Two Stages of Satan's Plan

A. There are two stages in Satan’s End-Time plan to be worshipped by all nations and to rule them.

4 They worshiped the Dragon (Satan)…and the Beast, saying, "Who is like the Beast? Who is able to make war with him?"…8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him... (Rev. 13:4-8)

B. Satan knows that it is too big of a step for a compromising Christian, Muslim or Hindu, etc. to suddenly become a devoted Satan worshipper. Therefore, he will first call all to join a one-world religion of tolerance that will declare that all paths lead to God and salvation. As multitudes are seduced into joining this Harlot Babylon religion it will weaken their conscience concerning their religious heritage. Next, Satan will demand that they all become Satan worshippers.

C. The emergence of this false worship movement will lead to a falling away in the Church. The two signs that Paul gave to indicate the time of Jesus’ Coming are a falling away from the faith combined with the revealing of the Antichrist on the world stage to establish peace (1 Thes. 5:3).

3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day (Jesus’ Second Coming) will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin (Antichrist) is revealed… (2 Thes. 2:3)

D. The nations will rejoice in the unity it brings and that it will help to establish world peace.

3 When they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them. (1 Thes. 5:3)

E. People will defile their consciences and break relationships related to their religious heritage by renouncing their former beliefs in absolutes and the people who hold to those absolutes. Once people leave their religious ideals, whether Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, etc., there will be no absolute truth to keep them from worshipping Satan as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14).

F. The Harlot religion will prepare the nations to receive the Antichrist. It will be a religion of affirmation and toleration without absolutes. It will be a counterfeit justice movement that will feed the poor and be deeply involved in humanitarian projects. He will inspire acts of compassion but for all the wrong reasons. The goal will be the dignity and happiness of man. Humanism is man seeking to make God in man’s image.

G. The voluntary Harlot Babylon religion will be replaced by a mandatory Antichrist religion.

First, people will voluntarily join the Harlot Babylon one-world religion of tolerance (Rev. 17).

Second, all will be forced to be Satan worshippers in the Antichrist religion (Rev. 13:4, 8, 15).

H. Many believers will fall away in the seductions and deceptions of the Harlot’s religion. There will be a falling away from the faith at the end of the age (Mt. 24:9-13; 2 Thes. 2:3; 1 Tim. 4:1-2; 2 Tim. 3:1-7; 4:3-5; 2 Pet. 2:1-3). A doctrine of a demon is a teaching inspired by demons.

1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry… (1 Tim. 4:1-3)

I. Sound doctrine teaches obedience to Jesus and His plans. It requires endurance. To turn the ear away means that the people will no longer hear what God intended in various Bible passages. They will heap up teachers or zealously follow many teachers who support their desires.

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables… (2 Tim. 4:3-4)

J. Love of the truth is more than adherence to it. This love takes a firm stand for truth regardless of the cost. Loving truth requires that we commit to accept any new ideas as long as they are substantiated in the Scripture regardless of how different they are from our religious background.

9 The coming of the lawless one (Antichrist) is…with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and unrighteous deception…because they did not receive the love of the truth (2 Thes. 2:9-10)