One-World Church Rising

By Harold Eriksen

One-World Church Rising points a need for discernment among church attendees concerning church doctrines and teachings. There are seven simultaneous developments occurring on the contemporary religious scene that will make this a must-read book and a page-turner for every informed Christian. First, careful examination of many of the Catholic Church teachings that have developed during the past 1,900 years do not square with Scripture. Second, there is the sudden increase in heretical teaching coming from the Vatican that has alienated many cardinals and bishops. Third is the widespread development of liberties theologians are taking to alter the interpretation of the Bible, to dilute its meaning, and to make it reflect what the theologian wants it to reflect. Some offer interpretations that are clearly condemned in the Bible. Fourth is an emerging acceptance of Catholic Church teachings among Protestants that they have been rejected since the Reformation. A number of Protestant preachers have aligned themselves with the Catholic Church, contradicting what they themselves have preached. Fifth, there is increasing emphasis being placed on the shared theological roots between Christians and Islam; all directed toward establishing a common ground between Christendom and Islam. Sixth are the soft solicitations of the Catholic Church to anti-Christian religions. Finally, and most importantly, is the apparent rise of a deity within the Catholic Church that would replace Christ as redeemer, advocate, and intercessor between God and man. One of the most important trends in the past seventy years has been the evolution of greater emphasis on the Virgin Mary. A new Marian dogma appears to be developing in the Netherlands that may replace Christ as our redeemer, mediator, and advocate. Apart from the world's search from some mystical divine reality, there is powerful political motivation behind this development. Collectively, all of the above point to the emergence of a one-world church as predicted in Revelation 13:1""17.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 6, 2020
• ISBN: 9781644926222

Book preview

Growing Unrest

There is growing concern that the criminal activities and teachings of the Catholic Church will continue to threaten its membership. There are seven simultaneous developments occurring on the religious scene that will lead to the formation of a one-world church. It is occurring simultaneously with the movement toward a one-world government and financial system. First, the gospel being preached by the Catholic Church is not the same gospel that Jesus and His disciples preached. A number of Catholic teachings developed during the past 1,900 years do not square with Scripture. Second, there is the sudden increase in heretical teaching coming from the Vatican that has estranged the relationship between cardinals, bishops and laity with the pope. Third, is the widespread development of liberties taken by theologians to alter the interpretation of the Bible; to water-down its meanings, and to make it reflect what the theologian wants it to reflect. Some offer interpretations that are clearly condemned in the Bible. Fourth, is an emerging acceptance of Catholic Church’s teachings among Protestants, teachings that have been rejected since the Reformation. Fifth, is the increasing emphasis being placed on the shared theological roots between Christians and Islam, which are all directed toward establishing a common ground between Christendom and Islam. Sixth, are the soft solicitations of the Catholic Church to anti-Christian organizations. Finally, and most importantly, is the rise of a deity within the Catholic Church that may one day replace Christ as redeemer, advocate, and intercessor between God and man.

One of the most important trends in the past seventy years has been the development of greater emphasis on the Virgin Mary. A new Marian dogma is emerging to distinguish Mary as co-redeemer, co-mediator and co-advocate with Christ; a trend that will lead to Mary assuming the role of Christ. This is not just a search for some mystical divine reality, there is powerful political motivation behind this development. Collectively all of the above point to the emergence of a one-world church, which is growing contemporaneously with a developing New World Order, as predicted in Revelation 13: 1-17.

