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Fred R. Coulter—May 10, 2014
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Greetings, everyone! Welcome to Sabbath services!
I gave a sermon last week called Guard the Doctrines of God. You're going to see why we need to do that.
One of the first things that Jesus tells the disciples when they wanted to know about the things at the time of the end. Everyone wants to know about the times of the end.
I think that down through history those of the true Church of God have anticipated the return of Jesus Christ, and it's on God's schedule, not any schedule that men think it is. One of the reason is that we do not imagine what God is preparing for the great work in the Millennium and then the second resurrection. We want to be those who will be alive when Jesus returns.
When you read some of the prophecies that may not be too desirous. However, what will be will be, according to the Word of God.
Matthew 24:2: "But Jesus said to them, 'Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, there shall not be left here even a stone upon a stone that shall not be thrown down.'" And as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives…" (vs 2-3). On the Mount of Olives you're looking right down at the temple.
"…His disciples came to Him alone, saying, 'Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of Your coming, and of the completion of the age?'…. [that was from that time forward] …Then Jesus answered and said to them, 'Be on guard, so that no one deceives you'" (vs 3-4).
Then Jesus gave another warning, v 23: "Then if anyone says to you, 'Behold, here is the Christ,' or, "He is there," do not believe it. For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and they shall present great signs and wonders, in order to deceive, if possible, even the elect (vs 23-24).
Bill Donahue, head of the Anti-Catholic Defamation League, said that the pope is not infallible—true—on the Sean Hannity show (Fox News), and Hannity. agreed. True! Hannity said, 'If the Vatican wants to spread the wealth around, how about using some of theirs?' They are one of the richest organizations in the world. Most of the countries that they have the majority in are not prosperous. I wonder why?
- What would Hannity do if there were a pope who called fire down from heaven?
- Would he change his mind?
- How many people would change their mind? A lot of them!
I want to read how the world has been setup. I'm going to use a term that you will see when we watch a video—I'm not going to speak for the whole time—that tells you what's going to happen. I'm going to use the phrase 'the gentleness of Satan to deceive you.' How does he do that?
Likewise, Paul says here, concerning the coming of Christ; 2-Thessalonians 2:3: "Do not let anyone deceive you by any means… [there are going to be many, many means] …because that day will not come unless the apostasy shall come first… [the whole world-wide rebellion against God] …and the man of sin shall be revealed—the son of perdition."
He hasn't shown up, yet, on the scene; but there are things coming ahead of his appearing. It's going to be looking really, really good because people today are not taught to think!
Those who go to the churches in 'worldly Christianity' operate mostly on emotion and then personal instruction for your own life. The thing that is missed out…
I just watched a video put out by Living Truth Ministry, which is the Grace International successor to Worldwide Church of God. They gave many, many testimonials as to why they did what they did. Not one Scripture! When you have testimonials and emotion without proof, not once did they show what the sins were. This is why at first:
- it's going to be gentle
- it's going to be a false love
- it's going to be emotionally appealing
We will see that, and here is why that's going to happen.
Verse 9: "Even the one whose coming is according to the inner working of Satan, with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in those who are perishing because they did not receive the love of the Truth, so that they might be saved" (vs 9-10).
Stop right there. You have to ask: What is the Truth? Jesus said that:
- the Father's Word is the Truth
- the commandments of God are true
- the Laws of God are true
- the Spirit of God is the Spirit of Truth
What is the spirit of Satan the devil? The spirit of appealing emotional lies! We will see that at its finest in this video.
"…so that they might be saved" (v 10). In other words, nobody is going to have salvation unless you believe the Truth of God.
- Remember when Jesus was tempted by Satan the devil?
- What was the first thing Jesus said when the devil said 'to change the stones into bread'?
- Who was Jesus?
- the Lord God of the Old Testament
- the One Who created Adam and Eve
- representative of all mankind
So, when He said man, He was talking to Himself because He was here in the flesh and talking to all humanity. 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.'
Verse 11: "And for this cause… [because they believed the lie] …God will send upon them a powerful deception that will cause them to believe the lie, so that all may be judged who did not believe the Truth…" (vs 11-12)—expressed in the Word of God, and true doctrine with all the Scriptures.
We are going to see in the world and their Christianity they've all been dumbed down to an emotional level. If it sounds good and they feel good, they're going to go for it, because God 'turned them over to a delusion.'
That's why guarding the doctrine is the most important thing. What is the first doctrine? Love God with all your heart, mind, soul and being! Doctrine is teaching!
"…did not believe the Truth, but who took pleasure in unrighteousness" (v 12).
We are going to see a video with the pope's message to Kenneth Copeland, the Protestant Pentecostal minister, at a ministerial conference. This is historical! It's on youtube.com so there's no copyright. {there are several on youtube.com}
When you keep the Sabbath you have a certain amount of knowledge. When you keep the Holy Days you grow in knowledge and have some understanding of prophecy. While the Seventh Day Adventists are correct in point out what this video shows, they say that the second beast of Rev. 13 is the United States of America.
What we're looking at in this video is that the only way we are going to get the Truth, the whole Truth and nothing but the Truth is to never, never, never accept the traditions and teachings of men or women!
False prophets give true facts to deceive and lead away. That's what Ellen G. White has done. You will see Ellen G. White quoted. If you're going to have counterfeit, you've got to make it look as close to the Truth as you can. The further people are from the Truth and have been educated in emotionalism—which is what Pentecostalism is…
You're going to be amazed how this has come about.
Pope Frances Sends video Message to Kenneth Copeland, 2014: youtube.com, {taken from amazingfacts.org presented by the Seventh Day Adventist Church with Doug Batchelor}
Doug Batchelor (moderator): Friends, I want to talk to you about some very interesting events that have recently transpired that have profound prophetic implications. We're going to take a few moments and look at a unique video that was posted on the Internet. It's a special message from Pope Francis to a convocation filled with charismatic and pentecostal ministers. It's an appear for unity, for them to unite or to join again with the Catholic Church. It's an invitation for them to be one. I think this is very significant.
