Hi everyone,

I came across this very powerful word today and felt it important to post on here so all could read it.


End Time Deceivers
—Dan Corner—

Among other horrible circumstances which characterize the perilous days at the end of this age (2 Tim. 3:1-5) is general deception from evil people:

Evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. (2 Tim 3:13)When a person is deceived they are misled by false appearance or statement. Such a person thinks things are one way when in reality they are a different way. This sort of thing will abound in the last days, especially religiously.

Jesus WARNED Christians About Religious Deception!
The first thing Jesus mentioned when He answered the disciples' questions about the sign of His coming and the end of the age was to watch out for religious deceivers:
Jesus answered: Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. (Mat 24:4, 5)

False Prophets
The Lord also mentioned the success that false prophets will have in their deceptions. This should cause all Christians to stay on their spiritual guard, for many will be deceived:
Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. (Mat 24:11)

Miracle-Performing False Prophets and False Christs
The Lord went on to give specifics about how the false Christs and false prophets will deceive people:
For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible. (Mat 24:24)
For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect—if that were possible. (Mark 13:22)
Did you notice that signs and miracles can be performed by deceivers? Furthermore, they seem designed to deceive the elect, if that were possible! Some people think it is not possible for the elect to get deceived, but we learn from others Scriptures that it definitely is:
Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. (2 Tim 2:17,18)
But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough. (2 Cor 11:3,4)

Paul clearly believed the elect could be deceived, for he mentioned two false teachers by name and stated that their message destroyed the faith of some Christians. He also revealed his concern for the Corinthian Christians, thinking they may become deceived as Eve was.

Deceivers can also be Smooth Talkers, Who Use Flattery
Another type of deceiver also exists. This type is a smooth talker just like the people on TV and radio, who speak so well:
For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. (Rom 16:18)

Deceivers Can use Fine-sounding Arguments
False teachers can also present arguments that sound good:
My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. (Col 2:2-4)

Another Type Of Deceiver
There also exists the following type of deceiver:
Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. (2 John 1:7)

Jehovah's Witnesses Are Deceivers
Certainly, one of the ways in which the devil is deceiving many is through the Jehovah's Witnesses. Besides their many false predictions about the end of the world that people need to be aware of, is another message. Please note the following warning:
And he said, Take heed that ye be not led astray: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am he; and, The time is at hand: go ye not after them. (Luke 21:8, ASV)The founder of Jehovah's Witnesses, Charles Taze Russell, wrote a six volume set called Studies in the Scriptures in which his doctrinal distortions are placed in print. His second volume in this set is entitled, The Time is at Hand, the exact words Jesus said deceivers would declare! (Please also beware of other deceivers such as Mormons, Seventh-Day Adventists, Muslims)

A Warning Regarding Jesus' return
Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. (2 Th 2:1-3)
With all the constant talk about a Pre-tribulation Rapture, which some say can happen at any moment, Paul gave us the details so we would not be deceived. Notice from the above what two events he stated would first occur.

Satanic Miracles Will Deceive
Some find it hard to believe that the Antichrist and false prophet could perform miracles, but they certainly will:
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, 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. (2 Th 2:9,10)
Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. (Rev 13:14) But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. (Rev 19:20)
In fact, even demons can perform miracles:
They are spirits of demons performing miraculous signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty. (Rev 16:14)

Doctrines from Demons Will Cause Some Christians to Defect
Demons can do various things, but perhaps the most shocking work that demons are in is concocting doctrines or teachings that will adversely affect some Christians even to the point of departing from Christianity:
The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. (1 Tim 4:1)

We Can Be Self-Deceived!
Believe it or not, it is even possible to be self-deceived! Read the following and learn how this can occur:
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (James 1:22)
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8)
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. (James 1:26)
If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. (Gal 6:3)

Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise. (1 Cor 3:18)

The Devil has Been Deceiving Since Eden
The first time we read of the devil, he is about his work as a deceiver. (He succeeded in his deception with Eve when he first taught Gen. 3:4, which will soon be discussed further):
But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. (2 Cor 11:3)
And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. (1 Tim 2:14)

The Devil is a Very Successful DECEIVER
Amazingly, the chief way the devil is noted in the following passages is by his ability to deceive people:
He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time. (Rev 20:3)
And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Rev 20:10)

(Note the devil's final destiny will be unending torment along with all people who die in an unsaved condition! This reflects how important salvation is.)

Sin is Deceptive
Besides all of the various methods that the devil has to deceive people, we should be aware that sin in itself is deceptive.
For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. (Rom 7:11)
See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first. (Heb 3:12-14)

Sin can put Christians to their spiritual death and should be avoided even to the point of shedding blood:
In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. (Heb 12:4)
(Note: Christians are in a struggle against sin. Sin is still the issue for Christians.)

