Patriarch Bartholomew and Archbishop Williams to Attend Vatican II Celebration

Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople
Patriarch Bartholomew I & Archbishop Rowan Williams

The top leaders of the Eastern Orthodox Church and Church of England have agreed to attend the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Vatican II next month:

Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury will attend the Mass that Pope Benedict will celebrate at the Vatican to mark the anniversary of the Oct. 11, 1962, opening of the council, Vatican officials said.

Representatives from the Orthodox Church and Anglican Communion were observers at the 1962-65 council, which officially embraced and promoted Catholic involvement in the ecumenical movement.

During the January celebration of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Pope Benedict said the Second Vatican Council placed the search for Christian unity “at the center of the life and work of the church,” because it was Christ’s desire that his followers be united. http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1203877.htm

Ecumenical cooperation in proclaiming the Christian message is expected to be a key topic at the world Synod of Bishops on new evangelisation on October 7-28. http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2012/09/17/archbishop-of-canterbury-and-orthodox-patriarch-to-join-vatican-ii-celebration/

This trend towards ecumenical unity is dangerous and is warned against in biblical, Eastern Orthodox, and even certain Roman Catholic prophecies. It is also basically against the foundational views of the Church of England. While the Catholic press continues to endorse it (almost all the time), this will be dangerous for the world in general, and American Catholics in particular according to various prophecies.

A religion that the world accepts (Revelation 13:4,8), but that God does not, is coming. Compromise (cf. Revelation 17), lying wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12), economic pressure (Revelation 13), etc. will make it happen. But the Bible warns Christians about being part of it (e.g. Revelation 18:4).

Yet, within the Orthodox, Protestant, and Catholic world, many seem to be determined to make it happen (though I do not believe that all the English or Americans will voluntarily support this). Next month’s celebration and meetings are another step, however, to make it happen. The groundwork is being laid.

Two articles of possibly related interest may include:

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 The talks for unification involve compromise and the apparent rising up of a changed religion that no one should accept.