STRONG DELUSION: Strong Delusion is Coming

“Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 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: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
—2 Thessalonians 2:9-12

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Strong delusion is coming.  Do you have a love for the truth?

Either one believes we are living in the end times, or one does not.

If one believes we are living in the end times, then one has to believe what the Bible says about the end times.  One cannot simply “make it up as one goes along.”

Though many do.

This strong delusion will have nothing to do with aliens, giants, UFOs, nephilim, ETs or any of the other subjects so beloved by the Science Fiction false teachers of the Modern American Prophecy Industry–other than those who enjoy getting their ears tickled by such mythology will get to enjoy it yet a little while longer.

A love for ear-tickling teachers waxes as a love for the truth wanes.

“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; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”
—2 Timothy 4:3-4

Doctrines unheard of in Christianity 100 years ago are the latest rage. Gnostic teachings that plagued the early Church have been dusted off, re-branded and used for bait to catch the gullible.  American churches are filled with those hungering for experiences, miracles, signs and wonders.

These are the times about which the apostle Paul warned: strong delusion is coming.

 THE STRONG DELUSION

Paul wrote to the Thessalonians to warn them that all who did not “love the truth” would be sent a “strong delusion” by God so that they might believe a lie.

In other words, God would allow men to do what they wanted to do.  Because they had not a love for the truth, He would allow them what they wanted: to believe a lie.

“…that they should believe a lie.”

This does not affirm that God wished them to believe a lie nor that he would not have preferred that they should believe the truth; nor that he exerted any direct agency to cause them to believe a lie. It means merely that he left them, because they did not love the truth, to believe what was false, and what would end in their destruction. Can any one doubt that this constantly occurs in the world? Men are left to believe impostors; to trust to false guides; to rely on unfounded information; to credit those who live to delude and betray the innocent; and to follow those who lead them to ruin. God does not impose by direct power to preserve them. Can any one doubt this? Yet this is not peculiarly the doctrine of revelation. The fact pertains just as much to the infidel as it does to the believer in Christianity, and he is just as much bound to explain it as the Christian is. It belongs to our world–to us all–and it should not be charged on Christianity as a doctrine pertaining peculiarly to that system.
—Barnes’ Notes on the Whole Bible, 2 Thessalonians 2

Strong delusion is coming.  Do you have a love for the truth?

Paul says that “all” who “have not a love for the truth” will be “damned.”  This is not God’s desire but He allows it to happen.

This does not mean that God somehow takes away a person’s free will as some might erroneously believe.  God never changes.

One who may not affirm the doctrine of Total Depravity may try to explain away this passage by saying, “Well, God knew they wouldn’t respond anyway, so what’s the difference?”   Well, the difference is that their (the recipients of the strong delusion) unbelief has been assisted by the very Lord whom they say has made them able to believe.  Is there not a point here where certain people’s’ “wills” are no longer “free”?
—Scripture that a whole lot of Christians don’t like: 2 Thessalonians 2:9-13

Barnes explains exactly what “strong delusion” means.

