Universalism: A religion, theology and philosophy which has the general belief that all persons and creatures are related to God, and will be reconciled to God (go to heaven after death).

Translation: The idea that we are all God's children and everyone who is good will get to go to heaven. The main focus of this concept is peace, unity and bringing together all religions for God.

Status: Emerging and growing at wildfire speeds -- people left and right are embracing this kind of theology. Universalists seem to be popping up everywhere -- I even see it in my own circle of friends and family.

Conclusion: It's wrong. Dead wrong. And it's Biblical prophecy coming to be.

One World Religion: A religion, theology and philosophy which has the general belief that all persons and creatures are related to God, and will be reconciled to God (go to heaven after death)... believed by the majority.

Remember my recent series called "Signs That We're in the End Times?" One of the signs that I forgot to list was "One World Religion" (I kind of lumped it in there with the One World Government.) It's a clear sign to true Christians that we are in the End Times -- the Anti-Christ will emerge from this global push for "world peace through uniting religions."

But before I get into that, let me make it very clear to all those who read this blog: If you believe that everyone here on earth can practice their own religion and still find God and go to Heaven after they die... then you are NOT a Christian. Plain and simple.

I don't mean to offend anyone, but it's the truth. How can you be? There are hundreds of verses in the Bible that specifically say that Christ is the only way to God. There are hundreds of verses in the Bible that teach us to go out and spread the word of Christ. NOWHERE in the Bible does it say that we are to condone, accept and keep quiet about other gods and worship practices. In fact, there are hundreds of pieces of Scripture that say the exact opposite!

So let's summarize this: If you don't believe that everyone in the world has to accept Christ as their savior... if you believe that there are other ways for people to find God and get to heaven... if you think that you don't ever have to defend Christianity or speak up on behalf of Christianity... and if you don't believe that the Bible is 100% true and should be read, followed and put into practice... then you aren't a Christian.

Now I can just hear some of you muttering to your computer screen, telling me that you most certainly ARE a Christian. Well, let's do a test. Do you have the Holy Spirit within you? Here's an easy way to find out.

At any point in your adult life, did you physically, verbally pray to The LORD, asking for His forgiveness and declaring solidly that you believe that Christ died on the cross for your sins, to offer you salvation and eternal life? In that prayer, did you accept the gift of salvation, confess your sins, and begin a relationship with God... vowing to learn, teach, speak and live in the name of Christ?

If you did, then you have the Holy Spirit within you. If you haven't, then you don't. And if you don't, then you are open to attack by the Evil One (Satan).

And if you are open to attack by the Evil One, let me tell you that right now, he is gloating over the fact that he is attacking people by planting this seed of "universalism" in your minds.

Unfortunately, I think this is turning out to be a really good game plan for him. Satan has come up with a tactic that is almost as good as convincing Eve to eat the apple from the tree. I mean, if I wasn't a strong Christian, I'd fall for it. Everyone wants to hear that God is loving, kind, merciful and allows people of all faiths to find Him in their own way. But guess what? It's not the truth. You'd have to rip out pretty much all of the New Testament to believe that. So if you're a Christian and you think this, you should do one of two things:

1) Say the prayer of acceptance to receive the Holy Spirit:

"Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ, died on the cross for my sins... was resurrected from the dead... is alive now... and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You and understand Your words within the Holy Scripture, and to help me do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen."

Or, if you choose not to do that at this time you can

2) Refrain from calling yourself a Christian, and then begin calling yourself a Universalist.

It's like telling everyone you're a vegetarian, and yet you eat meat on a regular basis. It just doesn't make sense, nor is it the truth.

Jesus specifically said: "Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures." (John 10:9)

He also said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 4:16)

Now there are other Christians in my circle of friends, acquaintances and family that have said they believe the Bible and for the most part (for the most part???) people have to have Jesus to get to Heaven. But they absolutely do not agree that we should try to influence people of other religions to believe in Christ. As one person said, "We should leave them be! If they want to believe in Islam or Buddhism, that is totally their right. I am not going to be one of those extremists and tell them Christ is the only way to Heaven. I believe that, but they don't have to believe that. Besides, anyone can see that Muslims and Christians are coming together, and that a lot has been gained for peace between the two groups. It's a good thing."

Again... NOT a Christian. People with that mind-set should call themselves Universalists. I have to think that people who believe and say these kinds of things do not read their Bible on a regular basis. And I'm willing to bet that they don't pray and talk to God on a regular basis, either. Because if they did, they would absolutely not come to those conclusions.

It is in the Bible: This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:22-24)

And also: "He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead." (Acts 10:42)

The Bible specifically says in several different verses that towards the end times, many religious leaders and followers will merge and unite in the name of peace. This is how the One World Order and One World Religion come about. It's also how the Anti-Christ comes about -- he proclaims (at first) to want to bring unity and peace to the world... and he has many, many followers. The Bible warns us against this, and tells us in many ways to follow Christ and do not let our hearts and spirits be deceived by those claiming unity or peace among religions.

