Learn to recognize the signs of strong delusion, because there is a great consequence of being deceived. The Bible warns us of the danger of strong delusion and how to avoid and overcome it through faith.
The Bible mentions strong delusions in (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12) speaking of the coming of the lawless one who will use power, signs, and lying wonders to deceive those who do not receive the love of the truth. (Matthew 24:24) Speaks of false prophets and false messiahs who will appear using strong delusions to “deceive, if possible, even the elect”. (2 Thessalonians 2:12) Warns us that those “who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness” will be condemned. (Ephesians 4:14) Says that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of doctrine, but instead should grow up in our knowledge and understanding of Christ. In short, it encourages believers to develop spiritual maturity and not be swayed by false teachings.
(1 Corinthians 6:9-10) The Apostle Paul lists several behaviors that he says are contrary to the ways of God. They include, idolatry, adultery, homosexuality, greed, drunkenness, slander, and swindling. Paul warns the Corinthians that those who practice these things will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Yet later Paul in (1 Corinthians 6:11), reminds them that despite their past sins, they have been washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. In (2 Thessalonians 2:11) God said that HE will allow those, who do not believe and whom delight in wickedness, that HE God, shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie. Strong delusion refers to a spiritual deception that will be sent by God as a penalty for those who do not believe the truth of the gospel, but choose to follow false teachings instead.
Or does it forecast a reference to the false one? The one who will appear and deceive many, leading them away from truth, towards the worship of himself. An unrighteous deception among those who perish for their failure to believe the tru†h. Motivated by their unrighteousness or wickedness in an attempt to lead people away from the truth of God’s Word.
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
New International Version
9 “The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.”
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
King James Version
9 “Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
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.”
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
Living Bible
9 “This man of sin will come as Satan’s tool, full of satanic power, and will trick everyone with strange demonstrations, and will do great miracles. 10 He will completely fool those who are on their way to hell because they have said no to the Truth; they have refused to believe it and love it and let it save them, 11 so God will allow them to believe lies with all their hearts, 12 and all of them will be justly judged for believing falsehood, refusing the Truth, and enjoying their sins.”
Matthew 24:24
New International Version
24 “For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”
Matthew 24:24
King James Version
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.”
Matthew 24:24
Living Bible
24 “For false Christs shall arise, and false prophets, and will do wonderful miracles so that if it were possible, even God’s chosen ones would be deceived.”
2 Thessalonians 2:12
New International Version
12 “and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.”
2 Thessalonians 2:12
King James Version
12 “That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
2 Thessalonians 2:12
Living Bible
12 “and all of them will be justly judged for believing falsehood, refusing the Truth, and enjoying their sins.”
Ephesians 4:14
New International Version
14 “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.”
Ephesians 4:14
King James Version
14 “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;”
Ephesians 4:14
Living Bible
14 “Then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone has told us something different or has cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth.”
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
New International Version
9 “Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
King James Version
9 “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Living Bible
9-10 “Don’t you know that those doing such things have no share in the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who live immoral lives, who are idol worshipers, adulterers or homosexuals—will have no share in his Kingdom. Neither will thieves or greedy people, drunkards, slanderers, or robbers.”
1 Corinthians 6:11
New International Version
11 “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
1 Corinthians 6:11
King James Version
11 “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
1 Corinthians 6:11
Living Bible
11 “There was a time when some of you were just like that but now your sins are washed away, and you are set apart for God; and he has accepted you because of what the Lord Jesus Christ and the Spirit of our God have done for you.”
2 Thessalonians 2:11
New International Version
11 “For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie”
2 Thessalonians 2:11
King James Version
11 “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:”
2 Thessalonians 2:11
Living Bible
11 “so God will allow them to believe lies with all their hearts,”