I believe we are in the last days - wanted to share this
Deception In The End Times
by Britt Gillette
According to bible, the end times will be marked by widespread deception, counterfeit miracles, and the appearance of false prophets. Each of these evils will contribute to an atmosphere that will deceive an untold number of people throughout the world.
Almost 2,000 years ago, Jesus warned us about this time period:
“For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones.” Matthew 24:24 (NLT)
What’s most interesting about this passage is not that false messiahs and false prophets will appear in the end times. We’ve witnessed such people firsthand in every generation since Christ first spoke these words. What stands out concerning these false prophets and false messiahs is that their great signs and wonders will be so amazing they will be capable of deceiving God’s chosen ones (if such were possible). These aren’t everyday signs and wonders. They must truly be astounding to have such an affect!
These signs and wonders will deceive people who believe they are supernatural acts of God. Instead, they will be satanic in origin. Paul revealed the reason for this deception in his letter to Timothy:
“For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4 (NLT)
In the last days, people will be fooled because they want to be. Although this seems counterintuitive, it’s true. People will believe in the signs and wonders they witness because they want to believe the lies and false promises that accompany them.
Ultimately, a lot of people will be hoodwinked by a master of deception who will feed their itching ears with exactly what they want to hear. In the years leading up to Christ’s return, the world will be misled by the greatest false prophet in human history, the Antichrist.
Deception By The Antichrist
Spiritual deception will be rampant during the seven year rule of the Antichrist. According to the prophet Daniel, the Antichrist will be a master of deception:
“He will be a master of deception and will become arrogant; he will destroy many without warning.” Daniel 8:25
Like every false messiah before him, the Antichrist will convince his followers he is the answer to the world’s problems. Paul tells us that those who become caught in the Antichrist’s web of deceit will be guilty because they freely choose to enjoy evil while denying the truth:
“He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth.” 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 (NLT)
Those who will be deceived are not innocent victims. They will not be condemned simply for being tricked. Instead, they will be condemned because, knowing the truth, they chose evil instead. To this end, the miracles of the Antichrist will play a pivotal role in the demonic deception that will cause the world to gather for battle against the Lord. In the Book of Revelation, John describes these evil forces as able to perform “miracles”:
“He did astounding miracles, even making fire flash down to earth from the sky while everyone was watching.” Revelation 13:14
“And I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs leap from the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. They are demonic spirits who work miracles and go out to all the rulers of the world to gather them for battle against the Lord on that great judgment day of God the Almighty.” Revelation 16:13-14 (NLT)
These passages make it clear that demonic forces will perform astounding miracles in the last days. But what will these miracles be? And if “even the elect of God” could be fooled by them, how can average people protect themselves from being deceived?
To find out, let’s first examine what the bible has to say about the true Messiah.
Miracles Of The Messiah
Hundreds of years before Jesus of Nazareth walked the earth, the prophet Isaiah recorded for posterity some of the miraculous signs and wonders the Messiah would bring forth. Let’s look at a few of these:
“And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unplug the ears of the deaf. The lame will leap like a deer, and those who cannot speak will sing for joy!” Isaiah 35:5-6 (NLT)
During the ministry of Jesus, the people of “The Lord will mediate between nations and will settle international disputes. They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore.” Isaiah 2:4 (NLT)
Although this prophecy was not fulfilled in the first coming of Jesus Christ, it is certain to be fulfilled immediately following His Second Coming.
These Messianic characteristics recorded by Isaiah – the ability to heal afflictions, perform miracles, and create peace on earth – point to one historical person, Jesus Christ. One day soon, He will return to establish everlasting peace on earth. But until that day arrives, the world at large is ripe for deception. Many of the same miracles and Messianic attributes which have prompted people to put their faith in Jesus Christ could also be used by Satan to deceive the world.
What if Satan and his minions were to appear on earth, using promises of world peace and miracle healings to trick the world into following a false messiah? Would this really be effective? Wouldn’t the same people who remain skeptical of the miracles of Jesus also be skeptical of someone else? Jesus Himself issued a warning which provides us with the answer:
“For I have come to you in my Father’s name, and you have rejected me. Yet if others come in their own name, you gladly welcome them. No wonder you can’t believe! For you gladly honor each other, but you don’t care about the honor that comes from the one who alone is God.” John 5:43-44 (NLT)
In the end times, most of the world will reject Jesus as the Messiah. But they will gladly follow someone else who comes in his own name. The Antichrist will deceive most of the world into following him. But how will he do this?
One way he could do this is by exhibiting many of the same Messianic attributes highlighted by Isaiah. And it may surprise you to learn that an emerging technology will endow the one who possesses it with the ability to perform the very same miracles we just examined.
