The part that always grabs me is where God will send somea powerful delusion. Alot could be said or thought about that passage. I see some that are under power delusions from the world.
2 Thessalonians 2
9The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
Even when the bible was written this was allready happening. I have heard it said this way, Satan knows that he will lose the war, but will win some battles. Satans goal is to take as many people down with him as he can. To me that is why it is so sad when I see God rejected and the word treated like a bunch of mumbo jumbo. They do notsee that Satan will take them down to the depths of hell all out of spite and pride.
Here is an example of what you were talking about. There is a man in CA. whose birth name is Jesus and this man is running around telling everyone that he is JESUS and he has come to save them. And there are people who have given him every penny to help him in his mission. This guy smokes, drinks, and surrounds himself with model type women. If those people would have been reading their bibles this wouldn't be happening. This guy takes one verse in the bible and puts it with another so that he can dupe people. Or as I like to call it cut and paste. But the one the bible is talking about will be much worse. I don't think he will cut and paste, Satan knows the scripture and knows how to make it sound different in full content. When Jesus was in the wilderness for 40 days Satan was very forthright with Him. In Job when Satan asked for permission to tempt Job, his was very forthright with God then. But it is guys like the one in CA. that are paving the way for this to happen. These happenings will be very normal when this happens I think.
Put on the armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therfore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplateof righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;above all , taking the shield of faith by with which you will be able to quenchall the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; prayingalways with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perserverance and supplication for all' the saints.
Ephesians 6:11-18
It just catches my attention every time I see it when going thru the New Test.. Why would God send a person a power delusion?
BC, I believe that this delusion is brought against unbelievers that were lost and were never going to be saved at any time past, present or future. I know this may fly a bit in the face of free will but I don't believe there is any way God's Elect can be deluded this way. Same principle that the Lord used on Pharoh and many other enemies of the Lords people. For what purpose? To bring the Jews to repentance and recognize Jesus Christ as the Lord God!
It just catches my attention every time I see it when going thru the New Test.. Why would God send a person a power delusion?
Just wanted to add that I don't think that this affects our free will because God knows our hearts and knows whether or not we call on His name. He knows someones heart before He uses them for a purpose. Also in Pharoah's situation God overthrew him and the Egyptians so that they know that He is the Lord.
Good question BC, you answered the question when you qouted the rest of the scripture,
12and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth
And MH's better 1/2 is right about the need to read the bible
If those people would have been reading their bibles this wouldn't be happening.
But reading isn't enough. The devil quoted scripture to Jesus in the wilderness. It is the believing of the scripture that makes the difference. Jesus said, "if ye believe on me as the scripture hath said, out of your belly shall flow rivers of living water".
Except ye believe that "I am He" ye shall die in your sins.
Jo 20:31 and that believing ye might have life through his name.
1 Jo 5:10 he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, decieving your own selves.
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
He that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that deligiently seek him.
Without faith it is impossible to please God.
II Thess 2:13 God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation THROUGH sanctification of the Spirit and BELIEF of the truth.
Just wanted to add that I don't think that this affects our free will
God knew at the beginning of time, those whom he would have to apply this scripture to...
8And 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:
9Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Free will,I think,is irrelevant in this case... God has blinded many eyes over the ages,this is nothing unusual. it also gos to show that God WILL NOT tolerate forever. it also states that he'll turn us over to a reprobate mind... same principle.
Lets look at it in context. God has freely given us all the truth. We have access to God's word <the bible> his word is preached freely in a lot of area's but we still reject it. We as a general We not a specific we. We has christians accept it. The world rejects the truth and rejects Jesus. They will be wanting an explanation they can believe besides the rapture and being left behind. They will be begging for someone to tell them anything but Christ returned and raptured the church and they missed it and they are stuck with facing the time of Jacob's troubles or "tribulation". If you were one of the ones that God had been dealing with and you kept rejecting God and didn't want to make that commitment to God and ask forgiveness. How would you feel when you looked up and realized that the church had just raptured out of here. They are going to want to believe anything BUT THE TRUTH. They will have the truth <scripture> but they will not want to believe it. Ever read the left behind series brother? It is a great read and sort of helped me understand what the left behind people would have to deal with...... THANK GOD WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE BROTHER!!!!!!!!!!!!
This what my church teaches about truth and i believe it:
2466 In Jesus Christ, the whole of God's truth has been made manifest. "Full of grace and truth," he came as the "light of the world," he is the Truth. "Whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness." The disciple of Jesus continues in his word so as to know "the truth [that] will make you free" and that sanctifies. To follow Jesus is to live in "the Spirit of truth," whom the Father sends in his name and who leads "into all the truth." To his disciples Jesus teaches the unconditional love of truth: "Let what you say be simply 'Yes or No.'"
The search for truth,Jesus, is the important thing. It makes the rest make since to me.
Interesting passage that catches my attn
