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The Roman Empire and its Significance in the End Time

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The Roman empire cannot be separated from the Roman church. In the days of Constantine, this imperial church began. It was first made the church of the people, and finally it became the state-church. The religious developments merged into state recognition and from a religious institution came forth a combination of state and church, namely the Papal state, which existed over hundreds of years. No other church has such a structure as this. Neither the church of the East nor the world wide Anglican church has as a religious institution a state character. The Roman church is officially a self-governed state within another state (Rev. 17:11). It is also the most important political power on earth. The Vatican has diplomatic relations with over a hundred countries by the exchange of ambassadors who are called from the Holy See nuntius. Why does no other church have such diplomatic relations? Why only the church of Rome? Because it is also a state which rules over all who belong to it even in all other countries. It is, however, not the original church which Christ brought into existence.

Whenever the pope visits a country, he comes as a head of state and is received as such with all honours. Did Christ mean the Roman empire which the popes have established before the eyes of all the world when He spoke of the Kingdom of God? Can this political, economical, and religious world power be the church of Jesus Christ? Was this the will of God? Was this the intention of Jesus Christ when He brought salvation through the cross of Calvary?

In order to understand better the parallel and intertwined history of spiritual and worldly powers, a few things need to be mentioned. According to what the prophet Daniel saw in visions, there are to be four world empires right to the end of this present civilisation. The last one is the Roman empire (Dan. 2 + 7). The course of these world empires is historically documented. The Babylonian empire lasted from 606 to 538 BC, the empire of the Medes and Persians from 538 to 330 BC and then followed the Greek empire under Alexander the Great which lasted from 330 to 30 BC. From the year 30 BC the Roman empire commenced and will last right to the end of this age. These four kingdoms were symbolically shown as four beasts in Daniel chapter 7. In Bible prophecy, a beast signifies power — a kingdom or a ruler who executes power (Dan. 7:17+23).

It is important to know in which way these totalitarian powers reigned. It started with the well known man, Nebuchadnezzar, who suddenly being influenced by fanatics ordered that everyone who will turn to another god except to those recognised in his kingdom will be killed. Everyone has heard of the three men in the fiery furnace where they were thrown only because they called upon the one true God Whom they served. The same accusation was brought forth against the prophet Daniel who was thrown into the lion’s den. Then suddenly there was the handwriting on the wall, “mene mene tekel upharsim”, and the ruler received it in writing from the heavens itself that his kingdom is weighed and his days are numbered. Thus it will be at the end of this generation.

In the last two-thousand years, the ruling power from Rome was being exercised. At first, it was political-heathen but it became then political-“Christian”. With the Caesars or later the popes, the aim was always to enlarge, to defend and to rebuild this kingdom. This happened because of the possibilities and the means given. All other kingdoms right down to the British Empire fell and had to submit and become part of the current developments. Now even the Soviet Empire does not exist any more. The whole Eastern Block is shaken and the countries receive their independence. All this happens in order that this one important world empire according to end time prophecy could take its shape.

In the Roman empire, the Roman Catholic trinity-belief was proclaimed in the 4th century to be the only valid faith. Emperors, popes, princes, and all who had influence felt duty-bound to use all their powers to reach this goal. Whoever turned to the only true God, for instance Jews and those believing differently, were terribly persecuted. There were the many crusades and the so-called holy and righteous wars because the so called holy and righteous church was standing behind it.

It is not possible for us to fully understand what actually had happened. Whoever sees the instruments of torture that were used in the holy inquisition will faint. The intolerance to those who had different beliefs and the blind fanatical and deadly hatredness was without measure. Authors were rather hesitant to deal with this dark chapter in history. It needs to be clearly stated that all these cruel measures were taken and they were justified because of the understanding that in this Roman empire only one faith had the right to exist — the one represented by the Roman church.

Popes and Emperors shared their powers which today would be called “joint venture” or “power sharing”. They ruled in their kingdom with untold brutality. This so-called Holy Roman Empire is in fact neither holy nor the Kingdom of God. It is so called falsely. Whether intentionally or by ignorance, it is looked upon to be so. No apostle or any man of God has ever mingled with politics or executed earthly power. True servants of God have at all times preached the Kingdom of God and left politics to the politicians.

The Roman empire consisting of political, economical, and religious power is coming up again exercising its power before our very eyes. An united Europe has always been the dream of the popes and it plays the most important role now according to the end time prophecy.

