10 End Times Deceptions – Part One

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

PART ONE

10 End Times Deceptions – Part Two

Anyone who reads very much about the end times knows that the period before Jesus Returns will be characterized by great deception.

The Bible is very clear about the deception which surrounds the last days.

And yet, IF one reads so-called “Christian” media, one is immediately struck by how much OUTRIGHT deception it contains. Christian mass media appears to exist solely to challenge what the Bible clearly says about the last days.

What are some of the most prevalent deceptions?

There are many.

Almost too many to address.

However, many of the most egregious lies and errors have to do with the last days themselves. The mistakes are so cleverly-worded and so contrary to the Bible, it’s apparent they are meant to deceive the reader.

(This doesn’t mean that there aren’t folks who honestly believe the deceptions. The Bible says that people will be deceived. God’s Word doesn’t lie. It also says there will be those who are “deceived and deceiving.”)

Here’s one list of 10 end times deceptions masquerading as Christian eschatology, along with what the Bible actually says about each.

How many is the reader familiar with?

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10 End Times Deceptions

1. Take the mark of the beast, repent and be saved.

The Bible is very, very clear on the future ‘mark of the beast’: all who take the mark (in order to be able to buy and sell OR to avoid death) are condemned for eternity.

“And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.”
—Revelation 14:9-11

This is so very clear, it a wonder that people can be fooled on this point.

But, this being the end times, people are deceived.

“And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.”
—Revelation 19:20

This being the end times, ‘men of God’ (exalted by the world) have begun challenging what the Bible says about taking the mark of the beast and eternal condemnation.

John MacArthur and the Mark of the Beast: Last Days Apostasy

One person tried to defend this deception with “The Bible says the only unforgivable sin is blaspheming the Holy Spirit.”

There’s nothing that says taking the mark of the beast doesn’t blaspheme the Holy Spirit. At any rate, there’s no need to speculate: this particular point is so important God’s Word specifically mentions the mark and and its eternal consequences.

Do not be fooled: take the mark of the beast OR worship his image and you are damned for all eternity.

Anyone who says anything else is peddling deception.

This includes the antichrist Left Behind series and popular antichrist preachers.

Mark of the Beast: The complete Guide to the Mark of the Beast, 666

Mark of the Beast 666: 7 Observations

2. UNITY is what the Church needs.

IF one spends any time in the apostate churches, one will most likely hear the word “Unity!” OR “The church needs to be unified!”

Sometimes this is backed up by referring to Acts 2:1.

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.”

Nowhere does the Bible say the end times Church needs to be unified.

And speaking of Acts detailing people who were “with one accord.”

It’s recorded FOUR times in Acts about ungodly people with “one accord.”  So, being unified and of “one accord” is no guarantee of righteousness.

When Stephen was martyred:

“And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. hen they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.”
—Acts 7:56-58

“And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king’s chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king’s country. And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.”
—Acts 12:20-23

“And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat,”
—Acts 18:12

“And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.”
—Acts 19:28-29

The ungodly can be unified.

And in the end times, they will certainly be with one accord.

Particularly all those who are in the worldwide church of the dragon.

3. There will be a great end times revival of the Church.

This goes against EVERYTHING the Bible says about the end times. In fact, if someone is talking “end times revival” it is clear they either do not know their Bible OR they are purposely trying to deceive.

God’s Word presents a picture of the end times and it is clearly not one of ‘revival.’

At least for the saints.

“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”
—Matthew 24:21

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.”
—2 Timothy 3:1

“For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.”
–Mark 13:19

“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
—Revelation 14:9,13-14

“And these are the words that the LORD spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah. Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.”
—Jeremiah 30:4,7

“And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”
—Revelation 13:6-8

“And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.”
—Daniel 7:25

No end times revival takes place in the Bible.

UNLESS one is referring to the church of the dragon (Satan). The worldwide satanic church will be experiencing GREAT REVIVAL. This revival will be partly due to the great deceptive miracles, signs and lying wonders which are done. And it will be partly because people want to buy and sell.

“Hey! A man’s got to eat!”

AND, the church of the dragon will look like Christianity.

“And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast;”
—Revelation 13:11,13-14

The end times, worldwide, satanic church of the dragon will be packin’ them in.

The churches will be full of rebellion, murder, sin and apostasy.

The true Christian Church will be on the run, not enjoying revival.

• END TIMES APOSTASY: Revolt not Revival
• Revival or Apostasy: To everything there is a season
• Modern Church Revival: Sideshows for Satan
• Modern Church Revival: Sideshows for Satan, part 2
• Apostate American Church Deceptions: USA was founded as a Christian Nation, Revival Coming

  4. The Church will not see the bad times because it will be taken to heaven in a secret, pre-tribulation rapture.

The Bible is very clear about the gathering together of the saints.

