True or False Church

The Bible warns of the rise of religious deception in the last days prior to Christs’ return. Two significant signs are many being deceived and a falling away from the true faith. 

(2 Thess 2:3; Matthew 24:12 & Timothy 4). 

Attempts are being made by world leaders to unite all faiths for the sake of global peace, a ‘One world religion' of tolerance with places of worship for all different faiths, a multi-faith movement. This is mentioned in Revelation 17, referred to as the ‘Harlot Babylon’.

I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast …..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. The name written on her forehead was a mystery: babylon the great the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth. I saw the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. (Revelation 17: 3-6)

The woman who sits on the beast is a worldwide religious, political and economic network  supported by the Antichrist (she is carried by the beast). She is adorned with gold, precious stones and pearls which indicates wealth. She has great prominence, arrayed in purple (royal status). But despite her appearance, her cup is filled with abominations which indicates her evil and wickedness. She has hatred towards those who stand for Christ, persecutes and wars against them, she is drunk with the blood of the saints (v6)! 

There will be a sense of peace during this time, only for unbelievers, as the true church will be her greatest enemy. Multitudes will be deceived and seduced by her. The Harlot sits on many nations (waters) and has authority over them by deceiving and controlling the world’s most powerful leaders and the economy.

Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits by 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”. (Revelation 17: 1-2)

She deceives and astonishes many with supernatural power, “For by your sorcery all the nations were deceived. Revelations 18:23

The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, …. The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. (Revelation 17: 12,16)

The harlot system will be hated and destroyed by ten kings (leaders) who serve under the Antichrist. The Harlot weakens the nations of their religious beliefs through compromise and tolerance and acts a forerunner to prepare the way for the Antichrist 's global system (Revelation 14:9-11)

Some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. (1 Timothy 4)

Many will already be under a ‘strong delusion’, as they refused to hold onto the truth. For Christians to be part of the harlot system, they would have to deny the full deity of Christ and some of the fundamentals of the Christian faith first, their conscience towards their original beliefs will have  been compromised. Compromise and a denial of the truth brings them under a strong delusion!

The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore, God sends them a strong delusion. (2 Thessalonians 2 9-12)

The battle in these last days is for the truth and who Jesus is. We must hold onto the truth of God’s word. Humility, a love of the truth and keeping the cross central in our life is our protection against deception. To focus on truth and accept the false, will not accomplish God’s purpose. Compromised truth is lies disguised as truth!

The Bible teaches obedience to Jesus. Ensure your religious beliefs are based on scripture to keep you from deception. Make a commitment to biblical truth, regardless of the cost! 

“I am the way the truth and the life, and no man comes to the father except through me”. (John 14:6)

Does your church follow biblical teaching?

· Is the cross central to preaching? 

· Is Jesus acknowledged in prayer and teaching?

· Are human traditions stronger than biblical truth?

· Is Jesus the only one who forgives sin?

· Is truth compromised for the sake of peace?

Or is their false teaching?

· More than one way leads to heaven

· How could a loving God send people to hell?

· Is same-sex marriage endorsed?

Fundamentals of the Christian Faith

· God As creator

· The Virgin Birth

· The death and resurrection of Christ

· The Trinity (Father, Son & Holy Spirit)

· Jesus is the only way to salvation

· Second coming & eternity (Heaven or Hell)

Apostasy: 

This is a false gospel, an abandonment of the faith. False teaching that prevents people from receiving their salvation and rejects some or all the fundamentals of the Christian faith.

Errors: 

This is teaching that hinders believers from receiving the fullness of what God intended. Many teachers within mainstream church teach error. Their teachings are based on truth but are not taught in proper balance with other scriptures.

The Bible warns many times of the increase in religious deception prior to the return of Christ. Attempts are now in progress by top global religious leaders to unite world religions to achieve global peace, through a universal religion of tolerance referred to in the book of Revelation as ‘Harlot Babylon’. 

I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast ….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. The name written on her forehead was a mystery: babylon the great the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth. I saw the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. (Revelation 17: 3-6)

The woman portrayed seated on a beast is a worldwide religious, political and economic network supported by the Anti-Christ, detailed in Revelation 17:3. She is being carried by the beast (Anti-Christ). She is adorned with gold, precious stones and pearls indicating wealth. She has great prominence, arrayed in purple, symbolic of royal status. Regardless of her appearance, her cup is filled with filthy abominations, which indicates its evil and wickedness. She has true hatred towards those who stand for Christ, she persecutes and wars against them. The true church and dedicated followers of Jesus Christ will be her greatest enemies. The Harlot is 'drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.’ (Revelation 17:6). 

The Roman Catholic church over past years has persecuted, tortured and burned many at the stake who rejected the authority of the Pope and guilty of martyring many Christians throughout history. Many were persecuted for the name of Jesus and martyred.

Multitudes are deceived and seduced by her. She sits on many nations (waters), deceives and controls the world’s most powerful leaders with her works, wealth, promises of peace, prosperity and religious movement of unity to bring an end to all wars. Pope Francis on several occasions has called for all the world’s religious leaders to unite. 

So, who will be the God worshipped in a new ‘one world religion’? If the Pope declares it to be Jesus Christ, then Muslims and people of other religions will be offended.

This could be when a man, referred to as the ‘False Prophet’ in Revelation 13 will arise on the scene with a counterfeit gospel that points towards a false Christ (Anti-Christ). We know from scripture the Anti-Christ eventually declares himself as God, this could be a universal God!

He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God. 

 (2 Thessalonians 2:4)

There are many similarities between the Roman Catholic Church and the woman which is  described as a Harlot in the book of Revelation.

The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth. 

(Revelation 17:18)

She is referred to as a ‘Great whore’, or ‘Harlot’ in some translations. A harlot is unfaithful by having adulterous relationships. The RC church has been unfaithful to God, while claiming to be His church, they have adopted many false and unbiblical doctrines. 

"With whom the Kings of the earth have committed fornication. (Revelation 17:2)

The RC Church in past years has influenced many politicians, kings and governments. It is the state church in various countries; Italy, Spain, Portugal, Poland, South America and Ireland. It seeks to control the governments of these countries. 

Then the angel said to me, "The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages. (Revelation 17:15)

Catholics worldwide are deceived by false teachings of the Catholic church, even though they are all contrary to what the Bible teaches. It has influence over many nations of the world. 

"Inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication."

(Revelation 17:2)

She has ‘full of names of blasphemy’ (Revelation 17:3) The Pope and Priests in the Catholic church claim titles and positions that belong to God 'Holy Father’, ‘Father’ or His ‘Holiness’. 

"This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits." (Revelation 17:9) 

Rome is situated on seven hills. She is Decked with gold and precious stones (Revelation 17:4). There is much wealth in the Catholic church. The Vatican is one of the largest global financial systems. Much sexual immorality is committed by priests; fornication, homo-sexuality and child abuse which has all been covered up.

Having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication.

(Revelation 17:4)

The harlot is hated and eventually destroyed by ten kings (leaders) who serve under the Anti-Christ. He destroys the Harlot during the seven-year tribulation period.

The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, …. The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. (Revelation 17: 12,16)

The Catholic Church has many man-made traditions that are entirely different from the New Testament church. No Church or religion has higher authority than God. The RC church turns people away from the true faith to the worship of idols. 

Then I heard another voice from heaven say: "'Come out of her, my people,' so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues; (Revelation 18:4)

Catholics direct prayers to Mary and the saints. This prevents people praying to God the Father through Jesus Christ, who is our mediator. Instead, they pray to statues and images for protection, which is what the Bible calls idolatry. Statues of saints are placed within their churches.

Catholics believe in order to enter heaven, a person must keep all the sacraments, attend mass and do good works, which is contrary to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul warns of ‘another Gospel’, a false gospel, in Galatians 1:6-9. 

"So, say I now again, if any man preaches any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:9)

The biggest deception in the Catholic faith is that a belief and faith in Christ alone is not enough for salvation. The Catholic Gospel tells us if we perform well enough, pray to Mary, confess sins to a priest and do good works, we can pass through the fires of purgatory and enter into heaven.

Harlot Bablyon will be a system that acts as a forerunner to prepare nations for the Anti-Christ’s global system detailed in Revelation 14: 9-11. 

The Mormon religion is referred to as Mormonism, their followers are Mormons, Latter-day Saints or the LDS Church. Although they claim they are a ‘Christian’ organisation, the Mormons have many different beliefs and practises to that of  mainstream Christianity and New Testament teachings and is a false religion. LDS are a Millennialist church that believe Jesus Christ will return to reign on earth in the near future. Mormons insist on using their full name, ‘The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’. 

