The Strong Delusion

[SongOnTheWind]

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Romans 1:24-25
24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

Are these verses talking about the same thing?

Is the strong delusion a general deceit that is occurring in these latter days (2000 years since Christ) or does it solely happen specifically during the time of the anti-christ's rule, as 2 Thessalonians indicates?

Are we under or surrounded by the strong delusion in this day and age? Would we be able to tell if we were?

 

[Pavel Mosko]

Are we under or surrounded by the strong delusion in this day and age? Would we be able to tell if we were?

Sure. There are lots of examples. Actually Artur Pawlowski the famous Polish/Canadian pastor preached a great sermon on it.

 

[GallagherM]

Songofthewind, Pavel

This is something I always wondered 'God will send them a strong delusion'?

Why does God send them a strong delusion? That is something I still do not fully understand.

 

[Mr. M]

Are these verses talking about the same thing?

Is the strong delusion a general deceit that is occurring in these latter days (2000 years since Christ) or does it solely happen specifically during the time of the anti-christ's rule, as 2 Thessalonians indicates?

Are we under or surrounded by the strong delusion in this day and age? Would we be able to tell if we were?

Good question! Romans 1:24,25 describes the delusions that always existed in the world,
especially in places outside the reach of the Torah. While strong delusions have always existed,
in the end times they become more intensified, especially through doctrines of devils
that become shared beliefs among the global community and by mass communications.
1 Timothy 4:
1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith*,
giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,
2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron....
*notice that departing from the faith implies a possible turning away among even the elect.

The latter times are described as a condition that already exists, but grows worse and worse...
2 Timothy 3:
13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.

 

[SongOnTheWind]

Good question! Romans 1:24,25 describes the delusions that always existed in the world,
especially in places outside the reach of the Torah. While strong delusions have always existed,
in the end times they become more intensified, especially through doctrines of devils
that become shared beliefs among the global community and by mass communications.
1 Timothy 4:
1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith*,
giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,
2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron....
*notice that departing from the faith implies a possible turning away among even the elect.

The latter times are described as a condition that already exists, but grows worse and worse...
2 Timothy 3:
13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.

Good question! Romans 1:24,25 describes the delusions that always existed in the world,
especially in places outside the reach of the Torah. While strong delusions have always existed,
in the end times they become more intensified, especially through doctrines of devils
that become shared beliefs among the global community and by mass communications.
1 Timothy 4:
1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith*,
giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,
2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron....
*notice that departing from the faith implies a possible turning away among even the elect.

The latter times are described as a condition that already exists, but grows worse and worse...
2 Timothy 3:
13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.

Great references. The bible even says that the end time tribulation will be cut short for the sake of the elect, or no flesh would be saved. Seeing as it's those who will endure to the end, the impression I get is that the elect would end up being deceived and fall away also, if it were not for the cutting short of that time. It's going to get desperate. We definitely each have a choice to endure or to fall away.

So what are the signs that we may be under this strong delusion? Is it that we suddenly decide to leave the faith, or are there warning signs ahead? How do we know we are not believing in false teachings, or that we have our priorities straight in Christ? These seem like really easily answered questions, and yet we see that there is a turning away from the faith, either in teaching the truth or walking according to it.

Is it possible to think you're in the faith when you actually are miles away?

 

[GallagherM]

Is someone able to answer my question of why God sends them a strong delusion? At least to use in words that I can understand?

 

[keras]

It is unfortunately true that the more people who study the prophetic scripture and attempt to establish a coherent picture of the end times, then the more different ideas, theories and scenarios are promulgated. WHY IS THIS?

The Bible does tell us why and the prophet Daniel says that ‘only a few wise leaders’, that is: those few who diligently study the Word and avoid all false teachings and doctrines, will know what will happen.


Luke 18:32-34 The Son of Man will be handed over to the Gentiles. He will be mocked, maltreated and spat upon, then flogged and killed. Then on the third day, He will rise again. But the disciples could not understand or grasp what He was talking about, for its meaning was concealed from them.

