One of the signs of the last days, according to Jesus Christ, was to be the rise of many false messiahs. The Bible says: “At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people” (Matthew 24:10-11). Apostle Paul also warned by the Spirit that in the “later times” some people “will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons” (1 Timothy 4:1). People will be deluded and blinded to the truth.

In reality, people will actually want to be deceived. Why? Because that course will appear most desirable to them. The way that appears to be right to mankind, “in the end it leads to death” (Proverbs 16:25). For most of Christianity (especially so in the advanced, high-income countries of the world), this condition is already at a late stage.

Many societies (if not the entire world) already seem near the point (if not already long past) where God finally relents and lets them molder in their own perversions and lusts (Romans 1:24). He gives them over to their perversions and even sends them “strong delusion” (2 Thessalonians 2:11). Again, why? Because wickedness deceives in every way and “because they refused to love the truth and so be saved” (verse 10).

While this penchant for waywardness has always existed, the Bible indicates that it will become rampant nearer the end of days. Jesus, speaking to the Jews, warned that “[…] many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold […]” (Matthew 24:11-12).

The prophet Zechariah, too, writing approximately 2500 years ago, prophesied that the entire world would be cursed with wickedness (Zechariah 5:8). Also, the “man of lawlessness” (2 Thessalonians 2:3), who is described as a deceiver and liar, is to arrive at that end stage. It only follows that conditions in the world will become sympathetic to his arrival well in advance.

The Many Ways of Wickedness

As already mentioned, wickedness foments its strategies and assaults everywhere … at every level, channel and way. Part of this state of increasing wickedness is a blurring of worship between God and Mammon. We have called this a form of ecumenism. While this term historically has described the coming together of so-called Christian sects and faiths, we apply it here to the merging of worship of both God and Mammon (Money). Better said, it is an endtime syncretism of beliefs, and it is described and pictured in the Bible.

Jesus Christ clearly said that one can only one love master, God or Mammon. (“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon”—Matthew 6:24 KJV.)

But, did Jesus really say that? Wouldn’t it be nice if one could sup at both tables … to worship both God and Money? Wouldn’t that be a pleasurable perspective, and one that will suit itching ears? (2 Timothy 4:3).

Implicitly, this commingling of fealty to both God and Money is exactly what the Bible prophesies will occur. “People will be […] lovers of money” (2 Timothy 3:2) and “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (verse 4), while at the same time “having a form of godliness but denying its power” (verse 5). Jesus describes this duality … really a duplicity: “[…] on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness” (Matthew 23:28).

Here we see a society that thinks its love of money is compatible with godliness. (Perhaps just as the CEO of the greedy Wall Street-based Goldman Sachs, Lloyd Blankfein, could say that he “was doing God’s work.”)

Blurring Beliefs

This blurring of wealth worship (materialism) and institutionalized “godliness” is pictured in the figure of the whore shown in Revelation 17. She is bedecked in fine clothes, “glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls,” and has “a golden cup in her hand” (Revelation 17:4). She represents religion that is in a lucrative league with the worldly kings of the earth. Here it appears that the two orbs of commerce (money) and religion co-exist comfortably. The reality is that materialism, greed and the worship of wealth alone has won the hearts of mankind, though the Bible expressly states that “[…] man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4).

This apparently unbridgeable gap between God and Mammon offers one of the biggest, exploitable marketing opportunities ever known to mankind (and is also an important key to Satan’s last-day strategy). How can one not pass up the chance for rich comfort and lucre from the wealth of Mammon, while at the same time have the assurance of being righteous and spiritual?

If one can figure out a way to convince people that they can both worship God and sup with Mammon at the same table, they or their businesses will meet with certain success. This is not a new discovery. It is a ruse that has worked in past history every time. Today it is an institutionalized strategy and unfolds on a global scale.

Mammon has masterfully honed its alluring appeals to the fleshly affections of mankind. In our day, these temptations and materialistic proposals to our souls are rampant … both immediate and incessant. Who does not agree that the lures of Mammon are lustrous and inveigling? So, even as God promises to be near and never to forsake us (Hebrews 13:5), Mammon’s call to us is also near and with us.

