Many people believe we are living in the last days. They point to nuclear proliferation, terrorism, rampant immorality, economic chaos, pandemic diseases, and Lady Gaga as examples. "How much longer can we last as a species?" they ask. Good question that no one has the answer to.
But a sign of the end, at least in Biblical terms, is a great deception that many people will willingly believe. Read 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. This is the "man of sin" passage. After Paul describes this man, he goes on to say that his appearing will be accompanied by counterfeit miracles, signs, and wonders. We saw before how Satan can reproduce God's miracles to a certain degree. These lying wonders are meant to deceive those "who are perishing". Here are the next few verses:
"They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness."
Simply put, God will send a delusion to people who want to believe the delusion. He will give them what they want. They will refuse the truth, and choose to believe this lie even if it damns them.
But what is this "lie"?
Paul does not say what it is, so I will speculate based on what I see going on in the world.
"Jesus was one of us". "It was us who parted the Red Sea". "Where do you think your technology came from?" People will believe them and worship them. That great question will finally be answered!
"Where do we come from?"
From E.T.!
Number 2: Atheism. This philosophy is spreading like wildfire. Just go on the Internet and you will see some serious negativity directed toward religion, especially Christianity. Atheist scientists like to point out how our universe didn't need a designer or a beginner, thus eliminating God from the picture. They try to evangelize the masses with their message, but the big problem they have is that people want to believe in God. Atheism looks to be trying to turn itself into a religion, which may help it's cause, since it gives a person something to believe in. Even if it's nothing.
As we unlock more and more mysteries of the created order, we may find we don't need God anymore. This is the atheist's greatest weapon.
Number 3: Ecumenism. This is the syncretizing of all religions. "All roads lead to God." If someone could fuse together the great religions of the world we would all be better off. There is a huge movement for this, especially from the Vatican.
Yeah, I know it's not the current Pope but it's a cool pose. I bring him up because they're an easy target. His followers won't blow me up. (I'm glad Catholics have a sense of humor!) But really, the coming of the man of sin, who sets himself up as God, is in accordance with counterfeit miracles and the delusion that follows. Perhaps Paul was referring to the coming Papacy and all the miracles that flowed from Catholicism (stigmata, saints performing miracles, etc.). Maybe the alien disclosure will come from the Vatican! Supposedly they have been preparing for their arrival for years.
Ken Ham believes "The Lie" is a great book title. I mean, he believes "the lie" is evolution. I don't think evolution is going to make people abandon God, since a lot of folk just combine the two. Sorry, Ken, but you can believe in both and still go to Heaven!
So what does that leave us with? What lie could deceive the whole world? How about this: The lie that God isn't watching. That He's impotent, aloof, uncaring. We all believe this already. We behave as if He isn't there, as if He isn't keeping an account. And that is the biggest deception of all, for we go on building our lives on sand without any concern that a storm may come and blow us all away. We are constructing a new Tower of Babel while shoving God out of the way so we can deify ourselves. In effect, we are saying "We don't need you anymore."
But a sign of the end, at least in Biblical terms, is a great deception that many people will willingly believe. Read 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. This is the "man of sin" passage. After Paul describes this man, he goes on to say that his appearing will be accompanied by counterfeit miracles, signs, and wonders. We saw before how Satan can reproduce God's miracles to a certain degree. These lying wonders are meant to deceive those "who are perishing". Here are the next few verses:
"They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness."
Simply put, God will send a delusion to people who want to believe the delusion. He will give them what they want. They will refuse the truth, and choose to believe this lie even if it damns them.
But what is this "lie"?
Paul does not say what it is, so I will speculate based on what I see going on in the world.
- Alien take-over
- Atheism
- Ecumenical religion
"Jesus was one of us". "It was us who parted the Red Sea". "Where do you think your technology came from?" People will believe them and worship them. That great question will finally be answered!
"Where do we come from?"
From E.T.!
Number 2: Atheism. This philosophy is spreading like wildfire. Just go on the Internet and you will see some serious negativity directed toward religion, especially Christianity. Atheist scientists like to point out how our universe didn't need a designer or a beginner, thus eliminating God from the picture. They try to evangelize the masses with their message, but the big problem they have is that people want to believe in God. Atheism looks to be trying to turn itself into a religion, which may help it's cause, since it gives a person something to believe in. Even if it's nothing.
As we unlock more and more mysteries of the created order, we may find we don't need God anymore. This is the atheist's greatest weapon.
Number 3: Ecumenism. This is the syncretizing of all religions. "All roads lead to God." If someone could fuse together the great religions of the world we would all be better off. There is a huge movement for this, especially from the Vatican.
Yeah, I know it's not the current Pope but it's a cool pose. I bring him up because they're an easy target. His followers won't blow me up. (I'm glad Catholics have a sense of humor!) But really, the coming of the man of sin, who sets himself up as God, is in accordance with counterfeit miracles and the delusion that follows. Perhaps Paul was referring to the coming Papacy and all the miracles that flowed from Catholicism (stigmata, saints performing miracles, etc.). Maybe the alien disclosure will come from the Vatican! Supposedly they have been preparing for their arrival for years.
Ken Ham believes "The Lie" is a great book title. I mean, he believes "the lie" is evolution. I don't think evolution is going to make people abandon God, since a lot of folk just combine the two. Sorry, Ken, but you can believe in both and still go to Heaven!
So what does that leave us with? What lie could deceive the whole world? How about this: The lie that God isn't watching. That He's impotent, aloof, uncaring. We all believe this already. We behave as if He isn't there, as if He isn't keeping an account. And that is the biggest deception of all, for we go on building our lives on sand without any concern that a storm may come and blow us all away. We are constructing a new Tower of Babel while shoving God out of the way so we can deify ourselves. In effect, we are saying "We don't need you anymore."
They build their lives in sinking sand. Great blog and so timely
ReplyDeleteVERY INTERESTING, THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR VIEWS.
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome. Thank you for reading!
DeleteEEEEEEhhhhhhhh, I am shocked. Miracle performers are numerous today. I have been wondering, God performs miracles and He can do anything. He is afterall the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow. How then can we tell the liars from God-sent miracle performers? Could it be possible that they are all deceiving us? Or is there a slight chance one or two of them are actually God-sent.
ReplyDeleteJudas was able to heal the sick and cast out demons, and he surely wasn't a good man. Jesus had given him authority to do so because he was a disciple. He also said you would know them by their fruit. However, Satan has power to deceive. So how do you know the difference? The Bible is the measuring stick. If a new teaching is put out there that seems good but contradicts the Word of God, it's no good. If a miracle is performed but takes a person away from God, it's counterfeit. One must truly be following Christ to not fall for the Devil's tricks!
Delete(From John 8) "You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
ReplyDelete33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s offspring, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How do you say, ‘You will be made free’?”
34 Jesus answered them, “Most certainly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the bondservant of sin. 35 A bondservant doesn’t live in the house forever. A son remains forever. 36 If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed."
The truth will lead you to stop committing sins.
Wow, this was a really interesting look at the question. I tend to lean towards Aethism being the 'Lie', but they're all good theories. I look forward to more of your posts.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Delete