LIHUE — A diversity of prayers, songs and chants from different religious, languages and spiritual traditions on Kauai rang out from the Lihue Civic Center to celebrate the theme of “Pray for America—Unity” during the annual National Day of Prayer on Thursday.
“To come together today for the National Day of Prayer to recognize all the different ways in which we celebrate and worship and experience the divine presence in all of its many different manifestations is really powerful,” said Reverend Peggy Price from the Parliament of the World Religions. “It helps us to learn to understand each other even more.”
Sounds of crystal bowls resonated, and the Sacred Earth Choir united all voices with the singing of “E Hawaii Aloha E” in both Hawaiian and English. Attendees bowed their heads in reverent prayer and held their neighbors’ hands.
Sponsored by the Interfaith Roundtable of Kauai, this free event included representatives of Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Baha’i, Brahma Kumaris, Eckankar, Happy Science, Center for Spiritual Living, Fellowship of the Inner Light, Christian Mysticism, New Thought/Unity, Yoga and Secular Humanism, among others, welcoming all religions and spiritual paths.
“I’d like to send a prayer to all those who are suffering from addictions,” said Rev. Nicole Sakurai of Happy Science of Kauai. “God, may the power of your love heal…. please give us strength, give us infinite powers to create utopia.”
The National Day of Prayer has deep historical roots in this country, having been declared in 1775 by the Continental Congress when forming a new nation. In 1952, Congress passed a bill proclaiming National Day of Prayer; and on May 5, 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed into law official recognition of the first Thursday in May annually as the National Day of Prayer.
“I think prayer — communing with God, communing with ourselves and one another — can bring about change,” said Kauai Hospice interfaith chaplain, Rev. Walt Weiss. “Being part of the Interfaith Roundtable of Kauai has been a new addition to my life, so I was very grateful to participate.”
Founded in 2005, the Interfaith Roundtable is celebrating its 13th anniversary this year. Following the ceremony, a second service honoring the Day of Prayer, was presented by Kauai Island Ministries, an interdenominational ministry networking Christian churches and organizations.
“We pray for those who may not even know we are praying for them,” said Pastor Steve Franks of King’s Chapel Kauai. “Lord help us to do our best…. We repent, but now we stand and we say, Lord heal our lands.”
The crowd of more than 100 sang hymns of worship and joined hands in prayer, with representatives from King’s Chapel, Faith Christian Fellowship, Billy Graham Ministries, Shield of Faith, The Church of Koloa, King’s Christian Academy, Kauai Lighthouse Outreach Center, Westside Christian Center and many others. Bible scripture was read, and the singing of songs like “How Great Thou Art” echoed throughout the courtyard during the spiritual event.
“Peace begins with me, it begins with you,” said RoseAnne Eaton-Jones of the Center for Spiritual Living. “But it also can spread throughout the world.”
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John Steinhorst, reporter, can be reached at 245-0435 or jsteinhorst@thegardenisland.com.
Awaken and repent. John 14:6 King James Version (KJV)
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. be the one-world religion of the end times?
Revelation 17 speaks of a “great prostitute” (or “great harlot”) that is generally understood as a metaphor for a false religion that will exist during the tribulation period. Many have debated the identity of this religion, with some arguing the Roman Catholic Church, Islam, or another large religious movement will be the end-times, one-world religion.
However, it is more likely that the false religion of the last days will consist of an inclusive religion that allows for a pluralistic view of God. This would include even liberal monotheistic groups that see “all religions as one” and are willing to worship the Antichrist in the last days.
Whatever this religion is, it will certainly exclude any faith that is exclusive and refuses to worship the Antichrist or his image. Revelation 17:6 states, “And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.” This false religion will permit and even encourage the death of those who follow Jesus during the tribulation.
Further, this false end-times religion will include sexual immorality (Revelation 17:2). It will also likely have its headquarters in Rome, often described even in New Testament times as Babylon (Revelation 17:5; 1 Peter 5:13).
Some see this false religion as short lived since the Antichrist will demand people worship him at the midpoint of the tribulation (Revelation 13). However, this religion may continue and include worship of the Antichrist. It will be opposed to Christians, as well as reject the Jews since the Antichrist will defile the temple as the abomination of desolation (Matthew 24:15).
Ultimately, the deception during this time will be so great that Jesus taught, “For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24).
Some wonder if this one world religion already exists today. The specific one world religion of the end times cannot be fully developed until the tribulation when the Antichrist rules. However, the growth in religious pluralism, interfaith dialogue that promotes the idea that all religions are equal, and the erroneous teachings that many ways lead to God or to heaven all exist today. These views certainly foreshadow what Scripture predicts will be more prevalent in the future when the world unites under one religion under the power of the Antichrist.
The apostle Paul warned Timothy about this concern, saying, “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths” (2 Timothy 4:3-4). As believers, we must study and live by the truth, avoiding the false teachings of our time.