“and all the world wondered after the beast..”
Revelation 13:3
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie
2 Thessalonians 2: 10-11
How can the beast of Revelation 13 (aka the Antichrist) convince an entire world to follow? In the coming studies, the Antichrist will be revealed through God’s word. Please understand it is not something I discovered. It has been known for thousands of years. Great men and women of God proclaimed it long before our generation. But, there is a counterfeit to this information as there is with all of God’s truth. The enemy uses deception because he is the father of lies and there is no truth in him.
There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
Proverbs 14:12 and Proverbs 16:25
So how can we know the truth about the Antichrist? Only one way. From our Creator through His written and inspired word.
“Thy word is truth.”
John 17:17
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When we begin our study on the Antichrist, we must understand the foundation from which this work of delusion operates. This delusion is so strong that if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” The elect, are not deceived. Why? The answer lies (in part) in our opening passage 2 Thessalonians 2:10-11.
They received the love of the truth.
Over the years since my conversion to Christ from atheism (43 years), I have seen people come to Christ and receive Him. And, just as Jesus warns in the parable of the seed, there are many who receive the truth with joy, but for various reasons (e.g., cares of this life, riches and tribulation), they fail to grow roots in the soil of Christ to produce fruit into salvation See Matthew 13.
But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.
Matthew 13: 20-21
Our passage in 2 Thessalonians 2, says, that because the truth is not loved, they are open to strong delusion and they will believe a lie.
Last week we studied how the religious people of Christ’s day did not accept Jesus because they were comfortable in their religious experience. They were self-deceived and felt no need of Jesus nor His words. Their world revolved around tradition. Change was not an option to them.
The religious people of the time of Jesus had the Tanakh (aka Old Testament) which was overflowing with prophecies about their Messiah Jesus, but Jesus didn’t fulfill the image they had formed in their imaginations. To this day, they continue to look for Him based on tradition and not the Tanakh (scripture). It was because of their traditions, the power of their peers, and false beliefs about scripture that caused them to be in a state of delusion.
This will happen again before the Lord returns, or should I say , it is happening!
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One of the first works of Jesus after His resurrection was to explain to His disciples about Himself as revealed in scripture (Tanakh). It was because of Jesus’ “Bible study” and the reality His resurrection that His followers built a stronger faith in Him. We are told in scripture that faith comes by hearing God’s word.
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.
Romans 10:17 NIV
If we desire more faith in Christ, then when need more of the word of God. Wouldn’t you agree? Revival in our hearts will come when we hear more of the word of God and less of our own word.
When talking with the Jews, Jesus said,
For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”
John 5:46-47
Indeed, Jesus gave a “Bible study” to His disciples when he talked with them on the first day of the week after His resurrection. It was not a New Testament Bible study because this portion of scripture was yet to be written, Don’t misunderstand, the New Testament is just as much of scripture as the Old Testament because holy men spoke (and wrote) as they were moved by the Holy Spirit through the followers of Jesus.
“These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.
Luke 24:44-45
Peter compared the letters of Paul with scripture. Notice that the untaught and unstable “twisted” the meaning of his writings as they do with all scripture:
…and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.
2 Peter 3:16
We miss the entire story of Jesus if we say, “Well, that is in the Old Testament. It has been done away with. I don’t have to listen to it.“ It is true that there is an old covenant that passed away, but it does not mean that the words of the Law of Moses (First five books of the Bible), the Prophets (Major and Minor prophets, Jeremiah, Daniel, Amos, etc), and the Psalms (poetic books) have no meaning for us today. To reason in such a manner as to minimize or reject the old testament is to reject the love of the truth and the teaching/encouragement that comes with God’s entire word. But, just as important It also means missing more about Jesus and having more faith and hope in Him!
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
Romans 15:4 NIV
When Jesus prayed for His disciples and all believers in John 17, he prayed to the Father these words:
Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
John 17:17
At the time Jesus prayed this prayer, the New Testament had not been created. Paul had not been converted. Jesus was referring to the Tanakh which contains all the books of what we call the Old Testament. Jesus used the Tanakh to help His disciples understand the scripture which spoke of Him.
