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What is
the one-world religion described in Revelation?
As believers, we must study and live by the truth, avoiding
the false teachings of our time
CompellingTruth.org
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).
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.
CompellingTruth.org is an outreach of www.GotQuestions.org.The purpose
statement of CompellingTruth.org is: "Presenting the truth of the
Christian faith in a compelling, relevant, and practical way."Our mission
is to take the questions, issues, struggles, and disagreements that exist
within the Christian faith and shine the truth of God's Word on them. We
believe the truth of God's Word is compelling. If we would all truly and fully
submit ourselves to the truth of God's Word, most of our questions, issues,
struggles, and disagreements would disappear. God's Word does not directly
address every situation we face in life, but it does contain truth that can
apply to anything and everything we deal with.
Whether it is theology,
apologetics, or the practical Christian life - we want to present the
compelling truth of God's Word. Whether it is about God, Jesus, salvation, the
Bible, sin, or eternity - we want to present the compelling truth of God's
Word.
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