We think God wants everyone to know the truth, but 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12 gives us insights on a time when He will deliberately send strong delusion.
8. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
9. Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10. And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12. That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
It’s been my contention for some time now that Americans–and no doubt others around the world–are under unbreakable delusion. I’m referring to such things as belief in the official story of 9/11, why we’ve been at war for years, and the notion that the economy is good.
The question that comes to my mind is, considering how badly we’re deluded and deceived now, how bad will that strong delusion be during the Tribulation?
It boggles the mind.
One morning I was watching a YouTube video featuring Alex Jones discussing the corrupt “nanny state” and society’s attitude of dependence on it. It’s not a popular message.
A few minutes later the radio was playing a Katy Perry song about California girls. I couldn’t help but think how far removed the song’s contents–and the whole recording industry, for that matter–are removed from what Alex Jones was talking about.
Talk about a disconnect from reality.
You’re probably aware of TV channels carrying TV reruns from the 1960’s and 1970’s. As I sat one night watching one of the shows I enjoyed as a child, it occurred to me that I was doing exactly what an executive somewhere hoped I’d be doing.
Imagine him telling his colleagues, “If we can’t get him with modern TV programming and the Internet, let’s give him something he’ll want to watch. Make him think of the past when things were simpler. Back when things seemed more innocent.”
It’s about keeping the mind parked in neutral while the world goes nuts.
How about another example of disconnect?
I read an article from a man whose analysis was dead on concerning our growing police state government and the submissive apathy of the sheeple. His solution? Join up with a conservative movement.
Once again, talk about a disconnect from reality.
If things are truly as bad as this guy says they are, where’s the hope? What good is it to get involved in political affairs, blissfully hoping numbers of unified warm bodies will matter?
So many events–shootings, acts of terrorism, etc., and their aftermath–have been staged for our consumption. And far too many of us believe what we’re told without question or skepticism.
All of this isn’t the strong delusion the Scriptures refer to in 2 Thessalonians, but perhaps it resembles it or is a type of it.
With all of that said, I’m going to ask a shocking question. What if this is how God wants things to be?
If you think God wants all to come to the truth, think again. When Jesus told His parables, He didn’t reveal their meaning to everyone.
What characterizes the majority of people during the future time when AntiChrist is on the earth? According to 2 Thessalonians 2:10, they’ll have “all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them.” And such people deserve God’s judgment because “they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”
God will deliberately send them strong delusion that they should believe a lie. Eventually, they get what they deserve.
Does that sound harsh or judgmental?
How about us in the here and now? We already live in an age of disconnect and delusion.
Sadly, this delusion is true even among many of us who are believers in Christ.
And what judgement will we face? Loss of heavenly reward? Shouldn’t we take that with the seriousness it deserves?
What are you going to do about it–not for everyone else, but for yourself?
Now is the time to get immersed in God’s holy word.