Beloved, as we mentioned in the previous part, it is most often in order to ensure total domination that the adherents of a world government proceed to establish a single religion or faith for the whole earth. The deity to be worshipped is either the king himself — that is, the ruler of the entire earth — or the carved image that the king places at everyone's disposal. In every case, the whole earth is called to submit to idolatry. The refusal to worship these idols becomes synonymous with tribulation. This is clearly visible in the Babylonian and Medo-Persian empires, where we see how the whole earth was subjected to idolatry. I therefore invite you to examine with me the example of the world religion that was established in the Babylonian empire. Let us turn to Daniel 3:1–7.

Daniel 3:1–7
¹Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. ²Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. ³Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. ⁴Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, ⁵That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: ⁶And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. ⁷Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

Beloved, do you see to what extent this passage describes the degree to which the peoples, the nations, and the men of all languages — the whole earth — were subjected to the single religion established within Nebuchadnezzar's world government? Note with me in verse 6 that the refusal to worship this statue was the cause of tribulation — in other words, death. Here, then, is a perfect example of a single religion within a world government; and all consented to worship the statue — with the exception of a small handful: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Let us read this in the continuation of Daniel 3.

Daniel 3:8–12
⁸Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews. ⁹They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever. ¹⁰Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image: ¹¹And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. ¹²There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

You certainly know the rest of the story of these men: as had been decreed, they were cast alive into the burning fiery furnace. Another example of the world religion is found in Daniel 6, which I encourage you to examine. Note therefore, brothers and sisters, that this single religion is not founded upon the true person of Jesus Christ but upon demons. The fact that all these world governments subjected the whole earth to idolatry amounts to saying that these governments are under the influence of fallen angels — principalities and authorities. These fallen angelic entities have but one purpose: to condemn men before God, or to make them an abomination before Him — for God abhors all false gods.

Retain therefore this, my beloved: one of the purposes of a world government is to subject the whole earth to idolatry. Know also that in a world government, the true sons of God can never live peaceably — for the lifestyle and values imposed upon them are contrary to those of God. The example of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 3, and of Daniel himself in Daniel 6, helps us understand this more clearly.

What does all of this tell us? Brothers and sisters, there is nothing new under the sun — what has been done is what will be done. If in ancient Babylon the whole earth was appointed to worship idols — the statue of King Nebuchadnezzar — know therefore that this same thing will be done in this new Babylon that is now forming.

In this last world government, the whole earth will be called to hold a single faith. In other words, all the inhabitants of the earth will be called to adhere to the single world religion that will be established. The Bible prophesies that in this last world government, worship will be based on the adoration of the person of the Antichrist and his image. We find this in Revelation 13:11–12, 15.

Revelation 13:11–12, 15
¹¹And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. ¹²And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. ¹⁵And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

You can see clearly with me that it is the whole earth that is called to worship the beast — which is none other than the symbol of the Antichrist. As verse 15 describes it, anyone who refuses to worship the image of the beast within this last world government will be put to death: this is the Great Tribulation. The true sons of God who await the glorious return of Jesus Christ will pass through the Great Tribulation. Thus, the true born-again Christians who refuse to adhere to this world religion — who will not bow the knee before the beast or his image — will be put to the sword one after another: they will die because of their testimony and their faith in Jesus Christ, the one true God. Blessed are the dead in Christ, says the Bible — they rest from their labours, for their works follow them.

Revelation 13:7–10
⁷And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. ⁸And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. ⁹If any man have an ear, let him hear. ¹⁰He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

Conversely, all those who submit to the world religion by worshipping the beast or his image, or by accepting the mark of the beast, will have an eternal punishment awaiting them. We find this in Revelation 14:9–12.

Revelation 14:9–12
⁹And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, ¹⁰The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: ¹¹And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. ¹²Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Brothers and sisters — it is for us to demonstrate to the eyes of the whole world our faith in Jesus Christ during the Great Tribulation.

