September 18, 1996 (David W. Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org) - The parables of Christ in Matthew 13 depict the course of this present "church age," and they describe a progression of apostasy. ["Apostasy" refers to falling away from the true Faith.] The parable of the leaven, for example, depicts a woman putting leaven into three measures of meal, "till the whole was leavened." Leaven in Scripture stands for sin and error (1 Cor. 5:6; Gal. 5:9). Thus the parable tells us that the error which was introduced by false teachers even during the days of the Apostles will gradually increase through the centuries until the entire religious system is leavened. The ultimate fulfillment of this is in Revelation 17.

The apostasy began during the lives of the Apostles and has steadily increased through the centuries. John wrote, "Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time" (1 John 2:18). John taught that there will be a future antichrist, singular; but he is preceded by many antichrists, plural. We believe the antichrist, singular, refers to the man of sin who will rule the end-time kingdom described in Daniel 9-11; Matthew 24:15; 2 Thess. 2:3-12; and Revelation 13. The antichrists, plural, refer to all who reject apostolic truth in favor of satanic deception and man-made tradition. Thus the "antichrist" is both a man and a system; it is both one man, and many men. It is in this latter sense that the popes throughout history are identified with antichrist.

Another passage which teaches the same truth is 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8. "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming." In the days of the Apostles the "mystery of iniquity" was already working, and it will culminate in the promotion of the man of sin, the Wicked One, the Antichrist, who will assume the throne of this world for a brief span. We are told that the culmination of this will not occur until just prior to the return of Christ, because the Wicked One will be destroyed "with the brightness of his coming." The "mystery of iniquity" is that program of evil whereby the devil is attempting to corrupt the churches of Jesus Christ by sowing tares and apostasy. It is associated with "Mystery Babylon the Great" in Revelation 17.

We see the direct fulfillment of these prophecies in the Christian world today. It is evident in heretical bodies such as the Roman Catholic Church and the liberal World Council of Churches denominations, none of which are founded directly and exclusively upon the apostolic Faith or the apostolic church pattern. It is also evident in the ecumenical movement, which is calling for unity in diversity at the expense of Biblical truth and which is breaking down the walls of separation between truth and error.

In light of these prophecies, it is no surprise that the ecumenical movement leads men to Rome. This does not mean that everyone involved with the ecumenical movement JOINS the Roman Catholic Church; it means they become more SYMPATHETIC to Rome, thus paving the way for Roman Catholic domination. This is evident on every hand.

BILLY GRAHAM, in the early years of his ministry, warned of Roman Catholicism and labeled it a religious harlot. Today he sends his converts to Roman Catholic Churches and seeks counsel from the Pope.

JACK VAN IMPE, earlier in his ministry, exposed Roman Catholicism as apostasy and preached against its false gospel. Today he publishes videos which present the Pope as a hero of the faith.

JAMES ROBISON, as a fiery Southern Baptist evangelist, warned of Rome's false gospel and exposed Rome's blasphemies. Today he says the Pope is the finest example of morality in the world and claims that it is probable that the Pope is a saved man. (I heard him say this at New Orleans '87, which I attended with press credentials.)

Countless other examples could be given, not only of individuals but of publishers, denominations and associations, organizations, and schools.

As an illustration of the change which is occurring in denominations, consider the EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA. This denomination was formed in 1988 from a merger and Herbert W. Chilstrom became its first head bishop. In an interview with the Associated Press in April 1988, Chilstrom described an ecumenical journey to dialogue with the Eastern Orthodox Patriarch, the Russian Orthodox Patriarch, the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury, and with Rome's Pope, John Paul II. This AP article describes the new ecumenical relation between the liberal denominations and Rome --

"When he was a boy on the way to school in Litchfield, MN, his route went by a Roman Catholic Church. It then seemed such an alien place that in passing it, he would cross to the other side of the street.

"Now, as head of his Protestant denomination in a new ecumenical climate, he confers with the pope in Rome and moves about the Vatican as a trusted friend.

"The change, in the short span of youth to maturity of Lutheran Bishop Herbert W. Chilstrom, depicts the swift transformation of Christianity into a broader, shared household.

"'I have the strong sense that I entered a home with many rooms, and that I was privileged to go into four of them,' he says of his recent visits to four centers of the faith.

"As a Lutheran, whose denomination bears the name of the 16th century reformer, Martin Luther, who sparked the Protestant break from Rome, Chilstrom's reception at the Vatican most pointedly dramatized the new ties.

"'I consider it a gift of the Spirit that I have come here,' he told his Vatican host.

