2 Thessalonians 2:6-12 – The Strong Delusion – Bible study

2Thessalonians 2:6-12 The Strong Delusion The Bible has frightening statements. Every statement about hell and being damned is frightening. Statements that speak of Gods anger and wrath of frightening. I find the statements that speak of judgment even for the Christiansto be frightening. This Bible passage contains a statement that I find frightening as well, but is unique. Most of the Scriptures that that I find to be frightening are dealing with eternityjudgment, hell, damnation. But this passage contains a statement that is frightening and it is not dealing with eternity, but earth. In fact, I believe it is dealing with near future and to some degree, right now. Lets study the passage with four thoughts: I. The End A. I am jumping to the end of the message at the beginning because I want you to see the frightening statement. 1. After all, it is the topic of the message. 2. After I point out the end, we will go backwards to see what brings us to the end. B. The end is that God will deceive some people. 2Thess 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. C. These verses are making some very simple, specific, blunt, and perhaps confusing statements. 1. \#11\ God WILL deceive people. a. \#11\ is very clear in stating that God is the Source of the deception that will gripe these people. b. The source will not be not the devilalthough God may use the devil. c. The source will not be sciencealthough God may use science. d. The source will not be mans ignorancealthough God may use mans ignorance. e. The Source will be God. (1) To be honest, that is one of the things that makes this passage so confusing and frightening. (2) Why would the God of Truth be dealing with a lie? (3) Contemplating that is like thinking of light and dark being in the same room together. (4) Like the sign I saw on the church marquee, "Forgiven your enemies. It messes with their head." So this concept, messes with our heads. 2. Gods deception will lead people to believe a lie. a. This solidifies the deception and our confusion. b. It is not as if God is putting a deception out there that will fail to convince people. c. No. This deception, Gods deception, will be believedas the expression goes, "Hook, line, and sinker." 3. \#12\ Gods deception will lead to the damnation of human souls. 2Thess 2:12 That they all might be damned. a. That is the most confusing aspect of this entire section. b. Here we have the God of grace, love, forgiveness, purposing deceiving people so that they will go to hell! c. I am not a Calvinist but I do believe in predestination. a. God has predetermined that some will go to hell, not as individuals but as a group. b. If you get into that group, you will go to hell. c. These people are in that group! D. So here is the end: God will send out a deception to damn human souls while they are still alive on the earth. I find that absolutely frightening. II. The Cause A. I want to look at TWO TOPICS, but the CAUSE is the same. 1. What would CAUSE God, the God of Truth, to send a delusion upon anyone? 2. What would CAUSE a person to end up in that hell headed group? B. The text tells us the CAUSE for both of those topics. 1. It will because the people God sends the delusion to have rejected the truth of His Son. 2Thess 2:11 For this cause God shall send them a strong delusion. 2. What cause? 2Thess 2:10 because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 3. Let there be no question that God sends the delusion. 4. Let there be no question that the delusion causes the people to believe a lie. 5. Let there be no question that the lie they believe damns their souls to hell. 6. But do not miss what causes it all. a. They had the truth. b. They rejected the truth that could have saved them. C. Friend, it is a dangerous thing to reject Jesus Christ. Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 1. If you have the truth of Jesus Christ and do not accept it, you CAN become a target for God. a. A target of Gods wrath. b. A target of Gods withdrawn mercy. c. A target of Gods delusion. 2. There is nothing to keep God from doing this to any person who had heard the truth and not responded to it. D. I am seeing the power of delusion today. 1. I know that every old geezer since Adam has talked about how things have changed, but things really have changed. 