Great Deception to Come on Earth.

In our daily meditations, we are thinking about the prophecies of the signs that lead up to the Second Coming of Christ. Jesus gave several early warning signs that would precede His Coming. His first warning was that there would be a time of great deception: “Watch out that you are not deceived” (Luke 21:8). We are now living in that time of deception. Our enemy, Satan, has individuals in place who have gained control of all types of positions of influence in politics, media, and education. From places of power, they promote anti-God philosophies such as evolution, but also values and deception that seek to bring society to a new level of degradation. The enemy is out to corrupt and control minds. 

We are in a spiritual battle that will increase until the time Christ returns. We live in a time when we should get a firm grip on the truth of Scripture and give no credence to the manipulation devices of the enemy, that seen in the media, television, and the Internet. It is not that all that we see on TV is harmful, but we should regard with a healthy dose of skepticism anything on the airwaves. All should be tested against the standard of God’s Word. The Word of God tells us that we are not to believe everything we hear, but we are to test the spirits. 

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world (1 John 4:1).

Every spirit that does not confess that Jesus has come in the flesh is not of God and should be seen as the spirit of Antichrist (1 John 4:1-3). When the disciples asked Christ, what would be the sign of His soon coming, Jesus talked first about deception and false religious men:

²¹At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. ²²For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. ²³So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time (Mark 13:21-23).

Scripture is clear that a person will come onto the world scene in the days, months or years ahead who will set himself up as a Messiah or Christ-like figure. This man will be a master of deception, Mark tells us. He will be a charismatic leader who will solve complex problems on the world scene, perhaps resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict, because Scripture says that he will set himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God and demand to be worshiped (2 Thessalonians 2:4). This act of desecration of the temple means that a temple is yet to be built in Jerusalem. 

Maybe as part of a peace deal, the Jews will be allowed to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. Revelation 13:3 tells us, “the whole world was astonished and followed the beast” (another name for the Antichrist, the false Messiah). Verse 8 of the same chapter tells us, “all inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names are not written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb.” Doesn’t it make you wonder how so many people will be deceived into following this leader? 

The best way to be kept from deception is to know the real Messiah, Jesus. When the Word of God and the Spirit of God direct our lives, we will recognize the counterfeit readily. Those who belong to the Shepherd know His voice (John 10:4). True believers will have discernment when the false Messiah comes along, and no one can snatch you out of the Father’s hand, (John 10:29). 

Prayer: Father, I want to know you and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. Come into my life and fill me with your Spirit, grant me discernment and a love for the Truth. Keith Thomas