THE ULTIMATE & FINAL DELUSION
Jesus said, "Let no man deceive you."

In Matthew's gospel, chapter 24, Jesus was asked when the end of the world would come. Instead of giving a date, Christ gave warnings and signs of the end. But first, He began by saying, "Take heed that no man deceive you." Mt 24:4. So, the leading sign of the end will be deception, especially in regard to His "Name," which is a specific reference to His character. Many false Messiahs did appear after Jesus, even in the first century, each claiming to be the Messiah. But it has been in the Christian religion itself, during the last century, that we find the greatest fulfillment of this prediction. There are hundreds of religious groups and denominations all speaking in the name of Jesus, claiming to have His "truth" which will lead to salvation. Rev. 18 refers to this end time confusion as "Babylon" and calls God's true people to "come out of her my people."

Let's talk now more about the nature and timing of the deception in these last days.

In Paul's second letter to the church of Thessalonica Paul warned them: "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition." 2 Thess. 2:3. This deception has been ongoing and developing for centuries, but has been speeding up in our day. It will soon culminate in the "Crowning act of deception," which will be Satan himself appearing as Jesus. This deception had already begun in Paul's day. "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work." Actually, it started in heaven with the angels who fell and then with Adam and Eve and the whole human race. But "all things must be restored" before Jesus comes, Acts 3:21. The good news is that we need not be deceived. Luke 21:34-36 and Rev. 3:7-10 promise us deliverance from the final "delusions" Paul says will come on the world in this last hour of earth's history. He spoke of Satan "whose coming (appearance and revealing) is after the working of Satan with all power and lying wonders. And with all deceivableness of unrighteounsess in them that peris; 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."

Now, let's try and pull all of this together so we can clearly see what this ultimate delusion and lie is all about so we will not be deceived.

The answer begins with 2 Thess. 2:4. "Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing Himself that he is God." KJV. "So that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as God."

Let's think for a moment how people are swindled and deceived in the world today. In the business world copy-cat products, of an inferior quality, are constantly flooding the market at a cheaper price. People buy them up like hot cakes thinking they are getting a bargain only to find out later the product is only a cheap imitation. So, manufacturers often place on their product, "Genuine" or "Original." "Many shall come in my Name," is truly being fulfilled today when so many claim that they have the true and original teachings of Christ. The events now transpiring are going to bring each soul face to face with one burning question: Who is God and what is He really like? What is His true character?

In the gospel of John, the disciple closest to Jesus, records one of the most important, tense and explosive dialogues in all of Christ's recorded three and a half years of ministry. We read about it in chapter 6 which has 71 verses, and begins with the feeding of the 5,000 and the resultant effort to force him to be their king, vs. 15. As the evening came Jesus escaped from them by going into a ship headed toward Capernaum.

When the people found Him the next day on the other side of the sea they asked Him "When did you arrive here?" They couldn't figure out how He got there so fast because they knew there had been a terrible storm. John 6:18-21 tells how Jesus walked through the storm on the water and as soon as He was received into their ship they had immediately arrived at their destination miraculously. Jesus gently tried to teach them not to seek after Him because of His supernatural power to feed thousands but to simply believe on Him whom the Father had sent. But then they wanted to argue with him and demanded signs and wonders to prove He was the Messiah. He finally told them that the only way they would ever enter into His kingdom would be for them to "Eat My flesh and drink My blood." John 6:53.

In chapter 7 we find Jesus going up to the Feast of Tabernacles and in the last day standing up to invite all to come unto Him who were thirsty. This is when the officers who were sent to arrest Him returned empty handed saying, "Never man spake like this man." John 7:46. Nicodemus also defended Him. vs. 50.

