The Coming Religious Beast

posted: January 20, 2008 | submit comments

"Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon.... He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life. And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed." Revelation 13.11,13-15

It's of great significance that when Yeshua's disciples ask him about the signs of the end, the very first thing he says is, "See to it that no one misleads you" (Mark 13:5). As we look around, we can see that the signs of the end are surely coming to pass. In addition, all types of deceptions are coming from everywhere around. It is very important that we stay biblically-based, searching out all things just as the Bereans did (Acts 17.10-11). Much of the Church is being swept away into ancient mystical practices. It's easy to see why those people who are sincerely seeking the truth are leaving the institutional church to follow biblical practices, and not mad-made traditions.

Just recently, leaders from several different religions converged upon Bishop Manogue Catholic High School in south Reno, Nevada. According to another report, the occasion was to bless the new tenth Episcopal Bishop of Nevada, the Right Reverend Dan Thomas Edwards. (Not sure where I have seen those titles in Scripture.) In attendance were Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Bahai, American Indian, and Jewish religious leaders. It's important to realize that each of these religions worship a different god than the other one. (Due to its divergence from Scriptural teachings, the institutional church no longer worships the God of the Bible.) Several of the leaders read from their own holy books. The article states that Father Charles T. Durante "began the Service by invoking the Spirit". Seeing that the article was written by Hindu chaplain Rajan Zed, I'm not really sure what spirit was invoked. Both Imam Barghouthi (Islam) and Reverend Jackie L. Leonard (Christian) prayed for god's will but, again, they both worship a different god so it's not clear which god's will they were praying for.

You may think that I am being facetious but I am not. I can assure you I am very serious, as is God.

Contrary to popular opinion, Yahweh — the God of the Bible, the Creator of the heavens and the earth — does not tolerate other belief systems, nor does He tolerate pagan gods:

"So that they may know, from east to west, that there is none but Me. I am Yahweh and there is none else."

"For thus said Yahweh, the Creator of the heavens who alone is God, who created the earth and made it, who alone established it — He did not create it as an empty place but formed it to be inhabited; 'I am Yahweh, and there is none else'." (Isaiah 45.18)

"No, you must tear down their altars, smash their pillars, and cut down their sacred posts; for you must not worship any other god, because Yahweh, whose name is Impassioned, is an impassioned God." (Exodus 34.13-14)

I think it's pretty plain. Yahweh alone is God, there are no others, and He will not share His Glory or worship with any false, pagan god.

Don't be lured into the Greek mindset that be they Hindus, Buddhists, or Islamic, they are all worshiping the same god. US President George W. Bush has proclaimed on several occasions over the years that the god of Islam is the same as the God of the Bible. That, however, is not true at all. In fact, you don't even need to be spiritual to figure that one out. Yahweh, the God of the Bible, has chosen Israel to be His people forever. However, the god of Islam has declared the Jews to be his enemy. Now, it doesn't take too much intelligence to figure out that these must be two entirely different gods. One, the true God — the Creator of the heavens and the earth, and the other a false god, destroyer of the heavens and the earth.

The Scriptures are very clear. We must worship Yahweh, not some other god and pretend it is Him. All religions are just that: man-made beliefs, having been sprinkled with a bit of truth. The Scriptures, on the other hand, are the teachings and revelations of the God of Creation, without the traditions of men.

Let's us turn and worship Yahweh, the one true God, and not drag false gods into the camp with us. Let us not pollute the Glory of God's presence with the stench of our man-made idols. Worship Yahweh, and Him alone.