Regardless of the form of the governments in the countries which once belonged to and also now belong to the Roman empire, the Roman Church survived and remained throughout even though the countries and their structures came and went. To impress the world, the Vatican will also include the other religions but will hold the patronage. Today the others are not cursed and banned but rather the arms of welcome are opened to all. The pope receives in the same week politicians from Israel and the chief of the PLO. To him come all the political and religious heads from all countries irrespective of their structure and ideology. All seem to comprehend that no headway and recognition could be achieved in their own country without the publicity of a papal visit. The president of the United States, Mr. George Bush, certainly followed his advisers while making his trip to Europe as president in May, 1989, when he first had his audience with the pope. Mr. Mikhail Gorbachev did the same. When the German unification was determined, and the same commenced, in November, 1989, the German chancellor, Mr. Helmut Kohl, thanked the pope publicly and directly via TV from Berlin. That is the way world politics is moving.

According to Bible prophecy, peace will be proclaimed after all the wars. Historical enemies are becoming friends that it might be fulfilled as it is written, “For when they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them…” (II Th. 5:3). In all of Europe’s experiences, the changing process in East and West, the concern is only “peace” for which people demonstrated with slogans, “swords into ploughshares” and “peace without weapons”. Lately, tremendous headway is being made in disarmament talks. This political peace will not be proclaimed by any politician but rather by the then officiating antichrist who will present himself as peacemaker and mediator. But the true and lasting peace will only come through Christ Who is the true Prince of Peace.

Reverend Markmann gives in view of the end time the following statement about the prediction made by a Russian seer, “Shortly before his death in the year 1900, the Russian seer Vladimir Solowjow published his short talk about the antichrist. In it he presents the ‘man of the future’ who will speak before the World Congress of People saying these words, ‘Peoples of the earth, my peace I give unto you.’ He ends as follows, ‘Peoples on the earth, the promises are fulfilled. The eternal world peace is secured … For from now on there is only one central power on earth which is stronger than all the rest of the powers as single or together … From now on no power will dare to say ‘War’, because I say, ‘Peace’. Peoples of the earth, peace be with you.’” (O. Markmann, Endzeit, Entrückung, Antichrist, pg. 67).

Such words will only come from a religious head who substantially determines politics. When Christians apologetically speak of the superman of the end time and search for him in Judaism and Islam, then that only testifies of their ignorance. This man will not be an atheist, a Jew, a Muslim, a Buddhist, or a Hindu but he will be the crowned man who would usurp the rulership for the whole world. The same man who appears to be lovely will at that hour X when Satan would enter into him, as into Judas, fill up the cup of sin and iniquity.

Bible prophecy of the end time is not primarily concerned with China or the United States, but rather with the United Europe. Reverend Markmann again states, “After the last war, the Vatican has strongly pledged for a new united Europe. Pope Paul VI has continuously underlined the thought of an united Europe. Already his predecessors, Pius XII and John XXIII, requested an European Union of a supernational character. Paul VI emphasised that it was the Catholic faith which once made Europe. The same can in an uncompared way do its part now to breathe new spiritual vitality into this fundamental common culture which a socially and politically United Europe should have. The necessity that Europe joins up becomes more urgent from day to day, he declared in 1963.” (O. Markmann, Endzeit, Entrückung, Antichrist, pg. 70).

The Vatican was the driving force in the success of the Roman Treaty. Already in 1970, he established diplomatic relations with the E.C.-Commission in Brussels. There will be an United Europe composed of East and West. Mr. Gorbachev who is highly esteemed throughout the world brought up afresh the thought of the building of the European house. This term was already used in 1957 when the Roman Treaty was signed. Politicians and clergymen are using the same vocabulary. All voices having weight express the thought of an united whole Europe with decisiveness.

“The pope calls for an Europe without boundaries. For a construction of an Europe without boundaries which does not deny its Christian roots the pope called for. This project of an Europe without boundaries he entrusted for intercession of Mary, the Mother of God. This he said on Monday before 6,000 people in Covadonga in Asturia, the last station of his three-day Spain visit.” (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 22nd August, 1989).

Again it is the pope who had the right thought to bridge the gulf between East and West. The following citation clarifies more about the matter, “The forcing interest of the pope concerning the United Europe on the Catholic religious foundation is expressed also by the proclamation of the European patrons. Already pope Paul VI declared Benedict of Norcia to be patron of Europe. Now pope John Paul II has announced to the Catholic world church the saint brethren Cyrillos and Methodios who in the 9th century were apostles and teachers and worked among the Slavs to be the two patrons of Europe.”

“‘John Paul II intends with his solemn proclamation of the saint Cyrillos and Methodios as patrons of Europe to emphasise in one way their decisive part of the formation of Europe. On the other hand he likes to emphasise that the spiritual and cultural profile of Europe not only carries the imprint of the Latin Roman civilisation and the Occidental spiritual traditions but also of the classical Greek culture of the Byzantine and the Byzantine-Slavic tradition.’”

“The dean of the German Bishop’s Conference, cardinal Joseph Höffner, declared in Cologne the working of the new patrons as apostles of the Slavs can be compared to what the Saint Benedict in West and Middle Europe achieved. All three saints therefore are the spiritual constructors of Europe — of the whole Europe.”

