(Rapture Watch Update, Jamma, November 1999) As the holiday season and the year 2000 approaches, the world's attention focuses on the land where the Lord Jesus
The Holy Spirit miraculously conceived Christ. Little does the earth's population realize or appreciate the meaning of the events, which are transpiring in the land of the prophets. A so-called New World Order of politics and global religion are both coming to the intersection at the prophetic road where God said they would meet: in a tiny nation called Israel; in a special city called Jerusalem.

Throughout Christian history, a large number of prophecy teachers have recognized that the dominating false world religion and government prophesied of in Revelation Chapter 17 for these last days would come forth from the old Babylonian and Roman Empires. Details for the full scope of the prophecies, which develop the composite picture of this political religious power, are scattered throughout the Bible.

We have dealt in the past with the fact that this partnership described in greater detail in Revelation Chapter 13 will reach its zenith, during the establishment of a seven year covenant with Israel and her neighbors. (Daniel Chapter 9:27.) Prophecy and current events overwhelmingly support that the present day European Union, which originated in Rome, Italy, with the signing of the Treaty of Rome, is indeed the promised restored Roman Empire, which will bring forth in Israel the last day's beastly world dictator called the Anti-Christ. (Daniel Chapter 11:45 and I John Chapter 2:18.) It is also just as evident to us for the same reason that the Roman Catholic Church is in truth a major endtime leader of the ghastly Babylonian harlot religion, which will unite in full power with the European Union in its final push for world dominion.

To understand the overwhelming and exhaustive amount of evidence that the Babylonian religion continues on in the Catholic Church one only needs to check out Alexander Hislop's 'The Two Babylons' from their local library. The Babylonian trail leading to Rome is dramatic to say the least, when reviewing the history of the "holy" Roman Empire. One striking example can be found in the title of the pope, which is "Pontifice Maximus." This was the exclusive title of the high priest in ancient Babylon. The title was given in 63 BC to Julius Caesar of Rome by the Babylonians as an appeasement to their conquerors and was passed on to succeeding emperors until it was finally rejected by Gratian in 376 AD for Christian reasons. (See "Babylon Mystery Religion' by Ralph Woodrow.) It was then offered in 378 AD to Demasus, the apostate
Bishop of the church at Rome, who gladly received the election. Succeeding popes retained this designation.
The men who bore this title of the Supreme Pontiff of the Babylonian mysteries are directly responsible for one of the blackest times in mankind's history, while posing as Christians under the auspices of the Roman Empire. The time of the inquisition and crusades is appropriately called "the Dark Ages."
We have shared in the past that if this position is the correct one then certain developments would need to take place.
1. The rise of the pope's global political power: many people are not aware that the pope commands his own chair in the United Nations, which is marked "The Holy See."
2. The pope's involvement with the European Union: Pope John Paul II has stated that his intention is "to unite Europe under the historical Christianity of old" - remember the Dark Ages. (See Revelation Chapter 17:6.)

3. The pope is opening dialogue with the Jews in preparation for establishing himself as the supreme religious ruler of the Holy Land and to position Roman Catholicism as the harlot religion, which will be carried for approximately 3-1/2 years by the beastly king who will one day soon dominate the region. (Revelation Chapter 17:7.)
4. Current events in the 90's continue to confirm the position that a European Babylonian/Roman alliance will one day soon rule from out of Jerusalem in these last days.

The September 19, 1993 edition of the Denver Post which headlined, "Accord may hasten papal visit to Holy Land" reported that: "The peace agreement signed by the Israelis and Palestinians... will hasten a long-discussed papal visit to the Holy Land... the accord will lead to Vatican jurisdiction over part of the city that is holy to Muslims, Jews and Christians... Only in July 1992, did Israel and the Vatican establish a formal commission to negotiate diplomatic ties."

Then from the December 15, 1993 edition of the Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph which headlined, "Israel, Vatican to open relations" we read: "Israel and the Vatican will sign an agreement to establish diplomatic ties... For decades, the Vatican has refused to recognize Israel... The TV said an agreement would be signed December 29, 1993 in Rome, after ambassadors would be appointed and full relations completed within four month."

Reports during October 1999, which have originated from the Vatican have stated that the pope plans to make his pilgrimage to Jerusalem in March of 2000 in time to celebrate the Christian holy season.

The Arabic News had two items on October 9, 1999 and October 16, 1999, that clearly reveals a global religion is on the immediate horizon and that the Roman Catholic Church continues to establish itself as a leader in this Anti-Christ endeavor.

The first article titled, "Jordan adopts biggest religious assembly for peace" reported that: "600 representatives of the major religions in the world will convene during this coming November in Amman to call for ratifying peace in the coming millennium"

The second article titled, "Vatican hosts international meeting on inter-religions dialogue" reported that: "The Vatican will host on October 24-28 an international meeting on dialogue between religions... The encounter, to be attended by more than 200 representatives of 50 countries, seeks to "consolidate inter-religious dialogue for a future peace and solidarity among all mankind... The encounter will be crowned with a final declaration."

Further information on the uniting of religions is available at:
http://www.rapturewatch.com/christ-like/cel20.html The Israel Wire report of October 28, 1999, which headlined, "Interfaith peace conference to explore role of religion in promoting peace in millennium" reported that: A third conference of religions is to be held in Israel on November 21-23. The lengthy list of participants included such prominent individuals as the Vatican's official representative, the Dalai Lama, the world leader of the Nakshabandi Sufi, and
the former president of the Union of Churches in Britain.

It must be kept in mind that according to Revelation Chapter 17:15-18, the great city of the harlot will be destroyed sometime at the end of the first 3-1/2 years of the tribulation period. The final form of Satan's religion which will rise to prominence after this point will be the deadliest of all and will be the system that demands that the world worship the Anti-Christ through the authority of the second beast known as the false prophet. (Revelation Chapters 13:11-15,
19:20.)

We must keep in mind that the Anti-Christ and his followers do not hate religion, as a whole, since it is essential to their final demand for worship--they just hate having to continue to carry this particular religion, which will have served its limited purpose.

In order to effectively consider leading candidates for what religious system might exist in the world today that could more specifically fulfill the role of the last days religion of the Anti-Christ, we can only add up God's prophetic clues. We are convinced by prophecy that the belief system, which will overshadow the false religions of the earth during the closing hours of this age, will originate from out of Europe. Also it will display a perverted form of Christianity and will have at its core the belief that it is the worship system, which is destined to produce its own messiah in replacement of Jesus Christ.

Then lastly, its belief system's roots must go back to ancient times of spiritualism and mysticism. At present the primary candidate seen with these credentials is the pagan Celtic Church.

The European Union and this false Christianity fit together like a hand in a glove, and we are persuaded that in the very near future they will form the fist of the Anti-Christ.

The removal of the true Church to heaven by Jesus Christ is very, very near. (I Thessalonians Chapter 4:15-18.) Let us be sure of our place in the Lord in these final hours by having our complete trust in His saving power and in His power alone. No angel, priest, saint or works can ever destroy the wall of sin which stands between man and God. It is an abomination to believe that any of these can replace or supplement the blood offering of the Son of God.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast...But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been made near by the blood of Christ. For He, Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of division between us." (Ephesians Chapter 2:8, 9,13-14.) Your Brother and friend in Christ,Jamma November 3, 1999