Overview - Ecumenism and Last Days Apostasy or Revival?
Jude 1 v 3
- 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
The Ecumenical movement is the opposite of this. The Ecumenical movement sets aside sound doctrine for a visible organizational unity.(a misunderstanding of John 17 v 21-23?)
2 John 1 v 9-10
- 9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
- 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
There are a number of scriptures related to the last days which indicate a departure (apostasy) from the true Faith. We tie these scriptures in with the Women that Rides the Beast in Revelation chapter 17. The Women is a picture of a counterfeit church that has political sway over what is known as the Revived Roman Empire (Daniel chapter 7). It is the final Gentile Kingdom before the return of Jesus Christ. Since the Reformation 500 years ago it has been held that the description of the Woman bears an uncanny resemblance to the reign of Roman Catholicism in Europe and around the world. Some would propose the Women Riding the Beast will also include (no longer protesting) Protestantism, Pentecostal Charismatics, and other aberrant Christian groups. This is the result of the ecumenical efforts of Roman Catholicism.
Departing from the true Faith Scriptures
1 Timothy 4 v 1
- 1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Timothy 4 v 3
- 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2 Timothy 3 v 1-7
- 1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
- 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
- 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
- 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
- 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof (not born again): from such turn away.
- 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
- 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
In the book of Matthew 24 v 24 Jesus said;
- 24 For there shall arise false Christs (Messiah like leaders), and false prophets (likely includes false Apostles), and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
2 Thessalonians 2 v 9-10
- 9 Even him (the final Anti-Christ), whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power (manifesting supernatural power) and signs and lying wonders,
- 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2 Corinthians 11 v 13-15
- 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
- 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
- 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
Revelation 17 v 1-6, 9, 12, 13 15-16, 18
- 1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: (worldwide religious organization)
- 2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. (the woman has great political sway over the Kings of the earth ) (people are spiritually drunk in deception on the wide road)
- 3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns (the last beast of Daniel chapter 7).
- 4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: (scarlet is the color of the cardinals and priests of Rome, is the golden cup the Eucharistic cup?)
- 5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. (mother/child worship?)
- 6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration (amazement) (this religion has a history of killing the true saints of God).
- 9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. (the Vatican sits on 7 hills?)
- 12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
- 13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
- 15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
- 16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. (the 10 horns are 10 kings who give their power to Anti-Christ for a short time at the end)
- 18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
Command to Test the Spirits!
1 John 4 v 1
- 1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Understanding the 7 Churches of Revelation Chapters 2 and 3
The 7 churches listed in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 were historic churches in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey). One begins to ponder as to why these 7 churches were selected from the many other churches in the early days? One is led to believe there is a prophetic significance to these 7 churches being selected. One is led to believe there is a prophetic significance to the order of the churches addressed and the characteristics of each one.
The book of Revelation has a number of distinct sections to it. Revelation chapters 2 and 3 seem to represent the Church Age. Our other studies indicate that Revelation chapters 4 and 5 represent the Raptured Church Saints of the Church Age. The Raptured Church is wearing the white robes of Christ’s righteousness and Gold Crowns for Spirit filled service. In Revelation 5 v 8-10 they sing a song (1st person in the KJV) that only the redeemed of the Church Age could sing. (redeemed from every tribe, nation and tongue)
The next section is Revelation chapters 6-19 which represents the 7 year peace treaty of Daniel 9 v 24-27 also known as the 70th week of Daniel. Revelation chapters 6-19 has two periods of 3 and a half years. You will see terminology of 1,260 days or 42 months using 30 day prophetic months. The next section is in Revelation Chapter 19 v 11-21 where Jesus and His Bride return to Jerusalem to complete judgement of the nations and begin His 1,000 year reign. (Zechariah chapters 12,13,14 describe this from Israel’s perspective) With this background let’s go back to the 7 churches.
The 7 churches are said to represent the dominant church of each part of the Church Age. The other churches are present in each part of the Church Age but in lesser positions. We want to focus on two churches, the church of Laodicea and the church of Philadelphia. The church of Laodicea is positioned as the dominant church at the end of the Church Age. As we look at the characteristics of the church of Laodicea we see a lukewarm church, a wealthy church and many within this church are said to be poor, naked and blind! This church is a compromising church denying parts of the word of God to fit in with the fallen world and its ideas. The Laodicean church sets aside sound doctrine for ecumenism, sets aside the book of Genesis as real history, and sets aside the correct teaching on Bible Prophecy. These are but a few of the Laodicean compromises! Jesus invites them to come to true Biblical repentance and true Biblical faith and He will give them the white robe of Christ’s righteousness to clothe them and the Holy Spirit to open their blind eyes.
The church of Philadelphia is prominent at the end of the Church Age because it is the born again remnant church. This church did not compromise the word of God with Evolution, Psychology, the counterfeit Holy Spirit movement or the Ecumenical movement. They put value on being true Ambassadors for Christ! This church has the promise of the rapture given to it. Of course born again saints in any of the 7 churches will also depart when the Rapture occurs!
Revelation 3 v 10
- 10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the planet earth.
