A Grand Delusion?

“For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He is now restraining, until it is raised from out of the midst.  And then the lawless one will be unveiled, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.  The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who are perishing, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.  And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”  2nd Thessalonians 2:7-12

 

There is much writing that has been done over the years regarding the “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7), known better by many as the Tribulation or the Great Tribulation.  In fact the Bible talks about this being a time of great affliction.

 

“For then there will be great affliction, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.”  Matthew 24:21

 

“And I said to him, Sir, you know. So he said to me, These are the ones coming out of great affliction, and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”  Revelation 7:14

 

“And at that time, Michael shall stand up, the great ruler who stands for the sons of your people. And there shall be a time of distress, such as has not been since there was a nation until that time. And at that time, your people shall be delivered, everyone that shall be found written in the Book.”  Daniel 12:1

 

Many people have made ‘maps’ and timelines of the book of Revelation, which is rightfully called the Revelation of Jesus Christ (Rev. 1:1).  They make timelines of the events from the beginning of the book of Revelation to the end of the book, assuming that these are correct, based upon the judgments, etc., throughout the book.  With that, I am not in agreement that things are preciously as people assume.  For the book of Revelation is a book of past, present and future. 

 

“Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things.”  Revelation 1:19

 

So shall everything that could be, will be or otherwise are thought to be, be written out one by one, with the author assuming some sort of special knowledge due to the prophecies written in Revelation?  No rather, as the book of Revelation of Jesus Christ points to Him being revealed to Israel (Zec. 12:10), as well as to those who remain, the Second Coming and Christ thereafter ruling (Rev. 20:3, Zec. 8:3; 14:6), why shouldn’t the focus be on Christ? 

 

“And His feet shall stand in that day on the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives shall split in two, from the east even to the west, a very great valley. And half of the mountain shall move toward the north, and half of it toward the south.”  Zechariah 14:4

 

I don’t have any special knowledge about the book of Revelation, no more than any Believer who would studies the Word of God should, but rather I have a question regarding the sincerity in people who enjoy reading these timelines.

 

How many people read these timelines just as they would read about aliens, ghosts or anything else in those realms?  How many people are interested in the Tribulation or the end-times, are equally interested in things of a demonic nature?  While a timeline might prove to be even interesting to a real Believer, the question is what about those who are not Saved?

 

What exactly would the point be in talking about how the sun will scorch the inhabitants of the earth (Rev. 16:9), how the earth is moved (Is. 13:13), how there will be astronomical upheavals (Joel 3:15-16) amongst many other things when in good faith I know that many who would read such things would NEVER make it that far along into the Tribulation.  Doing some calculations, based upon the numbers in Revelation, one could come to the conclusion that 90% of humanity are killed by the end of the seven year Tribulation (Da. 9:27), also noting that two-thirds of Israel are killed (Zec. 13:8-9).

 

Rather what should be stated is a strong warning that people should repent and believe into Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior BEFORE, rather than as some do who are trying to stockpile for the end times!  Please remember, we who are Saved will be with the Lord, we will be Raptured out of here BEFORE the “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7).

 

“For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,”… 2nd Thessalonians 5:9

 

“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep, that you sorrow not as others who have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.  For this we say to you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.  For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with a shouted command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together at the same time with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.  Therefore encourage one another with these words.”  1st Thessalonians 4:13-18

 

“After these things I looked, and behold, a door having been opened in Heaven.”  Revelation 4:1a

 

So instead of reading in hopes of hearing of fantastic things in the future, rather, consider one’s heart before their Creator.  For life has been tarrying on in this world for nearly 2,000 years since Jesus went Home (Ac. 1:9) to sit at the right hand of the Father (Mk. 16:19)  Yet, Jesus quite clearly warned, as well as the Holy Scriptures, that eventually the end will come.

 

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.”  Matthew 24:14

 

“And many of those sleeping in the earth’s dust shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to reproach and everlasting abhorrence.”  Daniel 12:2

 

The question that needs to be asked is whether or not the world is being primed right now for a grand delusion.  That question will remain unanswered. 

 

Though evidence will be stated explaining how it seems as though it is possible, the truth of the matter is no one could know until afterwards. 