I'd like to go through it and look at it and highlight some points that I want to bring to your attention.
Bishop Tony Palmer: I believe that God has brought me here to this year's minister's conference in the spirit of Elijah. Let me explain:
If you look carefully, the spirit of Elijah was on John the Baptist to turn the hearts of the sons to the fathers…
Batchelor:In a moment, we're going to be hearing a personal message from Pope Francis, but to me even more interesting is the question about who is this Bishop Tony Palmer, a very dashing individual who seems to have a personal relationship with the pope and is being sent as a envoy of the pope.
He sort of is a mediator in that he's not technically Catholic. He's an Anglican; he has his own ministry that is specifically focused on bring unity to the churches. He's not just going to this conference of the charismatics, but he's making he rounds in every way he can to bring the different churches together.
He does a masterful job as framing himself as the prophet Elijah with a message to bring the children back to the fathers, and he fathers to the children. A message of unity, playing down doctrinal differences.
Listen and see what you think:
Palmer: …and to turn the hearts of the fathers to the sons, to prepare the way for the Lord. And we know that prophecy always has a double fulfillment, and we know that Elijah will come before the second coming as well. And I've understood that the spirit of Elijah is the spirit of reconciliation, to return hearts to each other. This is very important.
We know that the first thousand years there was one church, it was called the Catholic Church, and the word "Catholic" means "Universal", it doesn't mean "Roman".
Catholic means you're, if you're born again, raise your hand if you're born—you're a Catholic. (Laughter)
Batchelor:I don't want to make too much out of it, but he's right, the word Catholic does technically mean universal. But what you're seeing here is in very careful deliberate increments the distinction between Catholics and Protestants are being broken down.
Palmer: Take back, redeem what belongs to you. We are Catholics!
And then there was the split at the end of the first millennium, we had the orthodox, the east and west, two churches. Then 500 years later we have Luther and his protest, three churches in 1500 years – three denominations, not three churches.
And then, from Luther's protest onwards, 33,000 new denominations.
Batchelor: You see what's happening here, friends, is he's calling it Luther's protest, instead of it being the Protestant movement, or the Protestant Reformation. It's sort of being stated as it's really the rebellion of protest of one disgruntled priest.
But this was really a movement based upon a lot of theological differences.
Palmer: I've come to understand that diversity is divine, its division that's diabolic! (audience clapping)
Batchelor:I don't know if you caught that, friends, but that's very significant and troubling. Diversity is wonderful! It's Divine! But division is diabolical.
That's patently not true! Not all division is diabolical. The Bible tells us that the Word of God divides; it's sharper than any two-edged sword. Jesus said, 'I have not come to send peace, but to send a sword.' Paul tells us that we must come out and be separate. When the apostles, in their day, took a stand for the Truth, there was a division that took place between themselves and the big church.
So, in the last days, when we take a stand for the Truth, we're going to be called not only divisive, we're going to be called diabolical.
Palmer:It's true what you were saying about the glory, I agree with you of course it's true.
The glory that the Father had he gave to Jesus. The glory was the presence of God.
What is the charismatic renewal? It's when we experience the presence of God, and he said and I give them the glory, pragmatic reason, so that they may be one! It's the glory that glues us together, not the doctrines.
Batchelor: He says it's the glory that glues us together, not the doctrines. Well, I don't know if I mentioned earlier, Bishop Tony Palmer is also a charismatic. He speaks in tongues. He supports that. The charismatic movement is a very interesting movement, in that it is a form of spiritualism that has come into the Christian church. As a matter of fact, more emphasis is put on the spirit than on doctrine.
One more thing I thought I should insert at this point, as we're talking about who is this Tony Palmer? He told the crowd that 'when my wife saw that she could be a Catholic, a charismatic, evangelical and pentecostal—and it was absolutely excepted in the Catholic Church—she said that she wanted to reconnect her roots with the Catholic culture'; so she did!
There's no mistaking what his goal is. He said that his wife believed that she could be all of these things and reconnect to the Catholic culture. This is going to be the goal. Everybody comes together in the Christian world recognizing the Catholic culture.
Palmer:It's the glory. If you accept that Christ is living in me and the presence of God is in me and the presence of God is in you, that's all we need, because God will sort out all our doctrines when we get upstairs.
Batchelor: Don't worry about doctrine, we'll sort out all the doctrines when we get to heaven. Let's just love each here. But doctrine is very important.
Jesus said, 'You'll know the Truth and the Truth will set you free!' When Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount, the people were amazed at His doctrine. So, what are we going to do, eliminate the Sermon on the Mount because we're just supposed to love each other; we'll sort out the doctrines later.
This is going to be the mantra that you're going to hear over and over again.
Palmer:Therefore Christian unity is the basis of our credibility, because Jesus said "until they're one they will not believe." The world will not believe, as they should, until we are one.
Division destroys our credibility. It is fear that keeps us separated, because fear is false evidence appearing real, it's an acronym F E A R false evidence appearing real, because most of your fear is based on propaganda.
Batchelor: What we're really hearing here is that the Protestant Reformation teachings are propaganda that incites fear. So, it's bad; don't worry about this propaganda.
Palmer:Now why is it historic? Because in 1999, the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant Lutheran Church signed an agreement that brought an end to the protest.
Luther believed that we are saved by grace through faith—alone, (comment from crowd) Amen, but that's not it….
Batchelor: Correction: It wasn't just Luther that believed this. It was tens of thousands of dedicated Christians that wanted to get back to the Bible. Wycliff believed it! Tyndale believed it. All the great reformers believed it; it wasn't just Luther.
Palmer: …The Catholic Church believed that we were saved by works—and that was the protest!
