The New World Religion – Part 3
| By: Gary Kah; ©1999 |
| What is the bigger political/religious agenda behind the “birthday party for Jesus” being planned for next year? Gary Kah explains why Christians should be concerned and cautious about this and other such events. |
The New World Religion – Part 3 – Rome’s Global Ambitions
As indicated in last month’s article, a worldwide ecumenical “birthday party for Jesus” is being planned for next year–allegedly to celebrate our Savior’s 2000th birthday. However, this event is part of a bigger political/religious agenda. Ever since Vatican II, where the idea of a global millennial celebration was first conceived, the papacy’s goal has been to achieve full unity between Protestants and Catholics by the year 2000. The upcoming millennial event was intended to be a victory party of sorts, celebrating the unification of Protestants under the Church of Rome. Recognizing that this unity might not be completely achieved by the start of the new century, the Vatican, at the very least, would see this celebration as a vital step in that direction. Within the Vatican this celebration is officially known as “The Great Jubilee of the Year 2000” and is scheduled to begin in late 1999.
In addition to bringing Protestants under its domain, the Holy See has a larger mission of uniting all of the world’s religions. This mandate is apparent in Catholic Theologian Hans Küng’s statement, “…after intra-Protestant and intra-Christian ecumenism we have irrevocably reached the third ecumenical dimension, ecumenism of the world religions!” (From the preface of The Meaning of Other Faiths, by Willard G. Oxtoby) This interfaith goal is also reflected in several of the Pope’s messages. Sharing part of his Jubilee vision, Pope John Paul declares,
- The eve of the Year 2000 will provide a great opportunity, especially in view of the events of recent decades, for inter-religious dialogue…
- In this regard, attention is being given to finding ways of arranging historic meetings in places of exceptional importance like Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and Mount Sinai as a means of furthering dialogue with Jews and the followers of Islam, and to arranging similar meetings elsewhere with the leaders of the great world religions.
In order to further the Vatican’s mission, a special conference was held in Rome this past February at the United Nations FAO Headquarters. According to a U.N. press release dated February 11, 1999, this high-level meeting had the stated objective of “mobilizing the widest international support for the Bethlehem 2000 Project of the Palestinian Authority and for the celebration of the new millennium in Bethlehem in a global vision of peace.”
Dignitaries involved in this unprecedented meeting included:
- Roger Cardinal Etchegaray, President of the Committee for the Great Jubilee and Head of the Holy See delegation;
- Victor Petlyuchenko, Representative of the Russian Orthodox Church;
- Kieran Prendergast, Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations; Azeddine Laraki, Secretary-General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference; Said Kamal, Assistant Secretary-General of the League of Arab States;
- Yasser Arafat, leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization and President of the Palestinian Authority;
- Nabeel Kassis, Chairman of the Bethlehem 2000 Committee and Minister of the Palestinian Authority;
- Michel Sabbah, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem;
- Hanna Nasser, Mayor of Bethlehem;
- Francesco Rutelli, Mayor of Rome;
- Joan Brown Campbell, General Secretary of the U.S. based National Council of the Churches of Christ;
- Dwain C. Epps, a Director of the World Council of Churches; and a host of other officials representing Catholicism, Islam, and the United Nations. Additional politically-oriented interfaith meetings of this type are being planned as the year 2000 approaches.
The Vatican has already established Jerusalem and Rome as the centers for its worldwide Jubilee. As part of this celebration John Paul is planning a personal pilgrimage to the Holy Land. His visit is intended to further the “peace process” and is expected to consolidate Vatican influence in the region. Delegates commissioned by the Pope have been meeting with leading Israeli and Palestinian officials concerning his trip.
This upcoming visit will hold special significance. A growing number of religious leaders believe Pope John Paul II will finally bring peace to the Middle East and the world. One such leader is George Huntston Williams, former professor at Harvard Divinity School. In his classic biography, The Mind of John Paul II, Williams makes a provocative statement concerning the Pope’s potential role as a global savior. Reflecting on a harrowing experience from the Pope’s youth, he remarks,
- How he conducted himself in a tense situation in his native Cracow two score years ago may be prophetic of how, in some tense situation for our planetary city in the coming score of years, he may with comparable steadiness of nerve deliver a saving word for all mankind.
Professor Williams concludes his book on a similar note, posing a profound, in-depth scenario:
- One can imagine some parlous moment in the evolution of humanity, ever in constant peril now of utter destruction, when the present Servant of the Servants of the Lord might, with personal magnanimity and moral magnitude, forthright and supple in the languages of our planet, interpose himself by God’s grace, between mankind and the awesome power of imminent Holocaust, possibly usque ad mortem. He has been given a mandate from on high and by spiritual magnetism he has gained the authority to speak and to act on behalf of all humankind.
Whether it be through the efforts of the current or a future pope, statements such as these suggest that the Holy See is destined to play a major role not only in “bringing peace” but in introducing the new political and religious order.
Could the upcoming Jubilee Celebration serve as a platform for the international covenant (treaty) foretold in Daniel 9:27? Only time will tell. One thing is certain, the New Age agenda for global government and a world religion is taking place in the name of peace and unity. It is extremely deceptive, and will seduce all except those who are informed, biblically literate, and completely committed to Jesus Christ.
In Ephesians 6:13 Paul writes, “…put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” With God’s help we will be able to stand firm in the days ahead!
For continued coverage of important New Age/one-world developments, visit this site monthly. For complete documentation and more information on this vital subject, you are encouraged to obtain Gary Kah’s newly released book The New World Religion (330 pages, including over 50 exhibits and 350 footnotes.) Order through this web site and receive a free cassette that will greatly impact your life.