It does happen.

It DOES NOT happen to provide an escape for spiritually-weak people who are terrified at the thought of witnessing for Jesus.

This fairly new teaching (of the last 180 years) is so wrong for so many reasons which are basic to Christianity.

Which is one reason it enjoys widespread popularity in America.

What’s so wrong about this flesh-pleasing fantasy?

• It appeals to the flesh’s self-preservation instinct.

“Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.” —Luke 17:33

• The Bible says to be persecuted and afflicted for the name of Jesus is glory and a cause for celebration. The pre-tribulationists try to paint saints standing up for Jesus Christ as ‘losers‘ who are ‘Left Behind.’ Any who don’t go along with the deception are ‘threatened.’ “I guess you want to be left here?”

“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.” ––Matthew 5:11

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;”
–2 Corinthians 4:17

“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;”
–Romans 5:3

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:”
–1 Peter 4:12

“And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.”
–Acts 5:40-41

• The ungodly doctrine tries to split the one body of Christ into two parts (a chief goal of gnosticism): those in heaven celebrating that they don’t have to witness for Jesus and those on earth, many who are martyred for their witness of Jesus.

“For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.” —1 Corinthians 10:17

“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”
—Ephesians 4:4-6

“That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.”
—1 Corinthians 12:25

ONE BODY: Gnostic Teachings in American Churches Divide the Body of Christ

• Some attempt to split the one body of Christ in two another way: by claiming that the Bride of Christ is different from the body of Christ.
• It turns the Second Coming of Jesus Christ into the Second and Third Coming (and some even teach eight different Returns!). Proponents attempt to get around this with semantics: “Oh well, Jesus isn’t really returning when He comes to rapture us because He doesn’t come down to the earth. So it doesn’t count.”
• It leaves people unprepared to face the sure future which is laid out in the Bible for believers.

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
—2 Timothy 3:12

“Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”
—Acts 14:22

• It deceptively portrays many ‘Christians’ when Jesus said there would be “few.”  One deceiving site claimed “Maybe 50 million suddenly vanish?”

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
—Matthew 7:13-14

• It paves the way for further deception: there will be lots of scared people. When the unbiblical pre-tribulation escape doesn’t materialize, the story will be: “There is no rapture.” Scared men are easier to both control and deceive than men who are not. And scared, spiritually unprepared men will grasp at any straws (perhaps even taking the mark of the beast?).

IF the reader is genuinely deceived on this issue (instead of deceived and deceiving), then it’s doubtful this article will open your mind.

However, IF the most important thing to the reader is to NOT BE DECEIVED, then God will not allow you to be. IF the reader has the Holy Spirit, He will guide you into all truth. That is one’s BEST defense against end times deception.

“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth”
—John 16:13

Jesus was quite clear on the timing of the gathering together of the saints (rapture).

“But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.”
—Mark 13:24-27

Jesus was also quite clear where the elect (the church, the saints) would be during the period of great tribulation.

“And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.”
—Matthew 24:22

“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”
—Matthew 24:24

5. Men will be able to prepare physically for the time of great tribulation.

Gold, guns, groceries: nothing one can do will be able to save one physically from what’s coming upon the earth.

Rick men are buying underground bunkers in hopes of riding out the tough times to come. The Bible says Save your money.

God’s Word specifically says underground bunkers will be useless against the wrath of God.

“And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.”
—Isaiah 2:19

“And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?”
—Revelation 6:15-17

Underground Bunkers for the End Times: What does the Bible Say?

Underground Bunkers in the End Times: Will they Work?

The whole idea of the chaos and tribulation of the end times is to separate those who will call upon God and those who will depend on themselves, their government or some other earthly preparations.

But deceived men don’t believe in God.

Maybe he made a mistake and there’s a loophole?

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
—Proverbs 3:5

End of PART ONE.

10 End Times Deceptions – Part Two

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16

THE GOSPEL

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ”
–1 Corinthians 15:1-8

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”
-—1 Corinthians 1:18-19

RELATED ARTICLES

• Deception is Everywhere in the End Times
• Do You Know if You are Going to Heaven?  Be Sure!
• The Nature of Spiritual Deception
• Avoiding Spiritual Deception
• False Watchmen, Merchants of Fear and Antichrist Deceivers
• The Many Layers of End Times Deception: Deception in the Church
• The John Hagee Deception: Jesus not the Messiah for the Jews
• Satan Has Counterfeited the Christian Church

by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier

images:
1- ETPR/Stuart Miles, FreeDigitalPhotos.net/ETPR
2-6 – ETPR

© Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report, 2012-15. © Mondo Frazier and End Times Prophecy Report, DBKP 2007-2015. 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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