This last-day dominance of Mammon is also reflected through Jesus’ comments to the seven churches. It is the Philadelphian church that is commended by Jesus. It is shown to be weak and poor (Revelation 3:8). In contrast, the Laodicean church, that has confidence in its riches and wealth, is indicted as being blind and naked (verse 17). This church is shown to be as blind as the society in which it exists.

The Many Faces of Laodicea Today

The merging of the worship of God and Mammon has progressed significantly. It surely is a condition that strikes its stake deep into the heart of Christians living in the high-income world. The Laodicean spirit is already well advanced in the world today, evident in a number of ways.

The emergence of Babylon the Great, the great commercial colossus that is depicted in Revelation 17—18, with its cup filled with the vile toxins of commercialism and materialistic idolatry, is already within view. Indeed, there is much debate on the general topic of endtime Babylon (aspects of which we have often commented upon). However, for the purpose of the topic at hand, we need not stop to consider these many views. Here, we only want to focus on one aspect of endtime Babylon(s) (whatever its final form will be) …namely, the “inseparability” of two Babylons.

What is meant by the inseparability of two Babylons, and what might be their identities? How can there be two, and yet they be inseparable at the same time? Actually, this was the very question put to me the first time this writer ever spoke on the topic of Babylon mentioned in Revelation 17 and 18. At the time, I was unprepared. The question was this: Where do you see the break between the Babylon mentioned in Revelation 17 (“Mystery Babylon, the Great Mother of Prostitutes”) and the one mentioned in chapter 18 (great city of Babylon)? I was caught rather flatfooted, as I had simply assumed that they were different Babylons since they were treated in separate chapters and had slightly different names in some Bible translations.

While I still hold to the view that they are different Babylons—in other words, alternate dimensions or at least different perspectives of the last-day Babylon emergence—I also hold to the view that they are inseparable. While this might seem contradictory, it is not. Basically, it is two Babylons clandestinely co-habitating, in effect becoming one. I say clandestinely because most people—surely including many who claim to be Christians—are blind to this emerging union. Yet, this harlotry is becoming ever more open. From the religious side, it is a union that has been sanctioned by an increasing number of Christian denominations and religious movements.

The merging of God and Mammon—figured as religion and materialism, spirituality and faith in globalization commingled together—is the final capstone of mankind’s perversions. This is the very thing that is imaged in the blurred religious and commercial Babylons shown to rise in illicit cahoots in Revelation 17 and 18. In a sense, it is the final, global religion. As such, that may be why the two Babylons in these chapters are presented as one, unbreakable though blurred continuum.

Mammon Among Religions Today

Where is the evidence, people might ask? Where is the blurring of God and Mammon happening today? We have already said that this spirit is clearly evident in a number of ways.

There are numerous channels and multiple feedback loops in this present-day progression. Such relatively new organizations as the International Interfaith Investment Group (3IG), which claims to wield some $10 trillion in wealth and 7% of the inhabitable real estate on the planet, are pushing for a purer and better world with the power of money. This is a group of some 7 world religions.

There are many other organizations that seek to bridge the powers of religion, politics and money.  Some of these include the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC), the Coalition for Renewal (COR), and the Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility (ECCR), to name a few. A sense of the spirit of these initiatives is evident in this quote from the ARC secretary-general: “The world’s major faiths are starting to discover the power of their collective purse. Worldwide […] they own trillions of dollars of shares, estimated by Citigroup to be in the region of 8-10% of the world’s equity market.”

There are many, many more such initiatives, and naming them would shock in some cases. It is therefore no surprise that secular observers comment on the wealth of religious organizations. Says David Silverman of American Atheists, “Churches have a tremendous amount of power and a stupid amount of money.”

Evangelicals may believe that they are not culpable in this last-day blurring of faiths and techniques. In actuality, it is in these very circles that Satan may be chocking up some of his biggest victories. Within so-called Christianity there are many movements in this direction.

Various denominations that promote Prosperity Gospel (material comforts in the here and now), Reconstructionism, Kingdom Now and many other ideologies risk consorting with the deadly and deceitful embrace of Mammon. We do not doubt that there are sincere and godly people who may be swept up in these ideologies, and who come by their ignorance innocently. However, there are certainly also wolves and entities masquerading as “angels of light.”