"The pope, smiling at how old aversions had gone, voiced optimism about ecumenical efforts, citing important progress in U.S. Catholic-Protestant dialogues.

"The Lutheran bishop was greeted with a hug by Cardinal Johannes Willebrands, head of the Vatican secretariat for promoting Christian unity" (San Luis Obispo County (CA) Telegram-Tribune, Religion, Sat., April 16, 1988, p. 12B)

Consider one other example: THE ASSEMBLIES OF GOD. The dramatic change in the Assemblies of God's stand on ecumenical relations is seen in its treatment of David du Plessis, "Mr. Pentecost." Du Plessis was at the very forefront of developing relations between Pentecostals and Rome. He was the only Pentecostal invited to attend Vatican Council II in the mid-1960s. Because of these radical ecumenical activities, du Plessis lost his ministerial credentials from the Assemblies of God in 1962. This illustrates the view which prevailed at that time among Assemblies of God leaders that Rome was apostate and that it was wrong to fellowship with it. The General Superintendent of the AOG at the time was Thomas Zimmerman. In 1980 du Plessis' credentials were restored after he appeared before the AOG executive presbytery headed by the same General Superintendent who earlier had supported his discipline--Thomas Zimmerman. Rome had not changed during those two decades, but the old-line Pentecostals certainly had. Zimmerman was General Superintendent of the AOG from 1959 to 1985. Thus he exemplified the radical change which occurred in the AOG's view of Roman Catholicism during those years.

The ecumenical climate discourages preachers to label Rome as apostasy. Most ecumenical preachers don't lift the voice plainly to warn people that Rome's gospel is false and damnable. They don't call upon Roman Catholics to come out of Rome. They leave it to the individual merely to attend "the church of his choice."

A recent example of how the ecumenical climate paves the way to Rome is documented in the NEW COVENANT MAGAZINE. This is a charismatic Roman Catholic publication produced by Our Sunday Visitor. The September 1996 issue contained an article entitled "Home and Happy." The subtitle stated, "After 15 years away from the Catholic Church, Jeff Cavins is back to stay. Here's the story of his dramatic journey home." In the 1970s, Jeff had an evangelical type born again experience, left the Catholic Church, attended Bible school, and became a pastor of "independent charismatic churches." He also broke fellowship with his father because of the latter's demand that he remain in the Catholic Church. The following excerpt from New Covenant describes his return to Rome:

"Then, one day out of nowhere, I began to hunger for the Eucharist. I wanted to commune with Jesus in a sacramental way that is not available outside the Catholic Church.

"Through a series of 'coincidences' I found a book called 'Evangelical Is Not Enough,' by Thomas Howard. I wanted to know why Howard had converted to the Catholic Church after becoming Episcopal, so I called him up. He recommended I contact Scott Hahn and Marcus Grodi, both Protestant ministers turned Catholic. One of them suggested that I call my childhood priest, now Bishop Paul Dudley. ...

"In turmoil, I called Wes, a friend and Lutheran minister who lived near my parents. He invited Emily and me over, and we told him the whole story. After I explained to him the way I left the Church and my fahter, West suddenly sat forward on his chair and exclaimed, 'Jeff, I've got one word, one word: rebellion! You have rebelled against the Catholic Church and against your father!' I was stunned, but his words made perfect sense. I began to weep, saying, 'My God, what have I done?' ... The next morning, I did the hardest thing I'd ever had to do. 'Dad,' I said, 'I repent of rebellion against you and the Catholic Church.' My father, tears in his eyes, forgave me. It was a marvelous reconciliation" (New Covenant, September 1996, pp. 18-20).

The Lutheran minister's counsel was unscriptural. If Jeff were truly in rebellion against his father, he needed to make things right on a human level. But if Jeff's problem with his father was based strictly upon his father's demand that he join the Catholic Church, Jeff's friend should have reminded him that Rome's teaching is false and the Bible warns God's people to separate from false teaching. He should have reminded him, further, that the Lord Jesus Christ warned that we must love him more than our father or mother.

"For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me" (Matthew 10:35-37).

Family relationships are important, but there is something far more important than family relationships, and that is faithfulness to Jesus Christ and His Truth. The Apostle John testified: "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth" (3 John 4). Truth is more important than any earthly relationship.

The ecumenical movement does not place doctrinal truth as the highest priority, because to do so requires divisions based upon one's understanding of truth. Thus the ecumenical movement paves the way to Rome.

David Cloud dcloud@wayoflife.org http://www.wayoflife.org/
1701 Harns Rd., Oak Harbor, WA 98277

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