Isaiah 29:9-14 Because this people worship Me with empty words and just pay Me lip service while their hearts are far from Me and their religion is but human precept, learnt by rote: therefore I shall shock them, adding shock to shock. The wisdom of their learned people will vanish and the discernment of the intelligent will be lost.

If you confuse yourselves, you will stay confused. If you blind yourself, you will stay blinded. Be drunk, but not with strong drink, for the Lord has poured upon you a spirit of deep stupor, He has closed the eyes of the prophets and muffled the seers. The prophetic vision of it all has become for you like the words of a sealed book, a book impossible to understand.

Isaiah 56:10-11 For all Israel’s watchmen are blind, perceiving nothing, they are all dumb dogs that cannot bark just dreaming as they sleep in ignorance. Israel’s shepherds understand nothing, all going their own way in their greed and false teachings. Ref: REB paraphrased


‘its meaning concealed from them’, This shows how God can and does hide true understanding from those whom He wishes to. Deut. 29:4, Matthew 11:25

‘this people’, this refers to followers of Judaism and Christianity. Ezekiel 12:2

‘wisdom and discernment will be lost’, because of false doctrines, non Biblical teachings and outright idol worship, the Lord has drawn the veil of inability to understand His plans and purposes. Deuteronomy 32:28-29, Isaiah 6:9-10, Jeremiah 6:10

‘if you confuse yourself, you will stay confused’, people who have believed the comfortable idea of a rapture, or say ‘all is peaceful, all secure’, will be shocked by the Lord’s Day of vengeance and wrath, the soon to happen judgement/ punishment of His enemies.

‘Israel’s watchmen understand nothing, in their greed and false teachings’,
Israelites; the faithful Christian peoples from every tribe, race, nation and language. Galatians 6:14-16, Revelation 5:9
Those who preach incorrect doctrines and who write end times fiction, will face a more severe judgement on that great Day. James 3:1, Matthew 23:10, 2 Peter 2:1-3



Ecclesiasticus 15:1-10 He who fears the Lord will act thus: He will give his mind to study and will meditate on understanding and if he masters the Law, wisdom will be his. Wisdom will come out and greet him like a mother, like a bride to her husband and his food will be the bread of understanding, his drink: the water of wisdom. He will rely on her and not be put to shame. He will find prosperity and in the assembly, his words will be inspired. Fools will never possess wisdom, nor will sinners catch a glimpse of her. She holds aloof from arrogance and liars never see her. REB Apocrypha

 

[Mr. M]

Is it possible to think you're in the faith when you actually are miles away?

As Paul stated in the scriptures you quoted in the OP:
2 Thessalonians 2:10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish,
because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

Loving the truth says so much more than the pursuit of knowledge, doesn't it!
There are many who are very studious (it is ingrained from pre-K, after all), and take
an academic approach to learning the word of God, rather than knowing and loving the person
who is the Word of Truth. I stopped using commentaries, and instead, I do my devotionals by
reading in the word and asking a lot of questions.
The Holy Spirit drops scriptures into my spirit. I have never been one to memorize chapter
and verse, so when I 'hear' something, I have to look up the exact reference if I am going
to use it in a post or response, for example.
The love affair is that this never grows weary when you are experiencing the Voice of the Spirit.
And you love to "receive from the Lord, to present unto others", 1 Corinthians 11:23
Loving and sharing the Truth is essential to loving one another.
By this, we encourage, exhort, and comfort one another by the gift of the Spirit
we have received.
Psalm 31:
23 Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints!
For the Lord preserves the faithful,
And fully repays the proud person.
24 Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart,
All you who hope in the Lord.

Be encouraged and love the Lord, all you His saints.
Psalm 138:2 I will worship toward Your holy temple[the church],
and praise Your name.
For Your lovingkindness and Your truth.
For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.

 

[Mr. M]

Songofthewind, Pavel

This is something I always wondered 'God will send them a strong delusion'?

Why does God send them a strong delusion? That is something I still do not fully understand.