2 Thessalonians 2:12 2Th 2:12

Verse 12. That they all might be damned. The word damned we commonly apply now exclusively to future punishment, and it has a harsher signification than the original word. See Barnes for 1Co 11:29. The Greek word krinw — means to judge, determine, decide; and then to condemn, Ro 2:27; 14:22; Jas 4:11; Joh 7:51; Lu 19:22; Ac 13:27. It may be applied to the judgment of the last day, Joh 5:22; 8:50; Ac 17:31; Ro 3:6; 2Ti 4:1, but not necessarily. The word judged, or condemned, would, in this place, express all that the Greek word necessarily conveys. Yet there can be no doubt that the judgment or condemnation which is referred to, is that which will occur when the Saviour will appear. It does not seem to me to be a necessary interpretation of this to suppose that it teaches that God would send a strong delusion that they should believe a lie, in order that all might be damned who did not believe the truth; or that he desired that they should be damned, and sent this as the means of securing it; but the sense is, that this course of events would be allowed to occur, so that ina not eiv to all who do not love the truth would be condemned. The particle here used, and rendered “that” (ina) in connection with the phrase “all might be damned” is employed in two general senses, either as marking the end, purpose, or cause for, or on account of, which anything is done; to the end that, or in order that it may be so and so; or as marking simply the result, event, or upshot of an action, so that, so as that. Robinson, Lex. In the latter case it denotes merely that something will really take place, without indicating that such was the design of the agent, or that what brought it about was in order that it might take place. It is also used, in the later Greek, so as neither to mark the purpose, or to indicate that the event would occur, but merely to point out that to which the preceding words refer. It is not proper, therefore, to infer that this passage teaches that all these things would be brought about in the arrangements of Providence, in order that they might be damned who came under their influence. The passage teaches that such would be the result; that the connection between these delusions and the condemnation of those who were deluded, would be certain. It cannot be proved from the Scriptures that God sends on men strong delusions, in order that they may be damned. No such construction should be put on a passage of Scripture if it can be avoided, and it cannot be shown that it is necessary here.

Who believed not the truth. The grounds or reasons why they would be damned are now stated. One would be that they did not believe the truth –not that God sent upon them delusion in order that they might be damned. That men will be condemned for not believing the truth, and that it will be right thus to condemn them, is everywhere the doctrine of the Scriptures, and is equally the doctrine of common sense. See Barnes for Mr 16:16.

But had pleasure in unrighteousness. This is the second ground or reason of their condemnation. If men have pleasure in sin, it is proper that they should be punished. There can be no more just ground of condemnation than that a man loves to do wrong.

{d} “that they all” De 32:35
{+} “damned” “condemned”
—Barnes’ Notes on the Whole Bible, 2 Thessalonians 2

Again, this does not mean that God somehow takes away that person’s free will.

STRONG DELUSION: WHAT CAN ONE DO?

What can one do to protect from being sent the promised strong delusion?

Develop a love for the truth: the truth of God’s Word.

Thy Word is Truth: Bible verses on the truth of God’s Word

This is one reason that believers cannot lightly dismiss sections of God’s Word which do not agree with their doctrines.  ALL Scripture is given for the believer’s benefit–not just the parts agreeable to him.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”
—2 Timothy 3:16

“Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.“
—Acts 20:26-27

The Whole Counsel of God

Scripture which seems to be contradictory isn’t.  All Scripture is a unifying whole.  If Scripture seems to conflict, then there is a need to reconcile the verses to obtain a full understanding of what is said.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.“
—2 Timothy 2:15

Sadly, in times in which we live, “dueling Scripture” occurs much more frequently than “reconciling Scripture.”

How can mere man hope to avoid the traps and deceptions of the enemy?  Pray for wisdom.  God’s Word guarantees that the prayer will be answered.

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.“
—James 1:5

PERSONAL TESTIMONY: James 1:5 is completely, 100% true!

A prayer for wisdom is not only one that should be prayed every day, it is absolutely necessary for living in these times of deception about which Jesus Himself warned.

“And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.“
—Matthew 24:4

Take heed.  Don’t be deceived.

Strong delusion is coming.  Do you have a love for the truth?

RELATED ARTICLES

• Love of the Truth
• Do You Know if You Are Going to Heaven?  Be Sure!
• Don’t Just Follow Blindly
• Persecution of the Saints: The Fear and the Pit and the Snare
• Personal Experiences or God’s Word, Which is our Standard?
• The Mystery of Lawlessness
• Roman Road to Eternal Salvation through Jesus Christ

 

by Jeremiah J. Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier

image: posterize & digitalart, FreeDigitalPhotos.net

© Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report, 2012-14. © Mondo Frazier, DBKP and End Times Prophecy Report, 2007-14. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

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