Will You Succumb to the Coming Great Deception? A Couple More Points
Standing out from the crowd.
In the five previous posts, we laid out a number of things that will surround the revealing of the Antichrist, Satan’s man on earth that he will fully possess and use for his own purposes. We noted that this coming Antichrist figure will be revealed to the world with a set of miraculous (though demonic) signs and wonders. We also referenced the fact that God Himself will supply a delusion that will make believing and following this Antichrist a foregone conclusion. All this is based on Paul’s words to his readers in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12.
It is important to understand that Christians today should be involved in fulfilling the Great Commission. Our lives should reflect the truth that lives within us via the Holy Spirit. Our words and even our thoughts should be of such a nature that the world will be impacted for Jesus. People should literally see our “good works and glorify our Father, who is in heaven,” (Mark 5:16). Our good works – done under the empowering of the Holy Spirit – reflect the truth of who God is and Jesus refers to this as true light.
Within the New Age movement and the occult itself, light is also highlighted but the so-called light from that arena is fake light. It only appears as a type of light, but in the end, it is darkness.
However, it is this darkness that people see as a type of light that is bringing the world to a place where Antichrist will be welcomed with open arms by the world and also by many within Christendom. Paul tells us that Satan has the ability to transform himself into a being (angel) of light (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:14). As brilliant as Satan is, when he presents himself as an angel of light that emanates truth, few can resist. Certainly those who do not love the truth cannot.
We also discussed the fact that at some point in the near future, Satan will be given the go-ahead to reveal his man of the hour, Antichrist. This man will be revealed to the world with every bit of evil, supernatural fanfare (signs and wonders). God’s accompanying delusion so that those who have no love for the truth will seal the deal and the world will be under the spell of this diabolical, supernaturally endowed madman who will rule for the last seven years of humanity’s history leading up to the physical return of Jesus.
As the apostle Paul notes very clearly in 2 Thessalonians 2, the Antichrist (he refers to him as the “man of lawlessness”) will be revealed with accompanying demonic signs and wonders, as well as a specific delusion sent by God. This ensures that people will fall for the counterfeit.
Some may wonder why God is willing to be “in” on this event by providing the deception that will cause multitudes to follow after this spiritual pied piper. The answer of course, is in the text itself and we’ve gone over it, but let me bring it to the fore again. The answer to this question is found beginning in verse 10 of this section.
“because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.“
Could it be any simpler? God sees that people continually reject the truth. They are unwilling to bend the knee so to speak and embrace the truth regarding Jesus. In fact, as we see very clearly in Romans 1, the same situation applies there. People who have spent their entire lives rejecting God and fighting off his loving advances are “given over” to themselves. The Greek there is forceful. They are literally thrown over to themselves to enjoy their sin.
The same applies here in 2 Thessalonians 2. People who want nothing more than to not even have to think about the truth in Jesus will be given the opportunity. The delusion God will send that is part of the revealing of the coming Antichrist will be of such magnitude and strength that they will be completely fooled by the Antichrist, this coming counterfeit.
Verses 11 and 12 of 2 Thessalonians 2 reinforce the concept for us.
“For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, 12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.“
Again, what is the reason God sends the deluding influence? It is because they have absolutely no love for the truth. They prefer to believe lies. It’s ironic that people who claim to be left of center do the same thing. They prefer to believe their lies. Yet, in all biblical imagery, those on the left are the losers, not the victors. In the occult, the phrase “the left-hand path” is used to describe those who follow after Lucifer and to them this is the preferred path because by it they believe they will gain eternal life through esoteric knowledge (gnosis). Whether it’s a leftist politically or within the realm of religion, clearly, being a leftist is not the correct side. They are even referred to as “goats” by Jesus Himself.
I’ve been doing some research into Paul’s verbiage in 2 Thessalonians 2 where he speaks of the fact that the day of the Lord cannot occur unless there is a “falling away” first and then the man of lawlessness is revealed.
Many commentators believe this falling away has to do with the church. I’ve been one of them. However, I have been studying a variety of interesting articles and may be coming to a different conclusion. I cannot help but wonder if the “falling away” or “apostasy” has actually to do with the revelation of the man of lawlessness? I want to thank Bob Schlenkel (The Open Scroll) for his articles on this subject because that is what got me thinking and studying.
The Greek word is ἀποστασία, ας, ἡ which transliterates to apostosia (Strong’s #646). While it means leave or depart, it also means to move away from something. Ultimately, it can mean “a leaving, from a previous standing.” But it can also mean to stand away.
What determines actual meaning? Certainly, the word itself, but also how it’s used, or the context. If I say, “I have five dollars left in my wallet,” that is not the same meaning for the word “left” if I say, “I need to turn left at the next traffic light.” In this case, it boils down to context alone. One refers to something remaining (as in “leftover”) while the other instance has to do with a direction.
Could Paul be telling us that the day of the Lord will not occur until the Antichrist stands away (from the crowd)? He departs from a previous position when he appeared to be part of the crowd, but there will come a time when he will actually stand out from the crowd. If so, this standing out from the crowd will also be the time of his revealing?
If this is the case, then Paul is not talking about an apostasy of the Church at all. He’s pointing to a time when the Antichrist will be revealed to the world as the counterfeit Jesus. He will literally be made to stand out from the crowd and the entire world will wonder after him. If this event happens with demonic signs and wonders, along with the delusion that God will send, few will be able to resist the deception.
We’ll talk more about this next time and that will likely wrap this short series up. Stay tuned!
Entry filed under: Demonic, Dr. Fred, Religious - Christian - End Times, Religious - Christian - Prophecy, Religious - Christian - Theology, salvation, Satanism.
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