Batchelor:In 1999, they wrote this together, because in the Protestant Church we've got a lot of cheap salvations; people were getting born again but no fruit whatsoever. And because we didn't even look for fruits, it wasn't the issue, cause it wasn't necessary for salvation, and no its not, but it's a good judge if you are saved.
So what these two churches did, they put the two definitions together—listen to it—I'm reading verbatim from the Catholic Vatican website:
"Justification means that Christ himself is our righteousness, in which we share through the Holy Spirit in accord with the will of the Father. Together we, Catholics and Protestants, Lutherans, believe and confess that by grace alone in faith in Christ's saving works and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit who renews our hearts while equipping and calling us to good works." (audience cheering and clapping)
Batchelor: This may sound like it was just a protest of Luther. Luther didn't protest against one thing, he nailed 95 different points of protest on the doors other Wittenberg Church. This addressing only one of the issues; it's not the only issue.
You'll notice in the language that's used in this agreement. It's very convoluted and cagey, because the Catholics were looking for wording where they would not need to renounce what they formally believe or say there was anything wrong with their doctrines. I don't have time to go into that, but it's not exactly what it appears on the surface.
Palmer:This brought an end to the protest of Luther! Brothers and sisters, the protest is over—is yours?
In 1999 this was signed, by the Lutheran church, the federation worldwide, later, about five years later, the worldwide Methodists signed the same agreement, but as of today we still have had no Protestant Evangelical that will stand up and sign this agreement, to agree with our brothers and sisters that we are saved by grace through faith to good works.
And I believe that's something that needs to be fixed….
Batchelor: It was! He's really throwing down the gauntlet. So, he's saying Lutherans have signed an agreement and the protest is over, and the Methodists signed this agreement, and now we're looking for the evangelicals and pentecostals to sign this agreement so we can all be one again. The Protestant Reformation is not necessary, we're all in harmony now.
Palmer: …There's a challenge for you. So the protest has been over for 15 years. And I get a bit cheeky here, cause I challenge my Protestant pastor friends, if there is no more protest, how can there be a Protestant church?
Batchelor: I think this easy for us to see where this is going. The distinction in Protestants and Catholics is being chipped away at. This is a movement toward one-world religion. This is exactly what prophecy says has to happen before Jesus comes back.
The world is being shaken right now. There will only be two groups when Christ comes back. One group will have the seal of God and the other group will have the mark of the beast. Obviously, if there are 33,000 different Christian denominations, something has to happen to polarize these two groups into one of those two camps. This is where you're seeing prophecy being fulfilled right now. These are the kinds of statements, the kinds of appeals that will be made to bring everybody together into one unified body, where we downplay doctrine and downplay the Bible.
Palmer:Maybe we, now we're all Catholics again! (audience Laughing) But we are reformed; we're Catholic in the Universal sense. We're not protesting the doctrine of salvation by the Catholic church anymore, we now preach the same gospel…
Batchelor: Do we preach the same gospel? Unless there have been some radical changes since 1999 that I don't know about, just to give you a few examples of some of the distinctive differences that brought about the Protestant Reformation, the Bible teaches that we're not to bow down to statues. That's one of the Ten Commandments, and the Law of God is part of the Gospel. The Roman Catholic Church says that we should bow down to statues.
The Bible teaches that all have sinned except Jesus. The Roman Catholic Church teaches that Mary was sinless.
The Bible says that Jesus is the only Mediator between God and man. The Roman Catholic Church says that Mary is co-mediator.
The Bible teaches that Christ offered His sacrifice once on the cross for all (Heb. 7:27). The Roman Catholic Churches teaches that the priest sacrifices Christ on the altar whenever he conducts Mass.
The Bible teaches that all Christians are saints and priests (Eph. 1:1). The Roman Catholic Church says that saints and priests are a special caste within the Christian community.
The Bible teaches that all Christians should know that they have eternal life (1-John 5:13). The Roman Catholic Church teaches cannot and should not know that they have eternal life.
The Bible teaches that we should call no religious leader father. The Roman Catholic Church teaches that we may call all the priests and the pope father. Bishop Tony Palmer is also called 'Father' Tony.
The Bible teaches not to pray in vain repetition. Yet, the Roman Catholic Church says that you can say 'hail Mary and our father' in vain repetition.
The Bible teaches to confess your sins to God only, that only God can forgive sin. The Roman Catholic Church says that you must confess your sins to the priest.
The Bible teaches that before baptism a person should be taught the Gospel and the commandments of Christ, believe and repent. The Roman Catholic Church teaches little infants can be baptized, or if they die before they'll be consigned to hell. The teachings regarding purgatory, limbo and prayers to the dead are nowhere in Scripture, but they are relics of paganism.
There are great differences theologically between what the Protestants died for—they shed their blood for these principles of truth—and what the Catholic and some of the Orthodox churches believe.
Are we just supposed to say that Truth doesn't matter anymore? Let's just love each other and that's how we're going to do evangelism? Evangelism must be based on Truth!
Palmer:…We now preach you're saved by grace through faith alone—the word Alone was the argument for 500 years! The word alone is there, you can read it yourself—the protest is over! The protest is over! (audience clapping)
So let me pray and then we'll start the video. I believe we will begin to see more and more people called out, to go into the world and work among the churches in the spirit of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to the fathers to make ready a people prepared for the Lord—ministries of reconciliation.
We need to throw as much resources and energy into the ministry of reconciliation as we do to the ministry of evangelization. Or are we building walls without foundations?
I challenge you to find a bridge builder and back him—or her.
And I'd like to pray this prayer and if you agree you can say amen. This was a dying man's prayer, and when you know you're about to die, you certainly pray the most important prayers.
He said, I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in me through their word that they all may be one as you father are in me and I in you, that they may also be one in us, so that the world may believe that you sent me. And the glory, which you have given me, I have given them, that they may be one as we are one. Glory to the Father. Amen. (audience Amen & Clapping)
Batchelor: So, part of that prayer of Jesus is, of course, that there would be oneness, that we could be united. But it also says in John 17:17: "Sanctify them through thy truth. Thy Word is Truth."