“The decision of the pope is a demand to all to commit the whole of Europe into the frame work on its way to achieve a total unity between the Catholic and the orthodox church — as already decisive steps are made —for the intercession of these three saints.” (O. Markmann, Endzeit, Entrückung, Antichrist, pg. 72-73).

By its organisations, the Vatican plays the main role in the uniting of Europe both politically and religiously. Without it the end time prophecy is unthinkable. Its strategy has fundamentally changed after World
War II to act now without force. The goal of course remains the same. World War II is being judged by insiders as an effort to try to establish a Catholic Europe by military force.

The atheistic bolshevism was viewed by the Vatican, the whole curia, and the Western governments as the great threat for the Christian Occidental world. In 1929 Mussolini surrendered his service to the church when he acknowledged the Vatican state to pope Pius XI to be sovereign national territory. From that time the Vatican is de facto again a sovereign state.

The historians have investigated the connection of the church to fascism and Nazism till 1945. The following citations are taken from the book “Abermals krähte der Hahn” by Dr. Karlheinz Deschner, chapter 67 and 68. He stated these historical facts unreserved.

“The first service the ex-socialist (Mussolini) rendered to the Holy See was a financial one. He saved the Banco di Roma from bankruptcy to which the curia and other dignitaries had entrusted high sums when at the cost of the Italian government he gave approximately 1.5 billions of lira … The cardinal Vannutelli, dean of the so-called Holy College, declared already then of him, ‘He is chosen to save the nation and to restore its fortune.’

Pope Pius XI saw himself once again compelled on the 13th of February, 1929, to call Mussolini the man providence has sent unto us … In parenthesis it is to be remarked that after the signing of the Lateran Treaty also the then mayor of Cologne, Konrad Adenauer, assured Mussolini in a special telegram that his name will be written in golden letters into the history of the Catholic church.

While almost the whole world condemned the fascist aggression (Abyssinia), the Catholic church stood behind it, especially the high Italian clergy was on the side of Mussolini. On August 27th, 1935, when the war preparation in Italy was running high, the pope proclaimed a defence war for the purpose of expansion for the growing population could be just and right. Only a few days after, four weeks before the invasion, 19 archbishops and 57 bishops sent a telegram to Mussolini published in the Osservatore Romano in which was stated, ‘The Catholic Italy prays for the growing extension of its beloved fatherland which is more united through Your government than ever before … The archbishop of Taranto called the aggression after he celebrated mass on a submarine, ‘a holy war, a crusade’ …The archbishop of Milan, cardinal Schuster, who blessed the outgoing troops in the autumn of 1935, compared Mussolini with Caesar, Augustus, and Constantine, and advised the Italian school youth, ‘through the work of Duce God has answered from heaven’ … On the 12th of January, 1938, Mussolini received 72 bishops and 2,340 clergymen in the Palazzo Venezia where the archbishop Nogara in a speech asked God to assist Duce in all his battles for the success of the Christian Italy … ‘With religious enthusiasm, with the voice and the heart of the people, we cried out, hail Duce!’

Already in 1933 , the Spanish bishops ordered in a pastoral letter and the pope did in an encyclica of June, 3rd, ‘a holy crusade for the total restoration of church rights.’ … Franco’s brother in law, Serrano Suñer, secretary of the Catholic youth organisation, later Spanish Interia and Foreign minister, was a friend of Mussolini and Hitler. At the end of June, 1942, he was honoured from the pope with Grand cross of the order Pius IX. Two weeks before, Suñer declared to a correspondent of a Danish newspaper that already 15,000 Spanish soldiers were fighting at the East front, and there, their number could be increased if Germany sees it fit up to a million … The German bishops published on the 30th of August, 1936 a pastoral letter at the direct advice of the cardinal secretary Pacelli wherein with view of Spain it said, ‘The task for our people and fatherland allotted is understood in itself. May our Führer have success with the help of God to accomplish this enormous work of defence (!) in unshakeable steadfastness and most faithful co-operation of all the people. Already on the 3rd of January, 1937, the German bishops persuaded again with view on Spain their believers afresh, ‘Beloved diocesans, the Führer and Reich-chancellor, Adolf Hitler, has viewed the influx of bolshevism from a far off. His intention and concern is focused on it to turn away this enormous danger from our German people and the Occidental countries.’”

“In the same year, 1933, the Catholic von Papen signed the concordat with Nazi-Germany and the Vatican … In the years 1934 till 1938, von Papen, being the German ambassador in Vienna, prepared the Nazist’s seizure of power in Austria.”

