November 15th, 2023
Have you given much thought lately of where the world is headed? You might be asking, “what’s up with Israel these days? I think we are closer than we realize to the return of Jesus Christ our LORD. But as we eagerly wait for His return, the world, and the devil are preparing for the anti-christ’s arrival. The man of sin (anti-christ) is the one of whom the Scripture calls – the prince to come (Daniel 9:26-27). His coming will be according to the working of satan (John 8:44), because all that he does is a lie. His coming will be with all power, signs, lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception (Revelation 13:1-18)
But let us remember (Colossians 1:9-18) our Lord is Sovereign! Who is it that will believe the deception of the man of sin (the anti-christ)? Those who are perishing (John 3:16-21) (1 Corinthians 16:22) (2 Corinthians 4:1-6) (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10). They are those who reject the very Truth (John 14:6) that they might be saved. It is God who sends them a strong delusion (error – fraud) – that they should believe the lie (1 Timothy 4:1). The question is, “Why would God do this? To condemn those who did not believe the truth, these are those who have their pleasure in unrighteousness.
One really sees the beginning of this in (Romans 1:18-32) (Romans 2:1-16). People who are lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God are prime candidates for deception. How can we know we won’t be of those who will follow a lie? You must be one who believes and obey the gospel of Jesus Christ. Is that you? Do you love the truth? Do you believe the truth? Is your love and faith in the truth sufficient not to be misled by the man of sin or is your love for unrighteousness setting you up to be deceived even more?Our attitude and treatment of God’s Word will determine whether we will be susceptible to deception by the man of sin, so stand strong.