PRELUDE TO THE TIME OF TRIBULATION AND ETERNITY

When President Jimmy Carter invited Pope John-Paul II into the White House in 1979, it was an event of great prophetic significance. He assented to the Pope's blessing on the assembled representatives of all three branches of the government. This was followed by disaster for his administration. The events scheduled for September, 2015, exceed by alarming degrees of magnitude that of 1979. They signal the Roman Catholic domination of the United States. The spiritual gift of prophecy to the once "faithful city" speaks to the remnant people of God everywhere, declaring that national ruin looms on the horizon for the American nation:-

Obama to seek unity with Pope Francis on issues in White House visit

Sweeping into office in 2009, President Barack Obama captured near rock-star status around the world among millions who saw him as the embodiment of a new sense of social purpose. Now, that baton has largely been passed to Pope Francis, whose visit to the White House next month will put his common cause with Obama on vivid display.

Obama has made no secret of his affection for the outspoken pope, calling him a "transformative leader" whose influence has transcended the Roman Catholic community. The pope has embraced many of the issues Obama has sought to advance, including global warming, poverty and diplomacy with Iran and Cuba.

Vice President Joe Biden, a Catholic, said the pope's Sept. 23 visit will mark an important moment not only for Catholics but for all Americans.

"Pope Francis has breathed new life into what I believe is the central mission of our faith: Catholic social doctrine," Biden said in a statement to The Associated Press. Invoking key elements of Obama's agenda, Biden added that Francis "has become a moral rudder for the world on some of the most important issues of our time, from inequality to climate change." . . . (Underscored emphasis added)

(Cf. Vatican U.N. representative reports high interest in papal visit)

If taken at face value the following lengthy report suggests that invitations to the Pope from the White House, Congress, and the United Nations were extended more or less independently. However this may be, it is reasonable to perceive the work of the spirits of devils bringing it all together:

US Ambassador to the Holy See Talks about Pope Francis’ Visit to the United States

As representative of the President and the people of the United States to the Holy See you’re playing an important role in preparing for the Pope’s visit. What can you say about the visit with its variety of possibilities, what are the key issues?

Yes, there are a variety of possibilities and the key issues are still not locked down, firmed up. But, to understand it well, I think you have to go back to the visit of President Obama to the Pope on 27 March 2014 which, in a way, came after the decision to visit Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families. Francis just picked up Benedict’s commitment on that, and carried it forward. But the President’s visit did more than just lock in that commitment.

The President invited him to the United States?

Yes, the President invited him and more importantly, in the context of that invitation, the dynamic, the personal interaction, was more than warm; they hit it off on a number of issues including, I think, migration, poverty, exclusion, and people falling through the cracks. Those are the kind of things that I believe they were discussing behind closed doors. As soon as we were let in immediately afterwards you could feel the atmosphere in the room was very positive. So somehow Pope Francis had a very positive view of President Obama and what he is trying to do, and they clicked. And I think that led to his decision to come.

Then the following September I carried the invitation from Speaker Boehner to speak to Congress and I probably said at the time that this is a long shot, but Francis picked it up and there it goes.

The UN was not on the cards in the very beginning because we kept hearing it’s going to be a pastoral visit, and yes he’ll go to the White House, and then he’ll go to Congress. But all of a sudden (UN Secretary General) Ban Ki-moon came in and locked down the UN because a lot of people were saying it is the 50th anniversary of Paul VI’s visit to the UN, and Francis could speak about climate and about the sustainable development goals, and so they were creating an environment for him to speak at the UN.

But I believe the President’s coming made the difference about him coming to Washington.

In harmony with Ellen G. White's counsel on the use of the Testimonies, the following prophecies apply perfectly to the religio-political events that have happened in the United States since the presidencies of Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan. The Seventh-day Adventist skeptic is challenged to argue reasonably that they are not. Particularly challenged are those who have heard of the interpretation of Our Lord's Own Prophecy in Luke 21:24, and refuse to believe that His Second Coming will happen within one generation of fulfillment of the prophecy. One generation is generally defined as forty years. These prophecies of the Messenger of the Lord demand careful attention:

ELLEN G. WHITE END-TIME STATEMENTS

From "Last Day Events"

God will, to all intents and purposes, be made void in our land, and national apostasy will be followed by national ruin.—The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 7:977 (1888).