They claim this name was given by Jesus to emphasise three specific purposes: 

· It is ordained by Jesus Christ 

· It is centred on the latter days (before Christ’s return) 

· It is made up of only true saints of Jesus Christ

There are over 15 million members worldwide, 190,000 are in the UK. In the US, Mormons are respected pillars of society and many hold important government positions. In the UK, the first Mormon MP was elected in 1990. The main Mormon Church, based in Utah, is one of the wealthiest. Joseph Smith was their founder, most of the early Mormons were Freemasons. Like freemasonry, the Mormons are a religious and secret society based on myths. Their Initiation ceremonies and oaths taken are similar with rituals, teachings, symbols and  ‘Five points of Fellowship’. They initially began as a polygamist group but had to change due to the law of the land. Smith was a polygamist, it is believed that he had at least 27 wives. 

But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that person be condemned! (Galatians 1:8)

History

Joseph Smith, born 1805 came from Western New York State where there had been several revivals. It is claimed when he was a  teenager, he asked God which branch of Christianity to join as the choice then was only Baptists, Quakers or Methodists. God appeared to him in a vision telling him not to join any, as they were all false. Smith claimed to have a second vision, where the angel Moroni revealed to him where golden plates had been buried in a nearby hillside. In 1827, Smith is believed to have dug up the plates, using ‘Urim and Thummim’, he could translate text that had been written in reformed Egyptian hieroglyphics. The golden plates are believed to be a history of all the migrants and American settlements written by the Prophet Mormon and his son Moroni. 

The Mormons claim John the Baptist appeared to both Smith and Cowdery to confer on them the Aaronic Priesthood. Apostles Peter, James and John appeared to them later to confer on them the Melchizedek Priesthood’. The priesthoods are important beliefs in the church today. In 1830, Smith formed the first Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and became the president. Smith believed he was appointed by God to restore true Christianity, he claimed his church was the only true church. 

By 1836, there were nearly 2,000 members. Mormons believe Smith was ‘God’s appointed prophet’. Like many false prophets, Smith prophesied the Second Coming of Christ would happen in 1890. After their church in Ohio collapsed due to a financial crisis and divisions in 1838, Smith and followers moved to Missouri, where they faced persecution and were eventually forced to move to Illinois. Joseph Smith died in 1844, Brigham Young became the second president of the church. 

A mission came to England in 1840, thousands converted to Mormonism. Nearly 5,000 immigrated to the US to join Mormons in Illinois. Their missions were based in Preston, Lancashire, which for a long time was the centre for British Mormonism. A Mormon temple was built in Chorley, Near Preston which was the first in the UK.

Other Beliefs & Practises

Mormons are missionary motivated and have more than 26,000 missionaries. A large part of Mormon missionary work is carried out by young men and women, who serve two years in the mission field. Mormons are taught through the scriptures it is their role to teach all nations the truth of Jesus Christ’s message.  (Mark 16:15, Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel). The Mormons have modified teachings in the Bible to support their own Mormon doctrine. Even though Jesus Christ is the main person acknowledged in Mormon religion, like many false religions, Mormons have distorted the truth of who Jesus Christ is and the supremacy of God. They falsely teach that salvation can only be obtained through Mormon religion. 

The Trinity

Mormon belief in the Trinity is different to mainstream Christians, as they falsely claim the Godhead is made up of three separate people distinct from each other. God came from another planet as a physical man, originally Adam, but became God and had a wife, ‘Heavenly Mother’. Jesus had been born from Adam (God the father) from a physical sexual relationship between God and the Virgin Mary. Jesus was married with children to Mary and Martha, sisters of Lazarus. Lucifer and Jesus were both brothers. Lucifer wanted everyone to be saved without a choice, but Jesus wanted to give us a free will. Jesus’ death paid the penalty of our sin, which we inherited from the fall of Adam and Eve. Mormons believe that every man is a god, similar to the Humanists and the New Age movement. Mormons teach that man can become God, as God was once a man.

Eternity

Mormons believe our soul existed before we were born, and there are different levels of kingdoms in the after-life: the celestial kingdom, terrestrial kingdom and outer darkness. Baptism is essential for salvation, but they also believe Mormons can be baptised on behalf of someone already dead, although it is still up to the dead person to repent and be saved. As Mormons want as many people as possible to be saved, they trace their ancestors back at least four generations, so parents and grandparents can be baptised. The Mormon genealogical database, which is based in Salt Lake City, Utah is the largest in the world. Information is available to anyone who wants to trace back their history.

