Preface: "When it rains at night my patio furniture gets wet. It is morning and my patio furniture is wet. Therefore it must have rained last night." Maybe it rained....or maybe I forgot to turn the sprinkler off? It is written in Daniel 2:21 that God...."removes kings and sets up kings." Daniel gathered together Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah....so that they could pray to God for mercy and receive the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream. Let us likewise pray for wisdom and not piece together what could be logical fallacies.
We know that God's Word tells us of a strong delusion in the end-times....this is in 2 Thessalonians 2:11...."Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false." So we know that....and it is clear.....but we do not talk about it....primarily because we have no idea what it might turn out to be. Matthew 24:24....this in the Olivet Discourse on the end-times...."For false Christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect"....that verse is related to Paul's warning in 2 Thessalonians. The verse previous to 2 Thessalonians 2:11 tells us why there will be a strong delusion..."because they refused to love the truth and be saved." Please read 2 Thessalonians....say five times to start with....both letters to the Thessalonians....for Paul is warning of a "falling away"....in the church folks....aka....evangelicalism.
I can off the top of my head think of three or four things that would qualify as delusions....that is just speculation....but the fact that we do not know what it is should not discourage us from thinking heavily and even often....not necessarily on the speculations....but on the fact that a strong delusion will indeed come upon us....and it will be so strong that even Christians will be tempted to believe it. In fact....this should at least always be in the back of our mind!
The definition of the word 'delusion'....according to Merriam-Webster is...."something that is falsely believed or propagated"....and that it...."implies an inability to distinguish between what is real and what only seems to be real."
We need also to keep in mind that the passage with 2 Thessalonians 2:11....begins with...."Therefore God sends them a strong delusion..." This is very important! The above verse....Matthew 24:24....is followed by...."See, I have told you beforehand." How many times have each and every one of us read this....but did it ever sink in?
I do have speculations but I'm not bringing it or them up here....because....what I want to emphasize....is that we must not only be aware that strong delusion is coming....but we must take this seriously....and put everything that might have some kind of emotional or experiential effect on us on a pure biblical grid....complete with all the warnings!
Where are our shepherds at this time? They have a divinely sanctioned responsibility to protect the sheep....but they instead choose to protect the individual freedoms....but what good is an open church door....if the glory of God is not inside? What good is the shepherd if he only protects the wool of the sheep....picking off the insects and briars....so that the wolf has a tastier meal?
Folks....I just want to plant a seed....a seed of vigilance towards this coming if not already present delusion! If God wants it to grow...it will grow.