“Never did the German bishops speak up against the thousands of judicial murders of their opponents nor against the persecution of liberals, democrats, and communists, because they desired the same … They never protested against the horrible pogroms of the Jews, against the destruction of more than 200 synagogues, against the humiliation, deportation, and gasing of the Jews whom their own church had already persecuted and killed through the period of 1,500 years. They never protested against the Nazi-system as such. In the contrary, the high clergy declared, for instance cardinal Faulhaber, Munich, cardinal Schulte, Cologne, bishop Matthias Ehrenfried, Würzburg, a. o., in the year 1935 the full readiness and co-operation with Nazism and regretted their non-participation.”

“On the 11th of March, 1938, Hitler’s army occupied Austria. Cardinal Innitzer of Vienna who with consent of the Vatican suggested to Schuschnigg, the surrender, declared, ‘The annexation is unpreventable.’ He celebrated the coming in of the army with the ringing of church bells and the raising of swastika flags on church buildings and requested his clergy to do the same. On the 12th of March he obliged them to arrange thanksgiving services. When Hitler received the cardinal on March, the 15th, for an audience, he assured him that the church rights would be protected. Then all Austrian bishops except the bishop of Linz demanded the people to vote for Hitler and ended their appeal with the salutation, ‘Hail Hitler!’”

In view of the fact that the political goal of this world church remains the same, we must take the things of the past as a warning for the future. The so-called “Holy Roman Empire of the German nation” consisted of political and religious powers. The Vatican has used Germany for its own goals in a special manner. Even today in the uniting process of Europe, Germany plays the main role. It is the engine of the whole train and the turn-table of East and West. Many historians did not deal with this dark religious chapter. Perhaps they were clever enough to avoid it or they feared the church.

Before World War II, the Vatican concentrated on Germany which became ever stronger. It started in the Catholic Bavaria, especially in Munich, where Hitler did not succeed with his coup in 1923. In the year 1924, the Vatican signed the concordat with Bavaria. It is significant to note that during these years, the later pope Pius XII was nuncio in Munich and then in Berlin.

Already in 1938, approximately 40,000 political opponents were held in German concentration camps without any dignitary raising his voice for those who were deprived of all dignity. Franz von Papen, a devout Catholic, declared, “Nazism is a Christian reaction against the spirit of 1789”. (E. Paris, The Secret History of the Jesuits, pg. 130). With this statement he referred to the French revolution which led to the separation of state and church and also to the end of the Holy Roman Empire of the German nation. As voices were heard in neighbouring countries of the happenings in Germany, the editor of the “Stürmer”, Julius Streicher, defensively said, “… that is the Anglo-Saxon propaganda of the Protestants against us.” Who ever secured the O.K. of the pope felt very strong.

Insiders did know that the Vatican also viewed bolshevism as its political opponent. Also the separated East church was looked at as a religious rival and, therefore, had to be conquered. Only those who know that Hitler’s SS was composed especially of Jesuits in uniform to whom also Goebbels counted will comprehend how things were organised and done when the German troops marched into Russia. In the Roman Catholic Ukraine, no religious buildings were destroyed whereas it happened in the rest of the country. Again a few citations from the book of Dr. Karlheinz Deschner, “Abermals krähte der Hahn”, chapter 67 and 68.

“After the German invasion into the Soviet Union in the year 1941, the Catholic military bishop (Franz Justus Rarkowski) — of whom even Catholics admitted that his pastoral letters contain the support of the national socialistic war — addressed in a pastoral letter the Catholic members of the Wehrmacht as follows, ‘As so often in the history, Germany is presently the saviour and protagonist of Europe … Many European states know that the war against Russia is a European crusade … This strong and obliged experience of your mission in the East will let you know how unspeakable great and fortunate that we are Germans.’”

“In a memorandum of all Catholic bishops in Germany of December, 10th, 1941, the church dignitaries confessed, ‘With satisfaction we follow the battle against the power of bolshevism of which we, the German bishops, have warned the German Catholics in many pastoral letters since 1921 till 1936, to be alert as it is known to the Reichsregierung.’”

“The great peace pope kept quiet, he also kept quiet while almost 2,000 churches and 500 synagogues were destroyed and many of the clergy were murdered during the war in the East. The Vatican intended as in the other territories occupied by Hitler’s armies also to spread Catholicism in the orthodox Russia. About a co-operation between the Jesuits, the SS and Gestapo, talks with the deputies of Hitler’s secret service were underway since 1940 by the Jesuit general Graf Ledochowski (1866-1942) — (order general since 1915). Since 1919, so the document states, the Vatican has tried to topple the communistic regime … The intention of the Vatican was to send as many priests as possible into the occupied Russian territories to prepare the ground for further plans of the Vatican and the politics towards Russia. On November, the 8th, 1941, the high command of the Wehrmachtadvised all chief commanders of the German armies in the East to assist the missionary activities of the Catholic priest in the occupied territories out of consideration of the treaty with the Vatican. … The leading German secret service man, SS Oberführer Schellenberg, reported in a five page account to the foreign office about his conversation with the pope, ‘The pope will do his utmost to assure the German victory. His goal is the destroying of Russia.’”