2. I see four delusion at work already. Whether they are God-sent, the devil-sent, or just the stupidity of man I cannot say, but people are certainly deluded. a. Man is deluded into believing that there is no God. (1) Truthfully, we cannot say this is a new trend for even the Bible on two occasions acknowledges those who deny Gods existence. Psalm 14:1, Psalm 53:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. (2) Yet in this day of "enlightenment," more and more are turning away from God. (3) Huffington Post, 6/5/2012, "Atheism to Defeat Religion by 2038," had as its opening line "Countries with the best standard of living are turning atheist." https://www.huffingtonpost.com/nigel-barber/atheism-to-defeat- religion-by-2038_b_1565108.html (4) In 2010, 16% of the worlds population, 1.1 billion people, were atheist. http://www.ibtimes.com/pew-survey-predicts-rise-atheism-us-europe- despite-growing-religiosity-worldwide-1869696 b. Man is deluded into believing that mankind evolved. (1) An article by Pew Research dated 10/30/2014, entitled "Five Facts about Evolution and Religion," stated that 60% of Americans believe humans evolved over time. (2) The largest ethnic group to REJECT evolution is white evangelicals (67% reject evolution completely.) c. Man is deluded into believe that socialism is good. (1) A Gallup Poll article dated February 10, 2010, stated that than one-third of Americans (36%) have a positive image of "socialism," while 58% have a negative image. (2) Views differ by party and ideology, with a majority of Democrats and liberals saying they have a positive view of socialism, compared to a minority of Republicans and conservatives. http://news.gallup.com/poll/125645/Socialism-Viewed-Positively- Americans.aspx (3) In a more recent article, March 19, 2016, 60% of Americans have a positive image of capitalism, while only 35 percent have a positive image of socialism, a recent Gallup poll shows. https://www.cnsnews.com/blog/michael-morris/2016-poll-60-americans- have-positive-image-capitalism-only-35-socialism (4) Of course also in 2016, Bernie Sanders, a Socialist running for President of the United States won 13,206,428 Democratic votes or 43.1% of the popular Democratic vote. d. Homosexuality is normal. (1) In the United States, most reports agree that 1/20 (5%) of individuals are lesbian, bi-sexual, transgender, or gay with as many as 1/10 acknowledging they had same-sex attractions. https://www.liveabout.com/gay-population-statistics-in-the-united- states-1410784 (2) According to a Pew Research Poll in 2013, 41% of American people said "people are born gay or lesbian." (3) In the same poll, 42% said homosexuality was a choice. http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/03/06/americans-are-still- divided-on-why-people-are-gay/ 3. I am not saying that these delusions are the delusion that God is going to send for I do not believe it is, but I am saying that from these delusions, we can see the power of delusion. 4. If the human race is this susceptible to man and the devils lies, what will happen when God send them one? III. The Timing A. Believe it or not, Paul was not writing this section to emphasis the power of the delusion but rather to emphasis the timing of the deceiver. B. Notice the references to time: 1. \#6\ Something is holding back the deceiver until his time arrives. 2. \#7\ Iniquity is already at work and will continue to work until it is removed. 3. \#8\ THEN the wicked deceiver will be revealed. 4. \#10\ THEN he will deceive those that perish and have rejected the truth. 5. \#11\ At that time God will send a delusion that the truth rejecters will believe the deceivers deception and \#12\ be damned. C. I preached a message to you two weeks ago on this deceiver. 1. \See 2017Sermons on "Daniel 8:23"\ The Most Infamous Man 2. He is the anti-Christ. 3. In that message, I told you this was one of the six chapters that spoke much of the anti-Christ and I described this mans great power. a. It comes from the devil as \#2Thess 2:9\ declares. 2Thess 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, b. Some of his greatest power will be in his ability to flatter, to lie, and to deceive. Dan 11:21 but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. Dan 11:32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries. c. Here we are seeing that even God will help him! d. And he will be very successful! Matt 24:24 For 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. D. I think that the delusion God will send to the unsaved is that the anti-Christ is the Christ. E. I think that when the anti-Christ is revealed, if you have heard and rejected the truth of Jesus Christ, you will fall for the anti-Christ. IV. The Results A. What are the results of the strong delusion? B. Notice \#12\. 2Thess 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth. 1. The word "all" is not italicized meaning it is in the Greek. 2. It is the Greek word "pas" meaning "all, always, everyone, as many as, thoroughly, whatsoever, the whole." 3. I do not know exactly when the delusion will kick in and I do not know how many times God in His grace will deal with a heart before it kicks in but I do know that at some point after the anti-Christ is revealed, you will either believe that Jesus it the Christ or you will believe that the anti-Christ is the Christ. Why would you want to take that chance? Why would you allow yourself to be deceived? Remember, while this passage is talking about a specific time, anyone who has rejected the truth of Jesus is open to deceptionthe devils, mans, even Gods. Do not risk your soul. Turn to Jesus today.