9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie.

The Genuine Gospel Must Be Our Priority Again

A fellow pastor and a dear brother Christ once told me that you can’t preach today like George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards because it’s a whole different culture. Now in his case he wasn’t advocating changing the Gospel message, but for so many today this is exactly what they are doing. Something which is especially evident in the Purpose Driven Church and the Emergent Church and the Word Faith Church, the major pillars in the larger Ecumenical Church of Deceit. In a hugely misguided attempt to placate the narcissistic and arrogant American culture, as well as to please her mother the apostate Church of Rome evangelicalism has ended up with a different gospel message.

The absolute truth is that the actual message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ must once again become the priority of the Church–and this no matter what the cost! The current judgments from God, and I fear we can expect more coming quickly, are His reaction to evangelicalism striving to please the world all the while seeking become its media darlings. However, as it is still written: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. And we who preach His Gospel simply cannot change this message, nor can we dumb it down no matter what capricious culture we might be living within. Men and women there can really be no doubt that this has been done for many many years now in America. But it truly is Dr. John MacArthur has said: We can’t change the message; that message isn’t ours–it belongs to God.

The Body of Christ in this nation must finally come to realize this is exactly what makes the “modern” Church Growth Movement so very dangerous. In the corrupt and dying evangelical camp they are now beginning to pay its debt. This is the rotten root as to why things such as the fall of Ted Haggard can so easily shake so many who would call themselves “evangelical” Christians. For too long now instead of fixing their eyes on the Cross and on Jesus they have instead slowly been giving in to the adulation of fallen man. And fall man will, because to borrow the old phrase, “if it looks like the world–if it sounds like world–and if it acts like the world–then, by revelation from the Holy Spirit–it must be the world.”

It is my conviction in the Lord that we should take some time to very carefully consider the following passage of Scripture, and how it seems to relate to this very time, this so-called postmodern era in which we now find ourselves. A time I might also add where there does appears to be an interesting similarity to the point of human history into which Christ first stepped. Today there are many will so glibly say – “Jesus is coming in our lifetime.” Be that as it may, and without a doubt He most certainly can, Holy Scripture does also tell us about another arrival as well.

And while the ultimate fulfillment of these verses in the above text will likely come when the Church is no longer here upon the earth, this passage does indeed have a secondary application in this current age of rampant apostasy. Remember, the Bible does tell us - For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12, KJV). Double-edged; historical-grammatical, and an underlying and spiritually discerned principle.

It Looks Like The Real Thing

We now look once again at verse 9 of our text – The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders. Here we find good reason to be afraid; yes, be very afraid. In this generation, you’d best be sure that you really do have a relationship with God through Christ–because these miracles, signs and wonders to come will look exactly the same as the true miracles, signs and wonders which were done by the original Apostles!

As a matter of fact, the very same Greek words are used in Hebrews 2:4 regarding those miraculous feats which were done of the Holy Spirit in the first century! Does this now give you cause to seriously reconsider using pragmatic and consumer-friendly methods in a church, most of which originate with the secular business practices of the world? I believe it should. Remember, just because something appears to work–just because something looks good–it does not mean it is of God.

Because of this those who are so held captive by the quick and easy results of these “hamburger-helper” teachings of instant Christianity would do well to consider the following sobering words from the Master Teacher Himself:

“Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father Who is in Heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in Your Name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ ” (Matthew 7:20-23).

The Truth Behind Deception

Now here’s the reason people will be deceived–the b part of verse 10 from the NASB–because they did not receive the love of the truth and so as to be saved. In the time to come these people will be deceived–and people are currently being deceived–because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. These professing believers are going to find out the hard way that they didn’t love God’s truth enough–in the first place–to even be saved. Does that make sense now?