What it's going to be that will unite us is the Spirit of God and the Spirit is the Truth of God. The teachings, yes, those are the words. Again, John 16:13: "However, when he, the Spirit of Truth, has come, he will guide you into all Truth." It's through the Truth that we will have unity. It's through the doctrines. That's what brings people together. As we come closer together in theology of the Bible, the doctrines of Truth, we come closer together in Christ, because Jesus is the Word made flesh.
It's not that we come closer together in a feeling of charisma or a feeling of glory when we're baptized with the gift of tongues. That's not brings a church together. That's not what real unity is. There's very little reference to the Word of God and Truth that sets us free in this.
Now he's going to be playing his segment from the pope:
Pope Francis: "Dear Brothers and Sisters Excuse me, because I speak in Italian. But I am not speaking English. But I will speak no Italian, no English, but 'heartfully'.
Batchelor: First, I think the audience was thunderstruck when they saw the pope come on the screen, that it actually is the pope. This isn't a letter that's being read from the pope; the pope himself was specifically addressing this conference.
As a matter of fact, in the video message he says, "I've sent my friend Tony Palmer—a longtime friend—with this message." It makes you wonder about the gravitas that this person has in the Vatican, and if we're going to be seeing more of him.
Again, I want to reiterate that the greatest part of Christ's true followers are not members of my church. I believe that there are genuine, sincere Christians in many different denominations. The pope himself seems like a wonderful man. He reminds me of my grandfather. He looks just like my grandfather.
But I jus want to make sure that everybody is not tricked into thinking that this is all as homey and heartfelt as it's being made to appear. It's very possible that this message was somewhat scripted and that there were some notes that were reviewed and then it was delivered extemporaneously, but there was an outline, so this message, I think, is strategic. It might have been put on a smart-phone so that it appears to be just on the couch.
Pope Francis: changes to Italian: It's a language, more simple and more authentic. And this language of the heart has special [particular] language and grammar. A simple grammar.
Batchelor: That is the statement that I hear as I do evangelism around the country and the world from other Christians. They say we don't need the Ten Commandments.
It is true that the Ten Commandments are summarized: love for God and love for neighbor. It's in the heart. But sometimes those statements are used to diminish the importance of specifically obeying God's commandments. So, while this is beautiful—and I do agree that we need to love the Lord and love our neighbor—that is not to diminish the importance of specifically obeying the Ten Commandments.
Pope Francis: "Two rules: Love God above all, and love the other (neighbor), because he is your brother and sister. With these two rules we can go ahead. I am here with my brother, my bishop brother, Tony Palmer. We've been friends for years.
He told me about your conference, about your meeting. And it's my pleasure to greet you. A greeting both joyful and nostalgic (yearning).
Joyful because it gives me joy that you have come together to worship Jesus Christ the only Lord. And to pray to the Father and to receive the Holy Spirit. This brings me joy because we can see that God is working all over the world. Nostalgic (yearning) because but…it happens, as within our suburbs. In the suburbs there are families that love each other and families that don't love each other, families that come together and families who separate themselves. We are kind of…permit me to say, separated.
Batchelor: He's basically saying, 'I greet you with joy, that you're gathered together to worship Jesus. But I'm also doing it with nostalgia or yearning,' meaning 'I'm looking back to when we were one family.' And we need to be one family again, is the emphasis of the message.
Pope Francis: Separated because, it's sin that has separated us, all our sins, the misunderstandings throughout history.
It has been a long road of sins that we all shared in. Who is to blame? We all share the blame. We have all sinned. There is only one blameless, the Lord.
Batchelor:To me, this could be the biggest understatement of the Millennium; that all those 30-50 million people that were executed by the Catholic Church, 'this was a big misunderstanding and we don't know who's to blame.'
I think it was because there was such a great divergence of theology that people would not recognize the superiority and the authority of the church; and I don't think they've changed their view on that point.
Pope Francis: I am nostalgic (yearning), that this separation comes to an end and gives us communion. I am nostalgic (yearning), of that embrace. That the Holy Scripture speaks of when Joseph's brothers began to starve from hunger, they went to Egypt, to buy, so that they could eat. They went to buy. They had money. But they couldn't eat the money. But there they found something more than food, they found their brother.
All of us have currency. The currency of our culture. The currency of our history. (pope starts handling his necklace then opens it) We have lot of cultural riches, and religious riches. And we have diverse traditions. (pope makes eye contact with viewer and abruptly snaps necklace shut) But we have to encounter one another as brothers. We must cry together like Joseph did. These tears will unite us. The tears of love.
Batchelor: Now, here the pope transitions into a discourse—it's really brilliant—talking about an embrace. Then he references the story of Joseph. As he talks about the story of Joseph, make sure that you understand the pictures that are coming up in the minds of the listeners. He is couching himself in the Catholic Church as Joseph, who was misunderstood and betrayed by his brothers, but his brothers began to starve, for only Joseph could give them.
They came and ultimately bowed down to Joseph, and Joseph ended up being the ruler over them. They had been separated from their brother, but they came and embraced him in the end. Joseph embraced his brothers and he forgave his brothers for what they had done.
You decide, as you're watching (reading) this little analogy: Who is Joseph in this story?
I am speaking to you as a brother. I speak to you in a simple way. With joy and nostalgia (yearning). Let us allow our nostalgia (yearning) to grow, because this will propel us to find each other, to embrace one another. And together to worship Jesus Christ as the only Lord of History.
I thank you profoundly for listening to me. I thank you profoundly for allowing me to speak the language of the heart. And I also ask you a favor. Please pray for me, because I need your prayers. And I will pray for you, I will do it, but I need your prayers. And let us pray to the Lord that He unites us all. Come on, we are brothers. Let's give each other a spiritual hug and let God complete the work that he has begun. And this is a miracle; the miracle of unity has begun.