“Dr. Adenauer 20 years later said, ‘Therefore, we stand with greatest watchfulness against this (Eastern) world which actually is our deadly enemy. … The concern is not only the Soviet Zone, but rather the deliverance of all Eastern Europe from behind the iron curtain … Germany will not be the prey of atheistic communism, but rather will topple it.’”

While the German troops marched into Yugoslavia in April, 1941, the Roman Catholic Croats were spared and the orthodox Serbs were murdered in mass. The fascist Catholic movement of Croatia, the Ustashis, co-operated with the Catholic dominated high command of the occupying power. It is known that archbishop Stepinac co-ordinated things. He could report to the pope that 250,000 Serbs were converted by force to Roman Catholicism. Of the 2 million orthodox inhabitants of Croatia according to official statements, 600,000 were murdered but others estimate the number to be 800,000. Not only Jews and other ethnic groups were slaughtered, but also those belonging to the same people who were of different faith.

When the German troops marched into Poland, a massacre of the German Protestants took place. The bloodbath of Bromberg is very significant. Then it was said that 40,000, mainly men, were killed in the territories under Polish rule. The call for this seems to have come from the pulpits. Today (1990) the number of those killed there is being estimated much lower.

It is not hard to guess what Hitler meant with his statement, “To build up a great political movement, I need the Catholics of Bavaria as well as the protestants of Prussia. The next comes later.” (K. Deschner, Ein Jahrhundert der Heilsgeschichte, Vol. 1, pg. 360). Also leading evangelical theologians co-operated in comparison to the Confessional Church. Instead of remaining with the eternal blessings of God, they took the timely curse. What would have come later, after a victory of Hitler, they had experienced. The action against Jews and other ethnic minorities and political opponents would have been soon followed also against Protestants.

One month before the end of the war, on April, the 9th, 1945, the Lutheran pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer was executed in Flössenberg after two years of imprisonment at the direct order of the Catholic Himmler. All protestant youth organisations were prohibited during the war. First those who spoke up against the national socialistic dictatorship in the Confessional Church had been dealt with and then the believers of various free churches had followed. The self understanding of the Roman church and those in power submitting to her — the conviction that no other faith has the right to exist — is deadly for the rest.

With respect it must be mentioned that also voices were heard from Catholics whose conscience did not agree with the unrighteous deeds.

Knowing these facts, it could be asked, if there would be a protestant church and all the other free churches in existence in case of a Hitler German reign of Europe. Especially the dedicated Jesuits and their organisations would have liked to present to the pope since the time of reformation the one holy Catholic apostolic church. As is formulated in their own creed, “Pope Benedict XV designated in 1915, in the midst of truce, the confessors of the evangelical sect as ‘envoys of Satan, as pest pulpits, their spiritual office bearers are robbers and thieves.’” (O. Markmann, Irrtümer der katholischen Kirche, pg. 22). Incomprehensible for all is the following statement, “The Jesuit Mayrhofer of Ingolstadt taught in his ‘Preacher’s mirror’: ‘We will not be judged if we demand the killing of Protestants, any more than we would by asking for the death penalty on thieves, murderers, counterfeiters and revolutionaries.’” (E. Paris, The Secret History of the Jesuits, pg. 35).

The actual role of the Catholic church in World War II is documented in many volumes. The following citation speaks out. On May, the 3rd, 1945, the Vatican asked general Franco to give the declaration in the Spanish press in Madrid after Hitler’s death, “Adolf Hitler, son of the Catholic Church, died while defending Christianity. It is therefore understandable that words cannot be found to lament over his death, when so many were found to exalt his life. Over his mortal remains stands his victorious moral figure. With the palm of the martyr, God gives Hitler the laurels of Victory.” (E. Paris, The Secret History of the Jesuits, pg. 163).

Many who shouted, “Hail Hitler!” did not know what they were doing, but the dignitaries should have known. They stretched forth their arm and greeted with “Hail Hitler!” as though salvation now should have come from Hitler instead of from God. Being born in 1933, I have experienced this vividly. How many times did I watch the military parade. It sounded so mighty when so many voices were shouting, “Victory Hail! Victory Hail!”

After the collapse of the Hitler dictatorship, many realised that they belonged to a terribly deceived war generation. After the things which were done during the war were brought to public attention including the holocaust, many were speechless. Even today, there are those who deny what happened, simply because they cannot comprehend that such cruelty including the gasing of innocent men, women and children could happen. In the name of God and the German people, the most cruel crimes of the 20th Century were committed. In many ears, the propaganda words of the Nazi time still ring. Some even remember the proclamation, “… and one faith to the whole world!” On the buckle of the soldiers, the words were written, “God with us”. What a blasphemy!

