What is the false religion?

      
    
      God Does not Accept Worship that Mixes Truth With Lies (Matt. 15:8,9)

Jesus' letters to the Seven Congregations are just as applicable to God's congregations today as they were in the first century. (Rev. 2:1-3:22; 1 Tim. 3:15) A recent Watchtower article noted that Jesus closely "observed the spiritual condition of individual congregations in the first century C.E. In our day [he] exercises active headship over the congregations worldwide and their overseers. As such, nothing that occurs within the more than 100,000 individual congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses escapes his notice." The article further noted that Jesus "rebuked members of [the Thyatira] congregation for their immoral, self-indulgent lifestyle, telling them: 'I am he who searches the kidneys and hearts, and I will give to you individually according to your deeds.' (Rev. 2:23) That statement indicates that Christ observes not only the collective conduct of each congregation but also the lifestyle of its individual members." (w10 9/15 p. 27 pars. 8-9) (Bold added)

In his message to the congregation in Thyatira, Jesus began with words of commendation, saying: "I know your deeds, and your love and faith and ministry and endurance, and that your deeds of late are more than those formerly." (Rev. 2:19) That certainly sounds like the congregation enjoyed Jesus' approval, don't you think? Ah, but Jesus goes on to say: “‘Nevertheless, I do hold this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess ["self-anointed prophetess"; The Voice], and she teaches and misleads my slaves to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent, but she is not willing to repent of her fornication." (vs. 20,21) Although the congregation in Thyatira displayed such vital works as increasing in deeds, and love, and faith, and endurance, yet their worship was not acceptable because they tolerated the false prophet in their midst. And not only did they tolerate her, they were even misled into following her. How could that be possible? How can a congregation have deeds and love and faith and works and endurance, and yet be misled by a false prophet? (Ezek. 13:8-10)

Good deeds do not validate false worship! We cannot attach Jehovah's holy name to false worship without reaping the consequence, a lesson the Israelites often had to learn. (Ex. 32:1-10, 25-28; 1 Kings 12:26-30; Ezek. 33:12,13; 1 Cor. 10:11) Yet, in spite of the numerous scriptural examples, many in the congregations today believe that all we need in order to have God's approval is to be zealous in fine works―which usually involves many hours spent in the ministry, and regular meeting attendance; also to have brotherly love; and to have faith in those taking the lead in the organization, who we are told we must follow as we follow Jesus. (Matt. 23:10) But what happens when the ones who take the lead prove themselves to be like that false prophet in Thyatira, whom Jesus gave time to repent? In consequence of her unwillingness to repent, Jesus was about to "throw her into a sickbed, and those committing adultery with her into great tribulation." And her children, all her followers, he was going to "kill with deadly plague, so that all the congregations will know that I am he who searches the kidneys and hearts, and I will give to you individually according to your deeds." (vs. 22,23) In view of the graveness of Jesus' words, please consider the condition that at present exists in your congregation, in your area. Is it the sort of meeting place that Paul describes we want to attend; or is it on "a sickbed"? Keep in mind that Jesus was addressing his words to his disciples, and not to people in the world. (Heb. 10:23-25; Compare Rev. 2:8-11)

We cannot mix truth with lies. That is clear! For that would make our worship unfit and unacceptable to Jehovah, the God of truth. (Matt. 15:9; 23:25-28; John 4:23,24; Rom. 1:18, 28) If we follow the lead and the teachings of the foretold "man of lawlessness" in our modern day Thyatira congregations (whose "presence is according to the operation of Satan"), then that would void any benefits that would come from our good deeds that Jesus mentions. Following Jesus as our Leader is not burdensome. That is why he assured the faithful in the congregation in Thyatira: “But I also have a message for the rest of you in Thyatira who have not followed this false teaching (‘deeper truths,’ as they call them—depths of Satan, actually). I will ask nothing more of you except that you hold tightly to what you have until I come." Yes, "Let the one who has an ear hear what the spirit says to the congregations." (Rev. 2:24,25, 29, NLT; Matt. 11:28-30; Rev. 7:13-17)