A famous Italian author named Manzoni, once wrote in his novel, of a simple man amongst the people, who once said this, "I've never seen God begin a miracle without Him finishing it well." He will complete this miracle of unity. I ask you to bless me, and I bless you. From brother to brother, I embrace you. Thank you.
Batchelor: I tried to just let the pope speak uninterrupted, because I thought it was important for you to get this. I just really can't improve on it. There's an appeal, they embrace each other, a miracle of unity that we blend our tears together, that we're all brothers. This is really an appeal for wayward Protestants to come home.
By the way, when Joseph's brother found Joseph, they ended up moving down to Egypt where Joseph was.
Now Pastor Kenneth Copeland comes up, who was really a disciple of Oral Roberts himself. He's probably one of the most premiere charismatic leaders in North America. He is also a pretty well known prosperity preacher. It's interesting that Pastor Ken Copeland and Pope Francis are both 77-years-old, so they're coming from the same era.
After this room full of… These are not just layman, these are leaders, ministers in the charismatic movement. They hear this message from the pope, they rise to their feet, they applaud, they raise their hands in the air and they think this is wonderful.
They seem to embracing what the message is saying.
Ken Copeland (praying): Father, we answer his (the pope's) request, and since we know not how to pray for him as we ought to other than to agree with him in his quest and in his heart for the unity of the body of Christ. We come together in the unity of our faith.
Batchelor: It seems to me like he's agreeing with what the pope said, that we're going to come together in the unity of our faith. Just wanted to make that point.
Ken Copeland: So, Father, we just now, according to Scripture, when we know not how to pray as we ought, we pray for him in the spirit, we receive utterance in the holy ghost. We receive prayers of faith. We receive, sir, we receive words that are not our own. (speaking foreign language)
Batchelor: I don't see any example in the Bible of Jesus praying like this. Jesus said that 'you will speak with other tongues,' He meant that the disciples would supernaturally be given the ability to speak languages they did not formally know or study for the purpose of preaching the Gospel to people who speak those languages.
Ken Copeland: (continues in a foreign language and the turns to chanting) Tony, come here and bring your phone with you.
I want you to video a message back, and let's do it this way so he can see this whole congregation.
Batchelor: It's actually a brilliant idea for marketing purposes that Kenneth Copeland says that now we would like to send a personal message back to the Vatican, back to the pope.
Ken Copeland: My dead sir, thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts. All of these leaders represent literally tens of thousands of people that love you, that believe God with you, and in answer to your request, we have just prayed for you and with you, and we did so in the spirit.
We believe we received, according to the words of Jesus in Mark 11:24, 'Whatsoever thing you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them and you shall have them.'
Our desire, sir, along with you, is in the 4th chapter of the book of Ephesians: 'Till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a mature man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.'
Thank you, sir. We do bless you. We receive your blessing; it's very, very important to us. We bless you with all of our hearts. We bless you with all of our souls. We bless you with all of our might. And we thank you, sir; we thank God for you.
So, all of us declare together, be blessed! Be blessed! Amen! Amen! Amen!
Batchelor: So, Bishop Tony was now inviting Kenneth Copeland to come to the Vatican. It will be interesting to see if that happens, and how that plays out.
Also, I don't think anyone could miss that they seemed to embrace the message of the pope for unity, saying, 'we want your blessing, and we want to bless you.'
Ken Copeland: God's will be done! Amen! Tony, Thank you, sir. My how you have blessed this place tonight. (Whooping and hollering) I'm telling you right now, heaven is thrilled over this.
Do you know what's so thrilling to me? I mean, when we went into the ministry over 47 years ago this was impossible.
Batchelor: That's right, he recognized hoe much things have changed since he went into the ministry, because the charismatics and the pentecostals were very much Protestant and they taught that the beast of Revelation, back then, was the Catholic Church.
Things have radically changed and you can see that in black and white in their teaching.
Fiends, I would like to close by reading something to you, and I would like to suggest that your do a little further study.
This is from chapter 35 in the book Great Controversy [by Ellen G. White], and you tell me if you think that prophecy is being fulfilled.
Romanism is now regarded by Protestants with far greater favor than in former years. In those countries where Catholicism is not in the ascendancy, and the papists are taking a conciliatory course in order to gain influence, there is an increasing indifference concerning the doctrines that separate the reformed churches from the papal hierarchy; the opinion is gaining ground, that, after all, we do not difference so widely upon vital points as has been supposed, and that a little concession on our part will bring us into a better understanding with Rome. The time was when Protestants placed a high value upon the liberty of conscience which had been so dearly purchased. They taught their children to abhor popery, and that to seek harmony with Rome would be disloyalty to God. But how widely different are the sentiments now expressed. (Great Controversy by Ellen G. White, pg 563.
Friends, today this prophecy is fulfilled in your hearing. In light of all these things that are happening, I know now why the Lord helped us get through three and half years in producing the one very important 90 minute DVD. This is a docudrama that Amazing Facts has just released. It's called The Revelation: The Bride, the Beast and Babylon.
If you watch this you will understand why these issues are so significant and how close we are to the end of time.
I want to emphasize in closing that this is just one more important landmark in prophecy. There's still a lot left to happen that we need to understand. But even knowing the details of prophecy is not going to be the thing that will save us.
We need to have a daily personal relationship with Jesus that's based on His Truth and His Word. Are you studying the Word? Do you walk with the Lord? It's a Truth that will set you free, friends. We need to pray that if there's anything that we're holding back, that's keeping us from really surrendering ourselves fully to Jesus, taking up our cross and following Him, that you'll choose to do that today.
Have you ever wondered what it would look like when prophecies are fulfilled? What more can you expect than personal messages from the pope to Protestants. I think we're seeing these things happen right now.
I'm sure you were very surprised to know that this occurred. I didn't know it occurred until Ron Cary our webmaster sent it to me. He said, 'This has got to be important.' I think it's very important, so we'll look at a couple of things here.
