The 7th Congress of Leaders of World Religions met in Kazakhstan on September 14-15 and issued a call for world unity and peace. Participants included Pope Francis, Muslim Grand Imam of Al Azhar, Russian Orthodox Metropolitan Antonij, Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III, and the Chief Rabbis of the Ashkenazi and the Sephardic (Vatican News, Sep. 12, 2022). The 108 members of the congress adopted the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace. The congress issued an “appeal to all people of faith and goodwill to unity in this difficult time and to contribute to ensuring security and harmony in our common home–planet Earth” (Emirates News, Sep. 18, 2022). The first Congress of Leaders of World Religions was held in 2003 at Astana, Kazakhstan. The second congress, in 2006, met in a new building designed for the event, the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation. These congresses are the latest ecumenical gatherings fostering global religious unity. This end-time movement began with the World’s Parliament of Religions in New York City in 1893. Since then, there have been seven such parliaments, the latest in 2021. In 2002, Pope John Paul II led 200 religious leaders in the Day of Prayer for Peace in Assisi, Italy. There were representatives of Orthodox, Protestant, Baptist, Mennonite, Mormon, Judaism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Bahai, Confucianism, Shintoism, Hinduism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, and others. The World Council of Churches also foreviews a worldwide apostate “church.” It is composed of more than 300 “Christian” denominations representing some 500 million people in more than 100 nations, but the unity envisioned by the WCC encompasses all religions. At recent general assemblies of the World Council, the main speakers included Hindus, Buddhists, Jewish rabbis, Muslims, Sikhs, Native American Indians, and Australian aborigines. Thus, there is already a harlot “church” sitting upon many waters. It is the forerunner to the Mystery Babylon described in Revelation 17 that is united with the Beast, who is the Antichrist.
(Friday Church News Notes, September 23, 2022, www.wayoflife.org, fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143)