More than 55 million people lost their lives in World War II. But those who actually initiated this were spared. “Cardinal Frings of Cologne announced already on the 16th of December, 1945, in a radio speech, he desires an Occident only shaped by Christendom, that of course means, by Roman Catholicism. He was the first one who requested publicly on the 23rd of June, 1950 at general meeting of the Catholics in Bonn that Germany be armed again, founded on God’s order, resting in peace … Bishop Muench asked as Pius XII in 1945 in a pastoral letter to show forbearance towards the German war criminals. In 1951 he was honoured by the German president with the Great Federal Service Cross and was promoted to be cardinal by pope John XXIII.” (K. Deschner, Abermals krähte der Hahn, pg. 647-650).

Very enlightening is also the following citation, “After the collapse of the Catholic regiment, the mass murderers fled significantly into Franciscan monasteries in foreign countries, Klagenfurt in Austria, Modena in Italy, and also in France.” (K. Deschner, Abermals krähte der Hahn, pg. 625). Apparently they knew their way around. They did not only find open doors, but also open arms. Even the French helper of mass murder, Klaus Barbie, the butcher of Lyon, Paul Tourvier was arrested in a Catholic monastery in the south of France in May 1989 where he enjoyed many pleasant years.

After the defeat of the German army at Stalingrad, the pope tried to pull the United States on his side to fight against bolshevism. The only condition, president Roosevelt set forth was that Hitler must step down. The pope pleaded with him for the known cause, but this time the power possessed dictator was dumb. The Catholic bishops who assured Hitler of their solidarity in March 1933 said something totally different in 1945 and introduced another strategy to achieve the goal of a religious and political united Europe.

What could not be achieved with war and force will now become a reality through diplomatic channels. While still millions of people, refugees, prisoners of war, deported in work camps suffered the consequences of the war, the clergy turned around and set the flag according to the new wind. The innocents had to suffer but those guilty were secure and played their roles with pride further on.

Since the II Vatican Council (1962-1965), a new development was initiated. The protestant churches are no longer cursed but being received with open arms as the separated brethren. The counter reformation is over. It is only strange that not one of the many curses upon the Protestants, mainly pronounced at the Council of Trent, was taken back. Up to this day, not one word of excuse to Jews, Protestants or other faiths was uttered by the pope or by the church.

Never was the life of others valued by those in Rome. Whoever was in their way, whether grown ups or children, political or religious foes, they were just liquidated. Nero, Diokletian, Constantine and others had already done it. This trend was later taken up by the Roman popes. Whoever did not submit was persecuted and murdered, regardless, whether Heathen, Jews, Moslems or Christians of other faith. Their only crime was that they did not confess faith in the Roman Catholic church.

Constantine was the actual founder of the Roman state church and its brutal power exercise. He claims to have seen a fiery cross in heaven with the inscription, “In this sign you will conquer.” This murderer who killed in his own family his two brothers in law, Licinius and Basanius, his nephew, the son of Licinius, his father in law, Maximilian, his son Crispus and his wife Fausta was at the same time a very shrewd politician. To him the church was a power factor to which he availed himself. At first he did not act against the Heathens. There came into existence the Heathen-Christian-state church which began to persecute and murder. Augustine, a prominent man in the church history, praised this church 70 years later as the God state as for him Satan was now bound, but in reality it was the contrary, he was just totally loosened.

The birthday of the Sun god was declared to be the birthday of the Son of God. Jupiter, Diana, and other gods and goddesses were taken down; Peter, Mary and others were declared as saints and put up in their stead. Actually during the time of making this type of Christendom, all the Greek and Roman cults of gods were embraced and the same things continued. The Heathen gods were only replaced by saints and patrons. With force, the inhabitants were subdued under this political and religious power. Whoever did not want or could not accept because of his conscience was liquidated. The co-operation of state and church gave those of other faith no chance. Whether in business life or in trades, everywhere boycott and persecution was on the agenda.

Only after the pope and the Roman church have repented and show the fruits of repentance for the death of the millions who through their influence had to die, they will have the right to speak about the protection of the unborn life. Unborn life should be protected, but the already born life meant nothing to them. Did not the popes call for the crusades? Did not they bless those who went for them, whose lives they did not respect at all? Did those crusaders and mercenaries consider those with child and children in general or human life? Certainly not. How fatal it is when near the convents so many child skeletons are found.

