Pope Benedict XVI surprised the entire world on February 11, 2013, with the announcement of his resignation and thereby triggered many speculations about his successor.

“He shall stand in the traditional faith, but at the same time reach out to the modern man in the world. He shall keep the church with 1.18 billion Catholics together, and at the same time plant the faith into pluralistic and multicultural societies. He shall not be too old, but should bring maturity and highest education.” That is how a journalist summarizes the expectations of the Catholics from the new pope. The Protestant churches allegedly hope for an ecumenist, first and foremost.

After all, 349 Protestant churches and denominations with more than 560 million people in over 110 countries are united in the Word Council of Churches. Pope Benedict XVI, highly esteemed in the entire world, always found the right words and also the fitting Scriptures to emphasize the “unity of Christians.” He presented, for instance, the Word of the Apostle Paul from Eph 4:4-6, which refers to the one faith and the one baptism: Benedict spoke of the “confession of our baptismal belief in God.” But whoever carefully reads what is actually written in the Bible will find out that the one faith and the one baptism of which Paul speaks have nothing in common with the “one Trinitarian creed” and the “one Trinitarian baptism” that are believed and practiced by the churches.

Pope Benedict also read from Jn 17:21, where it states: “That they all may be one …,” and applied this Scripture to ecumenism. The words of Jesus, however, do not refer to a human union of denominations, but to the unity of the true believers in Jesus Christ, our Lord, in His Word.

After Pope John Paul II, who came from Poland and who was fluent in German and Russian, together with Michail Gorbatschow played the leading part in the success of the German unification, the lot fell on the German Pope Benedict XVI to make the arrangements for the unification of all the churches. Pope John Paul II invited the representatives of the 12 world religions to Assisi, Italy; Pope Benedict XVI was the first pope ever to meet with a representative of the Lutheran church in Wittenberg, Germany, the place where Martin Luther under inspiration brought about the breakthrough of the Reformation.

In the year 2017, the celebration of the 500-year anniversary of the Reformation will take place, and by that time “the wound inflicted by the Reformation” is supposed to heal and all of the daughter churches are to return to the bosom of the mother church so that the schism finally comes to an end and the so-called “unity in diversity” of the “one church” comes into existence.

Whether it is in the religious, political, or economic realm: Unification is being pursued on all levels. Germany was united; Europe is being united; the whole world is being united under one head, which will be respected by all. The Church of Jesus Christ, however, is not affected by this process. The true believers of the Bible do not find any recognition in this world. To them applies what our Lord said: “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” (Jn 17:14). They are united under their head, Jesus Christ.

In the year 1993, only twenty years ago, the Vatican, which had exchanged ambassadors with all governments, recognized and established diplomatic relations with the State of Israel. After all, the pope is the only personality who is highly esteemed in the entire world and is acknowledged by all religions and governments as an authority. For 18 years, ongoing negotiations have been held about three areas in particular: the status of the Catholic church in Israel; the sovereignty over the holy sites; and about tax matters and property rights of the Catholic church in the Holy Land. Altogether, the concern is about 21 important areas, sites, and buildings. The greatest obstacle thus far has been Israel’s refusal to surrender control over the Upper Room, which is located on Mount Zion. Now Israel has conceded a “small portion” to the church and granted the pope an official place in the Upper Room.

Since the greatest hindrances have now been cleared, the new Catholic nuncio in Israel, Archbishop Giuseppe Lanzarotto, arranged an agreement with the former Deputy Foreign Minister, Danny Ayalon, which shall be signed in the Vatican in June 2013. This agreement most surely paves the way for a treaty that is acceptable to the Palestinians/Muslims, Jews, and Christians. It includes the Temple Mount and East Jerusalem and is supposed to bring about the long-awaited peace in the Middle East and hence worldwide (1 Ths 5:3). After all, the Prophet Daniel foretold in chapter 9:27: “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week …” The new pope will have to assume the leading part in the peace negotiations, which Pope Benedict as a German who witnessed the terrible Nazi-time could not fulfill. Most suitable would probably be a pope from the USA, the Great Power which is acknowledged by the whole world, to unite all religions and to finalize the status of Jerusalem for the Jews and Muslims. Yet, things will come to pass as they are supposed to.

Brother Branham said that the treaty will be made at around the time when we can expect the Rapture. Quote: “The moment He starts the seventieth week, or seven years, the Church is gone.” (August 6, 1961). Quote: “And after the Church is taken away, Rome and the Jews will make a covenant with one another.” (March 18, 1963). Before our very eyes, biblical Prophecy is being fulfilled on all levels, even with Israel, and we may lift up our heads and know that our redemption is drawing near (Rom 8:23; 1 Cor 15:50-58; 1 Ths 4:13-18; 1 Jn 3:1-3).

“And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.” (Rev 22:10).

“He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” (22:20).

