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Tract Number 341
Audio download at bottom of page
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IS AN ECUMENICAL COUNCIL
GOD’S PLAN FOR UNITY?
Ecumenical - of or pertaining to the habitable world; general; universal; hence, ecumenical council - General Council.
The Roman Catholic Church through Pope John 23 called all religious bodies, who would assemble with him, to a meeting in October 1962, and called for UNITY in all Catholics (first of all) then UNITY in prayers, and also UNITY for all those Christians separated from this “Holy See” to be one with (and under) them.
It seems that many are awakening to the sin fulness of the divided condition of Christendom, but they do not know what to do about it; being ignorant of God’s righteousness, they are going about to establish their OWN righteousness, and are not submitting to the righteousness of God. (Romans 10:3) God tells us in Ephesians 4:3, to be “En deavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.” Those whom Paul was writing to here were all baptized into the ONE body by the ONE Spirit, while we see there is a different spirit dominating each of the hundreds of differ ent sects, for it is the Spirit of Satan which causes these differences which also are the causes of the splits that create the sects. The ONE Spirit (Holy Spirit) never does induct anyone into any man-ruled sect nor create divisions, except to the ex tent that he does separate those saved from SIN from those who continue to live in sin.
When we are all born into ONE family by the ONE Spirit, we are all made partakers of that divine nature through the New Birth, having the love of God shed abroad in our hearts and we are just naturally drawn together. Jesus said, John 13:35, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” The love of God causes us to take HEED unto the Word and come out of all man-made, man-ruled organizations. In John 10:27, Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them and they follow me.”
We read in Acts 2:47, “And the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved.” And we read in Acts 20:28, “The Church of God which he purchased with His own blood.” God called apos tles, evangelists, pastors, and teachers for the per fecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the BODY of Christ, till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the know ledge of the Son of God; that we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of doctrine.” (see Ephesians 4:11-14).
So many teach that all Jews will be gathered together into ONE body, and that Christ will come back to what was known as the Holy Land under the law age, and there reign over them for 1,000 years; but the Bible does not even so much as hint at any such teaching. It teaches that God is NO respecter of persons, but in every nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted of Him. Acts 10:34, 35. Are we going to believe the Word of God? Shall we take the teach ings of men (of devils) or the teachings of God? Even the Gentiles had an opportunity to be united with God’s people, but there was only ONE law (or ordinance) for ALL, see Numbers 15:15; 9:14; and this was for a continual ordinance among them. The Word of God is forever settled in heaven. So many want to change the Word for every passing fancy. Many more scriptures could be given showing that ANYONE who would accept God’s Way, could become one of God’s people: and this is true yet today. God favored the Jews, not because of their extreme righteousness, but because of the extreme wickedness of the other nations about them; for this very reason God chose Israel for the ancestory of the Saviour. As the Gentiles had an opportunity back there to become ONE of God’s chosen people, so in this day does the Jew have an opportunity to accept Christ and be saved; but there is only one standard for all peoples of all nations. None can nor ever will get saved except he come to the Father through the Son, Jesus Christ, by means of being born-again into the family of God. This makes us a part of the Church of God, the Kingdom of God. There is no salvation in any sect that does not teach this truth. The promise in Romans 11:26 that “ALL Israel shall be saved” refers not to Literal Israel, but to Spiritual Israel (Romans 2:28-29). Also see Rom. 4:11; 9:6;11:7; Galatians 3:27-29; and John 8:39. Especially the false holiness movements teach that the Jews will again be God’s chosen people and that Christ will come back here to the earth and set up a Literal 1,000 years REIGN on earth; but the Bible does not even hint at any such teach ing. There will be no time, no place, nor will there be any need of a millenium, for the earth shall be dissolved when Jesus comes for His People. We that are ready for His appearing will go to meet Him IN THE AIR to be forever with the Lord in that place He has gone to prepare for a pure, spotless, Free-from-Sin people; all others will be cast into the lake of fire where the devil and his angels (Ministers) are. See Revelation 1:20 concerning the last thought, then see the following for the events at His coming: Matthew 25:31-33; Revelation 1:7; 20:11-15; John 5:28-29; 2nd Thessalonians 1:7-10 (Punished when He comes to be Glorified in His saints, not 1,000 years after as the Millenialists teach).
This afore mentioned Ecumenical Council was attended by 2700 high prelates of the Roman Catholic Church. On October 12, 1962, there were 28 delegate-observers (non-Catholic) in attendance at the council, and also diplomats and other rep resentatives of 80 governments. October 13, there were 39 Protestant and Eastern Orthodox leaders in the Apostolic Palace (???) and 1,000 press rep resentatives. (Information obtained from 1963 World Almanac, page 122).
Most all sects are joining forces with the Ecum enical Movement (or World Council of Churches), and even some so called Church of God ministers are not only going along with it, but going as far as to say “Anyone who does not go along with it is Communist.” But just the opposite is the true case for we find communists going along with it, and it is all in fulfillment of the Word of God (Revelation 17: also 16:13-14) and they will come with all their forces against those who will dare to preach the whole truth as God reveals it to them. There are people who are guilty of every sin (in the catalog, so to speak) that are prominent members and even ministers of these man-made organizations lining up with the Ecumenical Movement. Every one who does line up with it has to lay aside some of the little bit of Truth they do have, in order to get along with those of a contrary belief. They say, You have a right to your beliefs and I have a right to mine, But GOD says, 2nd John 9, “Whosoever transgresseth and abideth NOT in the doctrine of CHRIST, hath not God.” Also 1st John 2:4,6.
By Wilbur B. Dettweiler
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