Pope Francis scheduled to take a symbolic step today as part of his agenda

Pope Francis is scheduled to take a symbolic step today to try to imply he is continuing the original faith:

VATICAN CITY On Monday 26 May, after 5pm Francis will celebrate a mass in the Cenacle, the site of the Last Supper took place, with bishops from the Holy Land. The Cenacle was once the property of the Franciscan Custody and Christians have been asking for years for it to be returned to the cult.

This is one of the most important events of the Pope’s visit to the Holy Land…Francis will pay a private visit to the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I in the building next to the Orthodox church of Viri Galileai on the Mount of Olives. A mass celebration in the Cenacle will then ensue. Straight after this, at 7:30pm the Pope will board the helicopter that will take him back to Rome Ciampino airport, where he is expected to arrive at 11pm. http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/world-news/detail/articolo/francesco-terra-santa-33032/

Conducting Catholic mass in the building called the ‘Cenacle’ which is in the area currently referred to as Mt. Zion is a significant historical event and one that seems consistent with certain biblical prophecies.

Pope Francis’ trip has many purposes. But all events, in a sense, are part of his ecumenical plans. He intends to conduct Catholic church services in a building that is connected to the remaining wall of what appears to be the original Church of God building (the Church of God on Jerusalem’s Western Hill, currently called Mt. Zion) that was built in Jerusalem. Presumably he is at least partially doing so to suggest that he and his church have continued with the same faith that was originally there. These objectives by Pope Francis are dangerous and in error. They are at least partially intended to exalt the Church of Rome and attempt to get more to support her ecumenical efforts–efforts that the Bible warns against in many places (Zechariah 2:6-7; Revelation chapters 13-14, 17-18).

It has also been reported that Pope Francis may attempt to gain total control of the Cenacle/Mt. Zion area when he is in Israel (see Vatican continues to press for control of Mt. Zion building). It may be that he may tell the government of Israel that they need to do this or the Vatican will even more strongly support various Palestinian political claims and requests. Despite protests by Jews against this (see 200+ Jews protest the idea of the Tomb of David and ‘Mt. Zion’ Church to be given to the Vatican), at some point in time something like that will come to pass.

Notice also the following news report:

Report: Vatican Will Gain More Control Over King David’s Tomb

Israel may not transfer the site to the Vatican outright, but it might allow more Christian control over the site. Is this a slippery slope?

Israel’s envoy to the Vatican denied … that there is a deal in the works to transfer the ownership of King David’s Tomb to the Church.

But Rabbi Yaakov Sevilla, an activist for King David’s Tomb who has told Arutz Sheva previously that there is such a deal at play, insisted once against … that a deal is in the works – one which gives the Church more control over the site. …

Rabbi Sevilla said, the State has decided to extend the numbers of days per year that Christians can pray at the Cenacle. Currently, Catholic worshippers are allowed to hold Mass at the site one day per year. However, according to the Rabbi, the State intends to extend this to sixty.

Rabbi Sevilla objected to the measure, saying that the move could change the religious “status quo” of the site. All present at the hearing, however, insisted that the deal had already been established with the Vatican – whether or not he agreed. The agreement will reportedly be finalized after the Pope’s visit – and the State has stressed emphatically that it will not renege on the terms of any agreement it has signed thus far with the Holy See. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/180625#.U3Uq0CsafGE

It remains my view that the Vatican will gain more control of the site.

Because of various biblical prophecies, it is possible that this ‘Cenacle’ location is the area that the prophesied ‘man of sin’ will come to. In the New Testament, Christians are specifically referred to as ‘the temple of God’ (cf. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 6:16). Thus, if a physical building is something that the Bible teaches that the son of perdition will sit in, it may well be some type of place that Christians worshiped at, like the Church of God on Jerusalem’s Western Hill (the area currently known as Mt. Zion). Notice something that the man of sin is prophesied to do:

3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)

If this is referring to an ancient site, then perhaps it could be referring to one the “Church of God on Jerusalem’s Western Hill” (though only a relatively few original bricks remain). While Pope Francis is NOT this man of sin (the ‘man of sin’ is the beast of the sea, the final King of the North), Bible prophecy indicates that an antipope will support the final man of sin (cf. Revelation 13:11-17).

Even though much of the ‘Cenacle’ site is impacted by Greco-Romans, is it possible that God could possibly consider that the area is sufficiently related to the temple that it could possibly fulfill 2 Thessalonians 2:4?

Although this is not yet clear, there are some reasons to think that it might.

The Vatican continues to press for control of this building and my investigations are continuing.

The day he was elected, I wrote that Pope Francis was ecumenical. I also wrote that the last pope, the one warned about by various biblical and Catholic prophecies, would also be ecumenical. This does not mean that Pope Francis must be final Antichrist, but even if he is not, he certainly seems to be setting the stage for an ecumenical religion that will embrace the world (cf. Revelation 13:4,8).

The reality is it is the faith of those in the Continuing Church of God and not the Church of Rome that has continued with the same faith of the original Church of God building in Jerusalem housed in the late first and early second century. Those interested in understanding that may wish to read the free booklet Continuing History of the Church of God.