By His commission

Br . Frank

Pope Benedict XVI surprised the entire world on February 11, 2013, with the announcement of his resignation and thereby triggered many speculations about his successor.

“He shall stand in the traditional faith, but at the same time reach out to the modern man in the world. He shall keep the church with 1.18 billion Catholics together, and at the same time plant the faith into pluralistic and multicultural societies. He shall not be too old, but should bring maturity and highest education.” That is how a journalist summarizes the expectations of the Catholics from the new pope. The Protestant churches allegedly hope for an ecumenist, first and foremost.

After all, 349 Protestant churches and denominations with more than 560 million people in over 110 countries are united in the Word Council of Churches. Pope Benedict XVI, highly esteemed in the entire world, always found the right words and also the fitting Scriptures to emphasize the “unity of Christians.” He presented, for instance, the Word of the Apostle Paul from Eph 4:4-6, which refers to the one faith and the one baptism: Benedict spoke of the “confession of our baptismal belief in God.” But whoever carefully reads what is actually written in the Bible will find out that the one faith and the one baptism of which Paul speaks have nothing in common with the “one Trinitarian creed” and the “one Trinitarian baptism” that are believed and practiced by the churches.

Pope Benedict also read from Jn 17:21, where it states: “That they all may be one …,” and applied this Scripture to ecumenism. The words of Jesus, however, do not refer to a human union of denominations, but to the unity of the true believers in Jesus Christ, our Lord, in His Word.

After Pope John Paul II, who came from Poland and who was fluent in German and Russian, together with Michail Gorbatschow played the leading part in the success of the German unification, the lot fell on the German Pope Benedict XVI to make the arrangements for the unification of all the churches. Pope John Paul II invited the representatives of the 12 world religions to Assisi, Italy; Pope Benedict XVI was the first pope ever to meet with a representative of the Lutheran church in Wittenberg, Germany, the place where Martin Luther under inspiration brought about the breakthrough of the Reformation.

In the year 2017, the celebration of the 500-year anniversary of the Reformation will take place, and by that time “the wound inflicted by the Reformation” is supposed to heal and all of the daughter churches are to return to the bosom of the mother church so that the schism finally comes to an end and the so-called “unity in diversity” of the “one church” comes into existence.

Whether it is in the religious, political, or economic realm: Unification is being pursued on all levels. Germany was united; Europe is being united; the whole world is being united under one head, which will be respected by all. The Church of Jesus Christ, however, is not affected by this process. The true believers of the Bible do not find any recognition in this world. To them applies what our Lord said: “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” (Jn 17:14). They are united under their head, Jesus Christ.

In the year 1993, only twenty years ago, the Vatican, which had exchanged ambassadors with all governments, recognized and established diplomatic relations with the State of Israel. After all, the pope is the only personality who is highly esteemed in the entire world and is acknowledged by all religions and governments as an authority. For 18 years, ongoing negotiations have been held about three areas in particular: the status of the Catholic church in Israel; the sovereignty over the holy sites; and about tax matters and property rights of the Catholic church in the Holy Land. Altogether, the concern is about 21 important areas, sites, and buildings. The greatest obstacle thus far has been Israel’s refusal to surrender control over the Upper Room, which is located on Mount Zion. Now Israel has conceded a “small portion” to the church and granted the pope an official place in the Upper Room.

Since the greatest hindrances have now been cleared, the new Catholic nuncio in Israel, Archbishop Giuseppe Lanzarotto, arranged an agreement with the former Deputy Foreign Minister, Danny Ayalon, which shall be signed in the Vatican in June 2013. This agreement most surely paves the way for a treaty that is acceptable to the Palestinians/Muslims, Jews, and Christians. It includes the Temple Mount and East Jerusalem and is supposed to bring about the long-awaited peace in the Middle East and hence worldwide (1 Ths 5:3). After all, the Prophet Daniel foretold in chapter 9:27: “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week …” The new pope will have to assume the leading part in the peace negotiations, which Pope Benedict as a German who witnessed the terrible Nazi-time could not fulfill. Most suitable would probably be a pope from the USA, the Great Power which is acknowledged by the whole world, to unite all religions and to finalize the status of Jerusalem for the Jews and Muslims. Yet, things will come to pass as they are supposed to.

Brother Branham said that the treaty will be made at around the time when we can expect the Rapture. Quote: “The moment He starts the seventieth week, or seven years, the Church is gone.” (August 6, 1961). Quote: “And after the Church is taken away, Rome and the Jews will make a covenant with one another.” (March 18, 1963). Before our very eyes, biblical Prophecy is being fulfilled on all levels, even with Israel, and we may lift up our heads and know that our redemption is drawing near (Rom 8:23; 1 Cor 15:50-58; 1 Ths 4:13-18; 1 Jn 3:1-3).

“And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.” (Rev 22:10).

“He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” (22:20).

By His commission

Br . Frank