Pope and Romanian Orthodox Bishop on Ecumenical Efforts
Pope Benedictus XVI
Zenit, a pro-Vatican news source, has two reports related to ecumenism in the news:
Pope’s Advice on Ecumenism: Be Patient, Don’t Miss a Single Opportunity
Says Christian Unity Is Important for Whole Human Family
ROME, JAN. 26, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI says that despite our divisions, Christians must look to the future with hope, accepting that victory happens in “God’s timeframes.'”The Pope offered this invitation Wednesday as he closed the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity with vespers at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls…Benedict XVI declared that the goal of complete unity among Christians “has importance for the good of the human family” and is not a “secondary victory.” http://www.zenit.org/article-34198?l=english
Romanian Orthodox Bishop: Dialogue Gaining Ground
On How ‘Domestic Faith’ Is Building Relationships
By H. Sergio Mora
ROME, JAN. 26, 2012 (Zenit.org).- A Romanian Orthodox bishop ministering in Italy says that ecumenical dialogue is taking great steps forward, particularly at the grassroots level…
ZENIT: What is the situation of ecumenical dialogue between Catholics and Orthodox?
Bishop Siluan: I believe, despite voices that say that the ecumenical dialogue is in crisis, that in the last 15 years Christians of Eastern Europe — we are talking of Romania Bulgaria, Russia, but in particular of the countries that are in the European Union — having the possibility and the willingness to leave, made contact with the reality of all the Western countries. We must say that the Catholic Church in Italy, Spain and other countries manifested an openness and willingness to help, which was much appreciated by the Churches of the East, by the Orthodox Church. http://www.zenit.org/article-34197?l=english
While many want ecumenical unity, I would suggest that Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, and also Protestants should open up their Bibles and see the warnings about a coming ecumenical religion (cf. Revelation 13:4-8).
Catholic, Byzantine, and biblical prophecy all have warnings about where this will lead. And although some of the Catholic and Byzantine ones have a positive view towards this ecumenism, others are negative, and the Bible clearly is negative.
Ecumenism will require change.
But will it be the Romans or the Orthodox who will change? Or will it be both (plus the Protestants who end up supporting this as well)?
When I was in Istanbul in May 2008, I was specifically told by a representative of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople that when Pope Benedict XVI visited there, a papal representative of Benedict XVI told the Patriarch (Bartholomew I) that Rome would change all doctrines necessary to attain full unity with the Orthodox, if the Orthodox would accept papal authority. And this definitely included changing Rome’s position on the Filioque clause. Hence, those associated with the Church of Rome need to understand that this means that the Vatican’s current (and likely future) leadership is willing to compromise on something that it has long held as being of “great dogmatic and historical importance.”
Thus, this strongly suggests that those leading the Church of Rome have embarked on an ecumenical program of change such as the Bible and various Catholic prophecies have warned about.
It also needs to be understood that while some of the Eastern Orthodox are looking forward to a Roman Catholic Great Monarch to be the “King of the Romans and the Greeks,”(Tzima Otto, H. The Great Monarch and WWIII in Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Scriptural Prophecies. Verenikia Press, Rock Hill (SC), 2000, pp. 5-6) other Greek Orthodox (The Voice of the Fathers) believe that they only should follow a Greek Orthodox future monarch (The Voice of the Fathers is apparently a Greek Orthodox publication that opposes a Roman Catholic, as opposed to Greek Orthodox, Great Monarch, see Tzima Otto, pp, 34-38). The Orthodox should definitely not follow a Roman Catholic Great Monarch if they wish to follow the teachings of the Bible.
Since Vatican II (a major Catholic ecumenical council that ran from 1962–1965), many Catholics have been justifiably concerned that doctrinal compromise for the sake of ecumenical unity with those outside of fellowship of Rome was inevitable.
The Orthodox have long taught that the Church of Rome (known sometimes as Latins) will change doctrines to those of the Orthodox. A document known as the Anonymou Prophecy of 1053 refers to this as the “Deferring of the Latins to the error-free faith of the Orthodox”, it then claims “The Orthodox Faith will expand from East to West” (Tzima Otto, p. 116).