While we greatly respect good scholarship, it is also academics that has come to the aid of the human desire to love Mammon through the introduction of new theories that “revise” Biblical teaching on idolatry and materialism. For example, such organizations as the influential Acton Institute seem to exist solely to validate capitalism and free-market economics as a Biblically-endorsed system. To the contrary. God has never endorsed any human system.

We have only scratched the surface. What is common to them all? They carry out their agendas and battles the way the world does. They use politics and the power and lure of money and prosperity. Apostle Paul, on the other hand, said otherwise: “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does” (2 Corinthians 10:3).

All of the initiatives mentioned above, as well as other ecumenical thrusts, seek to achieve power in the way of the world … to be seen as shakers and movers on the world scene … shapers of human destiny and the entire planet earth … loving worldly power. Again, the Bible warns against this perspective. Jesus Himself said clearly: “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them” (1 John 2:15).

Thoughts to Ponder

Any religious movement that claims to build a ‘kingdom” on earth is sure to be fostering ideologies that promote earthly citizenship rather than heavenly citizenship. Jesus Christ could not have been clearer on this point, saying that His kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36). This very same Jesusowned no place on earth “to lay his head” (Luke 9:58).

Furthermore, He pointedly asked: “When I return, will I find faith upon the earth?” (Luke 18:8). It is a prophecy enfolded in a rhetorical statement. It is probably the most revealing of the very few prophecies that specifically apply to the Church.

It is an unpopular perspective: Christians (denominations, movements and individuals) and Christian look-alikes—namely, religious developments deliberately conspired by the Enemy to be an imitation—today risk either falling for or trafficking in the lures of both Babylons. They promote the idea that one can consort with Mammon while yet love and worship God.

Apostle Paul provides the admonition that our generation needs to heed: “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ” (Colossians 2:8).

What have been the most durable and successful human organizations in history? Was it the Roman Empire, or Britain during its heyday as a world power, or some other entity? Possibly. But what about today? Who would be the candidates?

This makes for an interesting topic. While it is true that nations still account for the largest civil organizations of humans, such organizational arrangements have been fast changing their form.

In our time, of course, the heft and power of a nation is mostly now defined through economic size and trade. The statistic of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), unreliable as it may be, has become the all-important metric. Using that gauge, the top human organizations in the world would be the United States, China and arguably also the European Union (not necessarily in that order).

Crucially, the Bible rarely uses “economic might” as the defining criteria of a nation’s or kingdom’s strength (though there are exceptions, such as references to Babylon the Great). In the Bible, a nation’s power is more often related to the size of its population, and by extension, the size of its potential army.

From a soteriological (salvation) point of view, the same perspective applies. God’s Son Jesus Christ, died for each of us individually. We are saved individually … not organizationally … or as a group.

Today we see a number of powerful systems and organizations that are concentrating worldwide power—religious, economic and political. As mentioned, the forms of human organization have been fast changing. Consider the following four types:

1. Nationhood & Cities. There are some 196 nations in the world today, not including protectorates and territories. Despite the world’s advanced state of globalism and globalization, the numbers of nations are increasing, not decreasing. While not all nations represent homogeneous societies, by and large, they do represent an organization of human activities, trade and international relations. This can also be the case for individual cities and city-states. A greater portion of the world’s population is living in ever larger agglomerations of cities. More than half of the world’s population today lives in urban areas.

2. Corporations. The multinational organization is certainly a very strong and relatively new form of human organization. These have strict hierarchies and highly defined “pecking” orders. Obedience is highly and lavishly rewarded, especially among the higher executive echelons. The largest corporations can have power even on the scale of what the Bible calls “kingdoms.”

Indeed, some large multinational firms have more employees that many nations have citizens. Of the top 100 economic entities in the world today, corporations make up 37 of these, the rest being nations according to a report by the Transnational Institute.1 Lately, just one of these, Apple Corporation, had $178 billion (USD) of cash on its balance sheet (a hoard greater than the annual economic output of more than 150 countries). It may very well prove to be the first company valued in excess of $1 trillion. Time will tell. “Tomorrow’s state will have as much in common with the 21st-century multinational company as with the 20th century state.”2

The corporate structure was and is a useful legal invention. Nevertheless, seen collectively, the multinational phenomenon has done much to commercialize the world and establish common materialistic values and powerful behavioral systems.