The recently published Fireside Youth Bible, is prefaced with an introduction entitled Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation. In chapter 2, item 10, tradition is given equal status with the bible. It reads: "Sacred-Tradition and Sacred-Scripture are from one sacred deposit of the Word of God, committed to the Church." You will notice that tradition is cited first. Christians do not disagree with the statement, but insist that tradition that comes from the sacred deposit of the Word of God must agree with the Word of God. If it does not, then, by the force of the difference the laity are being misled, driven further away from the truth. Any interpretation of Scripture that alters its true meaning is a product of human reason; tainted by the spirit of lawlessness. Teachings that do not square with Scripture drive people further away from any potential relationship they may hope to have with Jesus, the only source of our salvation. We have only one sure word of testimony upon which we can rest, and it is not tradition. There is only one infallible standard and it lies in the words it is written. The Bible, the whole Bible and nothing but the Bible, is our religion. It is the judge that ends all strife created by human wit and reason, and any neophyte guided by the Holy Spirit can know the mind of God concerning his or her salvation.

Scripture tells us that spiritual decay will continue until He who restrains evil is taken out of the way. Then the spirit of lawlessness will advance unchecked. At which point, the church will grow into a one-world pagan religion, far removed from the vision Jesus had for His church. The message of sin, conversion, redemption and faith preached by Jesus is being replaced with shallow substitutes, non-scriptural dogma, traditions, ceremony and rituals, all flirting with the world’s standards and politics. It is engrossed with the quest for power, money and activities that gratify the ego. All is done without any thought of eternity. The decay is so entrenched in the spirit of its originators that the most aggressive plowing of their thoughts with the Word of God will never soften their position. Their conscience has been seared as with a hot iron. Are you surprised? Don’t be! It was predicted by Apostle Paul in his second letter to the Thessalonians written in 51-52 AD. He wrote:

Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come, unless a falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition. 9

For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs and lying wonders, and all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved." 10

Throughout history, there have been individuals who epitomized evil and were hostile to everything Christ stands for. These antichrists have lived in every generation and will continue to work their evil. Then just before Christ’s second coming, the man of lawlessness will arise. He will be Satan’s tool equipped with Satan’s power. Our task in all of this is to spread the good news, the gospel that Jesus preached and prepare ourselves and others for Christ’s return. Will the church, as we know it, vanish from the earth? Father Ratzinger (Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI) predicted in his radiobroadcast in 1969 that it would become a mere shadow of what Jesus intended it to be. When He who restrains the evil in this world is taken out of the way, the church will morph into a global house of worship that will embrace all the religious and cultic beliefs of the world.

If you are paying attention to the dialogue between Christian and Muslim churches, if you are paying attention to the soft solicitations from the Catholic Church to the cults of this world you are looking at just the tip of an iceberg. The Bible states that the trend toward paganism will continue until it embraces the entire world. In 2007, a letter from dozens of Muslim clerics was sent to Christian Churches around the world emphasizing the shared theological roots of Christendom and Islam. In 2008 Muslim scholars and some Christian clergy said that the peace of the world depended upon establishing a common ground between Muslims and Christians. In August 2013, Pope Francis stressed the need for Christian-Muslim harmony. For the religious, it is easier and I might add, safer to work toward harmony than it is to contend for the Gospel that Jesus preached. This initiative is the beginning of an attempt to create a one-world church. Compromising one’s faith is a clear indication that we are falling away from Christ’s message to the world.

Although the leadership of the Catholic Church has thoroughly debased the Christian faith by its immoral behavior this is nothing new. It has been on-going for centuries. The church at Ephesus lost their passion and became loveless. Laodicea became an apostate church. Thyatira became a corrupt church. The church at Smyrna suffered intense persecution and was crushed. The church at Pergamum merged into the Catholic Church in the fourth century and became the official religion of the Roman Empire. Although Christ had very little that was good to say about the church at Pergamum, He made a promise: "To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna [possibly a source of spiritual nourishment that satisfies their deepest hunger]. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it [possibly a sign of eternal life; evidence that the person has been accepted by God and is worthy of heaven]." 11

The first of the four horses of the Apocalypse described in the book of Revelation has been released. Its hoof beats can be heard throughout the world. It is a white horse symbolizing purity and righteousness. The triumphant figure of its rider is a bowman; not the Christian messiah of the gospel. It would be very confusing to represent the messiah as the Lamb opening the seals of the scroll of judgment; releasing the four horses of the Apocalypse, preceding the signs of His own advent. The rider on the white horse is of the same kind as the three figures that follow him. They bring judgment. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be noticed. Therefore, whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops. 12 A crown was given to the rider. He carries a bow, but no arrows. He went out conquering and to conquer (Revelation 6:2). He will run his course exposing evil and unfolding God’s judgement.

