ESOCS Devotional 26 May 2025 – The Triumph Over False Religion
MEMORY VERSE: “Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.” Revelation 18:20
TEXT: REVELATION 18:11-24
“And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore: 12 merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; 13 and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men. 14 The fruit that your soul longed for has gone from you, and all the things which are rich and splendid have gone from you, and you shall find them no more at all. 15 The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, 16 and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! 17 For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.’ Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance 18 and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What is like this great city?’
19 “They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate.’
20 “Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!”
21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore. 22 The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters shall not be heard in you anymore. No craftsman of any craft shall be found in you anymore, and the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you anymore. 23 The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived. 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth.”
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False religion is a counterfeit. It is like a make-belief – made to appear genuine, like the original. It is opposed to Christianity and the Gospel of Jesus Christ in several ways. It does not carry the light of God, for it is not approved by God. It has subtle deception by which it makes people derail from the true worship of God. Unfortunately, many people align with it rather than the genuine Christian faith.
False religion is best identified by non-adherence to the word of word in all ramifications. There is pretention on practice. Those who practise it select things that appeal to them. In the Bible times, Elijah contended with the prophets of Baal. In the New Testament scriptures, our Lord often confronted the Scribes and the Pharisees for their hypocrisy (Matt. 15 & 23). They often twisted God’s word for selfish gains; and mislead the congregation of God by doctrines that the Bible calls “the commandments and precepts of men” (Mark 7:7).
Believers should be watchful against false preachers, teachers and prophets, so as not to be deceived. They are wolves in sheep’s clothing: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves” (Matt 7:15 ASV). They teach heresy and practise ungodliness. Their ways are far removed from God; and they would try to make people to believe in them and imitate them. They seek for followership. But we must not allow it. We can identify them by their fruits – their lifestyle, for they are not like Christ.
If they teach what Christ would not teach or practise, that is false religion. You should neither listen to them nor practise what they preach; for they are agents of Satan and employees in his enterprise, and like their master, they are seeking for people to destroy (Jn. 10:10). Beloved, the Bible says, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron” (1 Tim. 4:1-2 NKJV).
False religion is made up of those things and practices that are not acceptable to God; and those things that cannot be allowed or practised in God’s Kingdom in heaven. Let us be diligent to identify and stay away from them.
CHALLENGES
- The Bible says for you to be careful about the word of God you hear and how you hear it.
PRAYER POINT
- Father, may I not be carried away into error, in Jesus Name Amen.
FURTHER READING: 1 Samuel 17:20-40; 17: 41-58; Revelation 19:1-16
ESOCS Devotional 26 May 2025
