A Spirit of Deception

What was the one key phrase Jesus used repeatedly when He addressed the last days? It is a simple statement that seems to read like the headlines of today. "And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you"--Matthew 24:4. For emphasis, let's repeat it again from Mark 13:5, "And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:" If you go to these texts you will see that it is the first thing that Jesus says concerning the end times. Again, just for emphasis, let's repeat this from Luke 21:8. It is still the first point Jesus makes in His discourse on the last days.

What seems to be happening all around us? Men seem to be under a spirit of deception. The point of deception is that you want to overtake or trap someone without their conscience knowledge. How do I know that there seems to be a pervasive, deceptive blindness enveloping the land? There are too many signs to give, but one seems to be more evident--what once was called sin clearly from every pulpit in America is now debated whether or not it is acceptable. God is immutable or unchanging. If His word declared something a sin in Jesus' day it is still sinful today. Men have lost the ability to discern right from wrong, and this too is a sign of the last days of deception.

Finally, there is a spirit of apostasy gripping the land and this accompanies the loss of discernment. I am sure you have seen all of the articles about the decline of Christianity in the land? This is prophetic. Paul addressed this also, and guess what he started this teaching with? "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition"--2 Thessalonians 2:3.

The bottom line friend--let no man deceive you!