What surprises many is that former spiritual leaders indoctrinated with the tenets of the Reformation are singing a new song. Protestant pastors like Joel Osteen, Rick Warren, and Justin Welby, the Arch-bishop of Canterbury appear to be sympathetic toward the pope’s views concerning a one-world church. Father Cliff Brogen, a former Protestant minister, now a Catholic priest at the Vatican said We acknowledge the Pope’s infallibility with regard to universal moral declarations and our participation in the Eucharist by accepting the actual body and blood of Christ as an event known as the Transubstantiation at the conclusion of the holy mass. 13 Much more will be said on this subject later. Are they going with Jesus or siding with the world, the flesh and the devil? They wear His name, but are they going with Him? Jesus said: For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.14

David Wilkerson a well-known American evangelist, founder of their addiction recovery program, Teen Challenge, and best known for his book The Cross and the Switchblade had a vision. In the mid-1970s, he saw the formation of a super world church comprised of Roman Catholics, liberal ecumenical Protestants and anti-Christian cults, joining politically creating the most powerful religious force on earth. This super world church will be spiritual in name only, freely using the name of Jesus Christ, but will, in fact, be antichrist and political in many of its activities. This powerful church union will be deeply involved in social action, tremendous charity programs, and ministries of compassion. Its leaders will make sweeping statements about meeting human needs by sending out a call for renewed social action, political intervention, and a greater voice in world affairs. 15 His vision is becoming a reality.

On February 4, 2018 Pope Francis said: "I invite you to join me in a special day of prayer and fasting for peace on the 23 of February, the Friday of the first week of Lent. We will offer it in particular for the populations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the South Sudan. As on other similar occasions, I also invite our non-Catholic and non-Christian brothers and sisters to join in this initiative, in the ways they believe best, but all together." In other words, let us come to a common understanding. Apostle Paul warned us: Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 16 What we are hearing in this statement is a prelude to the formation of a one-world church, a belief system that will one day represent what man proclaims to be the best wisdom of all world religions and cults. Just as a one world church, government and financial system are central to the rise of the Antichrist, the gospel as Jesus preached it is central to our resurrection and eternal life with Him. I tell you the truth He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth? 17

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⁹ 2 Thessalonians 2:3

¹⁰ 2 Thessalonians 2: 7-10

¹¹ Revelation 2: 17

¹² Luke 12: 2-3

13* Transsubstantiation is addressed later in this document.

World News – Real News Right Now - Protestant Leaders Declare Reunification of Churches Under the Holy See, July 9, 2015

¹⁴ Luke 6: 45c

¹⁵ The Vision, by David Wilkerson, Spire Book published by Fleming H. Revell Company, Old Tappan, NJ, 1978, p76

¹⁶ 2 Corinthians 6: 14

¹⁷ Luke 18: 8

Fate Of The Catholic Church

Will the heresies which have caused so much consternation within the Catholic Church cause it to crash and burn, or will it evolve into a one-world church predicted in 17th chapter of Revelation? It is clear that the world is moving toward a one-world religion. The bible has always pictured God’s church as a woman with twelve stars above her head representing the twelve tribes of Israel. But the image of the one-world church is different. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls; having a golden cup in her hands full of the obscenities and the impurities of her immorality. ¹⁸ The picture that it paints are the bishops and cardinals arrayed in their purple and scarlet robes with their ornamentals decked with gold, precious stones and pearls. There can be no doubt that the woman referenced in Revelation 17 is the Catholic Church.

And on her head a name was written MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement. But the angel said to me, why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman