What is the strong delusion that would cause people to believe a lie?

Markum1972 · Oct 4, 2016

This topic has been on the mind and heart of my wife and I lately. It is because we have been prompted to pray about this more and more. Not just for ourselves, but others.

It is simply our desire to not be deceived and we know that only God can prevent this. It is our desire that no one would fall prey to any deception and be caught off guard when it comes to God's plan for his people.

The question as to what is the lie that is warned about in 2 Thessalonians 2 has come up a lot lately.

Through prayer and meditating on this, we discovered that the answer is located right in that same chapter.

I have heard a lot of theories about what the lie is about. I just wanted to present this for others to study and discuss.

I have opened this topic as a place to discuss 2 Thessalonians 2. What is written there? What does it say not to be misled about?

Please try to refrain from debate about what you believe and stick to what is written in those scriptures. I hope that this will come to others as a blessing that might give understanding on this topic.

Grace and peace be to all of you through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Magenta · Oct 4, 2016

2 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

InSpiritInTruth · Oct 4, 2016

It's about the falling away from the faith, and they are given strong delusion because they refused to receive the Truth of the gospel.

[SUP]3 [/SUP]Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;......

[SUP]10 [/SUP]And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

[SUP]11 [/SUP]And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

[SUP]12 [/SUP]That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

This is happening right now.

Magenta · Oct 4, 2016

5 Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed,whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

Magenta · Oct 4, 2016

13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as first fruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.

16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

FreeNChrist · Oct 4, 2016

Markum1972 said:

This topic has been on the mind and heart of my wife and I lately. It is because we have been prompted to pray about this more and more. Not just for ourselves, but others.

It is simply our desire to not be deceived and we know that only God can prevent this. It is our desire that no one would fall prey to any deception and be caught off guard when it comes to God's plan for his people.

The question as to what is the lie that is warned about in 2 Thessalonians 2 has come up a lot lately.

Through prayer and meditating on this, we discovered that the answer is located right in that same chapter.

I have heard a lot of theories about what the lie is about. I just wanted to present this for others to study and discuss.

I have opened this topic as a place to discuss 2 Thessalonians 2. What is written there? What does it say not to be misled about?

Please try to refrain from debate about what you believe and stick to what is written in those scriptures. I hope that this will come to others as a blessing that might give understanding on this topic.

Grace and peace be to all of you through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

It is the delusion that man can be what only God is.

Yet · Oct 4, 2016

Refrain from debate? The only way to do that is don't post anything.

notuptome · Oct 4, 2016

Yet said:

That's debatable.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

mpaper345 · Oct 4, 2016

Markum1972 said:

God is going to give the world 7 years to have their way,and cause all people that do not love Him to follow the beast kingdom.

The first three and one half years the world will operate by the ten horn kingdom,the world split in to ten sections with a leader in each section,having a one world religious system where all religions are valid for a spiritual benefit,and fundamental Christianity,Islam,and Judaism,will be interpreted by the main interpretation of the unified religious system,causing people to not embrace the truth of the Bible,and not listen for all are valid,and Christianity will rapidly decline in reaching the world.

This is the falling away first.

Then the man of sin will address the world that he is God,by harnessing the power of nature,and achieving power higher than any other person of the occult,nature worship,can achieve,so he is top dog.

The saints will not be gathered unto Christ until those two things occur.

God is given the world 7 years to have their way,and cause all people that do not love Him to take the mark of the beast,so God can end this sin business,for when they take the mar,salvation is no longer available,and when they make war against the saints,and scatter their power,then the saints shall be gathered unto Christ.

The Bible says when the world says,Peace and safety,then sudden destruction comes upon them,and they shall not escape,which is when the world comes together to try to achieve peace on earth,and slowly cut God out of the picture,which the beast kingdom does not regard any god.

The Bible says that the saints will not be deceived by that,for they will know it is not the operation of God.

The Church of Philadelphia,Jesus did not have anything against them,and because of that He would keep them from the hour of temptation,that shall come upon the whole world,to try all them that dwell on earth,which there is only one temptation that can come upon the whole world,and that is when they say,Peace and safety,for those that are not in the truth of Christianity will be tempted by it,for they do not have the Spirit,but are hypocrites.

The 6 trumpets are 6 disasters that happen on earth,that the world knows about,but after each one they keep trying to solve their problems instead of turning to God.

After the 6th trumpet which causes one third of then world to die,and describes nuclear weapons as the cause of so much destruction,God said they still will not repent of their sins,and they will not turn to God,so God gives them the man of sin to rule over them(Revelation 9:12-21).

War breaks out in heaven between Michael and the angels,and the Dragon and his angels,and the devils are defeated,and cast to earth,which Satan appears as the beast,the man of sin,to deceive all who do not love God,and to make war against all who hold the testimony of Jesus(Revelation 12).

The Bible says the earth has become the habitation of devils,and the hold of every foul spirit,and the cage of every unclean and hateful bird,which the earth becomes the devils holding cell,and Satan is no longer the prince of the power of the air.

