The prophesized Global religion and the return of Christ

Global war resulting in a Global government is also prophesied to see another development - a religious system that will support the one-world government and the antichrist with fanatical fervour.

In his vision, recorded in Revelation chapter 13, John describes what he saw.

"Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon. He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. he order them to set up an image in honour of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed" (Rev. 13:11-16).

Here we are told that another governmental system would take its place in the last days. This time it is a religious system with "horns like a lamb", but speaking with the authority of the dragon himself ... identified clearly as satan by the Bible (Rev. chapter 12 and other scriptures).

Notice that this dragon has two horns, speaking of two major religious systems that will unite in these days. The object of their worship will be the World Ruler, a man totally possessed by satan. "The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing" (2 Thess. 2:9,10).

The culmination of their worship will be satan himself. "Men worshipped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshipped the beast and asked, Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?" (Rev. 13:4)

John alludes to an incident in the life of the World Ruler that is most interesting. He says that "one of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was astonished and followed the beast" (Rev. 13:3).

This counterfeit resurrection "of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived" (Rev. 13:14) will convince the nations that he is indeed the "Risen Lord". Those who use miracles as a yardstick for judgment would do well to take note.

The religious system will embrace the whole world. "All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast - all whose names have not been written in the Book of Life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world. He who has an ear, let him hear" (Rev. 13:8,9).

Those who commit themselves to the Lord Jesus Christ during this time will pay the ultimate price. John talks about them in Rev. 6:9. "When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the Word of God and the testimony they had maintained ... and they were told to wait a little longer... until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed" (Rev. 6:9-11).

The question we must ask ourselves now is whether a religious coalition is taking place in our generation, embracing all "faiths" and moving towards a common destiny. Are there any two particular groups that stand out above the others in this quest for unity?

Without doubt, the answer is YES to both these questions.

The New Age Movement is very busy indeed promoting the "Interfaith" concept and new age philosophy and theology is infiltrating all religious groups, especially a backslidden "church". By means of new age ecumenical peace prayer services, people are taught to believe that through prayer we can all be one - irrespective of truth and falsehood, good and evil - Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, occultists, animists, satanists, whatever. The Age of Aquarius has arrived and all division must be done away with. God and man, saint and sinner, Christian and heathen ... all must become one harmonious whole, living in peace.

The New Age movement is also behind the "Peace Poles", two-metre high obelisks with lettering in Perspex, which reads: "May peace prevail on earth". Over 60,000 of them have reportedly been planted all over the world. South Africa has one on Table Mountain and another in Bloemfontein. All religions are invited to share in the "peace prayers" offered during the planting ceremonies.

One can't help wondering what Elijah would have had to say to our generation! He refused to pray with the prophets of Baal in his day. "How long will you waver between two opinions?" he cried out. "If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal is God, follow him .You call on the name of your god, and I will call on the Name of the LORD. The god who answers by fire - he is God" (1 Kings 18:21-24). God demonstrated that day that He is the unrivalled God of the Universe. "I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from Me there is no God" (Isa. 45:5).

The quest for unity is on at any price. Leaders of the New Age movement, frustrated at the increasing resistance from "born-again" Christians, are reported to have declared in their 13-point Plan for World Peace that Christians who resist the plan will be dealt with. If necessary, they are to be "exterminated" and the world "purified" (Principle 13 of the Plan).

The Lord Jesus Christ's claim to be the ONLY WAY to God infuriates new age proponents. Christ said: "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).

The Early Church believed Him and Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, declared emphatically: "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other Name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

One of the two major religious groups involved in the "interfaith" concept is today's modernistic, humanistic, apology for the Church of Jesus Christ, very graphically described in Rev. 3:14-22.

It is the Laodicean Church symbolizing elements of the last Church age. "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of My mouth. You say, I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing. But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked."

That is the Lord's opinion of those who name His Name, but refuse to acknowledge Him as Sovereign Lord. What a joy to know that there will always be the true Church of Jesus Christ, kept by the Power of God and standing firm in His Name. Found in every denomination and walk of life, these are the people who love the Lord and serve Him with all their heart and mind and soul and strength.

The Lord has a special word of encouragement for them: "I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept My Word and have not denied My Name ... Since you have kept My command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown" (Rev. 3:8-11).

But it's the end-time apostate "church" that interests us at this point. About to enter into an adulterous and idolatrous union with those who absolutely refuse to acknowledge Jesus Christ as LORD OF LORDS AND KING OF KINGS, the powerful (so-called) Christian church is in major trouble as it stand on the threshold of losing it's identity as "Christian", a title given to early believers in Antioch during the first Century A.D. (Acts 11:26).

The challenge of Christ is as relevant for our generation as it has ever been. "But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven" (Mat 10:33).

Sadly, it's leaders deny that the Bible is the Word of God, declaring that it should be rewritten so that God will not be seen as only the property of certain religions. The deity of Christ, His virgin birth ("pictorial theology"), His death, resurrection, ascension and return are rejected outright. The Biblical description of Heaven and Hell are described as "crude medieval images" that don't belong to modern times.

You can believe anything you like ... so long as you don't believe in the "Living Word" - the Lord Jesus Christ - and the "Written Word" - the Bible!

The other group that is very involved in the interfaith movement is Islam. The South African Daily News (24/9/92), reported that the Islamic Relief Agency (Isra) were behind the interfaith peace march in Durban on September 25 and that they had issued an invitation to the general public to join their march.

Islam is becoming increasingly militant and powerful in our generation.

A special Eid message from Cardinal Francis Arinze, president of the Secretariat of the Holy See for relations with believers of others religions, was relayed to Durban's Muslim community in South Africa by the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Durban. It read in part: "During the month of Ramadan, you have shown, by prayer and fasting, your faith in God and your submission to His holy will. This faith in the One God, Living and True, a faith which is the heritage of all spiritual children of Abraham, the father of believers, UNITES US as brothers and sisters in God and encourages us to work together for solidarity, justice and peace among all people."

Our generation is observing this unholy marriage, without realizing its implications.