Within the prophecies of the Scriptures, there is a segment of time called "the time of the end." This period in history describes the time when both Satan and man will attempt to culminate their plans against God; at the same time God will culminate His sovereign plan concerning human history. This end time will be the climatic moment in history when the forces and powers of both the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Darkness will ultimately meet for the conclusion of the ages.

God Speaking to Men of Global Influence

The higher men rise in power the greater the influential powers of darkness and providence swarm around them. It is for this reason we need to pray "for kings, and for all that are in authority" (I Timothy 2:2). When men go deeper in authority over many people, the Devil deepens his influence of control over them. This includes kings, heads of empires, and even popes. At the same time, the plan and workings of God are there as well. How does God speak to such leaders, especially to those who do not believe in the Bible? What about the prophecies of such men like Malachy?

As for world leaders their contemplations in life often concern the future, or the effect certain situations will have on the entire world—their concern is global. Genesis 41 speaks of Joseph's coming before Pharaoh and giving the interpretation of a dream. It is stated that the reason the dream came to Pharaoh was that God "hath showed Pharaoh what he is about to do." Yes, God may do that at times when other avenues are not open for His dealings with world leaders.

There is also the dream that Nebuchadnezzar had in Daniel 2. What prompted this dream? Daniel 2:28,29 states the following:

But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these; As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass.

The prompting of this dream was the burden and concern that a world ruler had for the future of history.

There is also the dream of Pilate's wife during the days leading to Christ's crucifixion. She sent word to Pilate stating, "Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him" (Matthew 27:19). Will the archives of presidents and kings one day reveal the dreams they have had during their tenure as well as the outcome of those dreams?

Sometimes God speaks through religious leaders even though they are apostate leaders. In I Kings 22 we read of the prophets of Ahab prophesying to him concerning a battle at Ramoth-gilead:

Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forebear? And they said, Go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king (I Kings 22:6).

Some may view this as a prophecy from the Devil since these men were the prophets of Baal. However, we read of the words of the prophet Micaiah who was also called before Ahab:

Hear thou therefore the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left. And the Lord said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner. And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will persuade him. And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so. Now therefore, behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken evil concerning thee (I Kings 22:19-23).

Although God is not the author of confusion, He does use confusion. He also will use demons and the ungodly to bring about His will. For example, it was an evil spirit from the Lord that troubled King Saul (I Samuel 16:14).

There is another passage that shows how God works through the prophesying of religious, apostate leaders:

And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death (John 11:49-53).

Yes, God is working even through apostasy and apostate leaders though they are evil, wrong, and will be sent to hell. Peter declares this concerning the death of Christ in Acts 4:26-28. Even in the Tribulation Period when the nations diminish to ten leaders with Antichrist being the eleventh, God will be using them:

And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled (emphasis added, Revelation 17:16-17).

There may be times when false prophets come and give the world and the church false prophecies (Deuteronomy 13:1-3). Moses warns the people that God may even allow it to come to pass to "prove you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul." An example of such a prophet is the twelfth-century Roman Catholic Malachy. Malachy was not of God, but he may have been used of God within the kingdom of apostate Romanism to deeepen its delusion.

Rome and Babylon

One prophetic aspect dealt with by both God and Satan concerns Babylon and Rome. Babylon had its beginning in Genesis 10 and 11 under the apostate reaction to God and His truth by the leadership of Cush and his son Nimrod. In the days of Daniel, Babylon came to great prominence in world leadership. However, John in Revelation reveals that Babylon will return. Concerning its restoration during the reign of Antichrist, Revelation 17-18 shows that it will be an impressive city, a commercial city, and a universal religion. Yes, Babylon is to return in the future.

In the book of Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar's image included legs that were made of iron. Historically, Christians have viewed this as the empire of Rome (Daniel 2:33a, 40). Although Rome reached great heights as a world leader during the days of Christ, the picture of Nebuchadnezzar's image having feet of both iron and clay suggest that Rome is to return in the future as well.

There is much speculation concerning the prophetic implications from the prophecies. Does it mean that the "geography of Babylon" will have a world capital led by the government of Rome in a united empire? Or does Babylon simply signify the restoration of political idolatry with religious Roman Catholicism (the New Testament idolatry)? Whatever the interpretation, in these days of increasing apostasy, we should be careful to understand that Rome and Babylon are coming back into a prominence with a force that we will have to meet as true Christians in the present and future.

It may be that we have given so much emphasis upon the Jews and Palestine that we have not thought enough of Rome and Babylon. They both have their roots historically, philosophically, and archaeologically in Babel, Bel, Cush, and Nimrod. They are coming back as Satan fulfills his own ancient conquest against God and His people.

Perhaps a word on the time period of the present world age would aid us in this prophetic understanding. Paul indicates that the "present age" will meet a concluding transition at a certain generation upon which the ends of the world will come (I Corinthians 10:11). The present age began with Rome and will end via the world apostasy and antichrist; this final generation will return to certain realities of Babylon and Rome. These two geographies eventually will serve Satan again against the people of God, though their appearances today are not their final forms.

Although apostasy, the final frontier of sin, is the same in its characteristics of innate evil and malignant evil, it is ever mutating to come to its finality. Romanism is part of that intricate apostate system; we have witnessed its further mutation even in our lifetime. And yet it has not reached its final form.

