Prophecy in the Making: Pope Furthers Union of World Religions
Dr. Robert Congdon
A"'turning point' in relations between Christianity and Islam" is how onecommentator described Pope Benedict's recent four-day trip to Turkey.
Thefirst defining event occurred when the Pope visited the ancient Biblical cityof Ephesus. With the exception of Jerusalem, the New Testament mentions noother city more than Ephesus. It was here that the apostle John ministered tothe local church and cared for Mary, the mother of Jesus (John 19:26, 27). Asmembers of the Ephesian church, Aquila and Priscilla helped Apollos to acquirea more complete understanding of the Gospel (Acts 18:24-28); and here theApostle Paul also ministered, emphasizing the Kingdom of God (Acts 19:8). Inlater years, Paul wrote to Timothy, the pastor of the church of Ephesus,stressing the need to teach all Scripture.
Paul'swarning certainly included those prophecies regarding the Lord's appearing inthe air for the Church at the Rapture followed by His Second Coming to earth toestablish His future earthly kingdom. He said that in the last days "periloustimes shall come." These times will be the days when people will turn to afalse religion that offers not only a false hope but also "a form of godliness"while "denying the power thereof." In contrast, those individuals who "love Hisappearing," will be looking for the Rapture and the future crown of reward thatis promised to all believers who "love his appearing" (2 Timothy 4:8). Sadly, amere thirty years later, God warned the church at Ephesus that they had losttheir first love, their zeal for the Lord and the anticipation of seeing Him.Apparently they had turned to false teachers who denied Christ's appearing atthe Rapture (Rev. 2:4). This warning is strikingly appropriate today, as manychurches are turning from the truths of prophecy.
ThePope's visit to Ephesus was not to emphasize the return of Christ, but to payhomage to the "holy site" where Mary traditionally lived out her last days. Healso hoped to strengthen the bond that Roman Catholics share with Muslimsregarding Mary, for although many are unaware of it, Islam holds the VirginMary in high esteem. It was from Ephesus that Mary supposedly ascended toheaven and here, too, she is said to have appeared to a German nun. The shrinein Ephesus that was built to honor Mary sees "tens of thousands ofChristians and Muslims" visiting it each year.[3]
Throughoutthe world, apparitions of the Roman Catholic Virgin Mary are increasing. Islamand Roman Catholicism are drawing closer together through her shrines andongoing "appearances." The Marian shrine in Fatima, Portugal, is an ecumenicalgathering place for religions from the East as well as the West. Fatima wasMohammad's favorite daughter and of her he said that she is the most honored ofwomen after Mary.[4] Over 4.5 million people of manyfaiths come to Fatima each year to share a common worship experience, centeredupon the mother/child shrine to Mary. This response should not surprise us, forthe Bible indicates that in the end times, the focus of the world's religionswill be upon a female deity.
Revelation17 labels this latter-day false goddess "Mystery Babylon the Great, the motherof harlots and abominations of the earth." Many Bible students hold that thelatter-day false religion will be based on a mother/child counterfeit of thepromised woman and her seed described in Genesis 3:15. Historical recordsindicate that through Nimrod at Babel, Satan first introduced Semiramis and herson as the promised "seed." It was here that humanity first turned from thetrue God and sought to unite world government and religion (Gen. 11). From thatday to this, worship of the mother-goddess, first called the "Queen of Heaven,"has appeared in many cultures under many different names. The Samariansworshipped her as Ishtar, the Egyptians as Isis, the Greeks as Artemis, and theRomans as Diana. Even Israel fell for the queen of heaven's allurement(Jeremiah 44:17-19, 25).
InRoman times, Ephesus was the center of Artemis/Diana worship.[5] TheEphesians believed that it was here that the "mother goddess of the earth wasborn."[6] Standing before the people of thiscity, the Apostle Paul confronted this false mother-goddess worship by usingthe power of the Word of God; and many turned to the true and living Savior,Jesus Christ (Acts 19:26). The spiritual conflict of that day has not ended,for in today's modern world many worship a Mary that is contrary to the Marydescribed in the Scriptures. This false Mary may become a new version of themother-goddess, taking form as a "Global Mary." She may become the catalystthat unites the world's religions into a "supra," one-world religion that willeventually follow the Antichrist. In this role she would fulfill the prophecyregarding "Mystery Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and Abominations ofthe Earth," found in Revelation 17.
Thesecond defining event of the Pope's journey took place in Istanbul(Constantinople), former capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. It was here, onthe holiest day of the Eastern Orthodox calendar, that he held a Mass withPatriarch Bartholomew, spiritual leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Hisdeclared purpose was to "patch an age-old rift between the churches."
Thethird defining event occurred near Hagia Sofia, a 6th CenturyEastern Roman Empire church that was converted to a mosque in 1453 and is now amuseum. Only 500 yards from this historical landmark is the functioning IslamicBlue Mosque. Pope Benedict XVI furthered his cause for the reunion of faiths byentering the mosque where, alongside an imam, he boldly turned to face Mecca(the spiritual center of Islam) and prayed silently, thereby winning the praiseof many Muslims. The Mufti of Istanbul noted that this two-minute prayer was"even more meaningful than an apology."[9] This event is only the second time inhistory that a Roman Pope has entered a Muslim house of worship. These threedefining events of his trip emphasize Pope Benedict XVI's desire to reconcilethree major world religions, Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Islam.
Lastlythe Pope made a prophetically significant, though little noticed, statementwhen he urged the European Union to admit Turkey into EU membership. Hedescribed Turkey as being the bridge between Europe and Asia. After firststating that the Vatican has no political power to influence the EU, he urged"Turkey's integration into Europe."[10] Although there may beno official connections between the Vatican and the EU, there are manyunofficial ones. These comments by the Pope were intended to counter the EU'srejection of Turkey, based largely on the perceived fear of Islamic terrorism.
TheBible indicates that mankind's final kingdom will arise from the revived RomanEmpire, which included the countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea (Daniel2:42). Hence, Turkey's admission would mark the first of many Middle Eastcountries to join the European Union, possibly fulfilling this prophecy. TheVatican's approval could help to overcome the resistance to Turkey'smembership. As the world moves toward a one-world government united with aone-world religion, it is important to realize that the details as to just howthis union will be accomplished are insignificant when compared to the absolutepromise of God that it will indeed happen, for His Word is truthful andtrustworthy.
[1] "Pope Begins Landmark Turkey Visit."BBC Online News, 28 Nov. 2006.
[2] David Wiley. "Turkey Trip 'DefinesBenedict Papacy." BBC Online News, 1 Dec. 2006.
[3] "Pope Holds First Mass inTurkey" EuroNews, 29 Nov 2006
[4] Dave Hunt. A Woman Rides the Beast.(Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 1994), 458.
[5] "Ephesus" Easton's Revised BibleDictionary. Online Bible Edition, Ver. 2, 2005.
[6] "Ephesus" ISBE Vol. 3.
[7] "Pope Celebrates Mass withPatriarch" EuroNews 30 Nov 2006
[8] "Patriarch Bartholomew I on the PapalVisit." Catholic Online 2 Dec. 2006.
[9] David Wiley. "Turkey Trip 'DefinesBenedict Papacy'"
[10] Lucia Kubosova. "Turkey ClaimsPope Supports its EU Membership Bid" EUobserver, 29 Nov 2006. http://euobserver.com/?aid=22974 11/29/06.