In the first century, when the Church was born, Satan tried to destroy it by persecution. However, this actually helped to spread the Gospel because it relocated believers to other areas. Satan’s next strategy was to infiltrate the Church. While the Enemy still uses persecution, infiltration seems to be his most productive technique because it is not as conspicuous.
Today we are met with what I believe is unprecedented deception and infiltration. But we are not left without help. The Lord has “given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). He gave us very clear warnings and examples of what we are to expect. Jesus said, “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” (Matt. 10:16). We are commanded to be informed and aware of what the enemy is doing so we are not inadvertently swept away by his deceitfulness. I think we often overlook these admonitions because they are very uncomfortable to us, especially here in the U. S. where we have been relatively free from the persecution seen in other parts of the world. But things are changing, and we must be prepared. Let’s look at some of the warnings found in the Bible.
When Jesus’ disciples asked Him about the sign of His coming and of the end of the age, He said, "Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many" (Matt. 24:4-5). He also said, “there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” (Matt. 24:24). So Christ’s Second Coming will be marked by spiritual deception and even Satanic signs and wonders. Paul also spoke of these satanic miracles when he warned about the “strong delusion” that God will send on unbelievers at the revelation of the son of perdition.
2 Thessalonians 2:7-12 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. (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 [the] lie: (12) That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
So it should be obvious that anyone in the latter days who refuses to accept the truth of the Gospel will be overwhelmed with spiritual deception and destruction. But what about Christians. I’m talking about truly regenerate, born-again Christians. Can they be deceived? Well, with many issues in the Bible, I think the answer is partly yes and partly no. If a person is walking with God through proper faith in Christ crucified, growing in His grace, and abiding in His Word, that person will be equipped with the necessary discernment to avoid spiritual shipwreck. God rewards those who diligently seek Him (Heb. 11:6); they will have the witness of the Holy Spirit to warn them about spiritual dangers. On the other hand, a person can be born-again but fail to continually live by faith; they may be trying to be sanctified by their own works. Inevitably, they will be seduced by a false teaching. If this happens, the person, although saved, will nevertheless be deceived. We’ll look at examples of this in the next post.