Paul explains this in detail MG, in Romans 1:18-32.

 

[SongOnTheWind]

Is someone able to answer my question of why God sends them a strong delusion? At least to use in words that I can understand?

I took it to be a consequence of choosing to believe deceit rather than pressing into the truth.

 

[Carl Emerson]

Is it not His judgement playing out in life circumstances for those who through delusion, refuse the care of the Shepherd? In some cases like with the prodigal, this wakes them up and they come home - I sure did...

 

[Douggg]

Is the strong delusion a general deceit that is occurring in these latter days (2000 years since Christ) or does it solely happen specifically during the time of the anti-christ's rule, as 2 Thessalonians indicates?

The strong delusion that God sends to them who reject the truth is God's bringing the slain revealed man of sin back to life (in Isaiah 14:15-20) - which them who believed his initial claim of having achieved God-hood (2Thessaonians2:4), will believe his claim to be true when he is brought back to life as the beast.

 

[Douggg]

Is someone able to answer my question of why God sends them a strong delusion? At least to use in words that I can understand?

Here is the straight answer... in words you can understand.

When the Antichrist, as the King of Israel at the time (in the not too distant future) in 2Thessalonians2:4 kjv after having been the King of Israel for about 3 yrs (not enough information to pinpoint it) will stop the daily sacrifice, go into the temple, sit, claim to have achieved God-hood; it will be what is called the "Transgression of Desolation" in Daniel 8:12-13 kjv. The Jews will be mortified by his act and will reject him from continuing as their King of Israel.

The person, having revealed himself to be the man of sin, and not the thought to be messiah after all, will be killed by strangers to him - likely assassinated. This information is found in Ezekiel 28:1-10 kjv, under a code name for him as the prince of Tyre.

Him being killed, is the mortally wounded head on the beast coming out of the sea in Revelation 13:1 kjv. And also in Revelation 17:8b kjv, that people of the earth will be amazed because they will witnessing it all happening. "was, is not, yet is".

Once the person is killed, he finds his soul in hell, in Isaiah 14:15-20 kjv). But his body has not been placed in a tomb yet, because it says he will not have the honor like previous kings "in their own house" v18, v20 kjv. So his body is in the funeral review state.

God has a disdain for the person, because he will be Jew - who destroys his land and his people. And doesn't let his soul remain in hell for long. His body still in the open casket, everyone can see that he is d-e-a-d.

The strong delusion that God sends to them who reject the truth is God's bringing the slain revealed man of sin back to life (in Isaiah 14:15-20 kjv) - which them who believed his initial claim of having achieved God-hood (2Thessaonians2:4 kjv), will believe his claim to be true, with validated conviction, when he is brought back to life as the beast.

His initial claim is the act in 2Thessalonians2:4 kjv, which some will actually believe. It will be a lie of course, and goes back to Satan's (through the serpent) saying to Eve that man can be like God.

(likely speculation) The person will sit up in his casket coming back to life as the entire world sees it happen. That will be the strong delusion that God's sends.

When the revealed man of sin is killed, then brought back to life (God's strong delusion) it will appear to validate his claim - and people will worship him, and likely desire to become God-like themselves.

________________________________________________________

Keep in mind before the Antichrist does his audacious act, there will be a great falling away of persons who believe that Jesus is the messiah, the truth by which they can be saved. That rejection of the truth will take place over the course of the first 3 years or so of the 7 years, as people will be convinced that the Jews were right all along in their belief that Jesus is not the messiah - and the Antichrist person is.

 

[SongOnTheWind]

Here is the straight answer... in words you can understand.

When the Antichrist, as the King of Israel at the time (in the not too distant future) in 2Thessalonians2:4 kjv after having been the King of Israel for about 3 yrs (not enough information to pinpoint it) will stop the daily sacrifice, go into the temple, sit, claim to have achieved God-hood; it will be what is called the "Transgression of Desolation" in Daniel 8:12-13 kjv. The Jews will be mortified by his act and will reject him from continuing as their King of Israel.

