Recently, I decided to get an opinion (of
sorts), which then I hoped might lead to a
consensus concerning current events. Now, we
all have the newspapers and the Internet,
even on our phones. I have asked what people
think, knowing they have such widespread
access to information.
In the beginning of my seeking opinion, I
asked my questions to friends and family,
then I began to ask strangers whenever I was
engaged with them verbally. My concern was
about anything: natural disasters, the
economy, political unrest across the globe,
the Middle-East unrest, and terrorism.
What I heard was “nation against nation,”
“race against race,” “religion against
religion,” and “belief against belief.” And
surprisingly, it usually began with simple
statements:
“I’m just tired of all the violence.”
“Can’t they see it’s nobody’s business what
someone else thinks or feels?”
“I don’t care if they’re Muslim or anything
else; keep your thoughts to yourself!”
“Just because you feel this way or that
doesn’t mean everyone else has to!”
Not everyone went beyond those words or the
like, but a few were willing to elaborate.
The latter group was always willing to say,
“If that’s YOUR religion or political
belief…GREAT!!! Now keep it to yourself!”
And these words were stated in exasperation,
by and large.
How would you know this is the correct
approach to take concerning those two areas?
Some religions state that the followers
should expound their wisdom to others. In
some cases, for some religions, it’s a
requirement. I would try and state. “Don’t
ya think it would be better to ask the other
person, if they are willing to listen to it
first? And IF not…then drop the issue and go
about your business? The same thing goes for
politics—ya know what I mean?”
This is the best description of the answers
I would get. It didn’t take long before I
saw that I had run into a very unique
situation with those whom I knew well (or
thought I did) and those few that I didn’t
know at all. The “Great Delusion”
was well on its way. Here are the
Bible verses that tell of this delusion.
2 Thessalonians 2:1–12:
1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our
gathering together unto him,
2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be
troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word,
nor by letter as from us, as that the day of
Christ is at hand.
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;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above
all that is called God, or that is
worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God
, shewing himself that he is God.
5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet
with you, I told you these things?
6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he
might be revealed in his time.
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth
already work: only he who now letteth
will let, until he be taken out of the way
[the Holy
Spirit].
8 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:
9 Even him, whose coming is after the
working of Satan with all power and signs
and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of
unrighteousness in them that perish; because
they received not the love of the truth,
that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them
strong delusion, that they should believe a
lie:
12 That they all might be damned who
believed not the truth, but had pleasure in
unrighteousness.(emphasis added)
That Old Serpent, the Devil…Satan…is
hard at work doing everything he can to hurt
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! The
Bible’s description of Satan has great
warning for all. He is the father of lies.
In times past, people believed in doing the
right thing, and yet today, that has fallen
by the wayside. The statement, “It’s all
about me”—self-centeredness—has taken its
place throughout the world. I am still able
to see September 11, 2001, as people of our
nation coming together against the
terrorists of the world.
In the past ten years, we have seen the
polarization in almost every direction and,
for every idea, pull this nation apart.
Usually it is according to the whims of
every individual and for every reason one
can think of. If you need proof, go to the
news section reporting any sort of event,
read the story, and then read the opinion
section. I’m sure you will sense the anger,
the hatred, and the blasphemy from all
directions!
I know from my childhood that adults used to
rally together, look for the right thing to
think, say, or do, and then move forward as
a unit in what they perceive as the
right direction. In those times, politicians
used the name of God in finding solutions to
problems. Yet since the beginning of the
1960s, we have seen that way of doing things
slowly being eroded away.
We NO LONGER think in terms of what is best
for all concerned. Now the mindset centers
on: “How will this best suit ME? What do I
get out of this? I want what’s due me!”
And everybody wonders about the cause of the
ills of the world. Why all these things are
taking place is the question of the hour.
There is never any thought that the cause
lies within all who make themselves number
one in all things.
I believe this stems from the fact that the
Great Delusion predicted by God is at work,
and that the Day of the Lord (the Rapture)
is very, very close at hand!
What behavioral manifestation can anyone
find that more dramatically shows the extent
of the Great Delusion as it is today?
Self-centeredness has come to be full blown
in this generation. Yet the Bible has been
around for better than 2600 years.
Consider how long a period of time this is,
then notice that where this world stands
presently is proof that far too many have
never read the Bible. Even if people do not
wish to believe what is written in God’s
Word, doesn’t it seem that it would be
prudent to at least wonder if there is any
level of validity to the prophecies written
therein?
Think in terms of evolution. Ask how long
these ideas have been around. Then ask
yourself: If it is still a theory, if it is
so valid to many, why has no one gone on to
prove or disprove it? “Great Delusion” is
the likely answer.
The same thing goes with the Bible, God’s
Holy Word! The scientific world has already
noted that some things in the Bible are true
and are verified! Having said that, why is
the rest of the Bible not verified by this
same, scientific-oriented group?
The answer is that the Holy Spirit convicts
every individual of SIN. Conversely, Satan
condemns each person of SIN. It isn’t rocket
science to understand that Satan hates you
with a hatred you have never imagined.
If that weren’t true, the world wouldn’t
be in the particular condition it is in
today. The average Joe Black on the street
doesn’t think about his/her SIN; that would
mean that he or she is wrong in how he or
she thinks or lives—and we can't have that!!
It truly comes down to this: “I’m right, or
correct…and…you are not!
I am better than you; why can’t you see
that?”
The answer is equally simple to understand,
as explained in
Ephesians 2:1–2:
1 And you hath he
quickened [made
alive], who
were dead in trespasses and sins;
2
Wherein in time past ye walked according to
the course of this world, according to the
prince of the power of the air, the spirit
that now worketh in the children of
disobedience.
The answer is to come to
Jesus Christ, ask for forgiveness of YOUR
SIN, and believe that HE was crucified,
died, and was resurrected, and now sits at
the right hand of God. The ONLY way to the
Father (and heaven) is through Jesus Christ!