All #ourCOG News 5.0
“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:25-28).
Deception is a trick used by magicians. They distract you into looking one way while they manipulate a card deck or other item to seem as if something has happened magically. Deception isn’t a godly attribute when used to deceive people into believing a lie, but most people have used it at one time or another in life. You might tell your child to clean her room. When you go and check on her work, the room is nice and clean. Just don’t look in the closet or under the bed.
When Jesus spoke of the last days, He warned us not to be deceived. Jesus said it, so Christians should be watchful and only trust Scripture. Today there are many people who fill pulpits or write books who are far from Scriptural in what they say. Many people are deceived by New Age teaching or by the “name-it-and-claim-it” preachers, or by those who make it seem as if accepting sinful lifestyles is the Christian thing to do. We can’t change the world, but we can’t allow the world to change the church. Jesus warned us against deception.
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matthew 7:15).
In today’s world, instead of counting sheep in order to fall asleep, you can count the wolves who seem like sheep.
Deception has been around as long as humanity has been on Earth. Satan deceived Eve with his lies. “And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression” (1 Timothy 2:14).
Satan convinced Eve that God was wrong and the Forbidden Fruit was really good. Deceit is Satan’s favorite tool, and it didn’t stop with Adam and Eve.
God’s plan was to establish a nation to bless the entire world. God called Abraham to be the father of that nation. The nation of Israel came through Abraham’s son Isaac. Isaac and his wife Rebekah had twin sons; Esau was the firstborn, and Jacob was the younger. Rebekah and Jacob conspired to deceive Isaac into giving his blessing to Jacob instead of the older son Esau. Rebekah told Jacob to pretend to be Esau and take Isaac some food. Jacob was willing, but Esau was a man with a lot of hair, while Jacob wasn’t so hairy. Jacob knew that Isaac, who had failing eyesight, would touch him and know he wasn’t Esau.
“My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing” (Genesis 27:12).
Rebekah had a plan for that, too. She dressed Jacob in Esau’s clothing and used the hair from goats to deceive Isaac. Jacob did receive the blessing, but deception always causes turmoil, and there was much bitterness between Jacob and Esau. Jacob was the son whom God chose to establish the nation of Israel, and He would have made the way for that to happen had Jacob not deceived Isaac. Jacob had many struggles because he and his mother didn’t wait for God to act, but relied on deception.
God did use Jacob, also known as Israel, to be the father of the twelve tribes of Israel, and all the world is blessed because of the Jewish people. Christians haven’t replaced Israel, so don’t let anybody deceive you about that; God is not done with His chosen people, and after the Rapture, God will turn His attention back to Israel. They will face terrible times, called the Time of Jacob’s Trouble. Eventually, they’ll turn to God and call on Jesus as their Messiah. Their eyes will be opened, and God will fight for them.
As we draw closer to the end of time, we can understand more of what prophecy discloses. None of the Old Testament prophets could possibly describe modern weapons. During Biblical times, the most advanced weapon was a sword. That was true until recent times. Now we have airplanes, bombs, machine guns, and more. How could Ezekiel, or any of the prophets, have understood or described nuclear bombs? They could only describe the result of a bomb. When you read the ancient prophecies, try to discern what the prophet was describing through his own understanding.
Daniel wanted to understand the prophecy he was given, but it wasn’t for his time; it was for a later time…our time. “And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end” (Daniel 12:8-9).
Daniel couldn’t understand based on his knowledge at the time, but we are very near to the end, and things are becoming clearer. Study prophecy through today’s knowledge. We may not have all the answers yet, but we learn more each day.
Let’s take a look at some recent thoughts about the coming great deception.
There’s a trend nowadays to embrace homosexuality, and this is an abomination before the Lord. Jesus said the end times would be like the days of Lot, and if you understand what was happening in Sodom, you’ll understand how similar sinful lifestyles are today.
“Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot: they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all, Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is reveled” (Luke 17:28-30).