 

“For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He is now restraining, until it is raised from out of the midst.  And then the lawless one will be unveiled, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.”  2nd Thessalonians 2:7-8

 

So why write about such a possibility at all, if it is not possible to know for sure?

 

Ezekiel was told:

 

“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear the Word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me: When I say to the wicked, You shall die the death, and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand.  Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.  Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die. Because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand.  Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man that the righteous should not sin, and he does not sin, he shall live life because he took warning; and you have delivered your soul.”  Ezekiel 3:17-21

 

I heavily considered these things.  I thought about the burden on my heart to write such things, I pondered.  I scoured the internet looking for what others might be saying.  I searched news sources, blogs and numerous web pages, looking for inklings of truth.  Was there anyone who pondered that such things could be occurring?; but I came up empty handed each time.

 

Now perhaps there are some who question the current world events and political situations that not only Americans find themselves in, but also citizens all across the world in there respective nations as well.  If perhaps the example that I am using as a backdrop to such an idea whereto in actuality become factual, though I wouldn’t know it before the Rapture (2 Thes. 2:8), what could be some of the ramifications of writing such things, especially when being in such a narrow or perhaps empty field of writing?

 

For if by writing such things there happened to be truth to the ordeal, once again not knowing any special revelation, but simply showing how unprepared the world would be or currently is, especially those who call themselves the church, just what could that entail?  For if I write such things and there is a chance of there being truth to them, then could that cause the wrath of man against me?

 

Nonetheless, what more can I say?  If the possibility exists, using the Bible as the textbook of evidence, that the Antichrist world government were rising in front of our very eyes, should I not point it out?  Should it not be known, even if no one listens.  For certainly, I do not want to have the blood on my hands for not giving a warning regarding the condition of blindness among so-called evangelicals Christians, who are in fact doing EXACTLY the opposite of what I am suggesting here.

 

First, however, it should be pointed out that the Bible has clearly prophesized that an apostasy would happen.  Not only that, but then we must take a look at pondering whether or not part of the ‘strong delusion’ that is spoke about in the opening Bible verses of this are possibly happening already?

 

“Now brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of our gathering together to Him, we ask you not to be quickly disturbed in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the Day of Christ has come.  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 unveiled, the son of perdition,  who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is honored, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, declaring of himself that he is God.”  2nd Thessalonians 2:1-4

 

Now some would read this and suggest that the verse in and of itself would provide evidence that the church would go through the Tribulation.  Yet, where is the evidence of this in light of the Bible’s clear teaching of a Rapture?  For those who have their names written in the Book of Life (Rev. 20:12), those who have repented and by faith believed into Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

 

Rather understand that the Day is speaking about the actual Second Coming, not the appearing of Jesus Christ at what has been coined the Rapture.  For just because these verses clearly stipulate the Antichrist sits as God, does not neglect the fact that the Church will not be here.  There are courses of action listed here:

 

1). Falling Away Happens then…

2). Man of Sin Unveiled (Antichrist)

 

However, somewhere just BEFORE the man of sin is unveiled the true Church, which is those who are actual repented Believers in Jesus Christ, are Raptured.  The falling away has already happened and is continuing.

 

“For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He is now restraining, until it is raised from out of the midst.  And then the lawless one will be unveiled, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.”  2nd Thessalonians 2:7-8 

 

“And Jehovah shall go forth and fight against those nations, like the day He fought in the day of battle.  And His feet shall stand in that day on the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives shall split in two, from the east even to the west, a very great valley. And half of the mountain shall move toward the north, and half of it toward the south.  And you shall flee to the valley of My mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azal. And you shall flee as you fled before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah, king of Judah. And Jehovah my God shall come, and all the saints with You.”  Zechariah 14:3-5

 

Now how can all of the saints be coming with Christ, if we are still here?  Beware this false doctrine of the Church going through the Tribulation.  Trust me, while there will probably still be lies, for those who have eyes to see, those who are actually Saved will be Raptured prior.  One must repent and by faith accept Jesus Christ as their Savior or else you will be Left Behind!

 

However, some more emphasis must be placed on the apostasy.  For, who else, but the apostate church and so-called false christians are going to be the ones deceived?  The Bible is quite clear that those ‘who did not receive the love of the truth’ are the ones who will be deceived.  Also the Bible is quite cleared that there will be an innumerable amount of people who are Saved during the “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7). 

