^^That's an interesting take, and may outline some of the spiritual principles involved in becoming deluded, but what's described seems to be a mass delusion rather than one single person.
According to 2 Thessalonians 2:11, G-d sends a powerful delusion to people to believe a lie. Now how does this fit with G-d's character? How can G-d send a delusion to cause people to wander astray? I thought that this would be more the activity of demons and the Devil. Any thoughts on this?
Yes, I do have a few.
If you take a close look at a number of passages in the book of Revelation, there are some interesting things going on. First and foremost is the prospect of eternal torture. Now, I would challenge anyone to name one evil greater than the prospect of torturing someone, for an extremely long period of time, because I personally can't (but please don't try it unless you already know; dwelling on evil isn't good for you). There are fates worse than death, and even murder, if dealt with fairly, warrants a death penalty, not an eternity of torture. If someone dear to me were murdered, I may be tempted to torture, but still, I know that it would require a certain amount of unforgiveness and malicious cruelty to carry it out way beyond that which is fair.
But is that wrong? Am I supposed to believe in a god that does that sort of stuff? Well, if you look carefully, the lake of fire where this is supposed to occur also bears significant similarities to the "sea of glass mingled with fire." But, that's also where the throne of God is said to be, and there are people or creatures said to be there dwelling in that fire.
Now, back to JD's reference to Nebuchadnezzar where we also see a similar picture painted in this story: Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego were said to have been cast into a furnace for not bowing and worshipping the image set up by Nebuchadnezzar, but they were unharmed and he saw four people in that fire, one being like the "Son of God."
So what would be the purpose of all of this? Scripture tells us that God is just and merciful, very explicitly, and Jesus echoed that same message in His beatitudes ("Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy"), before demonstrating His nature, being the image of the invisible God, by laying down His life for His friends.
How do we reconcile His nature with a willingness to torture a person beyond the point of mercy or justice? I cannot, but I find that if I do not reject the testimony of the prophets, the text reveals an entirely different interpretation. In other words, if I reject the testimony of the prophets, I will end up with an interpretation that supports the belief of a much more harsh and possibly even cruel god, much like what was happening in the story of Nebuchadnezzar and the three cast into the furnace.
Of course, if I happened to be someone who approved of malicious cruelty, and paid little attention to the revealed nature of God through Christ, I imagine that I might take little issue with that interpretation, possibly end up being terrified of God, and subject to harsh and impossible regulations, thus fastening me into "chains" of a sort, much like the scenario outlined in Jude and 2nd Peter.
Would this mean that God lied? No because the true nature of God is not hidden, but God does test and He always makes a way of escape. Remember also that the word of God is a "discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Rejecting Christ, the prophets or the apostles (the foundation of the household of faith), is seriously not allowed and the consequences appear to have been designed appropriately. As Revelation states:
"Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!."