But there were false teachers among the people. And there will be false teachers among you also. (2 Peter 2:1)

The Book of Mormon

The Book of Mormon, which is referred to as ‘Another testament of Jesus Christ’ was published in 1830. It claims Jesus came to America and this records his appearance in great detail.  It refers to Jesus Christ almost 4,000 times. Many verses are quoted from the Bible. More than 27,000 words have been taken from the KJV. Mormons believe the Bible to be the word of God but also believe the Book of Mormon is the word of God. 

The Pearl of Great Price 

This is bound into the Book of Mormon, to clarify doctrines and teachings which are claimed to have been lost from the Bible. Smith taught his followers they were to doubt the accuracy of the Bible. Pearl of Great Price claims that all other Christian groups have been corrupted and are an abomination (Joseph Smith, 2:19). 

Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. (Matthew 7:15)

Mormon doctrine contradicts the Book of Mormon and ‘Pearl of Great price’. The Mormon religion gives no assurance of salvation, it is based on works, baptism, missionary work and following Mormon teachings. Regular worship services are held in churches as their temples are reserved for special rites and members. Restricted access is for sacredness and sanctity. Some of their rites include the solemnisation of marriage and baptisms for the dead. Special clothing and garments are worn in the temple. The Mormons wear white undergarments under normal clothing to symbolise purity. They take a strong stand on morality. Homosexuality, Premarital sex and adultery are forbidden and condemned.  Mormons have a dietary code called ‘Word of Wisdom’. Tea, coffee and coke are discouraged due to stimulants they contain. Tobacco, alcohol and drugs are banned.

Only men are part of the orders of priesthood. Boys are ordained into the Aaronic Priesthood at 12, which has levels of deacons teacher, priest and bishop. At 18 they can receive the Melchizedek Priesthood which has levels of elder, high priest and patriarch. The majority of adult male Mormons, including those who do missionary work on doorsteps are elders. At the top of the hierarchy is a president, along with two counsellors, they make up the First Presidency of the Church. LDS headquarters are in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Offshoot Groups

There are more than 24 offshoots, each of them claim to be the only true version of the church initially set up by Joseph Smith. Other offshoot groups are: The Church of Christ (Temple Lot) founded 1852. The Church of the First Born of the Fullness of Times (1955).

The Church of Spiritualism, also known as ‘The Spiritualist Church’ are known for communicating with spirits of the dead. Spiritualism became popular after the sisters Kate and Margaretta Fox, from Hydesville, New York in 1848, became famous for their ‘rapping’s’ which they claim came from a peddler, Charles B. Rosna, who had been murdered in their home five years previous and buried in their cellar. News of the haunting spread. This led to the Fox sisters conducting public séances around New York. 

Spiritualism has now been termed a form of ‘Christian worship’. The deception is that many people think they are attending a Christian worship service, but their methods are very different from traditional Christian services. Some Spiritualist churches claim to draw their inspiration from Christianity. The spiritualist church is now a recognised worldwide movement.

“Let no-one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practises divination or sorcery, interprets omens or engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. (Deut. 18:10-12)

In 1888 they confessed these ‘rapping’s’ were achieved by a method of cracking their toes. The code was one for ‘no’, and three for ‘yes’, it had all been a hoax. Margaretta Fox issued a signed statement to New York papers to this effect. Many followers refused to accept her statement and claimed spirits had in fact manifested themselves. 

“That I have been chiefly instrumental in perpetrating the fraud of Spiritualism upon a too-confiding public, most of you doubtless know. The greatest sorrow in my life has been that this is true, and though it has come late in my day, I am now prepared to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God! I am here tonight as one of the founders of Spiritualism to denounce it as an absolute falsehood from beginning to end, as the flimsiest of superstitions, the most wicked blasphemy known to the world.” 

(October 21, 1888)

For Satan masquerades as an ‘angel of light’ (2 Corinthians 11:14)

Similar to the format of many Christian churches, they have pulpits, organs, crucifixes, pews and read scriptures from the Bible, have prayers and sing songs. But they practise meditation and have psychic readings. Their services are usually led by a medium or a channeler. Spiritual healing can be part of the service in some of their churches. Direct healing energy is transferred to a person from a ‘higher source’, channelers use their hands to channel healing, 'New Age hands-on healing', and not divine healing practiced through the Holy Spirit in the Bible.