 

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, being devoted to corrupting spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be partaken with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.”  1st Timothy 4:1-3

 

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, unyielding, slanderers, without self-control, savage, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away.  For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning, but never able to come to the full true knowledge of the truth.  But as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so do these also oppose the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith; but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.”  2nd Timothy 3:1-9

 

The apostasy is ripe throughout all of which calls itself Christian.  There is a remnant that is left that are true Churches of Jesus Christ (not the Latter Days Saint’s style) that are faithful to Jesus Christ.  There are still those Churches who preach the Gospel faithfully and also are careful about Salvation, knowing that repentance is also necessary.

 

Yet around the world there are large false churches and cults that include numerous amounts of people.  While there might very well be individuals whose hearts are known by God, as a whole they will certainly be Left Behind.  The problem is there are many different types of churches all throughout the United States, in particular, that once preached the truth, to some degree, and now have fully embraced the apostasy, this even in more formerly conservative churches, such as Baptist. 

 

The apostasy isn’t just limited to those churches that presume to spread lies about God accepting homosexuals, allowing gay marriage or in some cases even advocating abortion.  No rather, the large measure is they are simply unrepentant and preach a Gospel message that is so watered down, that they refuse to preach repentance, despite the words of our Lord and Savior.

 

“I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”  Luke 13:3

 

They proclaim the masses who raise a hand during an invitation or simply recite a prayer to be Saved.  Many will then discipleship them about how they now are Saved and can never lose that Salvation, preaching what God should speak to the individuals heart (Phil. 1:6, Jn. 10:28), rather than just pointing them to the Holy Scriptures and allowing the Lord to deal with them personally (Jn. 10:27). 

 

They rock out in churches, often with women in skimpy clothing dancing on poles up on stage.  They go out and even drink beer in church, or enjoy their Starbucks coffee, rather there to socialize, assuming or hoping for a free ticket to Heaven, simply because they believe.  Well let me ask you a question, let me point out something to those who think this way and assume all is well.

 

“You believe that God is One. You do well. Even the demons believe, and shudder.” Jacob (James) 2:19

 

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many entering in through it.  Because narrow is the gate and distressing is the way which leads unto life, and there are few who find it.  Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.  You will know them from their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?  Even so, every good tree produces excellent fruit, but a corrupt tree produces evil fruit.  A good tree is not able to produce evil fruit, nor is a corrupt tree able to produce excellent fruit.  Every tree that does not produce excellent fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Therefore from their fruits you will know them.  Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven.  Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many works of power in Your name?  And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who work out lawlessness!”  Matthew 7:13-23

 

So who of these who professed faith in Jesus Christ, didn’t believe.  Think about it, they prophesied in His name, cast out demons in His name and did many works of power in His name.  From any outside perspective, they would have been those who were part of the Saved, they would have been part of the real ‘church’, they would have been those who were going to Heaven and THEY THOUGHT SO THEMSELVES!  I tell you then, what were they lacking? 

 

“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:  I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I would that you were cold or hot.  So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.  Because you say, I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing; and do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked;  I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.  Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.  To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”  Revelation 3:14-22

 

Repentance is a necessary component of Salvation and was preached by Jesus and the early apostles, as well as the early Church, even much into the 1950’s. 

 

Once again, what were those who were denied entrance into Heaven lacking, if not repentance?

 

“Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”  Mark 1:14-15

 

“Then Peter said to them, Repent, and let every one of you be immersed in the name of Jesus Christ to the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”  Acts 2:38-39

 

…”testifying both to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Acts 20:21

 

“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has established a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has appointed. He has given assurance of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”  Acts 17:30-31

 

“But what does it say? The Word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (that is, the Word of Faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”  Romans 10:8-10

 

I would imagine that most people would scoff at such an idea.  After all hasn’t the ‘churches’ come out with new programs and are ‘saving’ droves of people.  I tell you, take this as a SERIOUS warning beforehand, that most of those who proclaim to be Saved will be Left Behind, just as the vast majority of the members of their apostate churches, with all of their new and apostate programs!  So with the backdrop of this discussion having been set, let’s move along, for those who are still willing to read.

 

So the question then is who is the strong delusion for, if not the apostate church.  For if you say that it is for the unsaved, those who wouldn’t repeat a few words from a preacher to become ‘saved’, then note quite well that many people will be Saved during the Tribulation.

