“And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,  that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” (2 Thessalonians 2:11, NKJV)

The Bible speaks with remarkable clarity of one of the chief characteristics of the last days: Deception.  2 Thessalonians 2, among other passages in the Scriptures says that one of the marks of the latter days is that of deception.  That is, people who are well-educated and who seem religious and even “Christian” will believe and teach falsehoods so as to lead many thousands astray from biblical truth.

Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit tells us of a time to come, leading up to and especially after the rapture of the Church (1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:1-10), when there will be a rising tide of biblical, doctrinal and spiritual deception.  Many thousands will be led away from focus on the coming of the Lord and lulled into a “Great Delusion” that man will establish “peace and safety” on the earth through the leadership of one special leader who is to come.  The whole world grows more and more infatuated with this satanically inspired hope of the arising of a new and spiritual world leader who will direct the earth into a time of unity of nations and religion.  Growing numbers of news shows and books are featuring the deception of people who have died and come back, but what they witness to is often not Scriptural.  Many are trusting false visions or world peace and a coming world leader.  Many who do not read the Bible or sit under sound teaching are unaware when deception is being promoted.

Of course, Christians who believe their Bibles understand that this coming world leader will be the Antichrist.  In 2 Thessalonians 2, Paul warns of the nature of this evil world dictator and religious teacher.  Paul teaches that the Holy Spirit is restraining the appearance of the Antichrist at this time. But when the Holy Spirit is removed to heaven with the Church at the rapture, “then shall that Wicked be revealed.” (verse 8) And at that time “God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie, that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” (verses 11-12)  Great judgment will come upon them, but the Scripture states that we should be aware that the preparation for this “strong delusion,” has probably already begun in our own days.  Paul states: “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work.” (verse 7) 

In other words, in spite of the restraining and powerful work of the Holy Spirit through the preaching and testimony of born again Christians on the earth now, there is a growing influence of darkness, delusion, deception, that is, “of iniquity” which is already at work and which is gaining ascendancy in the minds of many today.  It is to be expected that, as we grow closer to the end of the Church Age, there will be a growing departure from sound teaching in the churches and increasing impatience toward Bible believers in Jesus Christ.

We should expect to see in our days a greater willingness to compromise and even redefine the treasured and settled biblical doctrines that the true Church has preached for centuries and which the Lord has commanded to be proclaimed until the return of Jesus Christ.  One of these key doctrines from which the Church is departing is that of the second coming of Jesus Christ!

Prophecy is either ignored or scorned outright from a growing number of pulpits, ministries and teachers these days.  Further, sin which has always been defined as sin is taking on a different look these days.  Some of these sins are no longer to be seen as sin, just psychological dysfunctions or inborn traits that should no longer be shunned but rather “embraced.”

The political leaders that “Christians” are voting into office are avoiding any mention of God or the Bible and seem to be more and more at odds with Christianity.  They even go so far as to stand against the Lord Jesus Christ Himself and His cross.

We are seeing the aggressive removal of crosses, legitimate Christian symbols and expressions of faith all over America today.  Hatred for things holy is reflective of the growing animosity against Christianity around the world.  Every day I am seeing more bumper stickers which use various false religious symbols, including the cross to spell out the word, “Coexist.”  Have you seen them?  Islam is growing more bold to destroy churches and kill Christians in other countries and to delude people here in America, with the help of a very sympathetic President Obama and many compromising Christian leaders, into thinking that Islam only wishes to “coexist” with the Church.  Yet, Islam, when  practiced according to its own true convictions, desires the destruction and subjugation of the Christians and Jews as an inferior and defeated people.

The confusion and division now existing in America, which is greater now than ever in my memory, and which seems deliberately contrived, is yet another in the long list of evidences that there is a working of a “Strong Delusion” in the land, and in the world today.  Sad to say, this delusion is escaping the notice of the Church which is largely distracted and often lulled to sleep by its own tired quest for personal success and self-fulfillment.

