III. The Rise of the Antichrist System
The Bible has warned us in Revelation chapter 13 that the entire world will be required to make worship of the beast their only religion. To accomplish this a false prophet will be raised up. This false prophet will, of necessity, have to be a man of immense religious prestige all over the world. In light of this it is interesting (and frightening) to watch as many Protestant churches have begun putting out feelers toward Rome, contemplating a return to the “mother” Church. At the same time, the pope has been meeting with the heads of all the other major religions of the world to discuss religious unity and points of common ground. This will bear close watching in the next few years. However, whether this scenario will produce the false prophet or not, it is certain that the right climate is being introduced to open the way for the one world religion of Antichrist (the beast).

Matthew 24:4–5; Mark 13:21–23; 1 John 2:18–19

IV. “Prove All Things, Hold Fast to that which is Good”
This quote, found in 1 Thessalonians 5:21, is good advice for the Christian who is determined to live righteously. You must, like the Berean Christians, search the scriptures daily to find whether the things you hear and see and read are true. There are more false prophets in the world today than ever before. You must not accept everything a man teaches just because he seems to be godly. Remember:

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matthew 7:15).

This may seem to be an impossible task when so many false prophets are highly educated and able to communicate so much more effectively than we are. But take hope in the following scriptures and know you can have confidence in your God to protect you if you will always ask Him to.

“In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight” (Luke 10:21).

James 1:5; John 14:16–17