 

“After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one was able to number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!  And all the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and did homage to God, saying: Amen. Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.  Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?  And I said to him, Sir, you know. So he said to me, These are the ones coming out of great affliction, and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.  Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them.  They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not fall on them, nor any burning heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”  Revelation 7:9-17

 

These will be those who repented and called out to the Lord to be Saved.  They will not have been allowed by God to be deceived with a strong delusion. 

 

“And it shall be, that whoever shall call on the name of Jehovah shall escape.”  Joel 2:32a

 

“For everyone, whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  Romans 10:13

 

These are those who, even during the “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7), did not love their lives unto death, but rather became martyrs for Christ.

 

“And they overcame him through the blood of the Lamb and through the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives unto death.”  Revelation 12:11

 

“And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them; and I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the Word of God, who had not done homage to the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”  Revelation 20:4

 

Yet the current apostate church can not even get the preaching right!  If you say I am wrong, then where are all of these people in your congregations who have been ‘saved’ over the years.  Where are your church members who are diligently doing what the Lord has stated, participating in the Great Commission (Mk. 16:15)?  And for those who would say contrary, that you have them right now, come and see!  I would suggest this:

 

Tear down your stages with lights, through away your instruments used to create rock and roll, preach the full Truth of the Bible.  Talk about Creation as the Bible says so (six literal 24 hour days) (Gen. 1), talk about the Flood being global (Gen. 6-8), as the Bible does.  Talk about a real Hell (Matt. 25:46, Rev. 20:15), a place of eternal torment for those who are not Saved.  Get rid of your fancy coffees, as an attraction to simply get people in the door to hear your false or watered down messages.  Tell them to get right with God, to repent and allow God to make them Christ like, then you tell me what you have left!

 

If you can find one, go and look hard, they might be in your area, find a Church, like an independent fundamental Baptist Church that still preaches repentance, still has holy and sacred hymns sung, without the bells and whistles.  Find this place who still has members who are serious about the things of God.  They might be small, but they are rich (Eph. 3:8).  They might by puny in comparison to your big or bigger show, but they know God.  If you still don’t believe, then make a note, write it down.  When the Rapture happens go back and visit.  Perhaps there will be some individuals who will be Left Behind, but the Church will be gone.  Either you will find yourself standing at the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10), realizing that you had not rightly dividing the Word (2 Tim. 2:15) or you will have been Left Behind.  This right here is the problem, take heed and pay attention!

 

Those who are Left Behind and thought they were Saved, but refused the Truth, now what?  Now will they say people who said stuff like this were right, that such things were correct and now they are going to change their ways and go the right Way (Jn. 14:6)?  Rather, take diligent heed for God Himself has said that they will be deceived and believe the lie, that He will send them a STRONG delusion.  Therefore, God knowing the hearts (Jer. 17:10), those who refused to repent and refused to believe, they will go along with the show, the reality is their souls are doomed to an eternity in the Lake of Fire (Rev. 20:10-15)!  Do not let that be you!

 

So the question or the theory is out there.  Could God allow the strong delusion to start prior to the Rapture?

 

A dear friend who worked in the ministry had pondered such a question years ago.  People being prepped via television, the media and culture regarding alien life.  Knowing that whatever truth lies with aliens is demonic, he pondered whether or not the governments of the world would utilize such a deception using holographic images, etc., to tell people after the Rapture had happened that aliens were the reason for it, etc.  Basically a take off of Project Blue Beam, a possible scenario by the United States government.  I take a look at things going on, being fairly well read, looking at what people are saying and I also ponder whether or not a deception of biblical proportions could be at hand.  Could it be that the world is ripe for deception and God is allowing the groundwork to be laid to those who WILL BE deceived?  Nonetheless, as of this publishing, the Rapture hasn’t happened yet, so until then God is always willing for people to repent and accept Salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ.

 

“Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior,  knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were since the beginning of creation.  For of this they are willfully ignorant: that by the Word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.  But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same Word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.  But, beloved, do not be unaware of this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  The Lord is not slow concerning His promise, as some count slowness, but is longsuffering toward us, not purposing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with intense burning; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.”  2nd Peter 3:1-10

 

Amen!