Global Religious Leaders Push Interfaith Unity

Global Religious Leaders Push Interfaith Unity Religious leaders and scholars from around the world gathered in St. Petersburg, Russia, last week calling for stronger cooperation among the world's religions. The Second International Religious Summit convened under the theme 'Religious, Spiritual and Moral Values in the Modern World.' Participants discussed the role of religion in international security and contemporary global challenges, while representatives of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization argued that interfaith dialogue has become a necessity for protecting societies from division, extremism and hatred. There is nothing inherently prophetic about religious leaders talking to one another or attempting to prevent violence. But Bible prophecy reveals that religion will eventually become intertwined with the Antichrist's global political system. Revelation 13 introduces a second beast, commonly identified as the False Prophet, who directs the world toward worship of the first Beast. Revelation 17 likewise portrays an extraordinary relationship between religious and political power immediately before Christ's return. This summit is not fulfillment of those prophecies just yet; however, the growing international conviction that religious cooperation should play a role in solving global problems is worth observing. The future religious system will not emerge in a world where religion has disappeared. Scripture indicates precisely the opposite. Religion will possess enormous influence. The issue for Christians is therefore not cooperation for peace. It is whether cooperation eventually becomes religious consolidation, and whether tolerance ultimately gives way to pressure for conformity. Jesus said, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me' (John 14:6). That truth must never be surrendered for the sake of religious unity. Jesus Christ is the ONLY way. Original Article: Here About the Author Bryan Smith serves as Content & Teaching Pastor at Endtime Ministries and has been part of the Endtime family for more than 25 years. He has been engaged in pastoral ministry for two decades, served as Academic Dean, Registrar, and Professor for Valor University, and is a frequent teacher of the Understanding the End Time class. Bryan holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Theology, a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Leadership, has completed advanced studies in the history of prophecy through HarvardX's certificate program with Harvard University, and is pursuing a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) in Biblical Studies. In addition to hosting The Bible Prophecy Show podcast, Bryan is a regular contributor to Endtime magazine and writes on the intersection of Bible prophecy, theology, and global current events.