ONE WORLD RELIGION

As religious zealots martyr themselves on a daily basis around the globe, seeking to terrorize humanity, they have one goal: to create a Muslim world. Their stated objective is based upon that goal, which basically says, "either accept Islam, or die." As a result, many world leaders, motivated by fear, are increasingly clamping down on those who express a belief that their faith is the only truth, and all others will lead people to hell. This belief has been called "hate speech," and many nations have recently begun imprisoning pastors for preaching Christianity is the only way to go to heaven.

Another response has been the recent efforts on the part of a few influential politicians and an increasing number of religious leaders to combine the religions of the world into one world religion. Tony Blair and Bill Clinton are involved in establishing "Face to Faith" courses in universities and public schools. These courses are aimed at removing barriers between the different faiths of the world. Rick Warren has been accused of openly spearheading a move to join Christianity with Islam, which has been called "Chrislam."

Such efforts to bring peace between differing faiths are not new. For years, the Roman Catholic Church ("catholic" means universal) has been the force behind the Ecumenical Movement. The word is derived from Greek οἰκουμένη (oikoumene), which means "the whole inhabited world", and was historically used with specific reference to the Roman Empire. The ecumenical vision comprises both the search for the visible unity of the Church (Jn. 17:11, 21-23; Eph. 4.3) and the 'whole inhabited earth' (Matt. 24.14) as the concern of all Christians.

This should be no surprise to Bible-believers. Scripture speaks of an apostasy or falling away within the church in the end-times (2 Thes. 2:3). Revelation describes the last period of Church History as being "lukewarm" (Rev. 3:16). Revelation also speaks of a one-world religion, controlled by the False Prophet, as he supports the world-wide dictatorship of the Antichrist (Rev. 13:11-12). And as the "signs of the times" increase, whether they are actually increasing or the worldwide communication makes them universally known, there is great interest in prophecy and much talk concerning the end of the world. The 2012 phenomenon, a subject of much interest, involves a wide range of eschatological beliefs concerning cataclysmic or transforming events based upon the Mayan calendar ending on December 21, 2012.

But there is good news. Born-again believers will not be here when the events described in Revelation chapters four through eighteen take place. We will be "raptured out" before the Tribulation (Jn. 14:1-3; 1 Cor. 15:51-52; 1 Thes. 4:13-18). Besides, we have a child/Father relationship with God, not a religion! Praise the Lord for adopting all who believe in Jesus into His family (Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:5; Eph. 1:5)!