THE MYSTERY REVEALED (REVELATION 17:13, 17)

REVELATION 17:13, 17 –
“These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast… and give their kingdom unto the beast…”

History (Daniel 2:43) has recorded the attempts of great men and great nations to unite the world but they all failed. At the outbreak of World War 1, many of the ruling heads of Europe were related by blood or ties of marriage. Intermarriage among the citizens is, of course, widely prevalent. Various forms of union and federation have been attempted. Charles the Great, Charles V, Louis XIV, Napoleon Bonaparte, Kaiser Wilhelm, and Adolph Hitler have tried it. The Holy Alliance, the League of Nations tried it and the United Nations, as well. Men can never achieve permanent unity in this world.
Since the devil is now using the religious world to advance his plans, what does it mean to have one mind under his rule?
“These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful" (Rev. 17:13, 14).
"These have one mind." There will be a universal bond of union, one great harmony, a confederacy of Satan's forces. "And shall give their power and strength unto the beast." Thus is manifested the same arbitrary, oppressive power against religious liberty, freedom to worship God according to the dictates of conscience, as was manifested by the papacy, when in the past it persecuted those who dared to refuse to conform with the religious rites and ceremonies of Romanists.”
Selected Messages, book 3, p 392.

Who are these powers that will confederate under Satan’s banner and give their kingdom unto the Beast?
“In the warfare to be waged in the last days there will be united, in opposition to God's people, all the corrupt powers that have apostatized from allegiance to the law of Jehovah. In this warfare the Sabbath of the fourth commandment will be the great point at issue…”
Selected Messages, book 3, p 392.

“Let the watchmen on the walls of Zion not join with those who are making of none effect the truth as it is in Christ. Let them not join the confederacy of infidelity, popery, and Protestantism in exalting tradition above Scripture, reason above revelation, and human talent above the divine influence and the vital power of godliness…The question has been asked, What do you mean by a confederacy? Who have formed confederacies? You know what a confederacy is,--a union of men in a work that does not bear the stamp of pure, straightforward, unswerving integrity. (2 Cor. 6:17.) The wicked are being bound up in bundles, bound up in trusts, in unions, in confederacies. Let us have nothing to do with these organizations.”
SDA Bible Commentary, vol 4, p 1141-1142.

How will they achieve this union?
“The wide diversity of belief in the Protestant churches is regarded by many as decisive proof that no effort to secure a forced uniformity can ever be made. But there has been for years, in churches of the Protestant faith, a strong and growing sentiment in favor of a union based upon common points of doctrine. To secure such a union, the discussion of subjects upon which all were not agreed--however important they might be from a Bible standpoint--must necessarily be waived… When the leading churches of the United States, uniting upon such points of doctrine as are held by them in common, shall influence the state to enforce their decrees and to sustain their institutions, then Protestant America will have formed an image of the Roman hierarchy, and the infliction of civil penalties upon dissenters will inevitably result.”
Great Controversy, p 444-445.

“Romanism is now regarded by Protestants with far greater favor than in former years. In those countries where Catholicism is not in the ascendancy, and the papists are taking a conciliatory course in order to gain influence, there is an increasing indifference concerning the doctrines that separate the reformed churches from the papal hierarchy; the opinion is gaining ground that, after all, we do not differ so widely upon vital points as has been supposed, and that a little concession on our part will bring us into a better understanding with Rome.”
Great Controversy, p 563.

Who will take the leading role in this confederacy?
“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, vol 6, 395.

Is this a genuine unity or a corrupted harmony?
“The professed Protestant world will form a confederacy with the man of sin, and the church and the world will be in corrupt harmony.”
SDA Bible Commentary, vol 7, p 975.

What shall we do if our church is already connected with this (NCC, WCC, Ecumenical Movement, Counterfeit Reformations) universal bond of union like the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s participation and connection with the World Council of Churches? (Please see February 11, 1999 edition of Adventist Review, p 14-19 for documentation).
“The word ‘fellowship’ means participation, partnership. God employs the strongest figures to show that there should be no union between worldly parties and those who are seeking the righteousness of Christ…The question may be asked, Are we to have no union whatever with the world? The word of the Lord is to be our guide. Any connection with infidels and unbelievers that would identify us with them, is forbidden by the Word. We are to come out from among them, and be separate. In no case are we to link ourselves with them in their plans of work.”
Gospel Workers, p 392-393.

“Let the watchmen on the walls of Zion not join with those who are making of none effect the truth as it is in Christ. Let them not join the confederacy of infidelity, popery, and Protestantism.”
SDA Bible Commentary, vol 4, p 1141-1142.

“On the basis of Bible prophecy and the writings of Ellen G. White, SDA’s anticipate the eventual success of the ecumenical movement, both in eliminating the divisions of Protestantism and in reuniting Christendom by bridging the gulf that separates non-Catholic communions from Rome. The ecumenical movement will the become a concerted effort to unite the world and to secure universal peace and security by enlisting the power of civil government in a universal religio-political crusade to eliminate all dissent. SDA’s envision this crusade as the great apostasy to which John the revelator refers as “Babylon the great”. They understand, also, that God’s last message of mercy to the world prior to the return of Christ in power and glory will consist of a warning against this great apostate movement, and a call to all who choose to remain loyal to Him to leave the churches connected with it.” (See Revelation 13:15-17; 14:6-11; 17:1-6; 18:1-4; GC 444, 445, 573, 588, 589, 615)
SDA Encyclopedia, vol 10, p 411.

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