The unification of all Protestant churches and denominations in the World Council of Churches as well as the unification of the Lutheran church and the Catholic church are of the utmost priority for its representatives. In view of the anniversary year of 2017, as a commemoration of the Reformation, the Vatican is calling for the Lutheran church to publicly distance itself from the statement made by Martin Luther that the pope is the antichrist. Specifically in the preface to the Book of Daniel in the Bible Edition from 1543, Luther alternately called the pope “endchrist” and “antichrist.” In the Land of the Reformation, the unity of the one church must be reestablished, they say. The Church of Jesus Christ, however, is not affected by this: She is already united with Christ, the Head. “Father, thou in me, and I in them, that they may be made perfect in one.” Children of God know only one Holy Father, and He is in heaven. They pray: “Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.” They abide by the command of the Redeemer: “And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.” (Mt 23:9).

This is the time of the worldwide unifications: in economy, in politics, and in religion. The fourth, the last world power, the Roman empire is coming into existence before our very eyes, and as it is written, it will crush the whole earth (Dan 7:23).

The unification of all Protestant churches and denominations in the World Council of Churches as well as the unification of the Lutheran church and the Catholic church are of the utmost priority for its representatives. In view of the anniversary year of 2017, as a commemoration of the Reformation, the Vatican is calling for the Lutheran church to publicly distance itself from the statement made by Martin Luther that the pope is the antichrist. Specifically in the preface to the Book of Daniel in the Bible Edition from 1543, Luther alternately called the pope “endchrist” and “antichrist.” In the Land of the Reformation, the unity of the one church must be reestablished, they say. The Church of Jesus Christ, however, is not affected by this: She is already united with Christ, the Head. “Father, thou in me, and I in them, that they may be made perfect in one.” Children of God know only one Holy Father, and He is in heaven. They pray: “Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.” They abide by the command of the Redeemer: “And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.” (Mt 23:9). 

This is the time of the worldwide unifications: in economy, in politics, and in religion. The fourth, the last world power, the Roman empire is coming into existence before our very eyes, and as it is written, it will crush the whole earth (Dan 7:23).