False Religions: How to Recognize Them.

Have you ever thought about the devil in Bible prophecy? When we look at the book of Revelation, we see some of Satan’s main objectives and motivations. And we learn not only of his hatred of mankind leading to future deception and coming wrath, but that these are not just in the future—off in the distance. They impact you even today.

Let’s start with the opening of Revelation 12: “Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth” (verses 1-2). A dragon soon appears, intent on devouring the child at its birth (verses 3-4). The dragon is revealed to be Satan the devil (verse 9).

As with the rest of the book, the fantastical and symbolic imagery tells an important story. In examining some of the symbolism, we can recognize Satan’s influence not only in the future, but today as well.

The events foretold in Revelation will affect you and your family, and they’re in the works right now. So what will you do?

Another manifestation of the devil’s activity is false religion. This is Satan’s masterpiece and perhaps his greatest means of influence. It is also his most deadly weapon because it is aimed directly at men’s souls. The ultimate goal of the devil is to keep a human soul from the salvation that is available in Christ, and he will do anything in his power—even to the point of encouraging religious devotion—to obtain the desired results.

Why will people fall for these deceptions? Paul gives us the answer: “Because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved” (2 Thessalonians 2:10).

The apostle Paul said, “For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). He has kept multitudes of people blinded to the truth through false religious systems. As Paul also said:

If our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 2 Corinthians 4:3–4.

Do you love the truth? Do you know the truth? We have to ask ourselves, Do I really follow the truth Jesus Christ Himself taught? What it comes down to is a war on your mind, on your thinking, on your loyalties. Will you give in, or will you believe God’s Word and follow Christ?

Satanic Counterfeits

In reality, the so-called great religions of the world are nothing less than satanic counterfeits intended to destroy men’s souls eternally. I know that might sound extreme to some, but if you take the Bible seriously, that is the only conclusion that can be drawn. Some insist that all religions essentially teach the same thing and all are equally valid. Yet, a simple comparison between Hinduism and Christianity, for example, shows the fallacy of this position.

Hinduism teaches that there are millions of gods, and Christianity insists that there is only one God. A comparison of Buddhism and Christianity shows the same thing. Buddhism does not involve belief in God at all; it is inherently atheistic. Islam denies the core Christian belief that Jesus Christ is God’s only begotten Son. The pseudo-Christian cults like the Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses would also be examples of satanic counterfeits.

The Devil in Church

But the devil’s activity is not limited only to these other religions. We also see it in the church. Many in the mainline Protestant denominations have actually left the faith. They no longer believe that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh or that He was born of a virgin. They no longer believe that He died an atoning death on the Cross or that He literally rose bodily from the dead. They don’t believe that the Bible is the Word of God. One wonders why they call themselves “Christian.” They reject outright most of what the Bible teaches.

Satan’s empire leads the world into false worship

Revelation 13 adds more to the story. Here we see a beast rising up out of the sea with seven heads and 10 crowned horns and bearing a blasphemous name. It’s described as a mixture of wild animals, but it wields power and control (compare the succession of kingdoms in Daniel 7). So it’s not talking about animals; it’s talking about government. It’s talking about the geopolitical powerhouse of the Roman Empire and a series of revivals culminating in a final resurrection of a new geopolitical leader and power that will control the world in the end time.

We’re further told that “the dragon [Satan] gave him his power, his throne, and great authority” (Revelation 13:2), explaining why the heads and horns emerge from the devil in the previous chapter (12:3). The world is shown bowing to the empire’s dominion: “All the world marveled and followed the beast . . . saying, ‘Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?’ . . . And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation” (13:3-4, 7).

The Beast here is a term for both the imperial power and the human being set in charge of it—a dictatorial leader operating under Satan’s authority. And the devil is going to use this as a principal weapon against Jesus Christ and to conduct war against the people of God.

What’s Satan’s purpose in this? We see the world here being seduced into worshiping the Beast as well as the one who ultimately empowers it, the devil (verses 4, 08). That’s a key to his motivation—redirecting people’s worship. He’ll give this coming dictator the power to transform things to look like they’re good, like they’re wonderful, to gain trust and devotion so as to promote false ideology. Working in tandem with political and military power will be a religious crusade to bring the world under united worship.