The True Nature of False Religion | Revelation 17:6 | Richard Caldwell

Scripture

• Revelation 17:6

About this sermon

Introduction: One of the beautiful things about the book of Revelation is that it unmasks evil. It shows us the true nature of man in his sin. It shows us the true nature of Satan and his demonic domain of darkness. It shows us the true nature of worldly enticements and worldly promises and where those lead you in the end. And it shows us the true nature of FALSE RELIGION. That’s what consider this morning in this 6th verse. We learned last week about the religious arm of the empire of antichrist. We saw this unholy alliance between the political and economic enticements of the Beast and the woman who sits on the beast — a great harlot, a great prostitute. We saw that her influence will be global. We saw that her influence will include kings and kingdoms. We saw that she is adorned in a way that speaks of wealth and influence. We saw that what she offers in her golden cup is an abomination to God and filthy for souls. We saw that she will be welcomed and tolerated until antichrist has no more need for her. BUT THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE ARE TOLD ABOUT HER IN THIS 6TH VERSE. Remembering that she is the MOTHER of prostitutes and of the earth’s abominations, what is said of her in verse 6, is TRUE OF ALL FALSE RELIGION THIS VERY DAY. The manifestation of it NOW is not as great as what it will be in that last day. BUT THE NATURE OF IT IS EXACTLY THE SAME. Just as antichrist is NOW but a particular INDIVIDUAL in the future, so THIS HARLOT is now, but the greatest manifestation of it is in THE FUTURE. ESV 1 John 2:18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. ESV 1 John 4:3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. SO, WHAT ARE WE TOLD ABOUT THIS HARLOT IN VERSE 6, AND WHAT CAN WE KNOW ABOUT THE TRUE NATURE OF ALL FALSE RELIGION? Five things that belong to the true nature of all false religion. I. FALSE RELIGION IS AN INSTRUMENT OF DEATH This might be the most important point of all this morning. False religion often wears a benign face, but it is NEVER a benign INFLUENCE. FALSE RELIGION MURDERS PEOPLE. IT IS NEVER HARMLESS. IT MURDERS THE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IT — SPIRITUALLY. IT MURDERS THE PEOPLE WHO THREATEN IT — PHYSICALLY. For all the false religions that speak of love and tolerance and peace simply know that they are giving voice TO THE GREATEST MURDERER WHO HAS EVER EXISTED. ESV John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. The picture we are given here, is not just a woman who intoxicates others. The picture we are given here is of a woman who is, HERSELF, intoxicated. AND SHE IS DRUNK ON BLOOD. She is vicious. She is dangerous. She is hateful. She is a murderer. TO USE THE IMAGERY OF DRUNKENESS IS TO INSTRUCT US ABOUT HER ZEAL. SHE DESIRES TO INFLICT HARM ON THE PEOPLE IDENTIFIED JUST AS A DRUNKARD DESIRES HIS OR HER DRINK. SHE DELIGHTS IN INFLICTING HARM ON THEM JUST AS A DRUNKARD DELIGHTS IN HIS DRINK. SHE DEVOTES HERSELF (RETURNS TO IT) TO INFLICTING HARM ON THEM JUST AS A DRUNKARD IS DEVOTED TO HIS DRINK.

Topics

• Bible Study
• Prophecy & End Times