Here is an explanation from Orthodox scholar H. Tzima-Otto (bolding in original):
Many Catholic prophecies speak of the victory of the ‘true Catholic faith’, while Orthodox prophecies, although they agree on everything else, predict a victory of the ‘true Orthodox faith’…When we speak of the future Council, it is bound to be ecumenical…there will come a true re-unification of the Christian Churches…This Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church is not going to be Roman Catholic as understood today…
The error-free Orthodox faith…The Orthodox did not experience a Vatican II, they did not begin to rewrite Scriptures…Hence, error-free in the sense that it has not been contaminated by satan…(Tzima Otto, pp. 120-122)
Thus, the Orthodox expect Rome to change its doctrines, because they feel that the Roman Catholic Church adopted errors from satan.
Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, has encouraged Catholic-Orthodox ecumenical dialogue and has stated that to finalize this will take a “synod” (Patriarch of Constantinople’s new encyclical defends Catholic-Orthodox dialogue. February 20, 2010. http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/patriarch_of_constantinoples_new_encyclical_defends_catholic-orthodox_dialogue/ viewed 11/22/11).
Yet, notice that according to an Eastern Orthodox, Byzantine prophet, the final (the Orthodox recognize seven previous ones) ecumenical synod council satisfies what “heretics” want:
Saint Nelios the Myrrh-Gusher (died 1592): During that time the Eighth and last Ecumenical Synod will take place, which will satisfy the contentions of the heretics…(Tzima Otto, p. 111).
By satisfying “heretics”, clearly this council compromises and changes the religion, which will be called “Catholic.” If heretics are truly heretics (which would likely include a variety of compromising Protestant sects), should their complaints be satisfied?
The Bible warns about a leader who “he shall think himself able to change times and laws” (Daniel 7:25, Douay-Rheims). The Catholic saint Jerome wrote that this leader was the King of the North (in his commentary on Daniel 11) and Antichrist (in his commentary on Daniel 7 as he, like many, confused the two):
“. . .And he shall crush the saints of the Most High, and will suppose himself to be able to alter times and laws.” The Antichrist will wage war against the saints and will overcome them; and he shall exalt himself to such a height of arrogance as to attempt changing the very laws of God and the sacred rites as well…” (Jerome. Commentary on Daniel, Chapter 7. Translated by Gleason L. Archer. (1958). http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/jerome_daniel_02_text.htm viewed 07/30/11)
(The Beast/King of the North is primarily a political-military leader who will persecute the saints, per Daniel 11:30-35, while the final Antichrist is primarily a religious leader per 1 John 4:1-3 who will support that Beast per Revelation 13:12.)
But if an antipope convened/attended an ecumenical synod that satisfied heretics, would he not also be supportive of changing laws? Many Catholic prophecies warn about an antipope who will arise and who could be the final Antichrist (see the book 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect for more details).
The ecumenical movement continues to go forward and this is not about to bring real peace to the earth.
Those interested in learning more about ecumenical issues as well as early Christianity of the original eastern churches as well as changes that many have adopted may wish to carefully study the following articles:
Why Should American Catholics Should Fear Unity with the Orthodox? Are the current ecumenical meetings a good thing or will they result in disaster?
Orthodox Must Reject Unity with the Roman Catholics Will unification make the Orthodox better? What about end time Babylon? What are the issues? Why should such unity be rejected?
Early Church History: Who Were the Two Major Groups Professed Christ in the Second and Third Centuries? Did you know that many in the second and third centuries felt that there were two major, and separate, professing Christian groups in the second century, but that those in the majority churches tend to now blend the groups together and claim “saints” from both? “Saints” that condemn some of their current beliefs. Who are the two groups?
The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?
Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Living Church of God? Do you know that both groups shared a lot of the earliest teachings? Do you know which church changed? Do you know which group is most faithful to the teachings of the apostolic church? Which group best represents true Christianity? This documented article answers those questions. Português: Qual é fiel: A igreja católica romana ou a igreja viva do deus? Tambien Español: Cuál es fiel: ¿La iglesia católica romana o La Iglesia del Dios Viviente? Auch: Deutsch: Welches zuverlässig ist: Die Römisch-katholische Kirche oder die lebende Kirche von Gott?
Some Similarities and Differences Between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Living Church of God Both groups claim to be the original church, but both groups have differing ways to claim it. Both groups have some amazing similarities and some major differences. Do you know what they are?
The Churches of Revelation 2 & 3 from 31 A.D. to present: information on all of the seven churches of Revelation 2 & 3.
 |
Tweet |
|