The person, having revealed himself to be the man of sin, and not the thought to be messiah after all, will be killed by strangers to him - likely assassinated. This information is found in Ezekiel 28:1-10 kjv, under a code name for him as the prince of Tyre.

Him being killed, is the mortally wounded head on the beast coming out of the sea in Revelation 13:1 kjv. And also in Revelation 17:8b kjv, that people of the earth will be amazed because they will witnessing it all happening. "was, is not, yet is".

Once the person is killed, he finds his soul in hell, in Isaiah 14:15-20 kjv). But his body has not been placed in a tomb yet, because it says he will not have the honor like previous kings "in their own house" v18, v20 kjv. So his body is in the funeral review state.

God has a disdain for the person, because he will be Jew - who destroys his land and his people. And doesn't let his soul remain in hell for long. His body still in the open casket, everyone can see that he is d-e-a-d.

The strong delusion that God sends to them who reject the truth is God's bringing the slain revealed man of sin back to life (in Isaiah 14:15-20 kjv) - which them who believed his initial claim of having achieved God-hood (2Thessaonians2:4 kjv), will believe his claim to be true, with validated conviction, when he is brought back to life as the beast.

His initial claim is the act in 2Thessalonians2:4 kjv, which some will actually believe. It will be a lie of course, and goes back to Satan's (through the serpent) saying to Eve that man can be like God.

(likely speculation) The person will sit up in his casket coming back to life as the entire world sees it happen. That will be the strong delusion that God's sends.

When the revealed man of sin is killed, then brought back to life (God's strong delusion) it will appear to validate his claim - and people will worship him, and likely desire to become God-like themselves.

________________________________________________________

Keep in mind before the Antichrist does his audacious act, there will be a great falling away of persons who believe that Jesus is the messiah, the truth by which they can be saved. That rejection of the truth will take place over the course of the first 3 years or so of the 7 years, as people will be convinced that the Jews were right all along in their belief that Jesus is not the messiah - and the Antichrist person is.

Sounds like it fits the scenario as described in scripture, and fits the recurring lie that the devil loves to tell us. I still wonder if we're all currently under some kind of delusion, though. The church seems to be in chaos right now.

 

[Freedm]

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Romans 1:24-25
24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

Are these verses talking about the same thing?

Is the strong delusion a general deceit that is occurring in these latter days (2000 years since Christ) or does it solely happen specifically during the time of the anti-christ's rule, as 2 Thessalonians indicates?

Are we under or surrounded by the strong delusion in this day and age? Would we be able to tell if we were?

I believe 2 Thessalonians is talking about 70 AD so that's in our distant past, but there's another strong delusion coming which is talked about in Revelation 20. It tells us that at the end of the thousand years Satan will deceive the nations once again and I believe that since we are currently in the thousand years, that final deception is very close and will likely involve aliens, where we will be told that the aliens are our creators; aka. ancient alien theory.

 

[Berean Tim]

I believe 2 Thessalonians is talking about 70 AD so that's in our distant past, but there's another strong delusion coming which is talked about in Revelation 20. It tells us that at the end of the thousand years Satan will deceive the nations once again and I believe that since we are currently in the thousand years, that final deception is very close and will likely involve aliens, where we will be told that the aliens are our creators; aka. ancient alien theory.

When the Roman army breached the Temple they burned it. When during that event (70AD) did someone sit in the Temple proclaiming to be God ? What was the rebellion/falling away ?

 

[Kenneth Heck]

A strong delusion is one that is difficult for most people to contradict. These delusions are meant for those who seemingly prefer evil to good, but aren't yet confirmed or validated. Examples in our time - materialism, atheism, socialism, nazism, evolution, and aliens creating humanity. There will be stronger ones in the future - the strongest one will exist at the time of the Antichrist. Men have the free will to choose between good and evil and must be given their chances to do so. So no one will inadvertantly find himself in the wrong camp, God sends or permits these delusions to simplify the choices available. With so many billions of people involved, both living and dead, the choices are intended to be as easy as possible.