Spiritualists believe  Jesus was a man, but deny he is God. They claim Jesus was a prophet, who is now communicating in the spirit world. They don’t accept the virgin birth, death on the cross, the resurrection or salvation and do not acknowledge the Second Coming of Christ. They believe heaven, hell, Satan or evil spirits do not exist, which explains their lack of fear for the demonic realm, as the Bible tells us to test the spirits. Spiritualists do not test spirits! The test is to compare what is being taught and practiced against the Bible. 

Do not believe every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognise the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist (1 John 4:1-3)

They believe life continues after death, and when people die, they exist only in the spirit world. They believe God is a spiritual being controlling the universe.  Even though they acknowledge God, this is not the Christian God as the creator in the Bible, but their own belief of God. 

Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. (John 17:3)

Although they claim to be a Christian Spiritual group, beliefs and practises are contrary to biblical teaching and doctrines of mainstream Christian churches. Spiritualism combines some Christian beliefs with occult practises.

The Unification Church (Moonies) are a well-known worldwide cult named after founder ‘Sun Myung Moon’, who claims to be the Messiah, which is also supported by his followers. They had bad publicity as a cult in the 70’s and 80’s. They are well known for their mass wedding ceremonies. Rev. Sun Myung Moon was born in North Korea 1920, he was raised  Presbyterian. At 16, he claimed to have received a vision of Jesus, telling him he was to continue building God’s Kingdom here on earth. He spent the next 9 years praying and reading the Bible, and eventually came to a different understanding from mainstream Christianity. They have a Theological Seminary based in New York.  

Moon preached his new doctrines in Korea in 1946, in 1954 founded the Unification Church and published his own book ‘Divine Principle’  in 1966. a supplementary book to the Bible. Missionaries went to the US late 50’s, a church was formed in California 1961. The Church  grew in Britain. In 1978, 800 missionaries arrived for a Crusade and communities began to appear across the country. Discipline was reported to be strict inside their communities. Studies and worship would go on into late hours. Young recruits were sent out onto streets to recruit others, sell flowers and raise funds. According to anti-cult movements, they each had targets to reach and punishments were given for failing to reach them, which came to the attention of the media. They have many businesses and own companies involved in pharmaceuticals, ginseng, titanium and manufacturing, they also hide behind many other organisations 

Beliefs and Practises

There are several differences in their beliefs to mainstream Christianity. They do not have ordained priesthoods but people who have been to their seminary college can use the title ‘Reverend’. They teach God’s original plan was for man and woman to have the perfect relationship with God. Children would experience God’s love directly from their parents and develop a love for Him which would go out into society, this didn’t happen because of the fall. They believe Lucifer was put in the Garden of Eden to serve but fell in love with Eve. He tempts her to have sex, fruit is the symbol of sexuality. Eve repents and confesses to Adam, she then has sex with him to put things right.

According to Moonies, Adam and Eve’s relationship should have been brother and sister,  not  husband and wife, as a result they were separated from God. God sent his prophets to guide his people back to him. The original trinity was meant to be God, man and woman united in perfect love, but was lost in the Garden of Eden. 

They claim Jesus did not come to earth to be crucified but as Messiah, the resurrection brought only partial salvation, the cross is a symbol of defeat. After his death, God gave Jesus the Holy Spirit as a mother or feminine spirit to work with the risen Christ in Eve’s place. As Jesus never completed his mission, the Messiah will have to return again. The Second Coming is to marry and re-establish the trinity, spiritually and physically. Through Messiah’s marriage, man can be transformed back to the ideal trinity, God, man and woman. Moon believes he is able to pass this on to his believers through mass wedding ceremonies, where couples are blessed by God through Moon in a relationship with God and their children will be born untainted by Adam and Eve’s sin. 

Their mass weddings receive much criticism. Many have had partners chosen by someone they have never met. Most of them are of a different nationality and religion. A new couple creating a family is born without original sin. To symbolise holiness of their marriage, a newly married couple have a private ritual on the first three nights of love making. On the first night, the man is to lie on top, which symbolises God in authority, on the second night, the woman lies on top, symbolising Eve’s transgression and the victory of Satan, on the third night, the man is on top again, symbolising God’s victory over Satan and the re-establishment of God’s plan. 

Moon often speaks out against mainstream Christian churches. The Unification Church is worldwide, mainly in South Korea, Japan, USA, South America and Europe. 

· The Bible is scripture only if used along with Moon’s book ‘Divine Principles’

· They deny the Trinity 

· Their teachings are multi-faith.

· They use deceptive tactics and mind-control 

· Dead people can return to earth for a second chance to atone for some of their sin