How do people get to a point that they are ready to overthrow the Truth when things like this come along. Neither the pope nor Tony Palmer nor Kenneth Copeland said, 'Let us all get on our knees and return to God.' I was return to Rome! Nothing about God.
Who was the 'papa' but the pope, the vicar of Christ! When they say, 'diversity is unity' we can all come together in spite of our doctrinal differences. Let's see how people get into that kind of frame of mind. This can happen to any group that professes Christ, even the Church of God. When it happened within the Church of God—people don't understand why it happened; they look at the wrong thing—what does God correct for? He brings people to understand their sins and then they must repent! And after a repeated things of not repenting, then God must judge.
WCG was not overthrown because Herbert Armstrong said he was the only apostle on earth. It wasn't overthrown because some of the prophecies were not correctly understood. Do you think that the apostles back in the first century understood the prophecies? No!
But to preach them so dogmatically, as if that is the Word of God, that's where the error came in. Then the other error was that they did not preach the love of God or the grace of God, all of that was missing. So, therefore, it was called a cult and was overthrown by these wonderful men who infiltrated, who were 'correctors from God' to destroy the WCG because they had turned their back on God. Here's how this kind of thing happens:
Isaiah 30:8: "Now go, write it before them in a tablet, and note it in a book… [we've got it] …so that it may be for the time to come forever and ever… [continuously all the way down to the end] …that this is a rebellious people, lying children. They are children who will not hear the Law of the LORD; who say to the seers, 'See not,' and to the prophets, 'Do not prophesy to us right things, speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions… [that's what we saw right here; the delusion] …go out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us'" (vs 8-11). That's what they have done; get rid of God!
Verse 12: "Therefore, thus says the Holy One of Israel, 'Because you have despised this word…'" That's what they have done. Sabbath and Holy Days: 'Oh, what a delusion that was!'
"…and trust in oppression and perverseness, and rely on them; therefore, this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking comes suddenly, in an instant. And He shall break it as the breaking of the potters' vessel that is smashed in pieces. He shall not spare, so that there shall not be found in the fragments a shard to take fire from the hearth, or to take water out of the pit'" (vs 12-14). That's what's going to happen to the whole world.
If you go through the New Testament, as you should, read how many warnings are there and how many examples are there. We see exactly what that is right in this presentation.
Romans 16:17: "Now I exhort you, brethren, to take note of those who are causing divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which you have learned, and shun them." How important is doctrine?
As he—Doug Batchelor—rightly pointed out there, Jesus said that He 'did not come to bring peace, but a sword, to divide a household against itself.'
Verse 18: "Because these are the sort who are not serving our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own bellies… [their own way, their own purposes] …and are deceiving the hearts of the innocent by smooth talking and flattery." Isn't that what we have? Yes, indeed!
We have this in the presentation there that we just saw. You had it in Worldwide Church of God: flatteries! That's why everyone who teaches needs to teach the Word of God so that the brethren can grow; so that we can all grow, and that we have a relationship with God the Father.
Let me tell you a little point on Protestantism, which is very interesting to understand. They emphasize Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, and they leave off what Jesus told us and emphasized. What is that? The Father! Not 'papa' in Rome! But God the Father in heaven above! Let's see what happens when that comes along.
It is absolutely amazing how that we have gone over these Scriptures before, but there comes certain events that just cement in place and really make it stand out. I thought that was a good observation that the man who represented the pope—Tony Palmer—look like the incarnation of Satan himself!
- Where did he get those smooth words?
- What's important?
- The agreement of men with smooth words to bring everybody back?
or
- The words of Christ so we can be right with God the Father?
That's why when people are taught not to think and they are taught to react to emotion when they're swayed by smooth talk. And that [presentation] was as smooth as could be. But here is what will happen:
2-Timothy 3:13: "But wicked men and imposters shall become worse and worse… [we were just seeing it] …deceiving others and being deceived themselves."
That's what we saw on this presentation, with the spirit of Satan there to make them feel 'good.' When people operate on emotions and the feel good, they think they are right.
Verse 14: But as for you, continue in the things that you did learn and were assured of…"
This is quite a charge, and I'm going to emphasize that at the ministerial conference, not only for the elders, but all of the brethren are responsible to God: God the Father and Jesus Christ. I'm also going to do a special study on the trinity, because they trinity is one of the first things that comes in with the deception. Now, this is quite a charge when you understand this:
2-Timothy 4:1: "I charge you… [Timothy, but for every minister and teacher] …therefore, in the sight of God… [this is no passing statement] …even the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is ready to judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the Word!…." (vs 1-2)—the Word of God. Jesus said, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.'
"…Be urgent in season and out of season; convict, rebuke, encourage, with all patience and doctrine" (v 2). They say, 'Let's not talk doctrine! Doctrine divides!' Doctrines are the teachings of God! What they're saying, 'We're setting aside the teachings of God, and let's all hug each other, have tears for each other. The tears of joy.'
How many people go blubbering! Look how many people were there. I didn't see one person get up and walk out because of what was happening. Of course, they wouldn't show it.
- when people are conditions with smooth things
- when people are conditioned with ideas of men
- when people are taught not how to think
Then that leaves an entrance for Satan to come in!
Mark my words, you watch; it's going to be repeated again very, very soon. I have not in years received as many things contra or against the Passover and Unleavened Bread as I have this year. It's amazing! Absolutely amazing!
Here's what will happen when you do not have doctrine and the Word; v 3: "For there shall come a time when they will not tolerate sound doctrine…"
Go back to WCG, and the doctrines, as long as they were from the Bible, were true and righteous and good.
- they should have taught more of the love of God
- they should have taught about the grace of God
And that would have opened up their understanding to more in the Bible, but they didn't! So, people were in a position where they felt 'religiously' oppressed by the hierarchy. God doesn't want that. God wants you in a personal relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ. The ministry is here to support, teach, uplift, encourage and strengthen so that we won't get carried away with things like that.
