Amir Tsarfati: The Rise of the One World Religion

A new religion is emerging and it is spreading fast. Unlike religious takeovers of the past, there is no fight taking place. In fact, the followers of many other belief systems have been quick to embrace it and incorporate it into their doctrine. It is a non-judgmental, feel-good religion of ecumenism and inclusion and acceptance of all people and all lifestyles. There is only one group of people who are rejected from this new global religion – the followers of Jesus Christ. Join Amir Tsarfati for his new teaching, The Rise of the One World Religion, as he examines this new system that will eventually unite all people under one man – the antichrist.

The Rise of the One World Religion

AMIR: Genesis 11:4 says, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves…” The first description of an inclusive gathering of people from all over the world wasn’t an act of worship—it was an act of defiance. It wasn’t about creating or fulfilling true religion, but about putting themselves in the place of God. That tragic reality is what we see today.

Looking at God’s heart regarding religion, Isaiah 1 shows that God opposed what people did with the commandments He gave. He told Israel: “Look at your holidays, your festivals, your new moons, your Sabbaths—My soul hates them.” How can you keep religious rituals while your hands are full of blood?

When we consider The Rise of the One World Religion, we must go back to Genesis. God created man in His image for fellowship with Him, but beginning in Genesis 3 that fellowship was broken. Since then, mankind tries to reach God—yet keeps putting self at the center, building systems that claim to be about God but are really about humans.

Galatians 1:10 says, “Do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.” True faith in God through Christ is not about pleasing men or putting man at the center. There’s a growing gap between what God wants and what humanity does. Proverbs 29:25 adds, “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe.”

From Jerusalem—this eternal, bustling city—religion is everywhere. Behind me stands one of the most iconic Christian sites for over a billion people: the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Catholic and Greek Orthodox), and nearby the Church of the Redeemer (Lutheran). To the east is Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount, towering above the Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest site. Within one square mile are revered sites of Christians, Jews, and Muslims—a center of religions. We are talented at creating religions, yet struggle to worship God simply “in spirit and in truth.”

Many assume Islam will become the one world religion due to ambitions of dominance (e.g., Iran, ISIS). But Islam seeks submission by the sword—unlike Revelation’s description of a new, emerging global faith. That assumption leads some to claim the Antichrist will be Muslim. Yet it’s unlikely an Israeli Jew would accept a Muslim as Messiah, and why would a Muslim Antichrist need a Jewish temple on the Temple Mount when Islam already claims its third holiest site there? The coming system will be something different—something the world hasn’t seen before.

I propose there is an existing religious shell ready to host something new being injected into it: the Catholic Church—“catholic” meaning universal. For years, vast resources have gone into outreach that reframes the church to gather all peoples. At a Kenneth Copeland Ministries conference, Bishop Tony Palmer (on behalf of Pope Francis) told a Protestant crowd that if you’re born again, you’re “catholic”—universal—and urged them to “come home.” The Pope sent a video appealing for unity, emphasizing miracle-working “glory” over doctrine. But Galatians 1:8–9 is clear: if anyone—even an angel—preaches another gospel, let him be accursed. Romans 16:17 warns us to avoid those who teach contrary to sound doctrine. Doctrine matters.

Beyond Christian ecumenism, Rome leads interfaith efforts. In 2019, the Pope and the Grand Imam signed the Abu Dhabi “Human Fraternity” declaration, invoking “the one merciful God” and calling all people brothers and sisters—yet without confessing Jesus as the only way, the truth, and the life or the need to be born again. The assumption that we are all good and can live in harmony echoes Babel: “Let us make a name for ourselves,” removing God or replacing Him.

Peter even referred to Rome as Babylon (1 Peter 5:13), a term Jews used after Rome destroyed Jerusalem. The Second Vatican Council (1964–65) extended the “plan of salvation” to those who acknowledge the Creator, explicitly including Muslims, and urged Christians and Muslims to “forget the past,” promoting peace, liberty, social justice, and moral values—language that replaces the exclusivity of salvation through Christ alone.

Pope Francis has since said, “The Lord redeemed everyone with Christ’s blood… even atheists,” and emphasized doing good over believing the gospel. Bridges are being built so that, if other faiths falter, people are welcomed without conversion—just “be good.”

This new world religion spreads not by the sword but by sweet words: inclusion, love, and social justice—minimizing doctrine. The United Religions Initiative (URI) partners globally to bridge religious and cultural differences “for the good of the world.” Crises further nudge people toward religion; now even climate change is used as a unifying moral cause. The Pope has called for global governance to address climate issues, framing the “common good” as global, and arguing nation-states cannot secure it alone. This aligns peoples and policies under supranational authority—another step toward unity without the gospel.

The gap with science is also being closed. In 2014, the Pope endorsed Big Bang and evolution as compatible with divine creation. Yet Scripture presents God creating in six days; evolution and the Big Bang are theories that do not explain creation ex nihilo. If you reject God’s account, your issue is with His Word.

In 2020, the Pope indicated support for same-sex civil unions—departing from historic doctrine—again prioritizing inclusivity over biblical teaching.

So what is a One World Religion? A time when the world worships together—in the same wrong way. Revelation 17:1–6 describes a global religious system—the great harlot—arrayed in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, seated on many waters, intoxicating the nations, linked with kings, full of abominations and fornication. Rome—known as the city on seven hills—fits many of these symbols.

This will be a religion of inclusion—with one exception: those who follow Jesus. True believers won’t be embraced.

Jesus warned, “You will be hated by all for My name’s sake” (Matthew 10:22). John 15:18 reminds us the world hated Him first. James 4:4 says friendship with the world is enmity with God. John 3:19 explains that men love darkness rather than light. With Jesus, the world hates you; without Jesus, it accepts you. The cross offends because the world wants to earn salvation—but “the wages of sin is death.” There’s no earning it.

Take heart: John 16:33—“In Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”