I am not saying we can't love or forgive or help non-Christians. I love and adore many who are of other faiths. But in no way should we condone, accept or open our arms to other religions. It's a very slippery slope. If you aren't converging and getting along with them as an outspoken ambassador of Christ, then it's a road you don't want to be on -- one can easily get lost. I do my best to talk to those people about Christ, or I pray for them that they might open their hearts and minds to God so that they might be saved, too. But I do not embrace other religions. Did Christ do that? Did he condone people of Biblical times to worship other gods and idols? Heck no! So why would it be okay today? Answer: IT'S NOT.

These religious leaders who are going around the world, working for peace and unity... they are going down the wrong road. A VERY wrong road. Islamic sheiks... Christian pastors... all of them. I'm not saying that they cannot get together to discuss social or political unity. But I read and hear about seminars and conferences where Christians and Muslims are coming together to talk to the world about peace, love, unity with God and forgiveness for all. Rick Warren, for example, is one who has always been a strong Christian in the past. I don't know what happened -- apparently he's been seduced by Satan. But now he's doing all kinds of work with Muslim leaders. Unfortunately, it's not ministry work to get them to understand the words of Christ. It's Universalism work, to talk alongside the Islamic priests and support the idea of "God for all."

Jesus also said: "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?" (Luke 6:44)

Meaning priests and teachers will come along, seeming to be peaceful and accepting. But their words do not come from God, the Father of Christ. So we should not learn from them or seek spiritual guidance from them. You wouldn't take your fruit from a thorn bush, so you shouldn't take your spiritual guidance from someone who doesn't have the truth. The Bible teaches us that the ultimate litmus test is to ask right up front: Does the teachings come by way of Jesus? Do the words show that Christ is the only way? If not, then it's false. And if it's false and you still believe it, then you will be probably be one of the masses who will take the Mark of the Beast (if you're still around at that time). If not -- if you die before then and meet God up in Heaven -- then the Lord will probably say, "I tell you the truth, I don't know you" (Matthew 25:12).

Why? Because you denied God as the father of Christ while you lived here on earth. You denied that Christ is the only way to salvation. The Universalist way of thinking is not any different in the eyes of God than Buddhism, Islam, Wicca, Scientology or other religions. You're acknowledging a false god. Idolatry is the biggest sin of them all. To freely practice it while calling yourself a Christian is blasphemy.

There is nothing wrong with having compassion for others or loving one another. But when religions converge to accept each other in the name of unity and peace, it just sends chills down my spine. Most especially when Muslims and Christians want to come together to find common ground. Yes, we should treat each other with respect and kindness, but that does not mean we should just simply accept that they are of a different faith and make no effort to convince them of the truths found in Christianity and Jesus Christ. True Christians know and believe in the truth -- that Jesus is the ONLY way to Heaven, and that it is our duty to witness to others and help bring them to Christ.

Do not say "God loves us all and knows our hearts -- everyone will go to heaven based on the life they lived and the things they did." If you say that, you simply aren't a Christian. Christians believe that Jesus is our Messiah, and that he died on the cross to save us from our sins. And that by believing in him, we can get to The LORD and have eternal life in God's Kingdom.

Do you STILL call yourself a Christian yet believe that everyone gets to go to Heaven? Let me ask you this... if you think everyone can go to Heaven in their own way by their own relationship with God, then why did Christ have to die on the cross? Why did God send His son down to die? Do you even believe that happened? Maybe you don't. Maybe you do, but you think it's only for Christians. So then, based on that theory, Muslims and Buddhists and other religions of the world can get to Heaven on their own, but we can't? Actually, I'd like a Christian with the "Universalist/everyone goes to Heaven" school-of-thought to comment and tell me what they believe about Christ. I just don't get it. The whole point of Christianity is knowing that God sent His son down to take our punishment for our sins, so that we can be wiped clean for Heaven. I don't see how/why God would do that for some people, but then allow others just to go on into Heaven on their own. It simply does not make sense.

If you're struggling with this, let me pray for you. I don't want to turn you away. The one and only way to God is through Christ. I WANT you to be a Christian. I WANT you to know the truth. If you call yourself a Christian now yet you believe all the things I just talked about, say the prayer of salvation and acceptance in order to protect yourself from Satan.

I'm afraid for this world... I can see it happening so quickly.

But on the other hand, it's Biblical prophecy. It's going to happen -- the Bible says so. I just don't want you to be a part of it. When Christ returns, I don't want there to be any doubt about whose side you are on. "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters." (Matthew 12:30)

God bless!