Exhortation: Beloved, as you have just seen, we are called to live through the last human world government — and in this world government, the tribulation will be Great and Fierce. In this, what God expects of us is that we hold fast to the faith and the testimony of His Son Jesus Christ in the face of the sword or the fire during these times of trial. Whether we are brought before their tribunals or into their torture chambers, let us stand firm and yield not; whether they kill us or not, let us stand firm — let us not worship the beast and his image; for if we die, we die for Christ, and if we live, we live for Christ. Our faith must therefore not waver before anything during the Great Tribulation.

If there is one thing that leads to the downfall of world empires — world governments — it is pride, and all that comes with it. The pride in question is most often directed against God. In Genesis 11:4, for example, we see that what animated the men who labored for that first world government established by Nimrod was this desire to equal God or to make a name for themselves. This is expressed in the words: "Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth." We therefore see in this world government the desire of man to want to be like God, or to usurp His place.

Holding all dominion — whether over men or over animals — the kings of world empires believe everything is permitted to them, to the point of proclaiming themselves god or seeking to take for themselves the glory that belongs to God. These proud sentiments of the kings of world empires arouse the wrath of God, who ultimately deposes them — according as it is written in Daniel 2:21 that it is He who removes and establishes kings. We see this, for example, with King Nebuchadnezzar, whom God stripped of all dominion and power over the whole earth for 7 years because of his pride (Daniel 4:20–22, 24–25, 28–33). This same thing — that is, pride — also brought the world government imposed by the Babylonians to an end under Belshazzar. Let us read this in Daniel 5:1–6, 30–31.

Daniel 5:1–6, 30–31
¹Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. ²Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein. ³Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them. ⁴They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. ⁵In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. ⁶Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another. ³⁰In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. ³¹And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.

Belshazzar, the last king of Babylon, believed everything was permitted to him as king of the whole earth. He took the vessels consecrated to God — vessels that served the glory of God — and debased them by praising his gods of gold, iron, and the rest. From the moment he sought to take for himself the glory that belonged to God, God numbered his reign and brought it to an end (Isaiah 42:8). We may also, at this point, consider the case of King Herod under the Roman Empire, who was struck down because he did not give glory to God. We read this in Acts 12:21–23.

Acts 12:21–23
²¹And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. ²²And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. ²³And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.

Know therefore, my beloved, that the circumstances of the fall of the last world government of the Antichrist will be the same. Blinded by the dominion he will hold over the entire world, the Antichrist will seat himself in the third Temple of Jerusalem — which will shortly be built — and proclaim himself god. He will exalt himself above everything until the appointed time when he will be stripped of all by the King of kings, Jesus Christ. These prophecies are found in several passages of the Bible.

Daniel 11:36
And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.

Daniel 8:25
And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

Revelation 13:1, 5–6
¹And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. ⁵And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. ⁶And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

2 Thessalonians 2:1–4
¹Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, ²That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. ³Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; ⁴Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

The fact that pride is every time the element that leads to the downfall of world governments and their kings reveals to us the true entity that lies behind human world governments — and the reason for these governments. My beloved, the fact that pride is the principal element in the fall of world empires shows that it is Satan, the devil, who is behind every human world government. Indeed, the devil was proud from the very beginning. Why had pride filled his heart? Let us discover this in the following passages.

Ezekiel 28:14–15
¹⁴Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. ¹⁵Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

Isaiah 14:12–14
¹²How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! ¹³For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: ¹⁴I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

Satan's objective from the very beginning was to reign over everything — even over God, his Creator. Unfortunately for him, this was a total failure. From that moment onward, he desperately attempts to take the place of God once again through the world governments he establishes; but every time, God humbles him. This shows us that to this day, the devil has still not learned his lesson; he has still not understood that he cannot take the place of the Almighty God, Jesus Christ. We also realize that the devil did not truly know God — even with the brief time he spent in God's presence before he fell.

Let us therefore retain this: through human world governments, the devil continues his conquest of the throne of God — which he had desperately attempted to seize from the very beginning. This helps us understand more clearly why before long the Antichrist will seek to proclaim himself God. This is precisely the principal purpose of a human world government: to usurp the place that belongs to God.

May the Lord bless you!