It should be noted that it is not just some of the Eastern Orthodox (see Orthodox Must Reject Unity with the Roman Catholics) that are falling for Pope Francis’ ecumenical agenda (see Should you be concerned about the ecumenical movement?), as many Protestants are falling for it as well (see Beware: Protestants Going Towards Ecumenical Destruction!). This is also dangerous for those in the Church of Rome (see Why Should American Catholics Fear Unity with the Orthodox?).

Both the Catholics and the Orthodox have prophecies that there will be an ecumenical council that will restore “unity.” Here is one from a Catholic source followed by one from a Eastern Orthodox Catholic source:

Venerable Bartholomew Holzhauser (17th century): …there will be an ecumenical council which will be the greatest of all councils by the power of the Great Monarch, and by the authority of the Holy Pontiff, and by the union of the most devout princes, atheism and every heresy will be banished from the earth. The Council will…be believed and accepted by everyone (Dupont, Yves. Catholic Prophecy: The Coming Chastisement. TAN Books, Rockford (IL), 1973, p. 40).

Saint Neilos 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, should their complaints be satisfied?

It was announced that the Eastern Orthodox have called for such an Ecumenical Council in 2016 (Afanasieva D, Heneghan T. Orthodox Patriarchs urge peace in Ukraine, agree on council! (Ecumenical News, March 10, 2014. http://www.ecumenicalnews.com/article/orthodox-patriarchs-urge-peace-in-ukraine-agree-on-council-22801; see Orthodox agree to eighth ecumenical council: If Orthodox prophecy is correct on it, this council marks a major step towards the end!).

Whether or not the Council for 2016 meets the criteria laid out in non-biblical prophecies, we are getting closer to the time of the end.

Today’s planned ‘mass’ with the Patriarch of Constantinople is an intended step towards the type of unity that the Bible warns against (Revelation 17, 18).

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Continuing History of the Church of God This pdf booklet is a historical overview of the true Church of God and some of its main opponents from c. 31 A.D. to 2014. A related sermon link would be Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D.
Some Similarities and Differences Between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Continuing 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?
Orthodox Must Reject Unity with the Roman Catholics Unity between these groups will put them in position to be part of the final end time Babylon that the Bible warns against as well as require improper compromise.
Beware: Protestants Going Towards Ecumenical Destruction! What is going on in the Protestant world? Are Protestants turning back to their ‘mother church’ in Rome? Does the Bible warn about this? What are Catholic plans and prophecies related to this? Is Protestantism doomed? Also watch the video Charismatic Kenneth Copeland and Anglican Tony Palmer: Protestants Beware!
Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Continuing 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 do deus?]
Why Should American Catholics Fear Unity with the Orthodox? Are the current ecumenical meetings a good thing or will they result in disaster? Is doctrinal compromise good? Here is a link to a related video Should you be concerned about the ecumenical movement?
Church of God on Jerusalem’s Western Hill Could this building, often referred to as the Cenacle, which is located on a Mount Zion, possibly have been the oldest actual Christian church building? There is also a video titled Does the ‘Cenacle’ deal have prophetic ramifications?
Why is a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem Not Required? Although people like Timothy LaHaye teach a third Jewish temple is required, who is ‘the temple of God” in the New Testament? Does the Bible require a rebuilt Jewish Temple? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Por qué no se requiere un templo judío en Jerusalén?
Who is the Man of Sin of 2 Thessalonians 2? Is this the King of the North, the ten-horned beast of Revelation 13:1-11, or the two-horned Beast of Revelation 13:12-16? Some rely on traditions, but what does the Bible teach? Here is a related link in Spanish/español: ¿Quién es el Hombre de Pecado de 2 Tesalonicenses 2? Here is a version in Mandarin: 主编：谁是’大罪人’？Here is a link to a related YouTube video, in English, titled Who is the Man of Sin?
Jerusalem: Past, Present, and Future What does the Bible say about Jerusalem and its future? Is Jerusalem going to be divided and eliminated? Is Jesus returning to the area of Jerusalem? There is also a related YouTube video you can watch titled Jerusalem To be divided and eliminated.
Pope Francis: Could this Marian Focused Pontiff be Fulfilling Prophecy? Pope Francis has taken many steps to turn people more towards his version of ‘Mary.’ Could this be consistent with biblical and Catholic prophecies? This article documents what has been happening. There is also a video version titled Pope Francis: Could this Marian Focused Pontiff be Fulfilling Prophecy?
Should you be concerned about the ecumenical movement? Are you aware of the ecumenical movement? Do you understand the biblical dangers of it? Do you know what the World Council of Churches is supposed to be all about? Are you aware what has been happening recently with the Eastern Orthodox? Did you know that in December 2013, Pope Francis’ representative essentially eliminated a ‘conservative order’ and said that they needed to abide by Vatican II? Will there be signs and wonders that will help bring about ecumenical unity? Is compromise away from the Bible what must occur for the type of unity that many Protestant, Eastern Orthodox, and Roman Catholic leaders want?