In the last days Paul said there will be many deceivers. That it would become so rampant that it will be the rule, not the exception. We are seeing this today in just about everything that happens politically, religiously, and economically.
So this is no time to be letting our guard down. In fact, it should be our first priority to be as close to Jesus and His word that deception can not touch us. Keeping His word ever before us. Not allowing the deceptions that are everywhere today to have any pl;ace in our hearts and minds.
This is why there are so many different voices saying so many different things. One uses his calculator to figure out what is really happening. And another something completely different. Differing mostly because of things like worldview and selfish motivation.
Which is why there are so many differing views on things like what happened with the Oct.7 killings of many people in Israel. What is actually going on in Gaza. And why Trump met with Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg the other day. Or what really happened when Charlie Kirk was shot a few days ago.
This is why it is so important that we know the truth from the word of God. The Bible. And that it becomes ingrained in us to the point that what it says is always our go to when we hear about the events that are happening around us and around the world.
Knowing that not everything that happens is a fulfillment of Bible prophecy. But, that some are. And having the discernment to know the difference.
The Bible says that one way we can always eventually get to what is really in a person’s heart is by listening carefully to the words that come out of their mouth. Jesus told us this in Mt.12:33 when He said “A tree is know by its fruit”. And then proceeded to reveal to them and us what He meant by fruit when the next thing He said was, “34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”
So if we want to make sure we have not been deceived we must listen to what a person is saying. they may try to trick you at first for whatever reason. But, eventually what is really in their heart will always eventually come out of their mouth.
So this is how to keep from being deceived. We listen to the words people say. Even our own words. Because then we can “examine ourselves to see whether we be in the faith”. By comparing the words we and others say with what the Bible says.
Now the devil will even try to trick us by quoting the word of God as he did when he was trying to deceive Jesus into worshipping him. But, if we know God’s word he gives himself away when he does that. Because God’s word says that only the true God is to be worshipped. And nothing that He has created. Which is why Jesus answered him that way.
So the devil uses deception even by quoting the word of God, hoping that while we may know about the God who wrote it, we do not know the God who wrote it. Because as John says in 1John5:18-21 when we do know Him we know the truth. And when we keep ourselves in the truth the devil can not succeed in his preferred method of deception causing men to do what he wants them to.
This has always been the preferred method of communication for Satan. He is the father of lies and has been a liar from the beginning. The most subtle of all the beasts of the field as Gen.3:1 told us, just before he began to beguile Eve into eating the fruit.
So he will use his subtle deception to cause men to take his mark. And even though I have heard some say that everyone who takes the mark of the beast will know exactly what they are doing. This deception will also be the method by which that old serpent, the devil, Satan will cause both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive the mark of the beast in their right hand or forehead.
He will use a ruse to convince people it is in their best interest. Even in the interest of all that is holy. To take the mark. As he will no doubt work on their perceived spirituality and emotions to draw them to it.
So successful will his deception be that we are told in Mt.24:24 that it will deceive even the very elect if it were possible. Those here during the great tribulation, the time of Jacob’s trouble, who because of their knowledge of the scriptures should know better.
We see the building blocks for this deception in it’s infancy in 1John4:1-3 where John writes about the antichrist spirit saying, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”
The antichrist spirit then uses the deception that since Jesus is holy. And the flesh is evil. Jesus could not possibly have come in the same flesh all men have. And this is a clue for us to help us understand how this deception will work. Even on people who should know better.
It will work because the strong delusion that has taken the church by storm since the days of Augustine of Hippo is the majority view of the church today. This view is what Augustine called the doctrine of necessity. And what Calvin called total depravity.
Using this seed that has already been planted in the hearts and minds of the church. Satan’s man of sin will use it somehow to cause people to accept the mark of the beast.
So the deception and appeal has already been placed in the hearts and minds of those who attend churches every week. Believing the sin nature doctrine to be the spiritual truth that has helped them make the decision to become children of God. And by this has opened the door for their acceptance of the mark long before it comes on the scene.
We saw how it will work during the jab years that we all recently experienced. During which all both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond were told they must receive the clot shot in order to keep their job and buy or sell.
And even though these conditions that are strikingly similar to what we are told in Rev.13 will be the conditions upon which antichrist runs his empire were in place. Many pastors and parishioners not only took it, but they even proclaimed that Jesus would take it if He were here. Making it somehow a spiritual thing.
This is how antichrist will present it as well. Making it something that will connect a person with God on a spiritual level unattainable without it. Saying it is selfish not to. Saying it is only their evil flesh that they have been taught always stands in the way of what God has for them that is keeping them from seeing the good in it.
This is why in 1Tim.4:1-3 Paul wrote, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.”
It’s funny that the forbidding to marry part is already here. And has been since the RCC forbad priests and nuns from marrying. And it just so happens that it is the RCC through the teachings of Augustine that has convinced so many that the flesh is evil. What a coincidence, huh?
Oh they do the eating meats thing too. But, only as a pretense at piety and self denial. As if the flesh is really evil and needs to be starved. Even pushing the notion that this is what fasting was for. And why Paul said “I keep my body under subjection.” When these convey nothing of the sort. But, rather are only about where we place our focus.
The deception we see all around us today, and there are many, is mostly a distraction. Meant to keep us off balance so that we will not focus on our relationship with Jesus.
But, we must not allow ourselves to become preoccupied with these distractions. Instead we must remain focused on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Because it is through those words that we are guided through the choices we will be faced with.
Choices that keep us from obeying the wrong voice. As Paul said in 2Tim.3,
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
And how do these deny the power of God even while displaying a form of godliness you might ask. By being deceived by Satan through the sin nature doctrine to deny the power of God to deliver completely and utterly from sin. As Paul said He has in Rom.6:14, by delivering the Jew from the law. And also as he said in 1Thes.1:9 delivering the gentile from his idols.
By this Jesus has made of both one new man. Believers in Jesus, His called out ones or ecclesia. Eph.2:15
So if you want to be part of God’s ecclesia, one of His called out ones, who has been delivered from sin completely. And who keeps himself in the truth so that he can not be deceived by Satan. Then do as Paul instructs us to in Rom.10:9,10 and confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus. And believe in your heart that He has raised from the dead. Paul says he who does this shall be saved.
If you will do this then you will be made a child of God by a spirit God creates in you, and as His child an heir to His kingdom. If you will do this then eternal life will be yours now. And immortality at the resurrection. If you will do this… then I will see you there or in the air!
