Dangers of false worship

False worship incurs God’s wrath

False worship began with the first recorded time of worship (Genesis 4), continues today and will continue until the end of the age. The ultimate act of ungodly worship surrounds the Antichrist whom God reveals a few years before Jesus returns:

who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. (2 Thessalonians 2:4, NASB)

He will oppose God and promote himself above every other focus of worship. Since the Bible predicts his rise and fall, we have a fairly good idea of what happens in those days. We also learn the fate of those who engage in false worship of the Antichrist. I generalize these verses to reveal the fate of those who substitute false worship for genuine worship of the real God.

Mental & emotional dangers of false worship

The second chapter of 2 Thessalonians predicts that everyone who rejects the gospel will fall for the deception of the Antichrist. We find confirmation of the popularity of the Antichrist and worship by his fans – those who dwell on the earth:

they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?” (Revelation 13:4, NASB)

All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. (Revelation 13:8, NASB)

He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. (Revelation 13:12, NASB)

Elsewhere in Revelation, we learn how the followers of Antichrist become persecutors of the God’s people (who believe in Jesus). They love sin and become filled with hate for God and everyone connected to Him.

False worship turns one’s mind away from truth to believe lies. It poisons the heart against goodness, love and kindness.

Physical dangers of false worship

There are also physical consequences to false worship:

So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth; and it became a loathsome and malignant sore on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image. (Revelation 16:2, NASB)

God sends a plague on the worshipers of the Antichrist. We find other examples elsewhere in Revelation promising death, plague and disease on those who embrace false worship.

Eternal dangers of false worship

Worst of all, false worship leads to eternal punishment (Revelation 14:9-11):

And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone. (Revelation 19:20, NASB)

God doesn’t entertain false worship. It is an unforgiveable sin (Joshua 24:19). Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross can still pay the penalty for this sin, but one must surrender it at the feet of Jesus and seek to worship God in spirit and truth.