 

[Marilyn C]

Sounds like it fits the scenario as described in scripture, and fits the recurring lie that the devil loves to tell us. I still wonder if we're all currently under some kind of delusion, though. The church seems to be in chaos right now.

Hi SongOnTheWind.

It helps to recognize the difference between Man`s Church System and Christ`s Body of believers. Man instituted various systems over the centuries to try and contain the truth revealed at the time. However they have all become means of `lording it over` the believers.

Remember the Apostles, Paul, Timothy and Silvanus, all worked with the believers at Thessalonica as `nursing mothers and caring fathers.` (1 Thess. 1, 7 & 12)

There was no hierarchy over the early believers, but all shared together.

regards, Marilyn.

 

[SongOnTheWind]

Hi SongOnTheWind.

It helps to recognize the difference between Man`s Church System and Christ`s Body of believers. Man instituted various systems over the centuries to try and contain the truth revealed at the time. However they have all become means of `lording it over` the believers.

Remember the Apostles, Paul, Timothy and Silvanus, all worked with the believers at Thessalonica as `nursing mothers and caring fathers.` (1 Thess. 1, 7 & 12)

There was no hierarchy over the early believers, but all shared together.

regards, Marilyn.

I would say that man's attempt at manipulation of the church has certainly played a part in bringing on this kind of judgement from the Lord (delusion), satisfying His wrath upon those with itching ears that hear only what they want to hear, which is definitely not necessarily the truth of what is being told them.

However I think it mainly come from a persistent walk in the flesh and not the spirit, that produced such hierarchies. People who thought they knew better than others, and so sought to instruct others out of pride and arrogance rather than a sense of mutual encouragement. And so you get eminent teachers, who assume that just because someone asked a question they can behave with condescension and patronisation in their response. Soon these people get a platform, and they're off, because of their arrogance and a need to show off their knowledge, not because they seek to truly edify and encourage.

Again, ripe grounds for delusion to take place, because they have already deluded themselves that their effort in the flesh has brought them some kind of reputation, and enough to seduce the following they have amassed, but the great delusion I am addressing in this thread is the great delusion, which seems to fit what Kenneth Heck has posited in the post preceding yours, and also a previous one by Douggg with regards to the anti-christ. Although I am not sure on the timing. I would think that the great delusion would set up the scene to usher the anti-christ in, but I cannot be sure of this.

 

[Marilyn C]

I would say that man's attempt at manipulation of the church has certainly played a part in bringing on this kind of judgement from the Lord (delusion), satisfying His wrath upon those with itching ears that hear only what they want to hear, which is definitely not necessarily the truth of what is being told them.

However I think it mainly come from a persistent walk in the flesh and not the spirit, that produced such hierarchies. People who thought they knew better than others, and so sought to instruct others out of pride and arrogance rather than a sense of mutual encouragement. And so you get eminent teachers, who assume that just because someone asked a question they can behave with condescension and patronisation in their response. Soon these people get a platform, and they're off, because of their arrogance and a need to show off their knowledge, not because they seek to truly edify and encourage.

Again, ripe grounds for delusion to take place, because they have already deluded themselves that their effort in the flesh has brought them some kind of reputation, and enough to seduce the following they have amassed, but the great delusion I am addressing in this thread is the great delusion, which seems to fit what Kenneth Heck has posited in the post preceding yours, and also a previous one by Douggg with regards to the anti-christ. Although I am not sure on the timing. I would think that the great delusion would set up the scene to usher the anti-christ in, but I cannot be sure of this.

Hi SongOnTheWind,

I hear what you are saying. Actually I was addressing the point you said -
The church seems to be in chaos right now.

I was trying to point out that there is a difference to what we see in Man`s System and the Body of Christ which is a spiritual organism. Meaning we can`t measure what the Lord has been doing over the centuries and across the world and today, by what man`s system is doing.

It would be in `chaos` for it is `man`s system,` and not ordained of God. It is being shaken, and the true believers are the ones `holding fast to the Head,` and not to anything of man.

regards, Marilyn.