“And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.”

Matthew 24:4-5

What is the meaning of the word “deceive”?  A quick search of the internet describes it as a verb to “cause (someone) to believe something that is not true, typically in order to gain some personal advantage:” In other words, as we probably all know, it means lying to someone to manipulate the truth to their own perspective in order to gain some personal advantage. Why else would someone lie to us? In order to change the TRUTH to what they want us to know or believe, which then works is to their advantage! So, why did the serpent deceive Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden? He didn’t tell them they would die if they went against what God had instructed them regarding eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Instead, he asked them “Did God REALLY say they would die?” Or, did God simply not want them to be like Him? Obviously, he wanted man to go against the will of God and sin, therefore adding to his own narrative.

Shortly after telling His disciples about the coming destruction of the Jewish Holy Temple (which prophesy the Romans ultimately fulfilled in 70 AD), Jesus was on the Mount of Olives when a few of them came to Him asking what would be the signs of the end of the age He had spoken of. I find it very interesting that BEFORE He told them about the “…wars and rumours of war,” “…nation against nation and kingdom against kingdom”, “…famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in diverse places”, He told them first to NOT be deceived by the many who will come in His name and who will deceive many! He actually warned them about all the lies that would be spread BEFORE the terrible things that were to come. And yes, we have always had all these really bad things (wars, famines, plagues, etc.) AND lying. He said these would only be the beginning of those sorrows.

Please don’t misunderstand me. ALL men and women have lied in their lives. To God there are no “little white lies”. If we lie, we have violated what God has told us. Lying is a sin and we all know sin brings the Wrath of God upon us. As Christians we must recognize lying is a sin and we must ask Jesus for forgiveness of that sin (as well as all other sins) and work diligently towards not lying again. We also must recognize lying today is all around us, whether it is by politicians, scientists, main street media, big tech, entertainment, large corporations, teacher’s unions, and yes, even and specifically “Christian” church leaders. Simply put, we must recognize the lies for what they are or we will be subject to the Wrath of God if we partake in those lies!

“Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them.”

Ephesians 5:6-7

Fortunately, we have one who does not, and in fact, cannot lie! God Almighty cannot lie and He gave us His Holy Word, the Bible, along with the Holy Spirit, to read and understand exactly what He has told us. Lying will always be contradicted by the Truth! God never changes and His Word is as true today as it was before the Bible was even written.

“In hope of eternal life, which God, THAT CANNOT LIE (capitals mine), promised before the world began;”

Titus 1:2

Like you, I am sure, I have often had people tell me “The Bible was written by man and is therefore subject to many human errors and lies”. This never ceases to amaze me they believe that while God wants us to have His Holy Word for us all to read and understand, but an all powerful God would somehow allow man to make mistakes or lie in writing what He specifically told them to write! A study of today’s Bible and its Aramaic, Greek and Latin precursors; the surprising discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls (which totally validates today’s Bible)  a few months before Israel proclaimed their Independence setting the stage for Biblical fulfillment of thousands of years of prophecy should definitely convince all of us the forever assuredness of His Holy Word. However, while God cannot lie, someone else can:

“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, WHICH DECEIVETH THE WHOLE WORLD (capitals mine): he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”

Revelation 12:9

To be sure, we all understand exactly who “…deceiveth the whole world” because the Bible clearly states he is 1.) the great dragon, 2.) that old serpent, 3.) the Devil, and 4.) Satan. Lest we be confused, all these names apply to the SAME being and who has a purpose “to gain a personal advantage” in spreading his lies. By trying to convince us that it actually is God who is lying, he hopes to nullify the Promises of God and the Truthfulness of His Holy Word. By doing that, he hopes people will not believe in God and absolve himself of his coming eternal damnation. He, and we, have been told what is awaiting him for his many, many sins. However, since Satan can not be in all places at the same time, he needs someone to help him in his lies. Of course, he has his fallen angels who hope to have their rebellious sins forgotten but he also needs men to also tell his lies to others to convince them of their assumed errors in the Bible. Fortunately for us, the Bible has warned us clearly why we should never lie to each other:

“Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither LIE ONE TO ANOTHER (capitals mine).”

Leviticus 19:11

“A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.”