The strong delusion that God will send all those who do not love Him,and have pleasure in unrighteousness,and not in the truth,is that they will be deceived by a devil,and will follow the beast kingdom,which is a delusion that cannot snap out of like someone can snap out of delusion now.

When the devils are cast to earth,which happens because the world keeps trying to achieve peace on earth,and solve its problems,and will not turn to God,the devils will deceive all people that are not in the truth,because they have pleasure in doing wrong,and not right,and they will follow the beast kingdom,and take the mark,and then make war against the saints,and scatter their power,then comes the end when the Son shall deliver up the kingdom to the Father,and the saints will be gathered unto Christ.

Grace777x70 · Oct 4, 2016

Satan and his horde do not come to the believer in Christ and say "Sin all you want" because no one would for fall for such a lie.

Instead they come as "ministers of righteousness".

They want us to live by our own D.I.Y. self-righteousness/holiness so that we will be not be depending on what Christ has done for us by grace through faith alone for salvation.

This cuts us off from receiving the grace of God in our lives.

2 Corinthians 11:14-15 (KJV)
[SUP]14 [/SUP] And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

[SUP]15 [/SUP] Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

( notice that is "their" works )

This below is what satan is really after...this is why he has false teachers in our midst. He wants us to fall away from grace and depend on our own performance.

1 Peter 1:13
[SUP]13 [/SUP] Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace being brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Markum1972 · Oct 4, 2016

InSpiritInTruth said:

It's about the falling away from the faith, and they are given strong delusion because they refused to receive the Truth of the gospel.

[SUP]3 [/SUP]Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;......

[SUP]10 [/SUP]And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

[SUP]11 [/SUP]And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

[SUP]12 [/SUP]That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

This is happening right now.

Agreed. That same chapter tells you what the lie is about. What is the information that we are not to accept?

Zmouth · Oct 4, 2016

Markum1972 said:

Really? it is written in Mark 9:23 that Jesus said, if thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

So if you know that only God can prevent you from being deceived then if you don't believe it is possible for anyone else to prevent you from being deceived then it appears that you have already deceived yourself.

Stephen63 · Oct 4, 2016

Greek Strong's Number: 4106
Part of Speech: n f
Vine's Words: Delude, Delusion, Error
feminine of <G4108> (planos) (as abstract); object fraudulence; subject a straying from orthodoxy or piety :- deceit, to deceive, delusion, error.

Delusion would be deception. Since the verse says strong delusion, it's strong deception. So strong that once believers buy in to it, they can't escape.

As far as determining what exactly it is, is simple. The REAL TRUTH will be diminished in the eyes of the people due to the increasing popularity of the deceptive teaching. What we're looking for then, is the current teachings that are growing & multiplying, because real truth is decreasing.

Whatever teaching is growing & multiplying cannot be of God. It IS the deception.

Stunnedbygrace · Oct 5, 2016

Markum1972 said:

The information we are not to accept is someone giving a wrong order as to how it will occur. They had been deceived by someone who told them the day of Lord had already begun.

So he reiterated the order. First, the apostasy/forsaking/departure. (We aren't really given what this is forsaking is or who it is who does the forsaking until the later verse.) And then, AFTER this departure/forsaking, THEN the man of lawlessness will be revealed.
And he said, you KNOW what is restraining him from appearing, but once the Restrainer steps out of the way/departs/no longer restrains, only then can he be revealed.

disciplemike · Oct 5, 2016

InSpiritInTruth said:

Verse 12 shows a distinct link to those "who believed not the truth" and those who "had pleasure in unrighteousness".
Interesting.
We know the Messiah is the Truth, but also we know that God's instructions are the Truth. (Ps119:142)
In my opinion, when a person does not follow God's instructions, it is called "unrighteousness".
Good post.

Stunnedbygrace · Oct 5, 2016

So it sounds like they had been convinced that this man of lawlessness had already appeared. There have been other times in history also where a man did so despicably that people were convinced he was this man of lawlessness, but these men proved only to be shadows of the one to come.

InSpiritInTruth · Oct 5, 2016

Here is one of the posts I have made on the topic....

We are warned in 1 Timothy 4:1 “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;” Also in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;”

The falling away from the faith above mentioned by Paul has to do with the saints of God being overcome by all the lies and deception of the Devil by way of his spirit, which is the spirit of a lie. This spirit of a lie is also shown as the false prophet spirit which works in many deceivers. As many false prophets and teachers were foretold to come into the world like a swarm of locusts from hell and darken the Light of the Truth in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Paul was playing off the words of Jesus when he referred to “that man” and “son of perdition” in the above verse. But this is not to be misunderstood as a being single individual man yet to come in the future like Judas, but rather it speaks of the sin nature of man (mystery of iniquity) being raised back up again in the world and embraced. These seducing spirits and doctrines of devils would enter into the man-made church system, thereby causing many to play the Harlot with the ways of the world, and thereby making them desolate of good works and naked by sin.

Notice how Jesus refers to a whole wicked generation as “a man” and “ that man” (like Paul said) here in Matthew 12:43-45 “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.[SUP]44 [/SUP]Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.[SUP]45 [/SUP]Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.”

