Well... jeez man, any good cult has an MLM or two built into it. That's sort of entry level stuff.
The basic MLM is recruiting for the cult. Starting up, you're probably going to need to make this part free, it's hard enough getting cult members without also having to get them to pay you. But worthless titles and awards can be handed out for the best recruiters, who of course get a portion of awards if their recruits get awards.
Then, the big bucks are in selling licenses. These are going to depend on your specific flavor of cult. Maybe you have a special technique, like scientology and the e-meters. Maybe you have re-branded protein shakes that you claim will give you superpowers in the afterlife, whatever.
You get people to sell these products, at a modest mark-up. However they have to buy a license to be allowed to sell the products (This is to make sure they're properly trained to sell the powerful thing, or whatever. You really only need the thinnest veneer of an excuse.) That's where your big influx of cash comes from, the licensing ponzi scheme. Sell a license, get a small commission. If someone you sold a license to sells one, you get a small piece of their commission. Basic pyramid scheme stuff. The actual product will help keep it going, bare pyramid schemes really don't work anymore. Eventually this MLM is going to collapse under its own weight, of course, so you need to get that cash up front. Put some annoying member of the cult in charge of the MLM, so they can take the fall if it gets busted.
After that the sky is the limit.