In the Catholic catechism for adults, pg. 256, the church is declared to be a sacrament. It is generally known that the Roman church has seven sacraments. That now the church itself is a sacrament could be new. “The church as sacrament of the Spirit. Difficulties with the church. On the question after the place of the Holy Spirit, the creed of the church answers with the statement, ‘I believe in the one holy Catholic and apostolic church.’ The church confesses also that in it and through it the Spirit of Jesus Christ was working in history. It believes that it is the place, yes, the sacrament that means, the sign and the tool of the working of the Holy Spirit.” Between the confession of lips and the reality is a distance so far as heaven from earth. It was not the Spirit of Christ Who so cruelly worked in the history of the church. But because this church also knows about all the things which happened by its influence, it had to be stated on the same page in the Catholic catechism for adults in the following declaration, “No other expression of faith has caused so much incomprehensibleness, contradiction, and animosity as this. Also many practising Catholic Christians have difficulties with the church. Not few say, ‘Jesus, yes — church, no!’ The main objection against the church is that it has in its history betrayed the original message of Jesus. Because Jesus — so they argue — was poor and spoke up for the poor, the church on the contrary is rich, pacts with the rich and mighty, and failed in social respect. Jesus preached love and even the love of enemies, the church on the contrary is intolerant and persecutes as before asall the inquisition shows its opponents with brutal cruelty … What
musta Catholic Christian say to such a list of sins? He does not need to dress or to cover up. The church which proclaims the forgiveness of sins can in confidence towards God confess its guilt and trust in God’s forgiveness, as pope Hadrian VI said at the Imperial Diet in Nuremberg, 1522-1523, also pope Paul VI during the II Vatican Council. The Christian does not need to deny such drawback in the church history.”

With God it certainly will not go as smoothly as found written in the Catholic Catechism. Forgiveness can only come where true repentance sets in. He will not forgive the cruel deeds, but rather will avenge the blood of the innocents (Rev. 6:9-10; 18:7-8), because it was done intentional. If there would not come a brief persecution of Bible believing Christians, this chapter could be closed. But according to Bible prophecy, there will come a boycott and persecution after the religious and political uniting, “that no man might buy or sell.” (Rev. 13:17). As was done with the Jews right up to World War II and in other times, so the Bible believing Christians might have to go through a short time of persecution. Their crime will be that they do not belong to a recognised Christian denomination which joined the World Council of Churches or to the Roman church. They will be treated as heretics, as those not fit for society. If somebody seeks a job being asked about his religious affiliation then it could be decided whether the job will be granted. Will the politicians then be able to protect the dignity of the lives of those of different faith?

The Scripture confirms that the kingdom called “beast” received a deadly wound by the sword (Rev. 13:14). The Sword of the Spirit is God’s Word. With the Word of God, this deadly wound came about through the reformation. Therefore, the reformers were all branded as servants of Satan because they brought disturbance and even a threat to this world power. As predicted in Bible prophecy, this deadly wound heals again and all the world will be astonished (Rev. 13:12). This healing process is now almost complete.

All the protestant churches and movements at their beginnings put the proclamation of the gospel into the centre. Today indeed with most of them there is only tradition left. The leaders of the denominations are near-sighted and do not even recognise the wrong direction they have taken. Even those who claim to be fundamentalists have no clear view. They do not recognise the happenings in the light of the revealed prophetic Word. Some became a prey to the theory of demythologisation and others to the liberation idea. Also among Protestants, we have the state and national churches as nominal Christians. Only very few have had a real experience with Christ and can be classified as Bible believers.

Right before the Council Vaticanum Secundum, the Secretariat for ecumenical Questions was opened by pope John XXIII in 1960 under the leadership of cardinal Augustine Bea. A good job was done. The formulations are so good towards the separated churches that without fail they hear their own language and walk across all the differences. In the Lexikon für Theologie und Kirche, Vol. 13, pg. 12-26, the Herder publishing house writes about the Second Vatican Council about the theme of ecumenical unity. It is very enlightening for all who wish to take heed.

“The secretariat is a channel created by papal authority for communication and a means which assists in all thinkable forms of co-operation to achieve the full unity.… From such an understanding also Paul VI went out, when he spoke as cardinal at the funeral service for John XXIII in the Dome of Milan on June, 7th, 1963 of the ‘universality of the Catholic faith’ and of the ‘ecumenicism of the Roman church’. … For him ‘inner ecumenicism of the Catholicism’ signifies the unity in the plurality with great possibilities to develop a new phase in church history.”

“In view to the other Christian fellowships here, the concern is the real acknowledgement of the Christian inheritance of the separated brethren. That means the real consideration of all ‘traces’ or ‘elements’ of the church which by the grace of God exist with the separated brethren are alive. Thereby it happens that these — even in different degrees — already real, although incomplete and imperfect belong to the church.”

“In the following (§ 7), it is spoken of the separations and dividings. Because of ‘human frailty’ fights, ignorance of each other, estrangement within the flock of Jesus Christarose, so that parts of the church separated and established themselves as independent groups. Thereby the church of Jesus Christ is cruelly mutilated. Because the church can only be one, there is ‘no other church which could confess to be the true and only one’ besides the one church reigned by the successor of Peter. No church separated from the seat of Peter belongs in the same way to the same visible and heavenly church. In (§ 8) it is emphasised that the necessary unity with the head does not exclude the manifoldness within the body. An even great conformity would diminish the beauty of the body. Therefore the significance of their own tradition, especially with the honourable churches of the orient. The more space is given to plurality, the more one sole authority is required.”