Proverbs 14:5

When we lie, especially about what is contained in the Bible, please understand we are willingly doing Satan’s work, not God’s! Unfortunately, there are millions of people alive today, I believe, who will personally witness the revealing of the man of sin (the anti-christ) who will begin the 7 year Tribulation period, the absolute worst time period in human history. God’s Wrath will be poured out on an unrepentant world. Again, we have been prewarned to not be deceived because all these things will not and cannot happen until the anti-christ is revealed and that will finally happen when he enters the then rebuilt 3rd Holy Jewish Temple in Jerusalem and demands to be worshipped as God. Of course, those of us who have studied the Bible and believe it to be the True Word of God have been told the anti-christ is the one who confirms the covenant with Israel setting off the start of the Tribulation and who will bring some short term peace to this world. But, he will ultimately be revealed when he sits in the Temple.

“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day (the Abomination of Desolation) shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin (the anti-christ) be revealed, the son of perdition. Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he (the anti-christ) as God sitteth in the temple of God (yet to be rebuilt 3rd Holy Jewish Temple in Jerusalem), shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I (Jesus) was yet with you, I told you these things?”

2 Thessalonians 2:3-5

One of our sincere hopes is this will happen after “…there come a falling away first”, meaning people will cease believing in the Promises of God. This most assuredly happens AFTER the soon coming Rapture of the Believers who have been Promised they will not have to endure the Wrath of God (Revelation 3:10) which is to come. In other words, with the true Believers Raptured, the churches on the earth will witness a “falling away” from true belief because no one will be left to teach them the Truth of God’s Word. Only Satan, his fallen angels and unbelievers will be left to lie to those who  remain.  Do you believe this? Please remember, Jesus said “I told you these things.” and Jesus does not lie!

“And when the thousand years are expired (the Millennium reign of Jesus Christ on earth), Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city (Jerusalem): and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast (anti-christ) and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”

Revelation 20:7-10

When Christ Returns at Armageddon to defeat the anti-christ and false prophet who have seized control of the world through their lies and deception, He will throw them into hell forever for their sins. He will also seize Satan and throw him into the bottomless pit for 1,000 while He reigns on earth in peace and righteousness out of Jerusalem. At the end of this Millennium reign of Christ, Satan will be loosed ONE LAST TIME to deceive those still on the earth as humans . Most Biblical scholars believe during the 1,000 years those humans alive at Jesus’s Second Coming will marry and have children. Basically, they will repopulate the world after one half of all were killed during the Tribulation. I believe, since Jesus will reign with a “rod of iron”, it will only take Satan when “loosed for a short season” to once again spread his lies and for many in human nature to once again sin and rebel against the Word of God. Now I plan to be reigning with Jesus as has been Promised to His Believers, and the idea of sin will be as repugnant having witnessed its consequences during my lifetime. But, to an unbelieving mankind like Adam and Eve, they will be deceived and will sin.

“And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; BELIEVE HIM NOT (capitals mine): for false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shew signs and wonders, to seduce, IF IT WERE POSSIBLE (capitals mine), even the elect. BUT TAKE YE HEED: BEHOLD, I HAVE FORETOLD YOU ALL THINGS (capitals mine).”

Mark 13:21-23

Finally, Satan and his followers will be able to do “miraculous” things in order to convince others of their strength and power. It will be very powerful, convincing and as the Bible says, if it were possible, they may be able to seduce even the elect (Believers). In order to not be mislead, we must always AND only follow the Word of God, the Holy Bible. And we should always take comfort in knowing that as Believers and having accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, He puts the Holy Spirit in us to protect us and lead us. And by the way, He is FAR, FAR stronger than the devil.

“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he (the Holy Spirit) that is in you, than he (Satan) that is in the world.”

1 John 4:4

Even in today’s world of constant lies and deceptions we should all take comfort in knowing we are protected against the ultimate Wrath which will follow those who believe what the devil is trying to get us to believe. By believing only in the Holy Word of God and following His will for us can we know regardless of the times, the lies, the deceptions, we are eternally protected by the Holy Spirit. Even though this world can be discouraging at times, I take solace in knowing we can “…overcome them.” If you are comforted by the Holy Word of God please do as we are all instructed to do by Jesus Himself, and that is to “…therefore comfort one another with these words.” We don’t have much time left before Jesus Comes for His Saints. My words should only remind you of His Word!

May the Lord Bless you and keep you as you face the greatest liar in the history of the universe knowing the Creator of the Universe is far stronger and is on OUR side!