Read it again. It says he will make war with the saints.
Believers that refuse his mark will be put to death (by him), so yes he will overcome them in the last days. Believers will die for their faith. Why are you saying these are deceived? How are they deceived? Obviously they're not because they refuse his mark and get put to death as a result. It's those who don't know the truth that will be deceived by the enemy and they will take his mark.
As I said before, the big deception will fool those that are lost (unbelievers), they will believe the lie and many of them will perish because they didn't receive the love of the truth that they might be saved.
The rapture has nothing to do with this end time deception, so don't lean on your own understanding but look at what the scriptures say.
The Great Multitude in Heaven, Rev 7, were deceived. They fell down and worshiped the Beast thinking he was Christ. The Pre-Trib Rapture doctrine is a lie. Satan is behind it. We are warned everywhere about false prophets (which means - teachings). We are warned by Paul not to be deceived concerning the timing of the Lord's return.
We are warned against this Rapture doctrine repeatedly if you know what to look for. We are told 7 times in the NT alone to have "patience and faith" (which means wait for the
real Christ and not go out after the first "Christ"). We are told, "not to love our lives to the death." We are told "that those who wish to save their lives will lose them and those that lose their lives will save them." We are told to put on the Armor of God, girding ourselves with Truth and not to walk naked and be ashamed." Christ tells us that "(He) has told us all things (concerning the end times)" yet He never discusses a Rapture. The warning signs are everywhere.
I know if you were raised being taught the Rapture that you will find it impossible to believe its a lie. My dad was a Baptist minister for 18 years so I was taught the Rapture too. It wasn't until later in life when I read the whole Bible that I could not find the Rapture in the Bible. I have been studying this issue and end times prophesy for 20 years.
As for the Great Multitude, they were slaughtered and God allows it because they did not remain pure to Him, they "slept" with false doctrines and teachings. Contrast them with the 144K who are called virgins (spiritual virgins), meaning they never worshiped false gods or doctrines. The 144K are called "firstfruits redeemed from men" This alone proves no rapture because there can't be anyone redeemed from men before the 144K and they are still on earth throughout the Trib.
Revelation is full of spiritual imagery. The seals, trumpets and bowls are not all literal. The 144K aren't a bunch of kids or nerdy virgin geeks - they are the cream of the crop of all Christians of Jewish descent. Mystery Babylon being the Mother of all Harlots doesn't mean she is the top Madam in the world. Just about every passage in Revelation has a witness or other place in the Bible where the same issue is taught. You need to find those other passages to figure out the symbolism.
The Great Multitude were
hungry,
thirsty, ashamed (the sun will not light on them nor any heat) and
crying. Everyone thinks this was because they had it so tough during the tribulation. Not so!! They were killed, not Raptured. Their robes had to be washed in the blood of the lamb to make them white. They were thankful for salvation. They were standing before the throne of God, not under the alter with the martyrs.
Now look at Isaiah 65:
12
Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called , ye did not answer ; when I spake , ye did not hear ; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not. 13 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat , but
ye shall be hungry : behold, my servants shall drink , but
ye shall be thirsty : behold, my servants shall rejoice , but
ye shall be ashamed : 14 Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but
ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit. 15 And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen:
for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name:
Jesus says in Mat 24: "Woe to those who are pregnant and nursing in those days." This is NOT a reference to actual pregnant and nursing mothers. A child is a gift from God, not a curse. This is a reference to those who are falling false doctrines, teachings of man, or worse. Those pregnant are believing the lies of Satan, those nursing are feeding or teaching the lie - i.e. pastors teaching the Rapture.
Read Mat 24:21-26. This is the passage right after the Abomination of Desolation is seen. What is Jesus emphasizing in these verses? Not to go forth after any false Christs!! The Rapture twists God's words and timing. It sets up the Antichrist to deceive the church. Who misled the people when Christ was on earth?? The religious leaders. Who is teaching this false rapture doctrine today and leading their sheep to the slaughter?? History repeats. Read Ezek 13.2-7, 16, 20 KJV. Read Jer 8:11:
11 For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of My people slightly, Saying, 'Peace, peace!' When there is no peace.
God has NEVER taught his people to run away from hard times. God has NEVER removed His people from earth to protect them. We are given tools and armor to stand firm. We are to be the salt and light, not the cowards who flee. Satan is the master deceiver. He
ALWAYS takes scripture and twists it into something we prefer. Satan know the Bible better than any of us. Satan CANNOT harm one hair of a saint unless God allows it. So why would God allow the Great Multitude to be killed???? Maybe because they believed the lie and went out when Christ told them to Not Go Out.
Turn to Rev 14:
12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. 13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write: 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.' "
This passage takes place AFTER the multitude is seen in heaven. Why is it only those who die from now on are blessed? Because they had patience and keep the commandments of God and had faith in Jesus. They were sealed on their foreheads with the truth concerning when the Lord returns and knew when not to go out.
The Great Tribulation is a period of incredible Satanic temptation and miracles. He will deceive many Christians. Don't be one of them.
Satan doesn't need to deceive the lost, they are his already. Satan wants to embarrass God by deceiving as many Christians as he can.