And no, you don’t hear this preached much these days–if at all–because frankly, it doesn’t “sell.” But if your life doesn’t start to change when you “get saved,” then you have very good reason to question whether you even were converted (see–2 Corinthians 13:5). Because there is no such thing as: “I’ll accept Jesus as my Savior now, and then later on, I’ll make Him my Lord.” However, Jesus is Lord whether you personally accept Him or not!

Now the following should open up to you. Christ Jesus says:

And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved (Matthew 24:10-13).

Ask yourself a question: Do you think Christ is coming soon? Did you realize that for over two thousand years now the Church has already been living in the end times? We have. Here is 1 John 2:18 – Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. Remember, as I explained earlier, that a passage of Scripture–with the Bible being a two-edged sword–oftentimes has an historical meaning, with a similar future application which is yet to come.

Can you see here: the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. So antichrists have already brought many deceptions, and these small lies are then all going to lead to the big deception of falling for the One World Order of the Antichrist. As a true minister of our Lord I must warn you that one thing is certain: This will be no era to remain in the romper room of Christianity (see–Hebrews 5:11–6:6).

Have It Your Way: The Lie Du Jour

And now we look at verse 11 – For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie. Did you ever stop and think that the delusion and the lie here just might not be a single specific one? Instead, it is also referring to the delusion and/or the lie that a person currently wants to believe. A kind of “lie du jour,” so to speak, which will eventually lead all of these people into the one huge delusion of the Antichrist.

In other words, for some people, they will believe what could be the lie of the carnal excesses in much of these consumer-driven church growth ideas. Yet for others, it might be getting caught up in the insidious ecumenical movement and being seduced through Contemplative Spirituality by The Deceivers of Rome into forgetting all about the Reformation. In the NASB verse 11 reads this way – For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false.

I would say as in all things that happen to be false and not necessarily limiting this deluding influence to one specific lie right now. So for those who are captivated by the wishful specualtions of “positive” thoughts, as well as for those who are under the sway of thinking that somehow in this generation churches are all going to start working together and begin heeding the call to put away doctrinal differences, I’d give the following words from Jeremiah–one of Yahweh Elohim’s true prophets some very serious prayer:

Then the LORD said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies in My Name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds. Therefore, this is what the LORD says about the prophets who are prophesying in My Name: I did not send them...

This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD. They keep saying to those who despise me, ‘The LORD says: You will have peace.’ And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts they say, ‘No harm will come to you.’ But which of them has stood in the council of the LORD to see or to hear His Word? Who has listened and heard his word? (Jeremiah 14:14-15; 23:16-18).

A Word Of Caution

As I close this out, I will remind you that three times in His Olivet Discourse, our Lord clearly warned us of false teachers, and false prophets and false Christs who would come. And Jesus did this within the context of His certain and literal Second Coming. You will recall that we have already seen the Master warn: “At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold.” (Matthew 24:10-12, NASB, emphasis added).

If you look closely, this teaching by Christ Jesus–the Master Teacher–is actually diametrically opposed to so much of what is right now being embraced by so many, in so many, of these seeker-sensitive churches. And it is vital that you should also know that much of this compromise with the world has already been dealt with long ago by God the Holy Spirit. Right within the very pages of the New Testament itself so they are completely without excuse.

Consider this admonition from the inspired Apostle James – You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the Spirit He caused to live in us envies intensely? (James 4:4-5) This isn’t exactly your prototypical consumer-friendly Purpose Driven Life teaching, or the Emergent message of interfaith spirituality or faith-filled words of self-centered greed now is it?

Do you honestly think that our Lord Jesus is going to have sympathy with those who simply will not take His Words seriously? I think not. To quote my mentor Dr. Walter Martin from his lecture called The Cult of Liberalism: “I risk my credibility when I state it as bluntly as this, but I’ve done my homework, and I stand by what I say.” O no, be forewarned – and come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you (2 Corinthians 6:17, KJV). And you had best do so before it is too late.

Not to be an alarmist, but might I leave you with the following reminder. You know, the Bible does say:

Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled (1 Thessalonians 5:1-6).