The One-World Church

One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. With her the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries." Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. This title was written on her forehead: MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus.

When I saw her, I was greatly astonished. Then the angel said to me: "Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns. The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and will come up out of the Abyss and go to his destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because he once was, now is not, and yet will come.

"This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for a little while. The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction. "The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings-- and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers." Then the angel said to me, "The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages. Revelation 17:1-15

This passage describes the spiritual state of the world at the beginning of the tribulation period. All Christians have been raptured, and the Holy Spirit has left the earth.

There will be a deeply religious aspect to the tribulation period. People will be addicted to religion. The religion will be ecumenical in nature, calling for a universal church to unite all faiths. People will focus on their common grounds of belief, accepting one another with an open mind. Many movements throughout the 20th century have already made major strides in this direction of ecumenicism:
  • The National Council of Churches (NCC)
  • The World Council of Churches (WCC)
  • The Faith and Order Movement
  • The Life and Works Movement
  • The New Age Movement
  • The Astrology
  • Vatican II
This one-world religion of the tribulation period will be an apostate religion that rejects the fundamental doctrine and inerrancy. It will be spiritually liberal and politically socialist. Drugs may even be used by some as part of their religion.

The religious system in effect on the earth is that of ancient Babylon, which must be Roman Catholicism. This is because of the many facets of Catholicism which stem from the ancient Babylonian mystery religions (Lent, mother/child worship, etc.), and the world-wide influence of the Roman Catholic Church in the world today. For the first half of the tribulation period, this will be the primary religion of the world.

This resurrected Babylonian mystery religion is that which was begun in ancient Babylon by Nimrod through Ham's son, Cush (Genesis 10:6 and Genesis 1:1-9 at the Tower of Babel). It will be very liturgical in nature (Revelation 17:4), using many of the elements of worship incorporated into Catholicism under Constantine, including:
  • Sprinkling
  • Purgatory
  • Absolution
  • Confession
  • Lent
  • Incense
  • The Halo
  • The Sun
  • Mother / Child Worship
  • Ishtar (Easter) Eggs
  • Decorated (Christmas) Trees
This religious movement will be only an organization, without the Holy Spirit, not a living organism like the church is today.

This spirit of ecumenicism is justified on the basis of the following two scriptures:

I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one. John 17:22

There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called--one Lord, one faith, one baptism. Ephesians 4:4-5

However, the scriptures warn us against such ecumenicism:

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. 2 Corinthians 6:14-17

For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. Philippians 3:18-19

If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. 2 John 10

This verse even tells us that if people do not preach the true gospel, we shouldn't even welcome them into our homes.

The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 1 Timothy 4:1

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God--having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth-- men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone. 2 Timothy 3:1-9

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways. 2 Peter 2:1-2

Many will be deceived.

Owen Weber 2009