"…but according to their own lusts…" (v 3)—to feel good, to be happy.
Let me relate to you an e-mail, however, I won't tell you all about it, but one of the leading proponents of abortion—to demonstrate how easy it was to have an abortion—had it videoed and put it online, to show people—the women—that this is really 'no big deal.' That's how far we have gone.
Ephesians 2:1: "Now, you were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you walked in times past according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now working within the children of disobedience" (vs 1-2)—those who go against the Word of God.
Not only going against the Word of God, you graduate through the ranks until you come to the point of:
- worshipping Satan
- doing his bidding
- showing how 'good' his way is to other people
As I mentioned, this is the 'gentleness of Satan's way to deceive you.' Jus like the pickpocket, shaking your hand telling you what a wonderful person you are while he picks your pocket, kisses you, thanks you and walks away with all your money.
Verse 3: "Among whom also we all once had our conduct in the lusts of our flesh…"—lusts, feelings. How many people say, 'I feel this, I feel that, I feel the other thing'? How many say, 'What are the facts? What is the truth? What should we understand?' No! They base their belief on relations with human beings!
"…doing the things willed by the flesh and by the mind…" (v 3). The mind is deceitful and lying! Who is the father of lies? Who is going to put the joy of doing lies into the heart and mind of people but Satan the devil?
"…and were by nature the children of wrath, even as the rest of the world" (v 3). Then it shows that God's calling is special.
2-Timothy 4:4: "And they shall turn away their own ears from the Truth…" There wasn't one word about the real Truth of God. It was manipulating, using, twisting, misrepresenting.
"…and they shall be turned aside unto myths" (v 4). That's exactly what Roman Catholicism is and the religions of the world are. They are myths!
So, if we don't talk about doctrine… Remember that it was 'we are saved by grace alone.' Did you catch the hook at the end of that? That was so that you could do 'good works.' All the sacraments of the Roman Church are 'good works' to them. So, the Catholics didn't change a thing! And in signing that agreement, what does that agreement have to do with the God of Truth? Nothing!
I couldn't help but think of this when I saw Proverbs 26:23: "Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a broken piece of pottery with silver dross. He who hates and disguises it with his lips stores up deceit within himself. When he makes his voice gracious, do not believe him, for seven hateful things are in his heart. He whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be revealed before the congregation" (vs 23-26).
Unless you are grounded in the Scriptures, you would think this [what was shown in the video] is a wonderful thing. You would think that after 500 years of fighting and haranguing and killing each other, that now unity would be a wonderful thing. But it's not!
Where do we find this in prophecy? Rev . 6! We know that these are end-time prophecies. We don't know when the first seal was opened. But this has to do with the conquest 'religiously.'
Revelation 6:1: "And I looked when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures say, like the sound of thunder, 'Come and see.' And I looked, and behold, there was a white horse; and the one who was sitting on it had a bow…" (vs 1-2). But it doesn't say arrows.
Some people think that's Christ. No! This is the false Christ or the papacy, conquest by religion! I couldn't help but think of that when I saw the pope dressed in white.
- Did he use a bow Yes, the bow of words, but no arrows!
- Was he conquering? Yes, he was! That whole group fell for it 'hook, line and sinker'!
"…and a crown was given to him; and he went out conquering, and to conquer" (v 2).
Is this the end-time understanding of this verse in what we just saw in the video? We look back at recent Catholic history and it was in the 1960s that Pope John XXIII who was recently made a so-called saint. He was the one who started the ecumenical movement. When it started clear back then, the Protestants all shucked the ecumenical movement, but gradually, incrementally—Satan's way—then when you gain force, then you have the vast movement. They all backed away from it. Some didn't. Was that when the first seal was opened? I don't know, but that started something!
How about with John Paul II? He furthered it along! That agreement that was signed by the Lutherans and the Catholics was the work of Cardinal Ratzinger, the German who became Pope Benedict XVI. He worked that up and hey signed it. When the Vatican signs a document that means they have won the upper hand. They never surrender!
If you read Rome's Challenge to the Protestants, the gauntlet concerning Sunday, supposedly in the Bible, was thrown down to the Protestants that it wasn't so. The Protestants never did anything to keep the Sabbath. The warning is there if you will read it. The one who wrote it, wrote it under the supervision of Cardinal Gibbon, the only cardinal at that time in the U.S.
They told the Protestants that 'if you do not come back to Rome and renounce that Sunday-keeping is in the Bible, and that only the Sabbath is what is taught there, we will come upon you at a time you will not know in all of our ancient arrogance.'
I think we saw some of it! We know that Satan is deceiving the whole world, and the false prophets look like the real thing. They use the Bible, the Word of God, for their own benefit. That's demonic! That's satanic!
The Bible is God's tool to teach us to become like Him!
Revelation 13:2: "And the beast that I saw was like a leopard, and his feet like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion; and the dragon gave him his power, and his throne and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as if it were slain to death, but his deadly wound was healed; and the whole earth was amazed and followed the beast. And they worshiped the dragon who gave his authority to the beast…." (vs 2-4).
Stop and think about it: How many people on earth really worship the true God? There are some people who like to acknowledge God, but to worship God is another whole thing. There are not very many! That's why Jesus said, 'When the Son of man comes will He find true faith on the earth?' What happened to the Church that we were in, WCG? They incorporated the teachings off men, instead of the teachings of the Word of God!
Let's see what happened in Corinth and let's see what can happen in any Church of God or Seventh Day Adventist churches that are overrun or infiltrated to a large degree with Jesuit imposters. They definitely did that!
Paul talk about it in 2-Cor. 2 about those who 'use the Word of God deceitfully.' Let's look at that first, because that sets the stage for what is happening in 2-Cor. 11
2-Corinthians 2:17: "For we are not like the many…" I want you to understand what was going on at that time. There were lots and lots of false prophets. Without rapid communication, they could just proliferate everywhere.