But the spiritual delusion keeps getting more pronounced to those who have eyes to see.  For example, US Navy Yard shooter, Aaron Alexis, claimed via an e-mail that extremely low-frequency waves (ELF) forced him to commit violence when he shot and killed twelve innocent people.  Could this be a part of the “Strong Delusion” of the latter days?  Another example is that of Miriam Carey, the 34-year-old dental hygienist who attempted to drive through White House barriers a few days ago.  She was under the impression that  “the president had placed Stamford (her town) under lockdown and that her house was under electronic surveillance.”  While her concern is not beyond believability, I believe she may have been induced demonically to commit this act that was not characteristic of her.  How many Christians would have to admit that evil thoughts have invaded their minds and even induced them to live out activities or behaviors that are contrary to the will of the Holy Spirit.  This is just what appears to be worsening in these latter days.  Acts of violence and murder which are  induced by strong mental “delusions” is on the rise in our day.  Does this have prophetic significance?  I believe it does.  I believe the “Strong Delusion,” which will be prominent in the Tribulation period is even now presenting itself in some preliminary fashion.

Those who take the mark of the beast  in the Tribulation Period, 666, “in their right hand, or in their foreheads” (Revelation 13:15-18), will be among those who will receive this “strong delusion, that they should believe the lie.” (2 Thessalonians 2:11) Paul stated in 2 Corinthians 3:4 that Satan has “blinded the minds of them which believe not.”  Many who have gotten into internet pornography, drugs, Satanism, and New Age, as well as those trapped in the bondage of worshipping false gods, have to a greater or lesser extent opened themselves to satanic delusion, influence, and even direction.  There is a demonic spirit of insanity that is hard at work in the minds of the lost today.  This is in preparation for what is to come.

During the Tribulation Period multiplied millions will come under the mental command of spiritual powers of darkness to induce them to attack Jews and Tribulation Saints with ruthless abandon on a global scale.  What Hollywood has produced in movies in recent years depicting vile and insane subhuman activity will pale in comparison to the holocaust of wonton destruction that awaits the world of those who will be left behind after the Rapture.

This delusion is rising and is gaining in power over the minds of many millions in these latter days.  Liberalism in education, religion and political libertines who are promoting free love and redefining marriage and family to conform with growing perversions of humanistic philosophy are being inspired and used by the Evil One to bring individuals, families and nations into demonic bondage.  Giving in to the doctrines of devils and toying with the occult will often induce insanity.  In this way, the minds of men and women can be directed by evil impulses to commit not only violent crimes, but also to believe and defend sinful and immoral behavior.  In this way evil is reasoned and supported even by law as normal, and righteousness and biblical morality is disdained as hateful and harshly prejudiced.

This is certainly a time when believers need to read the Word of God as never before.  This study of the Word of God needs to be book by book, chapter by chapter and verse by verse.  You might have noticed that many pastors have gotten away from this kind of preaching and teaching.  This is a time when, at all cost, Christians need to seek out teachers who are still  proclaiming the truth of “all the counsel of God,” (Acts 20:27) including the virgin birth and sinlessness of Jesus Christ, His substitutionary death on the cross, His bodily resurrection and personal return which involves the teaching of Bible prophecy.

Only Jesus Christ can turn the darkness of sin and delusion into the light and hope of new life.  Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:6, these encouraging words for us to gain clear thinking in these days:  “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 

But all of this is for nothing unless you trust in Jesus Christ yourself as your personal Savior:  “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)  You can get saved right now and have all of your sins forgiven, and receive a new mind, new outlook and new hope for an eternal future that begins today if you receive Jesus Christ, by faith, as your personal Savior: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:  who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13)  Your delusions can be turned to truth and your defeat can be turned into joy and victory, even in these latter days by trusting in Jesus Christ.  Pray to receive Him as your Savior right now!  He wants you to be ready for Him when He returns.  He is coming at any moment! Are you ready?