It is at the time of the national apostasy when, acting on the policy of Satan, the rulers of the land will rank themselves on the side of the man of sin. It is then the measure of guilt is full. The national apostasy is the signal for national ruin.—Selected Messages 2:373 (1891).

Roman Catholic principles will be taken under the care and protection of the state. This national apostasy will speedily be followed by national ruin.—The Review and Herald, June 15, 1897.

When Protestant churches shall unite with the secular power to sustain a false religion, for opposing which their ancestors endured the fiercest persecution, then will the papal sabbath be enforced by the combined authority of church and state. There will be a national apostasy, which will end only in national ruin.—Evangelism, 235 (1899).

When the state shall use its power to enforce the decrees and sustain the institutions of the church—then will Protestant America have formed an image to the papacy, and there will be a national apostasy which will end only in national ruin.—The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 7:976 (1910).

(Underscored emphasis added)

GCB January 1, 1900, Art. B, par. 10

The General Conference Bulletin January 1, 1900, Art. B paragraph 10 (EGW)

This subject is urging itself upon my mind. Consider it; for it is a matter of vast importance. With which of these two classes shall we identify our interest? We are now making our choice, and we shall soon discern between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. Read the fourth chapter of Malachi, and think about it seriously. The day of God is right upon us. The world has converted the church. Both are in harmony, and are acting upon a short-sighted policy. Protestants will work upon the rulers of the land to make laws to restore the lost ascendency of the man of sin, who sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. The Roman Catholic principles will be taken under the care and protection of the State. This national apostasy will speedily be followed by national ruin. The protest of Bible truth will be no longer tolerated by those who have made not the law of God their rule of life. Then will the voice be heard from the graves of martyrs, represented by the souls which John saw slain for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ which they held; then the prayer will ascend from every true child of God, “It is time, Lord, for thee to work: for they have made void thy law.”

Note the phrase "Protestants will work upon the rulers of the land to make laws . . .," and the sentence "The Roman Catholic principles will be taken under the care and protection of the State." These perfectly cover the Roman Catholic teachings of "Subsidiarity" (Limited Government,) "Natural Law" (prevails over the civil law of the land;) and the Roman Catholic "Social Doctrine" in general, which includes the "Right to Life" movement. The crusade against Abortion is a blatant proclamation of the dogma of the Immortality of the Soul in the declaration that "life begins at conception" because of "ensoulment.")

Those who continue to beat the drum of a National Sunday Law should carefully consider another set of predictions of Ellen G. White concerning Sunday legislation:

Universal Sunday Legislation

History will be repeated. False religion will be exalted. The first day of the week, a common working day, possessing no sanctity whatever, will be set up as was the image of Babylon. All nations and tongues and peoples will be commanded to worship this spurious sabbath.... The decree enforcing the worship of this day is to go forth to all the world.—The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 7:976 (1897).

As America, the land of religious liberty, shall unite with the papacy in forcing the conscience and compelling men to honor the false sabbath, the people of every country on the globe will be led to follow her example.—Testimonies for the Church 6:18 (1900).

The Sabbath question is to be the issue in the great final conflict in which all the world will act a part.—Testimonies for the Church 6:352 (1900).

Foreign nations will follow the example of the United States. Though she leads out, yet the same crisis will come upon our people in all parts of the world.—Testimonies for the Church 6:395 (1900).

Unquestionably, the United States takes the lead, consistent with Rev. 13:12; but remember that the final movements will be rapid ones. Obviously the world follows so closely after the United States that a national quality does not apply. The enforcement of Sunday observance will be a worldwide event. Whether or not the enforcement of Sunday observance in the United States comes before or during the false revival of Isa. 2 remains to be seen.

Now is the time to face up to the spiritual realities. Let us not say in our hearts, "It cannot be so soon - I am not ready for eternity;" or be found in the ranks of those who, because of unbelief, will lament in the end, "the harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved" (Jer. 8:20.) No Church membership or involvement in the good works of the "Social Gospel" will save us - only belief in the Lord Jesus  Christ (Acts 16:31,) which embraces taking Him at His Word, with "righteousness by faith" in Him, and the hope of perfection by faith in Him.