“Whoever lives in good faith in one of the separated churches will not be looked upon from the true church as foreigner (§ 9). But he is missing a many means of salvation, especially the leading through the teaching ministry, which assists to protect faith and customs completely. Separation brings damage for the inner and the outward increase of the family of Christ. Therefore it is the desire of the council that all ‘dissidents’ are concerned with the complete unity of the flock of Christ and come together in one flock (§ 10). Thereby however the common inheritance always hasto be watched and also the still existing spiritual bondage: ‘We have remained brethren.’”

“Because of errors in the past, which were done by both sides, the brethren of the one Christian people drifted apart to different sides, their ways separated. In the spirit of repentance and reconciliation on the part of all Christians it will happen that all will unite again in the one father house (§ 31).”

“The Christians shall make a mutual front against the incoming of atheism and communism (§ 35).”

“All equal parts of the church shall grow together under the one head, that is neither oriental nor occidental, but the father of all (§ 47).”

“In the following, concrete conditions for the unification are named, and the way to it is being described. The orientals shall know: When they want to join and to take again their place, so nothing more than what is necessary to become a member of the church shall be required of those who return home ( § 48). They shall recite the creedwherein the confession to the unity of the church is contained in a simple manner without renouncing the heresies. To the orientals the right is granted to keep their own discipline (§ 50). Their consecrations are valid and can be practised further on (§ 51).”

“Therefore, we have tospeak with our brethren this evangelical language which they understand and touches them.We must tell them that the primate of Peter at first is a diaconate, a pastoral task, a ministry, which the leader of the apostles has received from Christ, not to exercise power nor to rule, but rather to feed the flock of Christ. After all the juridical authority of Peter is directed to his pastoral task. … This is the real picture of the sovereign shepherd in the church, which has a peculiar attraction upon the separated brethren who are led only by love and with a strong hand to the unique refuge of Christ which is the Catholic church.”.

“To the God inspired desire of today for unity in all separated fellowships of Christians must be shown the real goal: the church as the only healing institution for all. ”

“In the next paragraph (§ 50), the appeal is given to every single Christian to follow the invitation of the Mother church. The existence of elements of the church with them is understood as an appeal to return to the unity of the Catholic church. That applies especially to the Holy Scripture and the sacraments which belong to the church of Christ and are means of unity. The Christians are therein not seen as individuals but rather ‘united in their fellowships’.”

“It is a must for those ‘who wish to obey the will of Christ with all the heart and grow in the degree of ecumenicism under the leadership of the Spirit of Christ to step more and more near that church which is the one house of God with many mansions in the oneness of faith, the leading and the fellowship under the vicar of Christ, the Roman pope.”

“All who are baptised constitute already now one fellowship in Christ. Also the Catholics should confess their guilt concerning the splits and ask God that He in His Own way leads His divided people back to the perfect unity.”

“The necessity to belong to the one true church is shown forth in the I chapter about the Catholic ecumenicism as basic principle and exposed in a way to overcome the difficulties and concerns of the separated brethren.”

“The ecumenical movement has only to do with the ‘preparation’ of ways which finally leads to the restoration of the unity of all Christians in the flock of Christ.”

It is very interesting to read the documents and the declarations of the whole Second Vatican Council in the already mentioned work of Herder. On page 747 at the end, the following statement is found, “Rome, by St. Peter, on 7th December, 1965. I Paul Bishop of the Catholic church.” Everything is so perfectly cut and designed that to the separated churches the doors and the arms of the Mother-Church towards them are stretched forth. All who are baptised with the trinitarian formula are recognised by the church as Christians whose baptism is valid. This was not the case a few years ago. Those who converted were baptised again.

The hour of decision is here, the moment is near and from henceforth there will be no return. The last warning from heaven is, “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues” (Rev. 18:4). Whoever at the time of the total uniting belongs to the great one church cannot belong to the church of Jesus Christ. This also concerns the members in all the protestant churches, fellowships and denominations who through the World Council of Churches return to the Roman church. Every denomination bears automatically the mark — the recognition sign of the Mother Church. Whoever recognises the Roman Catholic trinitarian teaching and is baptised with the trinitarian formula belongs actually to that church and there is no need to join it.

The modern thought of unity is based on a misunderstanding. In the special prayer, our Lord and Redeemer prayed for the unity of the redeemed. Of course, He spoke of His Own, not of a variety of different faiths joining with the pope in the church of Rome. Those are the words of His prayer, “… that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” (Jn. 17:22-23). Only those who are truly born again can experience this divine oneness. On one hand we view the oneness with Christ and His church, on the other hand we do see the unbiblical world-wide oneness in the church of Rome. Everyone must decide for himself what he would like to belong to.