LYING WONDERS AND GOD’S DELUSION

As we continue looking at Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians, we come to a very important but troubling group of verses. When the Holy Spirit is removed from the scene through the rapture of the body of Christ, those who have truly placed their faith in Christ as Lord and Savior, the man of sin will come on the scene with “all power and signs and lying wonders.” Paul is clear to declare that he will be working through the power of Satan.

2Thessalonians 2:9-10 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.

The Antichrist will be able to perform miracles of obvious supernatural power as well as deceitful wonders (i.e., like a very adept magician).

I like the wording of the Complete Jewish Bible for verse 10: He will enable him to deceive, in all kinds of wicked ways, those who are headed for destruction because they would not receive the love of the truth that could have saved them.

The wording is clear that the reference is to those who are perishing and have chosen to reject the gospel message; they have rejected God’s revelation of truth. The wording is interesting because scripture tells us that Jesus is “the Way, the Truth and the Life” (John 14:6). These people have rejected “the love of the Truth,” which I think we can truthfully read as a statement of their rejecting the love of Jesus. Had they accepted His gift of love, they could have been saved and headed for an eternity with Jesus rather than perishing and headed for an eternity without Him.

2Thessalonians 2:11-12 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.

These are very powerful, frightening verses. As I read them in context, the reference is to those who have “received not the love of the truth,” those who are identified as perishing. God is going to send “effective deceit” (from the Greek for “strong delusion”). In other words, those who have rejected the Lord Jesus (those who have had an opportunity to receive Him and have refused it) will find the deceit of the Antichrist to be so effective that they will believe it. Even though Antichrist is working through the empowerment of Satan, we know that he has been granted this power and authority according to God’s own purposes in bringing all to pass according as He has determined from the foundation of the world. Verse 12 emphasizes that ALL will be damned who rejected God’s truth, accepted unrighteousness and approved wickedness. Reminder—this is speaking of those who have been left to go through the time of God’s wrath, the day of Christ, the day of the Lord.

I haven’t heard this point emphasized or taught (at least in my memory bank). We know that scripture teaches that many will come to know the Lord during this terrible period of time, but that group of believers will come from those who have not yet had the opportunity of hearing God’s truth and then choosing to accept it or reject it. I have talked to many who have told me that they’ll make sure they get right with God if we disappear and they find themselves in the “tribulation.” If I understand these verses correctly, those who have told me that will not have that opportunity. They will already have chosen to reject the truth.

The truth is that God is sovereign. God has chosen to offer His grace to all, but each person is only given a certain amount of “time” to take advantage of that grace. Again, this is according to God’s sovereign power and authority. As the Creator, He has every right to make such determination for each person He creates. Some people obviously live longer than others and some people end up with hardened hearts before they die. The important truth to grasp is that “today is the day of salvation.”

2Corinthians 6:1-2 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

If you do not yet know Jesus Christ as your Savior, please do not wait any longer. Acknowledge your sin before Him. Ask His forgiveness and accept the gift of salvation by believing that Jesus died on the cross for your sins. Ask Him to become the Lord of your life and begin living in obedience to the teaching of His word. Start reading His word and spending time with Him in prayer as you seek to learn more about how to obey Him and show your love to Him.

Dear reader, the time is short. The signs are all around us. Don’t reject Jesus as your Savior and don’t risk falling into the category of those whom God will send the strong delusion.