"…who for their own profit are corrupting the Word of God…" (v 17).
- that's exactly what the pope is doing in using the Word of God
- that's exactly what Tony Palmer was doing in using the Word of God
- that's exactly what Kenneth Copeland was doing with the Word of God
"…but we speak with sincerity, as from God, and before God, and in Christ" (v 17).
2-Corinthians 4:4: "In whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of those…"
This has happened in the Church of God back then, down through history and in our time, as well. Look at what Paul had to fight, and this is for us so that we know what we are up against today:
2-Corinthians 11:1: "I would that you might bear with me in a little nonsense; but indeed, do bear with me. For I am jealous over you with the jealousy of God because I have espoused you to one husband, so that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent deceived Eve…" (vs 1-3).
I imagine that Eve just felt wonderful after taking that first bite! And Adam right there ate it, too.
Verse 4: "For indeed, if someone comes preaching another Jesus… [that's what Protestantism and Catholicism does] …whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit, which you did not receive… [we saw a different spirit working in the video] …or a different gospel… [we saw and heard that, too] …which you did not accept, you put up with it as something good." Oh, let's hear all sides of it!
Verse 5: "But I consider myself in no way inferior to those highly exalted so-called apostles. For although I may be unpolished in speech, yet, I am not in knowledge; for in all things I have demonstrated this to you" (vs 5-6).
I think we saw this today, v 13: "For such are false apostles—deceitful workers who are transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And it is no marvel, for Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore, it is no great thing if his servants also transform themselves as ministers of righteousness—whose end shall be according to their works" (vs 13-15).
This is going to look like one of the greatest things to ever come along. We'll have to see where it comes from.
Revelation 13:11: "And I saw another beast rising out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, but spoke like a dragon; and he exercises all the authority of the first beast before him; and he causes the earth and those who dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed" (v s 11-12)—that is yet ahead of us.
Let's see that this is talking about the end-time. When it talks about Babylon the Great, that means the fullness of it spread worldwide.
Revelation 17:1: "And one of the seven angels who had the seven vials came and spoke with me, saying to me, 'Come here; I will show you the judgment of the great whore who sits upon many waters; with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication…'" (vs 1-2).
That is spiritual fornication! Instead of having a relationship with the true God, it's with Satan the devil!
"…and those who dwell on the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication" (v 2). So, you have the:
- kings of the earth—political
- people of the earth—they have drunk of it
Verse 15: "Then he said to me, 'The waters that you saw, where the whore sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages.'" We live in a time when this is going to come to the full.
Verse 16: "But the ten horns that you saw on the beast shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and shall burn her with fire." Just before Christ returns they're going to turn against it and understand that they have been deceived.
I think we just saw on the video this happen, v 17, not only as it applies to the ten kings, but to all of those who agree with the satanic system of this world.
Verse 17: "For God has put into their hearts to do His will… [if someone wants evil, He will give them over to it] …and to act with one accord, and to give their kingdom to the beast until the words of God have been fulfilled." That's something! We're looking at big things to happen. Greater things than we have ever imagined.
I think once this thing really gets going and more off the Protestant churches begin to fall in line, guess who's next? The Churches of God!
This describes it all, v 18: "And the woman whom you saw is the great city that has royal power over the kings of the earth." What one church has that? The Vatican! They have over 130 ambassadors from a 130 different countries that interface with the Vatican.
I'll just make a little thing that we could kind of say is a prediction: What would be the most miraculous thing that a peace-keeping pope could do besides bring back the Protestants? Broker a peace treaty between Israel and the Arabs! That's the target, but that's not it. The world would hail this as a marvelous and wonderful thing from God. Muslims!
The Muslims leaders get together and they have a little conference like this. Same setting, same kind of thing:
- that 'God'—Allah—is appealing to you now, that you stop all your killing of other people
- that you lay down your arms
- that you stop all your terror works
Who would say that that is not a good thing? Everyone would say, 'Wonderful! Miraculous!
I stuck my neck out; this is speculation! But something like that has to happen in order for other prophecies to be fulfilled. When that happens, they're going to say that 'surely this is of God.' How soon after that will the Beast Power, the coming world dictator, come on the scene? We don't know! But I think in the book of Revelation that we are told about some of the greatest events that are going to transpire before the return of Jesus Christ.
I think we've had a foretaste of it here! I think we can say that, yes, after witnessing this, that the first seal has probably been opened. Notice that it doesn't tell us how long a time that this particular activity takes place 'in conquering and going forth to conquer.'
Likewise, we don't know how long it will be until the final Beast Power comes up. But he will look like a wonder-worker! Then a miracle-working, calling down fire from heaven pope, people flocking back to the Roman Catholic Church, which at that time will be the one-world religion"
- we accept all of you as you are
- we have unity and diversity
- anyone who is against that cannot be from God
That tells us lots of things. I hope that you learned something from it. I did, and I have not been able to get it out of my mind since I first saw it. This will probably take two or three more really close listening to it to really get the whole message of it.
Scriptural References:
- Matthew 24:2-4, 23-24
- 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 9-12
- Isaiah 30:8-14
- Romans 16:17-18
- 2 Timothy 3:13-14
- 2 Timothy 4:1-3
- Ephesians 2:1-3
- 2 Timothy 4:4
- Proverbs 26:23-26
- Revelation 6:1-2
- Revelation 13:2-4
- 2 Corinthians 2:17
- 1 Corinthians 4:4
- 2 Corinthians 11:1-6, 13-15
- Revelation 13:11-12
- Revelation 17:1-2, 15-18
Also referenced:
Video: Pope Frances Sends video Message to Kenneth Copeland—2014
{biblepicturepathways.com/resources/Transcript%20of%20Tony%20Palmer%20message.pdf}
Booklet Rome's Challenge to the Protestants {truthofGgod.org}
FRC: bo
Transcribed: 12/15/17
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