Now notice the wording Jesus used showing the “last state of that man” referring to a whole wicked generation compared to Peters concerning this same falling away in 2 Peter 2:20-22 “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.[SUP]21 [/SUP]For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.[SUP]22 [/SUP]But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.”

Many of the saints being overcome is also shown here in Revelation 13:7 “And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.” So this spirit of deception and lies would also overcome many of the saints as is also confirmed here in Daniel 7:21 “I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;” That horn is the tail of the red Dragon, which speaks of the spirit of a lie working in all the false prophets of the world. This spirit of a lie was foretold to practice and prosper in the world and also cast the truth and also some of the host of heaven to the ground.

So was Paul talking about a single man in 2 Thess. or a single evil spirit and also other seducing spirits working in a whole wicked generation like Jesus said? Well if you read the whole chapter in 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12 you will see this truth shown…“And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 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.And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:[SUP]12 [/SUP]That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

Clearly Paul was talking about more than one single individual man in the above verses using words like them , they, and they all.

But what about the term “son of perdition?” It speaks of the same thing, as was first shown in Judas (one who broke bread at the Lords table) who also sold out the Truth for a pocket full of silver, just as the firstborn Esau sold his birth right for some red pottage.(sin) Look at what Peter had to say about the “son of perdition.”

Peter goes on to quote scripture concerning Judas, (son of perdition) in the Psalms Acts 1:20 “For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.” Now, in order to confirm my point about there being more than one “son of perdition” or son who goes into destruction, let’s look at the Psalms from where Peter was drawing this from.

In Psalm 69 we see this same language used in verse Psalm 69:25 “Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents.” Notice the Psalm says “their” as in more than one. As a matter of fact, if you read the whole Psalm the Lord is speaking of many, like in verse 4 the Lord says “they that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head”. The Lord repeatedly uses the words “they their, and them”, in the Psalm just as Paul also used the same language in 2 Thess 2:10-12 describing the man of sin, (lawlessness) and son of perdition.

Now let’s confirm the same message in another Psalm which speaks of what Peter quoted also in Psalm 109:8 “Let his days be few; and let another take his office.” Now that sounds more like what Peter was quoting from when he said in Acts 1:20 “Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take” Which this does speak specifically about the single man Judas. (Which has already been fulfilled as Jesus noted in John 17:12.)

But let’s now look at that Psalm in the greater context of what is being said.

Psalm 109:1-13 Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise;[SUP]2 [/SUP]For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue.[SUP]3 [/SUP]They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.[SUP]4 [/SUP]For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer.[SUP]5 [/SUP]And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.[SUP]6 [/SUP]Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand.[SUP]7 [/SUP]When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin.[SUP]8 [/SUP]Let his days be few; and let another take his office.[SUP]9 [/SUP]Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.[SUP]10 [/SUP]Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg: let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places.[SUP]11 [/SUP]Let the extortioner catch all that he hath; and let the strangers spoil his labour.[SUP]12 [/SUP]Let there be none to extend mercy unto him: neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children.[SUP]13 [/SUP]Let his posterity be cut off; and in the generation following let their name be blotted out.”

So though him was referring to the single man Judas in this Psalm, as both Jesus and Peter confirmed, I believe it is very clear that Paul was not talking about a single man yet to come, but rather a whole wicked generation who would fall away from following after the Truth in Christ, and also go into destruction.

Tintin · Oct 5, 2016

I think the strong delusion is evolution. Because most of the world believes it, even many Christians.

notuptome · Oct 5, 2016

Stephen63 said:

Believers cannot be deceived by this delusion. That is why the Holy Spirit is in us as believers. When the church is taken from the earth prior to the great tribulation the delusion will come upon the world and almost deceive the elect of God who is Israel.

Believers as in the church that is the body and bride of Christ will not be deceived.

Because of all the false professors and false teachers in the world the ground work for this deception is well under way. A socializing evangelism and no biblical discipleship will doubtless make many defenseless against the deception of the devil.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

Grace777x70 · Oct 5, 2016

It helps when we read scripture in it's context as in 1 Tim. 4:1-5 illustrates beautifully to see just what this "falling away is".

1 Timothy 4:1-5 (NASB)
[SUP]1 [/SUP] But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away ( apostesontai ) from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,

[SUP]2 [/SUP] by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron,

[SUP]3 [/SUP] men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.

[SUP]4 [/SUP] For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude;

[SUP]5 [/SUP] for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.

What is going to cause this "falling away" ( apostasy )...people who forbid others to marry...and not to eat certain foods...why is this departing from the faith?...it's in verse 3, 4 and 5.

verse 3 = which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.

It's in knowing who you are in Christ - who is the truth and the faith....this not marrying and not eating certain foods to keep yourself "separated" from others..is a form of self-effort and reliance on a D.I.Y. self-righteousness/holiness mindset.

This is "departing from the faith - apostasy"....... is people creating their own D.I.Y. self-righteousness/holiness through their works of the flesh by self-effort...

It has the "appearance " of good but it denies the power to effect real change ...which is Christ in us and His life.

.. man-made religion denying the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ is the real "departing from the faith"

What is the strong delusion that would cause people to believe a lie?

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