Even The Heart of Man Can Be Deceptive
Shocking but true, we must not even let our own heart lead us, for it too is deceptive. We must exalt the Scriptures to the primary position as to what is true and what is false, even above our own feelings and thoughts:
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? (Jer 17:9)

The Unsaved Are Deceived!
One of the best ways to describe unsaved people is the following verse:
At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. (Titus 3:3)
Note: all unsaved people are deceived. This is why they don't come to Jesus for salvation. (Only a deceived person would not come to the Lord for salvation.)

The Devil's Original Deception About Sin's Consequences
The devil's original lie is found at Gen 3:4:
"You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman.The devil lied about sin bringing forth spiritual death. This is the same message spread today by the various popular eternal security teachers such as Charles Stanley, Chuck Swindoll, John MacArthur, Charles Ryrie, Dave Hunt, etc. They deny that sin in the life of a believer can result in spiritual death. The following Scriptures from the real grace teacher, Paul, declares the opposite as we learn sin can stop a Christian from inheriting the kingdom of God and reaping eternal life.
For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. (Eph 5:5) Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. (Eph 5:6) Therefore do not be partners with them. (Eph 5:7)
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders (1 Cor 6:9) nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Cor 6:10)

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. (Gal 6:7) The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. (Gal 6:8) Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Gal 6:9)

A common deception for thousands of years has been eternal security. In spite of the clear Scriptures just cited, some still choose to believe in that doctrinal myth. Also, notice the clarity of the following.

Sin Can Result in Spiritual Death
But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. (James 1:14-16)
Other Scriptures which also prove the above are:
For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, (Rom 8:13)
If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, he will die for it. (Ezek 33:18) And if a wicked man turns away from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he will live by doing so. (Ezek 33:18,19)

Do Not Be A Liar
The seriousness of being a liar like the devil, who is called the father of lies (Jn. 8:44), is shown in the following:
But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death. (Rev 21:8)
So liars will go to the lake of fire. The following similarly shows that they will be excluded from New Jerusalem:
Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life. (Rev 21:27)

HOW NOT TO BE DECEIVED
With all of this deception running rampant, it is vitally important not to be deceived. Please note the follow two Scriptures:
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1)
Test everything. Hold on to the good. (1 Th 5:21)

Christians are not to be gullible! Instead, we are advised to test everyone and everything. This means that all visions, dreams, prophecies, teachings, testimonies, experiences, feelings, etc. are to be compared to the message of the Bible. See 2 Tim. 3:16,17. If it doesn't parallel its message then it cannot be from the same source that produced it, that is, God. To hold on to the good, as mentioned in 1 Thess. 5:21, means to hold on to what is true, as shown in the Scriptures. Reject everything else as a deadly poison.


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Thanks Cherry for sharing, that was interesting

Excellent post. I have passed it on to others I know in emails today. I needed to hear this. I test everything. Even this site. I have much family with very diluted views of our Heavenly Father and His Word. I have daily struggles.


Everyone take care today.

Bernie

Explanation of "diluted views"
I meant they pick and chose what they want to be true and believe what they feel should be right and throw out the rest.

True!

Good post Cherry!! That's why people shouldn't get on a Jet and Fly to see the Crying Mary statue...People who don't live by faith, have to see signs and wonders before they will believe..Mark ch. 16 vrs. 17 says "These signs shall follow them that believe" It doesn't say "People should Follow the signs" ( Cherry by the way, You have a very good spirit!! Keep it up!! you are an asset to the Kingdom of God) With Love.. Your sister Benita

Thanks Benita, thats a lovely thing to say (((((hugz)))))

Thanks for that post. It is a timely message indeed. I feel like there is so
much deceitful stuff going on left and right. I don't think I could handle this
world anymore without Jesus. Oh how He gives me peace. I pray I endure
and keep walking with Jesus in the days to come-because soon we will
be walking with Him in heaven. HALLELUIAH!!

I believe with all my heart that every nation needs to define their God.
There are so many praying to this god and that god-she god, it god,
material god and so on. The veil will be lifted if we don't define our God,
God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

Jesus died for us. People that worship other god's they are not my enemy,
but they are my mission. I have a mission to save the lost. Oh Lord help me
everywhere I go to say the name of Jesus.

Let's keep Christ in Christmas and in everything else. How sad He must
be to not even be a part of His birthday. Hope that made sense.

I am on a soap box that I just can't get off today.
On the news last night they said should we call it a Christmas tree or holiday tree.
Well why do you think we have a holiday it is because of Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.
I could shout this on the roof tops.

Gr8ful,

My connection to the net is really awful, so two posts in one...Check out Christian Communicator Manuscript Service run by Susan Titus Osborn. The girl that did mine was maned Barbara.

CC,

Great post. Makes one take stock of all that is in their lives....what they have to gain, and what they have to loose. A clean house is a happy house!

leia

In passing, all of these scriptures raise points which are obviously to minister to people in our day. But I wonder why we spend so much time worrying about what the devil can do to deceive, instead of following what the Lord can do to keep one on track. He has left many promises too. These are just a few....Mind you, you need to know God and you need to know His word.

Phi 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ:

Jud 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present [you] faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, Jud 1:25 To the only wise God our Saviour, [be] glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Phi 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Phi 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Luk 9:1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.

Luk 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Rev 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

I am not worried about deception. I can rely on my Lord. Otherwise scriptures like these are in vain and we are at last of all men most miserable...

Amen Mazinaw, I see it, but i believe in Jesus-see the corruption,but I believe in Jesus-see the wrongs but not worry and put faith in our King!!

You are a God send Mazinaw-I thank God for you!!!
He does keep His promises that we can count on.

We have dire warnings but I believe they are for the weak and the faint of heart who have no idea the power they are connected to.

AMEN!!! That'll Preach!!!!

Heb 12:18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, Heb 12:19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which [voice] they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: Heb 12:20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: Heb 12:21 And so terrible was the sight, [that] Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
Heb 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, Heb 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than [that of] Abel. Heb 12:25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more [shall not] we [escape], if we turn away from him that [speaketh] from heaven: Heb 12:26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. Heb 12:27 And this [word], Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Heb 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: Heb 12:29 For our God [is] a consuming fire.

AMEN!!!

His sacrifice was complete and perfect and He died for ALL sin. We will not be perfected until perfection comes. The deception is wondering if you lost your salvation because of sin.

Luk 18:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
Luk 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
Luk 18:12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
Luk 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
Luk 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Get your eye's off of sin and onto Jesus. Remember you are the disciple that Jesus loves. Salvation comes by no work of yours, He who started a good work in you will finish it. Your flesh died at the Cross, you are a new creation, you were taken from satans kingdom and put into Gods Kingdom, He chose you. your mind does not realize who you are. Bind and cast down the spirit of condemnation. The law of the Spirit of Life has freed you from the law of sin and death.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Hallelujah!!

My last post under look up your redemption draweth nigh talks about the frustration felt in holding on to the last spark you see in someone who has constantly resisted God...Though once saved and called has slipped away.

Our country
A loved one.

Hell presses in. The thing outside the green house...The sin of calloused hearts has grown large and desires to crush. With tremendous angry pressure it waits!

I'm not the one holding it back! God is holding it back. The little plant was "knee high" (knee high by the 4th of July) We aren't doing this ourselves....If it was us the greenhouse would have imploded long ago.

A couple of you are on my page about this. Seeing the spark and remembering what God said are what we have. And like Shekel says...We can indeed hang on.

I am not one to condemn myself.
But I'm having a very very difficult time not doing this right now. I feel so unworthy, dirty, and useless to God.
I so needed this today. Thank you two and thank you Holy Spirit.
I am so loved when I'm hurting-it's like He takes the time to give me a hug . (Although I wonder why).

jhammer, He will always give you a hug! He loves you and so do we.
We are serving an awesome God!!

I too feel unworthy many times. I knowI have sinned and will sin. I try
so hard to be more Christ like everyday. Don't forget the devil will
go after those who follow Chirst. The devil even finds me when I
think I am tucked away on my little hobby farm in what some would
say no man's land. Why that putz still finds me, but he forgets Jesus
is already here.

I sit on the devil a lot and tell him to take a hike. My Lord is here
and I am not going to give into temptation. I try to surround myself
with other Jesus followers to stay strong. However I know we need
to reach the lost=I know I have to go out and put myself in places
that I don't really want to go. I then have to put on the armor of God
so I will not be tempted to follow their ways but I pray they change.

I am only a vessel that God can use. It is God who will change their
hearts if it is His will. I do not feel I have any power. I can only be
His hands and feet to spread the Good news and boy do we have
Good News. Jesus is alive. Jesus saves-Jesus is preparing a place for us.


Before I really go all out for the Lord,I know my heart must be clean-
a changed creature.

1Co 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, [are called]: 1Co 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 1Co 1:28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, [yea], and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 1Co 1:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 1Co 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 1Co 1:31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.