The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.
Psalm 119: 160
As the writers of the New Testament began to write about Jesus (the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) and write letters to believers (writings of Paul, Peter, James, etc) they expounded on the Tanakh and their experience with Jesus. They encouraged the believers to trust in the entire word of God.
Notice that when Paul wrote an encouraging letter to young Timothy, there was no New Testament. He is referring primarily to the scripture or Tanakh:
“…and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:15-17
Did you notice that ALL SCRIPTURE makes the man of God complete? If we ignore any portion of our Bibles, we are in danger of being incomplete. For sure, we will miss learning more about Jesus.
It is unfortunate that we (Non-Jews) call the books of the Tanakh the “Old” Testament. It insinuates that it is not only ancient but irrelevant to those living after the cross.
Soon, I hope to write on the Old Covenant VS the New Covenant. This is, perhaps, where people become confused and throw out good doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness. It is true there are things that are old and things that are new, but some things never pass away.
The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.”
Isaiah 40:8
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If the Antichrist is going to be effective in the work of strong delusion so that the whole world follows (even some Christians), the word of God must be minimized and ignored. Tradition, pomp, and display should dazzle the eyes and ears so that God’s word becomes old and outdated. Public opinion (Unbelievers) and the professional preachers (Believers) must reign supreme. It must be in the hands of religious people who have an agenda of power and hide parts of God’s word that reveal their work of deception. All this must come together for the enemy to succeed in deceiving the whole world, so that the Antichrist may flourish. Sadly, it has already happened and continues to this very day.
“And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. ”
Matthew 15:9
We are instructed to beware of teachers, leaders, and false prophets both in and out of the church who teach something contradictory to the entire word of God.
The children of Israel were warned to stay away from mediums (where the dead would talk), and fortune tellers. Why? Because they placed themselves in a place where they could be deceived:
“And when they say to you, “Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter,” should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living?”
Isaiah 8:19
It was not the dead that talked, but satanic agencies appearing as a dead person. God appeals to them to seek Him and not things and places that would open them up to deception.
The next verse gives us a basis to avoid delusion in all situations, including those who speak without using God’s word:
To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
Isaiah 8:20
I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be where there is darkness and not light to direct me. Rather, I desire the light of God’s word to direct my path. Don’t you?
Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
Psalm 119: 105
We can conclude from God’s word that the work of the Antichrist will use strong delusion on those who do not love God’s truth. The tools of the Antichrist are sights, sounds, and yes even miracles. The choice, in the end, is to acknowledge one or the other. God’s truth or the sights, sounds, and false teachings of the Antichrist.
The work of the Antichrist looks to take away the one thing that can unmask the work of the enemy. It is God’s word and the work of the Holy Spirit who guides people into truth.
However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth
John 16:13
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In times past, we have seen God’s word burned by the Nazi’s. During the Dark Ages, the reformation began when a single Bible written in a little known language (Latin) was found by Martin Luther chained to a monastery wall.
Today, in the 21st Century, there are countless paper Bibles in multiple languages. In the last few years, the Bible has been digitized so that the work of finding verses and understanding it even in it’s early languages of Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic has become very easy. I use Bible Gateway and Strong’s Lexicon often in writing these studies.
Despite the availability of the Bible, many do not read it or study it. We are told an interesting prophecy related to the word of God and the end times:
“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord”
Amos 8:11
This was fulfilled in the Dark Ages, but because we have the Bible so abundantly, we might be tempted to think this prophecy only applies to those in old times. But, read carefully. It is a famine of HEARING the words of the Lord.
This appears to make reference that the preachers and teachers of our time using less and less of the word of God, so the people don’t “hear” the words of the Lord.
If you have teachers and pastors who not only teach the word of God, but also handle it correctly, you are blessed especially if they encourage you to read for yourself. Never forget, reading and understanding God’s word is not just for those who have a PHD in religion. It is for you. If you are willing to follow God’s word, he will reveal more and more of His truth.
If anyone decides to follow God’s will, they will know the teachings, whether it is from God or not. If someone decides they don’t want to do God’s will, the opposite must be true. They will be confused and, perhaps, on the path to strong delusion.
“If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God…”
John 7:17
Who will God teach knowledge? What makes it easier to understand?
“Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine?”
Isaiah 28:9 (first part)
The answer is simple:
“…them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.”
Isaiah 28:9 (last part)
Is this not a description of little children (infants)?
This is why Jesus said,
“Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 18:3
The context of this verse is when the disciples asked Jesus who was the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Verse 1). Jesus put a child in their midst to help them understand the great truth that we must have the faith of a little child. Jesus went on to say in the next verse:
“Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.”
Matthew 18:4
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The work of the Antichrist was at work at the time of the disciples as well as at the time we are now living. This work was a perversion of God’s word (lawlessness) and even leading people away to a different teaching:
“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.”
2 Thessalonians 2:7
This verse takes us back to our opening verse concerning strong delusion. Let’s read again:
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
And for this cause, God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie
2 Thessalonians 2: 10-11
“…though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”
Galatians 1:8
There is another gospel preached in these last days from a messenger who appears as an Angel of Light. The deceptive work of the Antichrist will first be upon those who choose sights, sounds, public opinion and the words of professional preacher, doctrines that they personally prefer instead of God’s word.
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;”
2 Timothy 4:3
Have you noticed that the council and warnings from God’s word is not to unbelievers, but to believers who have become like the Scribes and Pharisees of old….Religions and comfortable in their traditions.
If we feel we are in need of nothing and we can never learn any more truth. If we feel our denomination has all the truth, we are setting ourselves up for strong delusion. It is God’s word that has all the truth!
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But, there is another work of the Anti-Christ that is perhaps even more important to understand The objective of the Anti-Christ is to come between you and Christ. It is not only what you know, but who you know. It is less about information and more about revelation and obedience to his will. If salvation was dependent only on knowing the scripture (head knowledge), then only those with a PHD in religion would be saved.
Joyce Meyer said something that is very relevant here,
“You see, there is a difference between information and revelation. No matter how much information you get, if it never turns into revelation it’s not going to do you a whole lot of good.”
That revelation must be about Jesus and His will. It is when we have a revelation of God and Jesus Christ that we make our election sure and we will never fall:
“Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble”
2 Peter 1:10
What are “these things” that we should do to make sure we never stumble? The answer is found in its context which are the words preceding Verse 10:
But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
2 Peter 1:5-9
Is this not a pattern of growth? But, notice the part I underlined. It is telling us that we will be “fruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” We actually begin to know more about Jesus by doing those things described through the power Jesus gives us.
This idea is expressed in the Old Testament when Jeremiah disclosed that Joaish (The last good king of Judah) knew Him because of what he did for others:
He defended the cause of the poor and needy,
and so all went well.
Is that not what it means to know me?”
declares the Lord.
Jeremiah 22:15-17 (NIV)
Jesus said the same thing in different words:
Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent….We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.
John 17:3, 1 John 2:3-6 (NIV)
Eternal life is dependent on who you know (Jesus). But to know him must come through both God’s word and a revelation about Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit. This will give you the heart to help others. If we are not willing to follow, the truth is not in us and we are deceitful to others and of little value in the work of God’s kingdom.
We may be like the Anti-Christ and have,
“…. a form of godliness but deny its power”
2 Timothy 3:5
That power comes from God’s word and following it so that it affects your neighbor for his/her good.
Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.
2 Corinthians 13:5
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I hope you have seen the need to base your faith on the word of God and not on sights, sounds, large crowds, and the influence of the world.
Also, knowing Jesus through a practical experience with Him day by day.
These two things will provide the basis for avoiding the strong delusion that is upon the earth now. Next time, we will move further into our study of the Antichrist and the plans to take away the one thing that will unmask the work of Satan behind the scenes….the word of God.
Blessings to you and your family until next time….Eddie