Most Will Believe the Lawless One, by Alan Ballou
If the lawless one appeared today, would you welcome him with open arms? Sounds crazy right? However, most will take a stand against the Lord our God with him, all the while thinking that they are “in the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5)?
If you don’t think so, and especially if you have no idea what I am talking about, then you should read this post. Remember that God’s people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. NKJV
The “Day of the Lord” will not come until the falling away comes first, and then the man of lawlessness will be revealed (verse 3 above). My friend we have been in “the falling away” since before I was born, and I’m 50 something.
How do I know that? Listen to what I am telling you. Open your Bible to John 15:1-6, or John 14:21-23, and ask yourself if you have ever heard the doctrine of Jesus Christ preached anywhere in this country? In fact, you will more than likely hear the exact opposite of what you will read. That should be evidence enough (2 Timothy 4:1-4).
I know it sounds crazy, but listen to what I am telling you. The things that are happening today are going to happen no matter what, because it is written that it will happen, but you don’t have to be placed in otter darkness with other Christians who do not live by faith (Matthew 8:12, 22:13, 25:28-30).
Yes, there is more than just the lake of fire, and Heaven. Check the verses for yourself, and know that there are many passages of scripture that you have never heard, and will never hear today because we are in “the falling away,” or the “rebellion,” as it is called in some Bibles.
We have rebelled against the Word of God, and because of it, we are falling away from the faith, but the Lord has declared that His Word will never pass away.
Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. NKJV
If the Words of Jesus Christ, our Lord, will never pass away, when will He make His home on the inside of us according to His own Words written in John 14:21-23? Open your Bible and read it for yourself.
We need to obey His teachings before He will make His home in us, according to the Words of Jesus written in those verses. How soon will that happen if no one is teaching the doctrine of Jesus?
Is there anyone left who is teaching faith in Jesus Christ? Many still preach repentance toward God, and they persuade people to repeat a “sinner’s prayers,” but aren’t we called to preach the Gospel too?
Acts 20:20-22 how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. NKJV
We should teach people to repent, and believe the Gospel.
Mark 1:14-15 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” NKJV
If we preached the Gospel, we would be teaching people to live by faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 1:16-17, 3:21-22), among other things. See my blog post “Is there a preacher left who preaches the Gospel?”
Listen to the following verses, and notice who will believe the strong delusion, why they will believe it, and who is sending it.
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 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. NKJV
Is it because they did not say a sinner’s prayer, that they will perish? No, my friend, it is because they did not “love the truth” (verse 10 above). If you have a problem with the verses I have mentioned so far, then certainly, you are in that line.
All will be condemned who did not believe the truth, but take please in unrighteousness (verse 12 above). The Word of God is truth.
John 17:17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. NKJV
Ask yourself if the Word of God is offensive to you. Jesus is a rock of offense to those who will not make it.
1 Peter 2:8 and “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. NKJV
So now, is it possible to totally ignore the doctrine of Jesus Christ, as well as many other passages of scripture that I have mentioned over and over in the past, and still not be in the group of people who will accept the strong delusion with open arms? Think about that. The lawless will not make it (Matthew 7:23, 13:41).
Let’s read on down in the same chapter to see who will “not” accept the strong delusion, but will have salvation.
2 Thessalonians 2:13-15 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, 14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. NKJV
The people who are going to make it are sanctified by the Spirit, and believe the truth (verse 13 above). There instructions are to stand fast, meaning stand fast in the faith, and hold to what they were taught (verse 15 above).
The Gospel message that the Apostle Paul preached, “called” people to this very thing (verse 15 above), which is also in-line with another “no so popular” passage of scripture.
1 Corinthians 15:1-2 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you — unless you believed in vain. NKJV
Notice that those who received the Gospel are instructed to “hold on to what they heard, unless they believed in vain. Did you hear that you needed to hold on to the Word of Gospel message, or you would not be saved? Nope! They stopped preaching that years ago because it didn’t get the crowd going. Welcome to the last days!
The Apostle Paul was sent by Jesus, not just to have people receive the forgiveness of sins, but that they might receive an inheritance, along with those who are sanctified by faith.
Acts 26:17-18 I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, 18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ NKJV
If we’re just getting people to say a sinner’s prayer, we’re not preaching the Gospel. That means that we too have rejected our instructions given by Jesus our Lord in the great commission, and if we have rejected the truth, what would stop us from receiving, and even preaching the strong delusion? Right.
Father in name of Jesus Christ have mercy upon us, according to Your great compassion, which fails not. Open our eyes so that we will make right decisions, in keeping with Your Word. Increase our faith. Deliver us from the snares we have created for ourself. For we have gathered up teachers to tell us what we want to hear, in keeping with Your Word. Renew what little life we have left, that we may walk in Your ways again, and bring glory to Your holy name. Amen.
I’m Alan Ballou; a servant.