So there are two churches developing side by side as the end of the Church Age approaches. Matthew 7 v 13, 14 pictures this.
Matthew 7 v 13, 14
- 13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
- 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
The Narrow Road and the Wide Road have two different views of Bible Prophecy and the Return of Jesus!
The Narrow Road group teach that the Church Age ends in apostasy! Then Jesus calls his Bride to heaven. This event is called the Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4 v 13-18, John 14 v 1-3)! Then Jesus fulfils his promises to the nation of Israel in the subsequent 7 year time period. This time period begins with a 7 year peace treaty with Anti-Christ as the major peace maker. The book of Daniel 9 v 24-27 reveals the 7 year peace treaty.
The Wide Road group denies the Rapture and God’s plan for Israel. They instead preach what is called “Kingdom Now” theology. This is the idea that a revival is coming and the Church will take over the world and present it to Jesus when He returns!
The Wide Road – What is going on here? Who is on this road and why?
2 Corinthians 11 v 13-15
- 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
- 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
- 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
Deception and offering counterfeit ways to heaven has always been Satan’s modus operandi. Unfortunately he also has an abundance of willing people who prefer to follow the counterfeit way versus seeking the true way. The counterfeit way is religion, the true way is a personal relationship with the living God. In the beginning Cain and Abel exemplified this. Cain approached God through the produce from his fields (good works) but Abel approached God through the blood sacrifice of a lamb (shed blood payment for sin). In that situation the counterfeit way person Cain murdered the true way person Abel.
There are so many errors now in the larger vale of Christianity I can’t adequately cover them all here. But because we are in the last days I will mention two movements which call for discernment. One is Roman Catholicism’s efforts to bring all the other Christian sects back to her fold even though there are still serious doctrinal differences. These are the same differences that have existed since the Protestant Reformation.
The second, is called the “Charismatic movement” or the “the signs and wonders movement” which the Bible notes as a last days phenomenon from false teachers. These false teachers claim to be new Apostles and Prophets. These false teachers have great dreams and visions! They claim to be bringing in revival and new manifestations of the Holy Spirit. They will show you how to obtain this supernatural power and its manifestations. They will emphasize experience over sound doctrine! These Ecumenical Charismatic groups are identified in the Bible as a counterfeit move of the Holy Spirit. The Bible says that spiritual deception and apostasy from the true faith will increase as we move to the end of the Church Age and on into the 7 year tribulation.
The final form of this Ecumenical movement is seen in Revelation chapter 17 with the Woman that rides the Beast. Many believe this is Ecumenical Roman Catholicism which sits on 7 hills and has the Eucharistic cup in her hand. She rides a Beast (7 heads and 10 horns) which represents of the Revived Roman Empire from Daniel chapter 7. Some believe the Woman represents a broader religious coalition. Other super conservative Catholic groups say that their church goes astray because the last few Popes are unfaithful to historic Catholic traditions!
Dave Hunt presents the first view in the video below called “A Woman Rides the Beast” – 56 minutes. For your review and discernment.
Ecumenism in Pictures
Catholics, Charismatics and (no longer protesting) Protestants together in an unholy alliance! Is this the Woman that Rides the Beast in Revelation chapter 17 or is it even broader?
World Religions Uniting as one!
Ecumenical Rally with Roman Catholic priests – Note Bill Johnson of Bethel Church and Korean Pastor Che Ahn from the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) as well as Lou Engle who claims to be an Apostle and is a senior leader of IHOP
So, let’s return to why the “wide” road has the “many” on it. In pointing out these things I have no ill will towards anybody but I have been called to be faithful to God the Son. It is hard to point out error without ruffling feathers. I hope those on the wide road will see it as a call to re-evaluate what God’s Word says and consider exiting the wide road and getting on the narrow road. If you cannot honestly say, I know I am forgiven and I can correctly explain why, you have a serious spiritual problem! If you cannot honestly say, I know I am going to heaven and I can correctly explain why, you have a serious spiritual problem! If you cannot honestly say, I know the living God, and show a good measure of fruit both in doctrine and behaviour, you have a serious spiritual problem here!
On the wide road there are many “angels of light” calling out to people, “come this way”, it is the way to heaven! Of course from scripture above we know that this road is not going to heaven but to destruction. What is the appeal? I can see two things that come to mind right away. You can join one of these churches without real Biblical repentance. You can still be the boss or Lord of your life. In other wards you can love the worldly sinful stuff (the movies, the rock bands, the partying, love the world etc) from Monday to Saturday and show up at church once in a while on Sunday. You can live the double life so to speak. Your church is offering you “easy believism” fire insurance.
The other thing is adding some of your good works or self-righteousness to the finished work of Jesus Christ. You are holding a higher view of yourself than what God’s word says. By doing this, the payment on the Cross is nullified and therefore one cannot be “born again”.
Roman Catholicism is one of the larger religious groups on the wide road. They deny the finished work of Christ alone as sufficient for salvation but have added the ongoing sacrifice of the Eucharist or Mass. They have added the member’s good works as meritorious towards salvation. They promise if you follow their sacraments they will get you to purgatory. In Purgatory the fires of purgatory will burn off any remaining sin.
