Strong Delusion?

We are being taught wrong is right and right is wrong. That comes through our media,educational system, and our courts of law.

 

And many of our churches.

 

2 Thessalonians, chapter 2
4: Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

KJMatt.07
21": Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

"22": Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

"23": And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.


Mark, chapter 13
"13": And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

"14": But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not , (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:

I understand it to be:
Talking about the false prophets that are among us in these last days. (standing where they ought not). For they do think they serve God. There are those that will have their conscious seared with a hot iron and believe a lie and be damned.

 

Brother Bob could be right.

I also have been wondering if the theory of evolution might already be this strong delusion. Remember, this could be just leading up to the Tribulation. And a couple of hundred years is nothing to the Lord.

It started in the 19th century, and I believe that it has deceived more people away from the truth of God than anything in the last 2000 years.

 

Well goodness, an alternative hypothesis is that young earth creationism might be that strong delusion, since people will naturally shy away from Christianity if they are told they need to believe something so contrary to the evidence.

 

They certainly shied away when believing in Jesus meant death. You think?

 

What does that have to do with delusions??

 

Well, let's see...

For all of history from the time of Genesis through the late 1800's, creationism was the belief pretty much universally (I would think). Now you want to say that they were all under a delusion whereas the "new thing" is supported by all the evidence.

Interesting...

Maybe strong delusion has to do with putting the evidence above the clear statements of scripture. Maybe strong delusion is the result of man seeking physical evidence instead of believing by faith as the bible commands. Maybe strong delusion is sent in the later days instead of the former. If so, then what is more likely the strong delusion.

 

So are you of the position that God planted all of the contrary cosmological, geological, and biological evidence just to "test our faith"? Doesn't that seem a bit, well, dishonest? Do you test your wife's faith by leaving lingerie that definitely does not belong to her under your bed?

 

Who would of thought of that, in a Scripture discussion?

 

What, are you telling me you've never read II Samuel?

If we're talking about deceit and betrayal, it's an obvious comparison.

 

Matthew 7:21-23 brings to mind a lot of Charismatics/Pentecostals/televangalists. Any takers?

 

Or maybe I am under the impression that the evidence that we only see PART OF, may lead to a DIFFERENT conclusion if we had ALL OF IT and also the ABILITY to understand it.

To make such an assumption would be ridiculous, yet people throw away the clear scripture based on partial evidence and a non-scriptural interpretation of it.

Try not to make baseless accusations about what people suppose God did. Man is not the all knowing being that we like to think we are.

 

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.

It appears that all the things you are referencing belong in verse 9-10 - power, signs, lying wonders, unrighteous deception.

I would say that the "strong delusion" in verse 11 is more internal. God causes them to fall for the deception of the lawless one because they have already rejected Him.

 

It sure seems to fly smack in the face of total inability. People cannot come to God unless He regenerates. Nor can they understand spiritual things. Yet just in case some may believe on their own I supose, God sends a strong delusion. To delude folks who are already dead and cannot respond!


Of course if it is eternal then it came from man and not God? Yeah, Okay.

 

Welcome back Tim! So, how does God's deluding and hardening fly smack in the face of total inability?
This is a classic case of Romans 1. Because man refuses to believe (here, specifically those who have actually heard the gospel), God continues the process (maybe even speeds it up) by deluding them.

At the end of Romans 1, part of the turning over was to a debased mind to wallow in their sins. This is not contrary to total inability, it is compatible with it. It would only be contrary if, despite their disbelief, God gave everyone the grace and ability to believe.

 

And, just for the record, it was a non-calvinist who turned this into a Calvinism-Arminianism debate...

 

Guilty!

 

You still do not answer why? Why God has to speed or add to man total inability? How do you add to calvinist def. of total inability ? by saying God is not speeding it up? Man is dead how can he speed up his death? He can't respond. All of what you said just destroys even more or what your saying.

By the way thanks for the welcome back. Had a great time in greeneville this last week.