestantism would unite or compromise. Today, we now we see differently.
The following statement was written well over 100 years ago and is based off our understanding of Daniel and Revelation:
"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 i
nfliction of civil penalties upon dissenters will inevitably result.{GC 445.1}"
Two steps are involved in this statement, first leading churches will be united, based on points of doctrine. That is in its final stages as you probably already know. The other step is they will influence the state to enforce their decrees to sustain their institution. The author calls this the forming of an image to the Roman hierarchy. (Rev 13:14) Why? Because Roman Catholicism during the dark ages used the state power to persecute the Protestants and other religions. In 1798, the RCC would have received a "deadly wound" (Rev 13:3) when Napoleon captured the pope. The pope would then die in this captivity (Rev 13:10). This, in combination with the protestant reformation, forced a separation of church and state. Catholicism claims that political and religio authority are the prerogatives of the RCC. They lost that in 1798. Therefore, when protestantism forms an image to the Roman hierachy, they create a union of church and state. But again, there is a prerequisite. That perquisite is that protestantism unite on points of doctrine as are held in common--which is and has happened.
Notice this other quote from the same book:
Through the two great errors, the immortality of the soul and Sunday sacredness, Satan will bring the people under his deceptions.
The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in stretching their hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of spiritualism;
they will reach over the abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power; and under the influence of this threefold union, this country (the United States) will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of conscience.{GC 588.1}
This last part of uniting with Rome was as far from protestantism as anything imagined--and is part of the reason why the message was scoffed at. But that enmity towards Rome has changed a lot in the last decade --especially due to the labors of the latest pope.
See this recent article found here from the Boston Globe:
http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/wor...unity-lives/v7y0x8NglzPe6oNWoXIKdJ/story.html
One of many quotes that stands out from this article:
On June 24,
Palmer took a group of evangelical leaders who jointly reach more than 700 million people to meet and lunch with Francis, which he reported to me a few days later, as he left for two weeks in South Africa. The delegates included Copeland, the televangelist James Robison, as well as Geoff Tunnicliffe, head of the
Worldwide Evangelical Alliance. They told Francis they wanted to accept his invitation to seek visible unity with the Bishop of Rome.
....
Palmer handed the pope a proposed
Declaration of Faith in Unity for Mission the evangelicals had drawn up, which they proposed would be signed by both the Vatican and leaders of the major Protestant churches in Rome in 2017, on the 500th anniversary of the Reformation and the 50th anniversary of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal.
2017 perhaps will be a milestone. Prophecy is being fulfilled. What does this all mean? It means we heed Gods warning. Jesus said,
rev 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his
image, and receive his
mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Anyone who walks up right, obeys Gods commandments through His Spirit, has the Faith OF Jesus, and discerns the voice of God, shall be saved.
God bless,
MoG
