"Amazing" isn't a powerful enough word within which to cocoon the impression. “Astonishing" comes closer to describing the speed of Christian acceptance of changing world political, economic, societal, and religious values. This generation isn't just on that proverbial slippery slope to a foreboding destiny; it is in free fall.

Those who look at Bible prophecy through the premillennial, pretribulation prism—the view that is on the side of God's Word, we believe—have long thought that the delusion that will tip humanity toward believing the great lie of the coming Antichrist will come totally post-Rapture. That prophesied delusion is given through the apostle Paul:

For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 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... (2 Thessalonians 2:7-12).

The delusion that Paul foretells will lead all who reject God's truth to instead believe a great lie, thus preventing them from coming to truth that will save their souls for eternity, will certainly be at full power post-rapture. The Holy Spirit, as restrainer of evil, will have departed with the church at the rapture. Deception and delusion will mesmerize the masses while Antichrist, the beast, rises to full power.

However, while great deception is prophetically set for that future era of horror, it is wise to think upon whether the delusion is already well into the process of setting up during our time. The operative statement written by the great apostle I want to consider is: "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work..." (v. 7).

Jesus, in the Olivet Discourse, forewarned of the great deception that will be on the world scene at the time just before His return to earth. He warned His followers to be aware of the deception at that future time. The forewarning is recorded at the beginning of all three accounts of His Olivet prophecies. Deception will be the dangerous societal backdrop of the time.

Paul's word said that mystery of iniquitous activity was already on the scene at the time he wrote to the Thessalonians. The deception was already discernable, will grow worse, and—by the time Antichrist has come to his full satanic power—will produce deception so strong that those who refused salvation through Christ before the Holy Spirit removed as restrainer of evil will believe a great lie.

Many interpret this to mean that if one rejects Christ before the rapture—for the restrainer removes when the church goes to be with Christ at the Rapture—he or she will have no chance to be saved, because that person will believe Satan's "lie."

Deception today is horrific in its scope and influence. So deluding are its powerful manipulations that much of the church is all but anesthetized to truth, which several decades ago was solidly front and center in defending against all attempts at seduction by the world, the flesh, and the devil. Not so now. The sugary pabulum coming from the ministries with the most funding for their TV extravaganzas and mega-million dollar media/entertainment centers, supposedly serving the cause of Christ, spews the lukewarm, feel-good message that must make the Lord of heaven nauseous.

The seduction has been so successful within Christ's body, the church, that there is little discernment of the sort required to stay a straight course through these violent, end-times waters. Space limitations inhibit citing the many examples that could be given of the delusion that has set in at this late hour.

One example that stands out, however, is the lack of righteous outrage from the majority of Christian pastors and leaders—or from leaders who claim to be patriots—over America's president using that high office to warmly embrace the religion of Islam. This, while his whole modus operandi since coming into office has been to vehemently support proposed legislation in practically every case that flies in the face of Christianity.

WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama on Tuesday praised American Muslims for enriching the nation's culture at a dinner to celebrate the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. “The contribution of Muslims to the United States are too long to catalog because Muslims are so interwoven into the fabric of our communities and our country,” Obama said at the iftar, the dinner that breaks the holiday's daily fast. The president joined Cabinet secretaries, members of the diplomatic corps and lawmakers to pay tribute to what he called “a great religion and its commitment to justice and progress.”... Obama also released a video message to Muslims before the start to Ramadan. In the video, he said Ramadan's rituals are a reminder of the principles Muslims and Christians have in common, including advancing justice, progress, tolerance and the dignity of all human beings... (“Obama Praises Islam as ‘Great Religion,' Reuters, September 1, 2009).

Islam and Christianity have in common advancing justice, progress, tolerance, and the dignity of all human beings?! I've not read of any Christian ministry that adheres to God's Word ever say to kill those who won't convert. I've never heard of a true minister of Christ advising families to engage in "honor killings" if a member of the family wants to become a member of a religious group other than that embraced by the family. I've never known a true Christian church declare women to be less worthy than men, and require that they wear clothing that exposes only their eyes and hands. I've never known of any true Christian to want America to forbid others in our nation from practicing the religion of their choice, unlike most Islamic nations, which will in every case forbid the practice of another religion than Islam, and will in many cases kill or imprison those who are caught doing so.

Islam advances justice, progress, tolerance, and the dignity of all human beings?! This, dear readers, is deception, seduction, the death of discernment.

It is one thing more: a sure sign that we are bumping up against the very end of this debased, debauched age.

--Terry James
Rapture Ready


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