Karl Marx once called religion the opiate of the masses. As Christians, we understand God’s creative design that drives every human to worship something. Those who refuse to bow before our Holy God will bow before something else.

Not surprisingly, the God of the Bible chose to use the metaphor of a bride to describe the church, and John wrote of “the great harlot” (or “prostitute”) in Revelation 17. Indeed, the church has committed adultery by turning from the One to whom she is betrothed, and it will grow grotesquely worse as the end times approach.

The prophecy describes a false religious system, proclaiming to follow God, but prostituting itself in spiritual fornication. It is nothing new, as Nimrod led a rebellion at Babel with the intent of building a tower into the heavens. Nimrod’s wife, Semiramis and her son, Tammuz, became mother-child counterfeit gods known in many cultures as Ashtoreth and Baal, Aphrodite and Aras, and Venus and Cupid. Their cult may have died out, but the revived Roman empire will resurrect such false religion.

Today, we see churches bending to all sorts of false doctrine and theology. We see pastors abdicating responsibility by preaching canned sermons with no substance, or “feel good” messages coaxing followers to “be their best selves” (rather than dying to self, as the New Testament instructs).

Lack of commitment and laziness have seeped into pulpits, and woke ideas and agendas have waltzed right into the theological vacuum left in so many of today’s churches. Want a very clear example? How about the AI-generated church service recently held in Germany?

Indeed, the attempt to “bring church services into the 21st century” includes conducting emotionless, meaningless services void of the movement and the power of the Holy Spirit.

If the Holy Spirit is lacking, it is time to run! It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit that we are fed and equipped.

Friends, this is only one more example of what we can expect when the great harlot rises out of the sea. In Scripture, “sea” often represents a crowd of people. That false prophet, under the influence of the Antichrist, will bring about a world religion. This is tribulation stage setting.

But be of courage, Christian friends! King Jesus will come to snatch us from this world before that occurs.

If the signs of the tribulation are seen, rest assured our redemption is near.

When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.

~Luke 21:28

More on this tomorrow, so check back then!