Deception in the Last Days

The basis for spiritual deception is not following or obeying the Word of God. When a believer adopts any thought, doctrine, or practice which is contrary to God’s written word then he enters into the spiritual darkness of heresy and deception.

Spiritual deception and a departure from the true "faith once delivered to the saints" (Jude 1:3) will increase as we approach the final days.
Indeed, the Antichrist spirit is already at work. (1 John 4:2–3)

Jesus said, "For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect." --- Matthew 24:24

Not only has Satan sent false Christs into the world to capture the hearts of those who do not know the true God and Saviour, but he has also commissioned deceivers, false brethren (Galatians 2:4) to promote a form of Christianity to seduce believers who do not abide in God’s written word.

The apostle Paul writes: "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
Few want to hear a preacher of righteousness speaking about true faith, against sin, and about Hell.

The believer has protection from such deception. This involves being totally loyal and faithful to God and His inspired word.

Prepare for the last days by abiding in Christ and immersing yourself in the word of God.
We are also told in scripture to "test the spirits."
"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world." --- 1 John 4:1.

The final authority must always be God's written word.

adapted from:
https://predikuesi.wordpress.com/the-spiritual-deception-of-the-last-days/

"Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction," --- 2 Thessalonians 2:3

"For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist." --- 2 John 1:7 NASB

"Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son." --- 1 John 2:22

"But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ." --- 2 Corinthians 11:3

The Wicked Refuse the Truth and Hate the Light
"and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved." -- 2 Thessalonians 2:10

"For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed." --- John 3:20

Deception will go from "bad to worse" in the end times
"While evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived." --- 2 Timothy 3:13

The deception in the last days will be evil that appears to be good.
"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!" --- Isaiah 5:20

End time deception will be enormous
When asked about the last days, the first thing Jesus said was, "...See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will lead many astray." --- Matthew 24:4-5

The end times will be exceedingly deceptive, and most in the world will be misled and fooled into believing lies.

The deception will be so strong that the Bible warns:
"Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience." --- Ephesians 5:6

"For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect." --- Mark 13:22

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves." --- Matthew 7:15

"Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise." --- 1 Corinthians 3:18

And Scripture tells us why this will happen:
"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths."
--- 2 Timothy 4:3-4

And when the Antichrist comes, the world will be prepared to follow him.
The coming of the [Antichrist, the lawless] one is through the activity of Satan, [attended] with great power [all kinds of counterfeit miracles] and [deceptive] signs and false wonders [all of them lies], and by unlimited seduction to evil and with all the deception of wickedness for those who are perishing, because they did not welcome the love of the truth [of the gospel] so as to be saved [they were spiritually blind, and rejected the truth that would have saved them]. (Amplified version)
--- 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10

Reality will flee from the wicked and deception will morph into delusion.
Because of this God will send upon them a misleading influence, [strong delusion] so they will believe the lie, in order that all may be judged and condemned who did not believe the truth [about their sin, and the need for salvation through Christ], but instead took pleasure in unrighteousness. [Amplified version]
--- 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12

God will allow a strong delusion to come upon those who do not love the truth, those who reject the truth.

These are people who have not only heard the truth and rejected it but "who suppress the truth by their wickedness," (Romans 1:18)

" then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority." --- 2 Peter 2:9-10

In actuality, they are deluding themselves, and God allows them to believe their lies with all their hearts.
When we hear truth and obey it, wisdom and insight comes but when we hear truth and disobey, foolishness and folley are ours.

And what will ultimately happen to those who do not believe the TRUTH:
"But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death." --- Revelation 21:8



What is the Strong Delusion in the End Times?
When people know the truth and refuse to receive it and to obey it, God gives them the desire of their heart.
"Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness." --- 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12

There has always been much speculation about what this delusion will be. The strong delusion in verse 11 references idols or little gods and is found several times in Jeremiah: Jeremiah 10:14-15, Jeremiah 51:17-18.

But perhaps the most revealing reference comes from 1 Kings where "The Lord said, 'Who will entice Ahab to go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?' And one said this while another said that. Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord and said, 'I will entice him.' The Lord said to him, 'How?' And he said, 'I will go out and be a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all his [false] prophets.'" --- 1 Kings 22:20-22

I believe this 1 Kings 22:22 verse forshadows the great deception coming in the end times and I believe it will be in the form of lying spirits.

But perhaps the strongest (and a second witness) reference comes from 1 Timothy 4:1
"Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,"

And the Apostle Paul adds clarification to this when he cautions,
"But even if we or 'an angel from heaven' should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed."
Galatians 1:8



Moreover, we know that Satan comes as an angel of light:
"And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light." --- 2 Corinthians 11:14

A false gospel will be taught in the end times.

It may come from the Antichrist.
Or from a fallen (demonic) angel, perhaps in the form of an extrateresteral being (ufo being).

However it comes, it will be a gospel contrary to Jesus Christ.
And sadly, many will believe this false gospel.

And this demonic false gospel along with persecution of those who believe Jesus Christ will cause most to deny the Lord and abandon the faith.
This is the great apostasy or falling away in the last days.

And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. --- Matthew 24:10-13

But remember what the Apostle John said,
"These people left our churches, but they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have stayed with us. When they left, it proved that they did not belong with us." --- 1 John 2:19 NLT

And so, the end result will be the purification of the church, demonstrating that what Satan means for harm, God means for good. (Genesis 50:20)