Recently the following idea is becoming more and more popular: that because there is one God then any religion will lead a man to God.

A great many people think that the road of faith that they follow will lead them straight to God.

This naturally leads to the following conclusion: it doesn't matter whether you are a Muslim, a Christian, a Jew or a Buddhist, the main thing is that you recognize the existence of the Almighty and then you will be fine as far as God is concerned.

In this way we get the following picture. God sits on his throne at the top of a certain mountain and at the foot of the mountain there are representatives of all possible systems of belief. Many paths lead to the top of the mountain and a person decides for himself by which path he will choose to ascend.

But is this really the case?

This question is of extreme importance. It is linked to life and death.

In the book of Proverbs 14:12 it says:

The Lord gives a warning: what seems to be unshakeable may turn out to be fragile; what seems to be reliable may turn out to be dangerous; what seems to be the truth may turn out to be deception; what seems to be the road to life may turn out to be the road to death.

This question is of enormous importance since in the last days before the return of the Lord it will be more and more a cause for deception for Christ's Church.

I suggest we look at the given question from a prophetic, theological and practical point of view.

The appearance of the given idea is addressed in Biblical prophecies about the end of time.

The 17th chapter of Revelation describes

This harlot is traditionally seen by the church as World Religion. It arises at the end of time and unites people all across the world, giving deluding answers to the questions that interest people: how did life come about, what awaits a person after death, what is the point of life, how do the spiritual and material fit together. All, or nearly all, find her explanations acceptable and reasonable.

But the events of the modern world show that questions of faith are the last thing in which people are willing to compromise. You can say for sure that the reason for nearly all armed conflicts is in one way or another a question linked with religion.

Is it really possible that different religious systems could stop worrying about the "purity" of their own teaching and could agree with each other about one representation of divinity that would suit everyone?

Yes, it is possible. And the idea that many roads lead a person to the same God is one of the steps towards this.

Today more and more often the leading representatives of various religions (unfortunately evangelical Christians are not an exception) announce something similar: we are all brothers and children of one God, although we understand and worship Him in different ways. Already representatives of different world religions gather together to pray.

In the 2nd epistle to the Thessalonians 2:7, Paul writes:

The mystery of lawlessness is already preparing the way for the Antichrist, the mystery of lawlessness is already preparing the ground for the establishment of a Unified World Religion. It is happening in our days, in front of our eyes.

Striving towards unified religion is partaking in lawlessness!

It is interesting how John in the 17th chapter of Revelation describes the interaction of the beast and the prostitute: the woman is riding on top of the beast.

The antichrist will be a religious person. It will be beneficial for him. It will open the way to power for him. He will be a great advocate of unified religion.

Cessation of wars will accompany the Antichrist's coming to power over the world. The Antichrist will be a proclaimer of peace and safety (1 Thess. 5:3).

According to John's vision, peacemaking will be the "back" on which the Unified Religion will "ride" into the world. That is, the founding of a World Religion will be directly linked with peacemaking.

Last summer (2000) under the aegis of the UN a summit was held for representatives of all world religions. The main idea of the summit was the participation of religions in bringing peace to the world.

Oh, it seems so godly that you could feel a traitor for not participating in such events.

But at the end of chapter 17, John sees how the beast tears up the woman. He used her insidiously on the road to power.

We can rightly expect that in our days there will be a lot of activity in the area of religion. Religion will be more political and politics will be more religious.

When it is said that the God of the Christians is the same as the God of Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism etc then Christ's Church needs to clearly understand what she is being invited to partake in and how she needs to act.

For this, let's look at the theological side of the question.

I will not try to consider in which way the different religious teachings will be transformed for them all to be unified together. Satan, being the Father of all Lies has probably made provision for compromise in the teachings of each religion.

But I want to boldly say that the Heavenly Father didn't make provision for such a compromise in the teachings of Christ.

Jesus declares (John 14:6):

Jesus clearly states: there is ONLY ONE way to the Father. And that way lies through faith in the person and work of Christ. Christ's Church could participate in unifying processes only if she refused to recognize Jesus as the only way to God and that means to declare Him a liar and cease to be the Church of Christ.

Today Paul's exhortation (2 Cor. 6:14) is more real and demanding than ever:

But all the same, the church will not avoid loss (1 Tim. 4:1):

God is indeed One but the God in Whom Christians believe, Whom they worship and serve HAS NOTHING IN COMMON with the gods of world religions, sects and cults. To affirm the contrary is to trample on the Word of God and to act lawlessly against the Blood of Christ.

All the above brings us to the need to address the question from a practical point of view.

Jesus foretold (Matt 24:9):

Christians, for their refusal to partake in peace processes which go against Christ's teaching will be called extremists who hinder the progress of peace. But we will not be without comfort: the prophetic warning of Jesus will be fulfilled.


Attitude to representatives of world religions:

Scripture teaches that "our battle isn't against flesh and blood". Our battle isn't aimed against the representatives of various religious teachings. Our battle is against the spirits of deception that stand behind the teachings of religions, sects and cults.

In God's eyes there are only two categories of people: sinners and those justified through faith in Jesus Christ.

In the 1st epistle to Timothy, Paul writes that God desires:

Our attitude towards people should correspond to God's.


Ministry of Reconciliation:

God really wants to see the church taking part in peacemaking. But it isn't the political activity. The Lord called His church to the ministry of reconciliation: