D IS FOR DECEPTION, PART ONE

Larry Grecu
Baker, Florida
March 24, 2015

D IS FOR DECEPTION, THE FINAL GREAT DECEPTION
PART ONE

A week ago, the Lord gave me a dream in which I was given several words that began with the letter "D." I knew that each word was part of a message that the Lord was wanting me to share, some as warnings and some as encouragement to the Body of Christ. I would remind Christians, as well as non-believers, that Jesus was not afraid to give both the Good News and the bad news. Unfortunately, Christians today, and especially in our Western culture, desire to heap unto themselves teachers having itching ears. As a result, these foolish virgins are going to be completely unprepared for what is coming.

One of the first things Jesus warned about in His Last Days sermon in Matthew 24 was about deception. If you do not think this is already happening, then you better take the blinders off. Things are speeding up. But, before I get ahead of myself, I want to show you the Biblical progression for deception in these last days. It's been around for a long time, but the ultimate deception is coming, and we need to know about it.

In Paul's epistle to the Romans, he tells us how God has revealed Himself to those who do not have the Law of Moses. This is referring specifically to the Gentile nations. We should all know that the Law was given to the Jews (see Romans 2-3). Anyway, in Romans 1, Paul tells us that there are ways God has revealed Himself to those without the Law: (1) through the Creation, by which He reveals His eternal power and Godhead; (2) through the conscience, used to convict us when we are getting ready to do something that is wrong; and (3) through Godly reasoning, whereby we can accept or reject thoughts coming into our mind.

But, here's the problem. Romans 1 also tells us that when people reject God's provisions, He turns them over to their own desires. In other words, He lets them have their own way and gives them up to it. They have abandoned God, so He abandons them (See Romans 1:24, 26, 28). The Good News is that there is still time to turn around. The bad news is that time is running out! NOW is the time of salvation!

Why do I say, "Now"? Because there is coming a final abandoning from which there will be no return. It is found in II Thessalonians 2:3-12. And, you know who sends this final abandoning, this final deception? God Himself. Because men do not receive a love for the truth, God sends a strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they might all be damned who do not believe the truth, but have pleasure in unrighteousness.

You might be saying, "You've got to be kidding!" No, this is no joke. It is very real. Here is some more good news, though. God, through the apostle Paul, tells us exactly how this final deception will occur. The man of sin, the antichrist, will appear - first his appearing and then the appearing of the true Christ - "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."

Now, here's where you are going to need some discernment and be a lover of the truth, no matter what it costs you. Antichrist(s) are going to look, smell, and taste just like the real thing! He (and they) are going to have all the bells and whistles. But, the real test is this: what are they saying? Does what they are saying line up with the Word of God or have they twisted the Word of God to their own destruction?

John the apostle warned us that there were antichrists already around in his day. So what about today? In Part Two, I will share with you some modern-day examples of people who are either anti-Christ in their teachings or are heading in that direction if they don't wake up. Hey, even Balaam gave some true prophecies, but look where he ended up! Stay tuned!