Strong Delusion - Part 1 Series

Strong Delusion – Part 1

2 Thessalonians 2: 9 – 12

9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

I am a believer in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Who came to this world born of a virgin. He walked this earth fully human and fully God. He died on a cross outside the city of Jerusalem for my sins and rose again from the dead. He ascended into Heaven and He now sits at the right hand of The Father God. As a pledge that I am His son, He sent The Holy Spirit to live, move and have His Being in me. He is coming back again. Please forgive me if this is not eloquent and theologically perfect, yet I love my King and Master Adoni Yeshua even if I do not properly express it.

Our Precious Lord and Savior came once and promised us that He will come again a second time. There is presently a term or theological position that has found acceptance in the Christian family. This idea is that our Holy Lord is now coming back again to earth in two parts – a part ‘A’ and a part ‘B’. The part ‘A’ which I am going to take some time breaking down this theory is called – The Rapture. According to this belief our Lord Is coming back just outside of earth and call out His church. He will take His bride [saints] back to Heaven for 7 years and then return to earth. Part B will be then His Second Coming.

We are going to discuss how this term – Rapture – came about. We are then going to look at every possible Scripture that might speak on behalf or against this theory. I grew up in my Christian life being taught about and accepting as fact this position of a two part return of my Savior to earth. I even had a bumper sticker that showed a pair of sneakers with a puff of smoke. This displayed the instant disappearance. I am sure you have also seen a bumper sticker that says, ‘Warning, in the event of the Rapture, this vehicle will be unmanned.’

Without holding you in suspense any further let me say that I believe that this theory is false. There is and will not be a - ‘Rapture’ ,as is presently being taught by many bible colleges and pulpits. Now before you get your gander up and ready to argue let us look together at God’s Word for the correct answers. That is why I said that I am going to dedicate some time going over this idea. After we have looked at all possible Scripture and you still believe in the ‘Rapture’, then God bless you.

It is not heresy to disagree with the Rapture position. It does not go against the truth that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Is coming back to earth a second time.

However, what if we come to learn through what God’s Word reveals that this idea is a fabrication of biblical truth. Would it not be qualified as a ‘strong delusion’ that bible teachers and Pastors have incorrectly been feeding their sheep. Would it not qualify in the warning that our Lord and Savior gave to us as listed in the book of Revelation chapter 22 which states, “18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” Would accepting this theory as fact and teaching this theory to our Lord’s flock be liable as adding to God’s word. I know I do not want to mess around with what my Supreme Holy Ruler says. So, with this powerful challenge let us begin.

Since I used the Scripture of 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 and highlight the term – ‘Strong Delusion’, it would be good for us to understand what this word means. In life we read a lot of things and sometimes take for granted that we know what the word means. So what does out favorite dictionary says about a ‘delusion’.