Of course these teachings deny the shed blood on the Cross as 100% sufficient for forgiveness of your sin debt in Gods’ courtroom. It also denies the need for true Biblical repentance. In relation to Purgatory the Bible teaches that only the shed blood of God the Son can cleanse us from sin. The fires of Purgatory cannot do this. Thus it would be difficult to be Biblically “born again” with all this teaching contrary to the true gospel message!
Hebrews 10 v 12
- 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
Hebrews 10 v 22
- 22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
In other denominations and movements within Christianity I see a watered down false gospel or what I would call “easy believism”. This usually involves a minimizing of real Biblical repentance and a distortion of the true Christian path. The “broad road Christ” is here to give you the desires of your heart, make you healthy, wealthy and wise, to be your friend, to bless your business, to approve your lifestyle, to make you popular, to give you a Christian form of the “bliss”.
There is not much about denying yourself and taking up your cross daily! There is not much about the pilgrim journey being buffeted by many trials and tribulations! There is not much about the cost of being an Ambassador for Christ and being conformed to the image of Christ!
Perhaps you have heard the message that Jesus loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life! Does that sound like a narrow road gospel message?
Or this message, the Evangelist says, “Who wants to go to hell?” Of course nobody in the audience raises their hand. Then the Evangelist says, “Who wants to go to heaven?” Well of course everybody raises their hand. Then the Evangelist leads the audience in a very shallow prayer to receive Christ as Lord and Saviour. Of course then these “converts” enter the Church without being born again and join the wide road.
There was no deep conviction of sin by teaching God’s moral law to bring real repentance! There is no call to "count the cost" in consideration of the trials and tribulations that will come when following Jesus! The people are not taught that part of repentance is to surrender the throne of their wills to God!
This type of gospel presentation has dominated North American Christianity for many decades now.
Another even more surprising departure from anything resembling a gospel message is the number of Churches you can walk into and the message you will receive is “just be a good person or just do the best you can”. This is very far off the mark but a common message on the broad road.
What else is attractive on the wide road? Well everyone can have their own view on doctrinal issues. There isn’t really one correct view that the Spirit of God intended. You can mix Evolution teachings and Creation teachings together. There are few Churches and Bible colleges that would say that Noah’s flood and the first 11 chapters of Genesis are real history. Most churches have mixed secular psychology teachings by Jung, Freud and Maslow (atheists and occultists) into their Bible counselling programs. Scripture indicates that at salvation you been given all things pertaining to life and godliness. The indwelling Holy Spirit can take us through anything this world and life throws at us! Yet suddenly in the last generation we have to look to secular experts who have some additional insight and pharmaceutical products to carry us through!
2 Peter 1 v 3
- 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
You cannot get a more wise and powerful person in the universe to help you walk through the trials and ups and dpwns of Life! Yet the wide road Church does not really believe this!
If you have the “gift of discernment” and go to point out some error as kindly and gently as you can you will likely hear, “don’t judge lest you be judged”, “don’t criticize God’s anointed” or “don’t cause division”! So, on the wide road, discernment and judging things has only limited acceptance. We want to keep the road broad you know.
Some discernment ministries for your review and discernment! I do not necessarily agree with every doctrinal position these ministries hold but overall they have mature discernment in their areas!
Lighthouse Trails Research Project
Aberrant Teachings (Mysticism and New Age) in the Church in the Last Days
The Berean Call – Dave Hunt and Tom McMahon
Apologetics on Charismatics, Catholicism, Bible Prophecy, Psychology and More
Roger Oakland’s Discernment Material on the Ecumenical Movement and Catholicism
Roger Oaklands Material on the Ecumenical Movement, Catholicism, Creation and More
PsychoHeresy Awareness Ministries - Mixing the Errors of Humanistic Psychology with the Bible - another sign of the Apostasy
Mixing Humanistic Psychology with the Bible - Martin and Deidre Bobgan
Defending the Pre-Tribulation Rapture (most Churches will not even speak on this subject even though Bible Prophecy is about 30% of the Bible – Apostasy Abounding?)
Various Teachers Defending the Doctrine of the Rapture followed by the 7 Year Tribulation
Way of Life Ministries by David Cloud
Discernment Ministries on New Thought/New Age
Melissa Doherty – New Thought (not yet up to speed on the doctrine of the Rapture)
Aberrant Teachings in the Church from New Age to New Apostles and Prophets
Doreen Virtue – former New Age author and popular speaker (not yet up to speed on the doctrine of the Rapture)
Exposing New Age Teachings Entering the Church in a Christianized Form
Memo 1 to a Friend on the 7 Churches of Revelation, Ecumenism and the Last Days Apostasy
Memo 1 to a Friend - 7 Churches of Revelation and Ecumenism pdf
Memo 2 to a Friend on the New Apostles and Prophets in the Last Days and the Wide and Narrow Roads
Memo 2 to a Friend - New Apostles and Prophets and the Wide and Narrow Roads pdf
Memo 3 to a Friend - True Saving Faith on the Narrow Road
Memo 3 to a Friend - True Saving Faith the Narrow Road pdf