3. Global Non-Governmental Organizations and Globalism. For the first time in human history, organizations of nations and unions have formed spanning the entire globe. The first of these emerged in the late 1800s. Today we have many transnational organizations, as they are called. The United Nations would be the most noteworthy of the many that now exist—i.e. the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, International Criminal Court and a host of others. All of these seek to organize human responses, activities and policies.

4. Religion. Religions can also represent large obedience structures that verge on being veritable kingdoms … particularly the large organized institutions. Other faiths may only be small, independent, unstructured cells. The organized institutional types of religions and denominations may enforce fealty, ecclesiastical hierarchies, membership, beliefs … and also political actions.

We could add to this list of four.  All of these large organizational “kingdoms” are of this world.  These are the “kingdoms” that are referred to by the Psalmist: “The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the LORD and against his anointed, saying, ‘Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.’ The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them” (Psalm 2:2-4).

An interesting question is this: Is there any earthly organizational entity that spans all forms of the above-mentioned power-types?

Transcending Them All

Actually, yes. It is the Roman Catholic Church (RCC). Surprised? This “human organization” is the longest global and most storied of any that have ever existed in mankind’s history. That fact itself draws many.

There are other organizations that have existed much longer; however, they are not human. Here we think of Satan and his hierarchy of fallen angels. It is definitely a hierarchical organization. As well, the Church could be considered. It would be defined as all those who are saved (and whose names will be found in the Book of Life), who are organized as the body of Christ through the Holy Spirit. As of the present time, the true spiritual Church (which would undoubtedly include some saved people who identify themselves as Roman Catholic) is quite small as far as world organizations go. It would be impossible to estimate how many members the Church has in the world today. Suffice it to say that it would be small … fitting the description found in Revelation 3:8, which says it is of “little strength.”

The Earthly Reign of the Roman Catholic Church

Let’s next recount each of the four organizational types we have listed, paralleling them to the Roman Catholic Church. In doing so, we are here examining “human organizations” and will deal only with facts. This is not an exercise to bash individual Catholics. You, dear reader, can be the final judge and form your own opinion.

Firstly, the RCC qualifies as a sovereign. It today carries sovereignty in world affairs. Even though Vatican City itself qualifies as a country, it is actually the Holy See itself that is the sovereign. This may be somewhat difficult to grasp. Though the Holy See and the Curia find their physical headquarters in the Vatican (this being a city state), it is the See itself that carries this distinction irrespective of having a country. Even if there were no Vatican City, the RCC would still be considered a sovereign by the nations of this world.

Also to note is that the Pope is the absolute king of the Vatican city state. This is interesting as there are very few absolute monarchies left in the world today. The only others are 5 Islamic countries (Brunei, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates) and Swaziland. Moreover, the RCC (by virtue of the nation of the Vatican) has its own official currency, the euro. Its coins are imprinted with “Citta Del Vaticano.”

Largest and Longest Global Multinational Ever

Though the multinational corporation has really only sprung to world prominence and power over the last 75 years or so, its history does go back several hundred years. Even before the invention of the legal entity of a corporation as a “person,” there were global organizations. The Roman Catholic Church qualifies as the longest surviving of these. We draw some parallels here to the modern corporation for the purpose of illustration only.

Modern-day “for-profit” corporations organize their structure and behavioral rules in order to achieve success. Largely, these organizations use monetary incentives to drive desired behavior, as well as achieve a differentiated or exclusive business franchise that will bring success (i.e. profits, expansion, growth and power).

The Roman Catholic Church is also a multinational corporation in this sense (not here at all referring to the many thousands of corporate entities that the RCC owns and controls around the world). To be clear, unlike the commercial corporations of the world, many of the RCC’s branches and entities are not interconnected by legal corporate structures. All the same, it remains that the Roman Catholic Church is a multinational corporate obedience structure, that orchestrates and controls these many and varied entities around the world.

Consider the powerful franchise that the RCC has established for itself. The RCC has a potent “business model.” Firstly, it claims a corner on salvation. It “markets” that only through its franchise (exclusive access and sacraments) can people attain salvation. It denies that any other church or religion has this power.