Now, we come to John 8 where we will find the key text I want to share with you which will help us to see how Satan is going to be able to deceive the whole world. Early in the morning Jesus came into the temple where "all the people came unto Him; and he sat down and taught them." Vs 2. But on this day the Scribes and Pharisees had laid a trap for Him by arranging for a woman to be caught in adultery and then brought before Jesus. But He baffled them all by His famous saying, "He that is without sin among you cast the first stone." Vs 7. One by one they all left defeated and ashamed. Yet they would not stop trying to humiliate and embarrass Him before the multitudes by accusing Him of being an illegitimate child born of fornication, insinuating that His mother Mary had sex with Joseph before she was married to him. John 8:41. Of course, they did not believe in His virgin birth. As this fascinating dialogue continues Jesus begins to hint that His Father and their father are two different personages. He is very tactful about this, not desiring to hurt their feelings. "I am telling you what I saw when I was with my Father. But you are following the advice of your father." vs. 38. They then said that Abraham was their father. Obviously they did not have a clue as to what He was talking about, so He begins to zero in on the heart of the problem. Listen: No! Jesus replied, for if he were, you would follow his good example. But instead you are trying to kill Me--and all because I told you the truth I heard from God. Abraham wouldn't do a thing like that! No, you are obeying your real father when you act that way. They replied, We were not born out of wedlock--our true Father is God Himself. Jesus told them, If that were so, then you would love Me, for I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but He sent Me. Why can't you understand what I am saying? It is because you are prevented from doing so! For you are the children of your father the devil and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning and a hater of truth--there is not an iota of truth in him. When he lies, it is perfectly normal; for he is the father of liars. And so when I tell the truth, you just naturally don't believe it! Of course, this only made them angrier than ever. They called Him a Samaritan and possessed of a devil. As the exchange continued Jesus told them that Abraham had seen His day and was glad. They said that was impossible because He was not even 50 years old. "With solemn dignity Jesus answered, 'Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM.' Silence fell upon the vast assembly. The name of God, given to Moses to express the idea of the eternal presence, had been claimed as His own by this Galilean rabbi. He had announced Himself to be the self-existent One, He who had been promised to Israel." DA 469, 470.

This was not the first time Jesus had declared Himself to be the Promised one. Right after He forgave the woman who had been entrapped in adultery He declared, "I am the light of the world." John 8:12. Notice this comment on that verse. "In the words, 'I am the light of the world,' Jesus declared Himself the Messiah." Simeon had referred to Jesus' future work as a fulfillment of Isa. 49:6 which the Jews understood as applying to the Messiah. "The people could not fail to recognize His claim to be the Promised One." DA 465. Actually, they had no excuse whatsoever for rejecting Him. On the first day of the feast the leaders had come to Him demanding by what authority He taught. In that dialogue we read in DA 456 that Jesus gave undeniable proof that He could read their minds by exposing their secret plot to have Him killed. "Like a swift flash of light these words revealed to the rabbis the pit of ruin into which they were about to plunge. For an instant they were filled with terror. They saw that they were in conflict with Infinite Power. But they would not be warned. In order to maintain their influence with the people, their murderous designs must be concealed." DA 456. Now, in spite of all this incredible proof that Jesus gave them about who He really was, they rejected Him. And this is what is happening again today both in the church and the world. The people's minds are brain washed to believe that when the Messiah comes He will be a mighty superman to destroy the wicked and set up certain relgious groups as the leaders of the world. This is exactly what led the Jewish leaders to reject Jesus and crucify Him.

How can we tell the true from the false today? Jesus gave us the answer. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly (in their hearts or conscience) they are wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits." Matt. 7:15.

Let us take the teachings of the Catholic Church for example. What is the fruit we are seeing with the priests themselves? They are being taken into court and sued for millions of dollars for abusing little children. What does that tell you about their teachings? It is false from beginning to end and rotten to the core.

"Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. (Notice this is the second time Christ has stated this test for deciding who is true and who is false. Now watch this next verse). Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (notice our Father is in heaven, not in any earthly institution. We are to call no man Father here in a spiritual sense as only God is our Father) Many will say to me in that day (end of the world or judgment) Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, he that work iniquity." Matt. 7: 19-23.

When we read the Old Testament is it possible to determine and differentiate between the true Lord Jesus and the false lord of this earth, Satan? Go to 2 sam 24:1 & I chron. 21:1 and also go to Sauls expeirence re: the evil spirit and Michiah's testimony on the Lord sitting on a throune on high as well as Saul's evil spirit from the Lord. Also Psalm 2..."He that sits in the heavens (atmospheir heavens) shall laugh." mfc