Delusion

by Lois E. Gibson

"And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." II Thessalonians 2:11-12 (KJV)

Delusion- what Christian would want it to come upon them? The word is used one time in the New Testament, while in the Old Testament 'delusions' is used once in Isaiah.

"...Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not." Isaiah 66:3-4 (KJV)

The New Testament word is from 'plane' which means obj. fraudulence; subj. a straying from orthodoxy or piety. (Strongs Concordance) It was also translated deceit, to deceive, and error. According to Vines Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, it means literally 'a wandering,' whereby those who are led astray roam hither and thither, is always used in the New Testament, of mental straying, wrong opinion, error in morals or religion.

The verses in II Thessalonians are erroneously used in many churches (especially those which are elitist) to mean anyone who leaves their church group. A motto of some is that they preach all the Bible teaches. It is insinuated, or bluntly stated, that they have THE truth. Leaving them then is synonymous with leaving THE truth and therefore leaving GOD. But let's read and understand these two verses in their proper context.

Chapter two commences with Paul warning the Thessalonians not to believe any reports that the day of the Lord had already come. He explains what must happen first and that the antichrist will set himself up in God's temple, acting as if he is God himself.

He continues by explaining that there will be displays of counterfeit miracles and wonders during this time but Jesus will destroy the antichrist when he returns. This leads up to the verses in question, so let's continue and read in context starting at verse 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: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle." (8-15 KJV)

Can you see WHO receives the delusion and WHEN this event takes place? This is not a general statement Paul is making. It is speaking specifically of the end times when the antichrist will be revealed and set himself up as if he is the true God. Revelations mentions many times that those who remain on the earth during this time and the time of God's wrath, though the people see all these things they refuse to repent time and again.

"And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plaques yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts." Revelation 9:20-21 (KJV)

Who will receive this delusion? Those described above! Those who stubbornly refuse to repent and turn to God. Those who love their evil deeds and the worship of demons! NOT an individual leaving a particular church!! It is about a specific future event that has yet to take place.

Paul goes on to say that we as Christians have been saved through the work of the Spirit in our lives and because we believed the gospel of Jesus Christ. He again told the Thessalonians to stand firm in what he and others had passed on to them (and not to believe the false reports that the day of the Lord had already come and gone).

So when this verse comes back to haunt you, simply because you have left a church organization, remember the context of the verse and who it really is that receives this delusion from God- and ask yourself some questions:

Is it the time of the antichrist and the wrath of God?

Have you refused to repent of your sins?

Are you living for your fleshly desires?

You have not left 'the truth' or God just because you walked away from an organization. You leave the truth of God and his Word when you turn away in your heart from God and start following and worshipping things that are not gods and start living for carnal desires.

Rest assured that if you love the Lord and his Word, God's Holy Spirit will lead and guide you, if you let him. It has been promised in the Bible. For those who do fall into this delusion, I highly doubt they will realize it because they have already seared their consciences as I Timothy 4:1-2 states:

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;" (KJV)

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You may write Lois at the email address displayed in the image. No correspondence that seeks to debate will be answered as I have no desire to debate. Understand that due to the volume of mail, not every email may be acknowledged.

Posted June 3, 2000

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