There have been three crucial changes to come to Romanism in the last half of the twentieth century. Since the Protestant Reformation, the first time that a pope spoke lovingly about Protestants was during the papal reign of John XXIII, when he referred to the Protestants with the phrase, "our separated brethren." This was a generous title coming from Romanism. It assisted in changing the mood of Rome towards those who had brought the Protestant Reformation. Then there were the changes that took place under Vatican II in the early 1960s. Many of these changes were carefully motivated to accommodate a détente between the Roman clergy and Protestants. A third crucial change was made evident when Pope Paul VI demonstrated a kind of psychological humility in the presence of the United Nations on October 4, 1965. He imparted to the audience the thought that the United Nations had the power for peace and authority to change the world. This too was a different attitude from former popes in speaking to political leaders of the world. Even Malachi Martin, a Jesuit priest whose writings have revealed much darkness and the changing philosophy found within the Vatican, wrote of the staggering changes among cardinals, bishops, and priests in his book The Final Conclave. This was written from within Romanism. All of these changes have contributed to making John Paul II the most beloved Pope of all times (in spite of his so-called conservatism). Evangelists, kings, queens, the Dalai Lama, and laity, have all been brought under the powerful charismatic spell of this pope. He is the most beloved religious leader of all times. This has greatly assisted in Rome's revival in recent years.

From one perspective Romanism remains the same in root and spirit; it will never give up the keys of authority or its claim to be the true church. But it is willing to make many concessions and changes to produce the coming new religion.

The Coming New Religion

Although much can be stated about Romanism and other religions, it must be realized that the coming new universal religion is yet to be finalized. It will be formed with contributions from changes in Romanism, Protestantism, Americanism, Communism, Judaism, and the ancient religions in the Far East. All these contributions will blend together to make the final new religion. We should not conclude that the past or present Roman Catholicism is in its final form. Nor should we conclude that the final form is without a dynamic and large contribution from the past and present form of Romanism. Like a mother with her paramours and illegitimate children, a new religion is being born in our time through the coming together of all of the neo-movements.

Daniel 11:36-39 speaks of this coming new religion:

And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.

In the light of this passage of Scripture, the new religion is still being formed.

This new religion is linked with all other religions of history and yet completely new and distinct in its final form. For the first time in history, Satan will incarnate and inaugurate his own false religion. Although he certainly was part of the other empires, he will finally come in his own incarnation.

The New Religion and Ecumenism

The power of the new religion will be made a part of the political world as well. Observe Luke 4:5-7:

And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine."

The word world in the Greek is oikoumene, or the inhabited world; our word ecumenical is from this Greek word. In this passage, the Devil offers up the kingdoms of the world in return for worship to the Devil. Although Christ refused these kingdoms (which belonged to the Devil), the Devil will give them to anyone who will absolutely surrender to him. He will find such a man in the Antichrist.

Christendom has at the present three ecumenical movements. The first is found in the Eastern Orthodox Church; it claims to be ecumenical or universal and going back to the original church. The second is found in the Roman Catholic Church, which calls herself ecumenical or worldwide in the use of the word catholic. The third is the Geneva ecumenism or Protestantism, which is endeavoring to make its unification of the visible church.

For a number of years Rome was left out of the ecumenical movements. Even Karl Barth, the father of Neo-Orthodoxy, warned about Romanism and its worship of the Virgin Mary. His writings on Romanism reveal much about its great heresies. But this spirit has changed in Protestantism. There is greater sympathy for Rome among Protestants now than ever before. The new religion is yet to be finished, but Romanism will play a major role in it.

It appears that this new religion, with Romanism in its leadership, will be the voice of a neo-universalism. This new-universalistic teaching seems to be twofold: the universal doctrine of salvation for all men and the unification of all religions. The Roman Catholic Church held the viewpoint at Vatican II in the early 1960s that there is a presence of Christ in every person. Therefore, they conclude there is an element of truth in every religion. However, everyone must entrust themselves to the blessed haven of the Romanist Church in which is the fullness of the truth. For Rome will never give up the keys amidst her compromises. She will rise to be the Madam Harlot to amalgamate the religions of the world to ride the back of the Beast.

A final synthesis is coming and it will be managed by Rome. It will include heathenism, paganism, communism, Islam, Far East religions, and Protestantism. In the final manifestation of it there will be a new religion, a new consciousness, and a neo-Christianity. All who participate will sacrifice something of their original identities, but Rome will make the synthesis.

Conclusion

Another prominent movement that has swept the world with its overwhelming influence has been the charismatic movement. This was introduced as an integral part of Romanism in the early 1970s with the strong backing of Cardinal Suens; it found strong acceptance under Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II. The charismatic emphasis upon miracles, neo-revelations, and rock music will be the glue that Rome will use to bring it all together.

In history there are three Romes: Rome conceived in Babylon, Rome born in Italy, and Rome reared in the Church. There are also three Babylons: Babylon under Nimrod, Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar, and Babylon under Antichrist. These two figures will come together in the future.

God's people must always remember: Rome was refuted by the Reformers and Puritans. Rome has been renewed by the Neo-Ecumenists. Rome is being restored by the apostates for Antichrist. But Rome will be refused by the King of Kings!