(continued)
Deception In The End Times
by Britt Gillette
According to bible, the end times will be marked by widespread deception, counterfeit miracles, and the appearance of false prophets. Each of these evils will contribute to an atmosphere that will deceive an untold number of people throughout the world.
Almost 2,000 years ago, Jesus warned us about this time period:
“For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones.” Matthew 24:24 (NLT)
What’s most interesting about this passage is not that false messiahs and false prophets will appear in the end times. We’ve witnessed such people firsthand in every generation since Christ first spoke these words. What stands out concerning these false prophets and false messiahs is that their great signs and wonders will be so amazing they will be capable of deceiving God’s chosen ones (if such were possible). These aren’t everyday signs and wonders. They must truly be astounding to have such an affect!
These signs and wonders will deceive people who believe they are supernatural acts of God. Instead, they will be satanic in origin. Paul revealed the reason for this deception in his letter to Timothy:
“For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4 (NLT)
In the last days, people will be fooled because they want to be. Although this seems counterintuitive, it’s true. People will believe in the signs and wonders they witness because they want to believe the lies and false promises that accompany them.
Ultimately, a lot of people will be hoodwinked by a master of deception who will feed their itching ears with exactly what they want to hear. In the years leading up to Christ’s return, the world will be misled by the greatest false prophet in human history, the Antichrist.
Deception By The Antichrist
Spiritual deception will be rampant during the seven year rule of the Antichrist. According to the prophet Daniel, the Antichrist will be a master of deception:
“He will be a master of deception and will become arrogant; he will destroy many without warning.” Daniel 8:25
Like every false messiah before him, the Antichrist will convince his followers he is the answer to the world’s problems. Paul tells us that those who become caught in the Antichrist’s web of deceit will be guilty because they freely choose to enjoy evil while denying the truth:
“He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth.” 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 (NLT)
Those who will be deceived are not innocent victims. They will not be condemned simply for being tricked. Instead, they will be condemned because, knowing the truth, they chose evil instead. To this end, the miracles of the Antichrist will play a pivotal role in the demonic deception that will cause the world to gather for battle against the Lord. In the Book of Revelation, John describes these evil forces as able to perform “miracles”:
“He did astounding miracles, even making fire flash down to earth from the sky while everyone was watching.” Revelation 13:14
“And I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs leap from the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. They are demonic spirits who work miracles and go out to all the rulers of the world to gather them for battle against the Lord on that great judgment day of God the Almighty.” Revelation 16:13-14 (NLT)
These passages make it clear that demonic forces will perform astounding miracles in the last days. But what will these miracles be? And if “even the elect of God” could be fooled by them, how can average people protect themselves from being deceived?
To find out, let’s first examine what the bible has to say about the true Messiah.
Miracles Of The Messiah
Hundreds of years before Jesus of Nazareth walked the earth, the prophet Isaiah recorded for posterity some of the miraculous signs and wonders the Messiah would bring forth. Let’s look at a few of these:
“And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unplug the ears of the deaf. The lame will leap like a deer, and those who cannot speak will sing for joy!” Isaiah 35:5-6 (NLT)
During the ministry of Jesus, the people of “The Lord will mediate between nations and will settle international disputes. They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore.” Isaiah 2:4 (NLT)
Although this prophecy was not fulfilled in the first coming of Jesus Christ, it is certain to be fulfilled immediately following His Second Coming.
These Messianic characteristics recorded by Isaiah – the ability to heal afflictions, perform miracles, and create peace on earth – point to one historical person, Jesus Christ. One day soon, He will return to establish everlasting peace on earth. But until that day arrives, the world at large is ripe for deception. Many of the same miracles and Messianic attributes which have prompted people to put their faith in Jesus Christ could also be used by Satan to deceive the world.
What if Satan and his minions were to appear on earth, using promises of world peace and miracle healings to trick the world into following a false messiah? Would this really be effective? Wouldn’t the same people who remain skeptical of the miracles of Jesus also be skeptical of someone else? Jesus Himself issued a warning which provides us with the answer:
“For I have come to you in my Father’s name, and you have rejected me. Yet if others come in their own name, you gladly welcome them. No wonder you can’t believe! For you gladly honor each other, but you don’t care about the honor that comes from the one who alone is God.” John 5:43-44 (NLT)
In the end times, most of the world will reject Jesus as the Messiah. But they will gladly follow someone else who comes in his own name. The Antichrist will deceive most of the world into following him. But how will he do this?
One way he could do this is by exhibiting many of the same Messianic attributes highlighted by Isaiah. And it may surprise you to learn that an emerging technology will endow the one who possesses it with the ability to perform the very same miracles we just examined.
(continued)
