Attempts To Destroy Russia Linked with the Coming of the Antichrist

"The Church keeps people from losing their reference points in life. But it is also all pious people of all times and all nations. It is the Orthodox faith, which lives and works in the Orthodox Church, that is the force that holds [the Antichrist] back. . ."

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia spoke out about anti-Russian sentiments in the world, recalling the last book of the New Testament (Revelations). It refers to the power that restrains the coming of the Antichrist into the world. Such a force was the Orthodox faith and pious people of all times and all nations, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church reminded.

So why did outside forces rise up against the land of Russia, asks Patriarch Kirill. Why do they seek to divide and destroy the land of Russia, sending brother against brother? To answer these difficult questions, we should turn to the text of the last book of the New Testament. The apostle did not name the "power that can restrain the appearance of the Antichrist"¹. That is why at various times it was thought that the Roman state, which, for all its paganism, maintained a certain order, could be a deterrent, the Primate continued. But there have been those who believe that the Church will contain the Antichrist, in this regard, Patriarch Kirill stressed:

The Church keeps people from losing their reference points in life. But it is also all pious people of all times and all nations. It is the Orthodox faith, which lives and works in the Orthodox Church, that is the force that holds [the Antichrist] back.

And it is no coincidence that it is the Church today that they are trying to compromise by directing at it "all sharp arrows". It is not for.......

""The Church keeps people from losing their reference points in life. But it is also all pious people of all times and all nations. It is the Orthodox faith, which lives and works in the Orthodox Church, that is the force that holds [the Antichrist] back. . ."His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Mosco"

Absurd. The power that restrains the anti-Christ is not any church with a head titled "His Holiness of Moscow), which has a KPG operative past, and supports outlawing any sharing of faith by others without her sanction.

And which shares many of the distinctive Catholic teachings are not manifest in the only wholly inspired substantive authoritative record of what the NT church believed (which is Scripture, in particular Acts through Revelation, which best shows how the NT church understood the gospels). The redeemed are those who come to God as sinners knowing their desperate need of salvation - not as souls saved by their works or religious heritage but as destitute of any means or merit whereby they may find salvation (Romans 3:9 - 5:1) - and with a humble and penitent heart (that wants a new life following Christ, the Divine Son of God (see http://peacebyjesus.net/deityofchrist.html) believe on the crucified and risen Lord Jesus who alone can save them on His account, by His sinless shed blood and righteousness. And who thus are baptized and follow Him ( (Acts 2:38-47; John 10:27-29; Acts 8:12; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-10) - and effectually repent when they find that they failed to do so. (Psalms 32:5,6; 51:3; Hosea 5:15; 1 John 1:9)

Such souls are of penitent, heart-purifying, regenerating effectual, obedient faith, (Acts 10:43-47; 15:7-9; 1 Thessalonians 1:3-9) which is imputed for righteousness, (Romans 4:5) and by which faith the believer is completely forgiven and "accepted in the Beloved" and positionally seated with Him in Heaven. Ephesians 1:6; 2:6; cf. Phil. 3:21)

And wherever Scripture clearly speak of the next conscious reality for those who die in that effectual faith then it is with the Lord, at death or His return (whatever comes first), by the grace of God. (Lk. 23:43 [cf. 2Cor. 12:4; Rv. 2:7]; Phil 1:23; 2Cor. 5:8 [“we”]; 1Cor. 15:51ff'; 1Thess. 4:17)

Which is in contrast to those who do not accordingly believe in the crucified and risen Lord Jesus, (Romans 10:9,10) including those who terminally fall from grace, impenitently departing from the faith, drawing back unto perdition, making Christ of no effect, to no profit. (Gal. 5:1-4; Heb. 3:12; 10:38)

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