It is an irony it is however that despite this explosion in numbers, the rate of sin and crime has been on the upward swing, meaning that the churches are being set up for motives other than for promoting the truth and righteousness of God. The reasons for this unnatural situation are spiritual as the revealed truth of the Holy Scriptures clearly testify.
Proliferation not from God
The reason why the rate of sin and crime is rising in this age known as the “last days” is that the devil, having been cast down from heaven and knowing that his time to live is short, is bent on dragging as many people as possible with him into destruction. (Revelation 12:7-12; John 8:44; 10:10,12,13) The account of Daniel says that at the time of the end, “the wicked shall do wickedly” (Daniel 12:10) while St. Paul in his letter to Timothy spoke of the last days as “perilous times” when many vices will abound. (2 Timothy 3:1-5) And in verse 13 he added: “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving , and being deceived.” See also Luke 17:26-30; Matthew 24:12,13.
The proliferation is part of the devil’s grand design to lead many people astray by making it difficult for them to identify the true ones. It is the devil, “the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2) that is using all miracle workers whether they know it or not. Indeed Apostle Paul did not leave anyone in doubt that the devil and his agents disguise as ministers of righteousness and that the working of satan is marked by “signs and lying wonders”. – 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12; Revelation 13:13,14; 16:13,14.
Besides, our Lord Jesus Christ asserted that one of the signs of the last days will be the profusion of false prophets making miracles. (Matthew 24:11,24;1 Timothy 4:1-5; Jeremiah 23:21,22; Jeremiah 14:!4) These false religious leaders who close their eyes to sin because of “filthy lucre”. (Isaiah 56:10,11) Many a church house is today nothing but a house of merchandise or a den of robbers. (John 2:13-17; Matthew 21:13; 2 Peter 2:1-3.
Itching Ears
The truth is that churches are proliferating not because people want to do righteousness but because they want solutions to their material problems and want to be told only what they want to hear. In such a situation the people can never be edified. – Isaiah 30:9,10; 2 Timothy 4:3-4; Jeremiah 5:30,31.
True Pastors
Despite the prevalence of false prophets God Almighty had promised through the prophet Jeremiah that he would give His people true pastors who shall feed them knowledge with understanding. (Jeremiah 3:15) It is the unadulterated truth of the gospel preached by these anointed servants, that reforms people’s character, hence it is symbolized as water. (Ephesians 5:26; Psalm 119:9,11; John 15:3; John 17:17; see also Psalm 19:7-11
Those who love to serve God should therefore reject these people because God did not send them. They should like the people of Berea search the scriptures diligently whether what they are being told is in line with the Bible. (Acts 17:10,11) The Bible says “the prudent man looketh well to his going” (Proverbs 14:15) and that we should “prove all things; hold fast to that which is good”. (1 Thessalonians 5:21) In the end it is those who refuse to hear the truth that will continue to be deceived by false prophets and who would suffer destruction. – 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12; Matthew 15:12-14; Isaiah 9:16.
It is evident therefore that there can be no reduction in the rate of sin and crime despite the rapid increase in the number of churches because of the influence of satan the devil who has intensified his activities in these last days. The false churches founded by the devil preach lies and so can never reform people’s character. It is only those who love truth and righteousness that will find the way of truth and be cleansed by God and saved in His Kingdom fully established by God’s grace.