Presents
A NATION DECEIVED BY STRONG DELUSIONS
In a letter to the Christians at Thessalonica, Paul speaks of a future event he calls “the day of the Lord.” He writes:
“Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;” (Thess.2:1-3)
Some theologians believe the “day of the Lord” Paul refers to here is the final judgment. However, I believe as most scholars that Paul is speaking of Christ’s second coming. And Paul states that Jesus’ return will not take place until two things happen:
1. A great apostasy will occur.
Many who once new God will fall away from the Gospel they’ve known.
2. The Antichrist, or man of sin, will be “revealed.”
It should be obvious to every believe that a “falling away” is already taking place. Many believers today, as well as many Christians throughout the past few decades, have grown cold in their love for God. With this in mind, I’d like to focus on Paul’s second point - That the day of the Lord wont come until the “man of son is reviled.”
3. What, exactly, dose Paul mean by this “revelation”?
In the word “revealed” the Greek meaning here is “uncovered.” The Antichrist has already been “uncovered” in scripture. Here Paul declares, “The mystery of iniquity doth already work. . . “(2 Thessalonians 2:7). A mysterious form of sin.
4. What is this “Mystery of Iniquity?”
Satan is going to seduce countless numbers into the depths of lawlessness. The word used here for “iniquity” literally means “lawlessness” this means that these masses are going to act without law or restraint. This lawlessness is more than every day sin, it goes deeper than that. It is a deliberate rejection of the truth of Jesus Christ. Putting away of God’s Holy Word. It is a rebellion against the Holy Scripture!
5. The spirit of lawlessness is in our nation today, it is running rampant.
It is the very force that is behind legislation to banish God from our society. Satan is telling the same lie to this society as he told Eve. God won’t punish, He’s a good God. You can eat and drink and indulge in your lusts. Don’t worry, you won’t have to pay for it!
6. Never before has there been more people going to church on Sunday morning as there is now.
And yet so much loose living among Christians. Christian’s are using their tithe to play the stock market. Satan is deceiving them into thinking, as soon as I have enough money I’ll give God what belongs to Him. But that day seems to never come. “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Tim.6:10).
7. What is the lie that Satan is telling?
It is the same lie that He told Eve. That God dose not punish sin. Here is the reason people will listen receive this lie: Paul says this deception will come; “...with all deceivableness ...because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved”(2 Thess. 2:10:) “For this cause, God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie "verse 11).
OUR NATION RIGHT NOW IS UNDER STRONG DELUSION!
1. America today is being seduced, and it is believing this satanic lie.
Paul speaks of those in Romans chapter one who once held to Biblical truth but later tried to retain the truth in unrighteousness. The truth is they wanted God’s word and their lust at the same time. That is why the Lord turns over to reprobate minds. They wanted to believe the lie, so God sent them strong delusion! Will Christian’s be among those who pledge the greatest allegiance to the Antichrist?
The wicked have always been “destitute” of the truth.
They trample it under their feet, mocking it with disdain. Paul wrote about those who tried to hold the truth in unrighteousness _ an act that enrages God. “Who changed the truth of God into a lie . . . for this cause God gave them up unto vile affections. . .” (Romans 1:25-26). Many shall be held in bondage by their lustful pleasures, turning to false teachers to try and find peace. This is where they will end up, accepting: “. . . damnable heresies . . . and many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of” (2 Peter 2:1-2).
The believer in the greatest danger is the one who gladly hears God’s Word - But won’t obey it!
Paul writes to the Galatians, “Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?” (Galatians 5:7). . . who hath bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth?” (3:1). “What has happened to you? You were doing so well. But now you have been brainwashed!”
WHAT IS THE POINT OF THIS MESSAGE?
1. As I have already said, people are turning to prosperity preachers more now than at any other time in history. Antichrist is going to come on the scene as the greatest prosperity preacher of all time and deceive countless numbers of Christian’s around the world. This is just what happened to many German Christian’s in Hitler’s day. He came on the scene with a charismatic personality and promises of the good life. Even lukewarm Lutherans and Pentecostals accepted him. Later as he worked his evil on society, they looked the other way, rejecting the truth of God’s word.
2. Do you set under strong preaching that lovingly exposes your sin?
If so, do you allow that word to convict you? Or, do you go right back to your lust without grieving at all? If you’re rejecting the warnings of the restraining Holy Ghost - if you’re disobeying God time after time, without any heart grief - then you’re being recruited for the cult of Antichrist. Satan is silently initiating you into his mystery of iniquity. And when the promising, miracle working Antichrist comes along, you’ll be caught up in his lies and given over to a delusion!
3. Here are the ominous results of not obeying the truth.
The heart becomes hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Satan works on the hardened heart to justify itself, so that it is relieved from the penalty of God’s word. When God sees there is no possibility that this heart will receive and obey truth, he turns the person over to satanic delusion. The believer becomes blinded by the lie that there is no wages for sin and no judgment day, and that he can get away with his lustful pleasures. The believer falls prey to doctrines of devils, thinking evil is good and good is evil. He eventually drifts so far from Christ and the truth, he becomes blinded to who the Antichrist is - and he ends up worshipping and serving him as God. On judgment day God will say to such a person, “Depart from me, you worker of iniquity!”
Thank you for visiting Revival Time Ministries
Come back soon.
Other Web Sites For You To Visit
Revival Time Ministries Main Page