It also markets other product lines globally—dispensations, the ability to remove souls out of Purgatory, the “mystery” of transubstantiation (its great and exclusive sacrament), which only its executives (ecclesia) can perform. This latter franchise distinctive is a so-called “miracle,” though there is no visible manifestation of any miracle.

Down through the centuries, these exclusive franchises of the RCC (among others) have generated much revenue as well as donations. A donation demands nothing in return. Revenue, by contrast, derives from a service or a sale. It would be correct to differentiate.

There is one more facet to the success of the Roman Catholic kingdom on earth. It faces no inheritance issues or (theoretically) the dangers of nepotism, or unruly extractive shareholders (though there were some popes and priests that misused the church’s wealth). Its amassing of wealth and property over the centuries has continued almost unfettered (though certainly impacted in America of late due to large settlements in its sex scandals).

Just how wealthy is the Roman Catholic Church overall? No one knows. To this point, in most countries (certainly so in North America), religious organization do not have the same disclosure requirements as do business corporations. Though this is gradually changing somewhat, it remains that some religions are able to maneuver their funds in secret (i.e. the Mormon Church, the Church of Scientology … etc.). Of one thing we can be sure: The Roman Catholic Church is the wealthiest, non-sovereign organization in the world. Its wealth is simply incalculable.

In conclusion, the Roman Catholic Church is the most successful and durable global organization of all time. And, it has the most powerful Chief Executive Officer of them all—the Pope. By way of the brand-enhancement of “infallibility” and the claim of being Vicar of Christ (which means the very replacement of Christ on earth), this CEO of the RCC is indeed powerful and can demand obedience like no other.

Supernational Influence

The Vatican also has diplomats that participate or act as observers in virtually every global non-governmental organization that exists. These would be too many to list in this article. For example, the Holy See has had permanent observer status at the United Nations since 1964. According to Wikipedia, “In that capacity, it has the right to attend all sessions of the United Nations General Assembly, the United Nations Security Council, and the United Nations Economic and Social Council to observe their work. Accordingly, the Holy See has established permanent observer missions in New York and in Geneva and has been able to influence the decisions and recommendations of the United Nations.” Again, interestingly, the RCC even sends participants to the Organization of Islamic Nations.

What to make of this? A religion that qualifies as a nation, a world sovereign; that also has its own currency and boasts of the extent of its real estate holdings?

Organizational Obedience

The success of the kingdoms (human organizational structures) of this age is dependent on obedience. However, these are all under the subjection of Satan, who Apostle Paul calls the “god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4). He is also similarly called the “prince of this world” (John 12:31; 14:30). His kingdom or power base is depicted as the highest of earthly mountains.

Whereas Christ has been “exalted to the highest place” in the Kingdom of God (Philippians 2:9), the world of this age is in obedience to and exalts the “god of this age.” “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4).

Points to Ponder

When Satan tried to barter for Christ’s obedience with the promise of an earthly kingdom, Jesus replied, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only’” (Matthew 4:10).

The Kingdom of God is not of this world (or age). Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place” (John 18:36).

Therefore, we are obedient to the Lord God, whose kingdom at this time is found in the hearts of men and women upon earth. “We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing” (1 Corinthians 2:6). As Daniel tells us: “Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him” (Daniel 7:27).

At a practical level, as Jesus said to the scribes, ‘“Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s’” (Matthew 22:21). We are subjects of civil powers. However, as for the Christian faith, Jesus Christ said that His kingdom was not of this world. He that had not even a place to lay his head or a property to call his home (Matthew 8:20), most certainly did not lay the foundation of a world kingdom … one that would even have its own currency.

At the same time, disobedience to God is a hallmark of the last days. Second Timothy 3:1-5 mentions that the perilous times of the last days are characterized by, among other things, “disobedience to parents” and “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.” Not loving God is disobedience since “This is love for God: to obey his commands” (1 John 5:3).

Though living on earth, how then must we be obedient? Paul gives us a ready answer: “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete” (2 Corinthians 10: 3-6).
1 http://www.tni.org/briefing/state-power-2014
2 Bobbitt, Philip. “How market-states can meet global challenges.”  Financial Times.September 7, 2004.