The Rapture is drawing near, but like it was in Sodom, homosexuality is rampant, and most people aren’t paying attention. Schools have taught the lie of evolution for many years, and God won’t put up with it. He’s the Creator and requires us to understand that truth. Romans chapter 1 is very clear that when God is rejected as Creator, sexual perversion is a judgment.
All of creation is a witness that there had to be a Creator; things didn’t explode and fall neatly into place. “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things” (Romans 1:21-23).
Because of that, God gave them over to sin; homosexuality is a judgment. Even “Christians” tolerate this evil within the congregation, and God doesn’t look kindly on homosexuality within the Christian community. “Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them” (Romans 1:32).
This has become so prevalent in society that now children are taught that even if every indication is that Johnny is a boy, he just might really be a girl. So, he’s given drugs to block his normal body development that allows a little boy to grow into a man, then his body is mutilated because some doctor or teacher has decided to help him be a girl. The same is true for little girls. This is a deception straight from the pit of Hell.
Jesus also told us that the end days would be as the days of Noah. “And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all” (Luke 17:26-27).
There is a deception by many Bible teachers that the days of Noah were just very wicked times. They were, but this evil was caused by fallen angels having sexual relations with human women. A study of Genesis chapter 6 discloses that the “sons of God,” which were angels, not Seth’s sons, saw the “daughters of men,” human women, and took them as “wives,” thus creating hybrids known as Nephilim.
Today, mad scientists are learning how to mix the DNA of one species with another. That will allow a person who is deceived into thinking he or she is a dog to become a dog. If you don’t believe this is happening, look into transhumanism and/or transspecies. You’ll find that mice have been implanted with human genes, and spiders have been crossed with goats, and so much more. God won’t put up with it much longer. When humans go against God’s natural laws, judgment comes.
Lot had lived in Sodom but didn’t participate in the evil there, and Noah’s ancestors were true to God and didn’t join in with the fallen angels and their agenda. When God’s judgment came, Noah and Lot were protected from God’s anger. Noah was protected through it, but his great-grandfather Enoch was Raptured prior to the judgment. Lot was taken out of Sodom prior to judgment raining down. We can look around us and see God’s judgment will soon happen. Only Christians will be snatched away like Enoch before the Judgment comes. Now is the time to share the Gospel with others, and also be sure of your own salvation. Don’t be deceived.
Another idea about what the Great Deception will be is aliens. LA Marzulli is a Christian researcher who has much information about this subject. More and more people are admitting to seeing UFOs and aliens, and many claim to have been abducted. Even the government is investigating UFOs and the existence of alien beings. These aliens aren’t cute little creatures like ET who just want to go home, but evil servants of Satan.
Personally, I’ve never seen an alien and never hope to see any, but I don’t doubt they exist. I have seen some very mysterious lights in the sky over my house. I can’t say for certain that they were alien spacecraft, but they certainly were unidentified flying objects. I do pray for God’s hedge of protection to guard my home from all evil.
The Apostle Paul wrote about gifts of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians chapter 12. Included in that list is “discerning of spirits.” Ask yourself this question: If all spirits are good spirits, then why do we need discernment? He also warned about false apostles who deceive people and claim to be Apostles of Christ.
“And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works” (2 Corinthians 11:14-15).
Many who are deceived by the idea of friendly aliens call them our “space brothers” and say that we evolved from them. The pope even said he would baptize them. Yep, that’s deception, and a total lack of understanding about who Jesus is and why He entered His creation. Don’t be deceived by people who sound as if they are authorities about our “space brothers.” There’s a spiritual realm around us. God’s angels can come through on occasion, but so can Satan’s evil minions. The way to keep from being deceived is to study Scripture and understand what God says. You’ll never be deceived if you believe God’s word.
A very alarming deception today is AI. Brothers and sisters, be very cautious regarding Artificial Intelligence. The more I study this subject, the more concerned I get. Pastor Billy Crone has done extensive research on this subject and has resources for study. Jesus said, “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).
Do you have any idea just how often you use AI and don’t even know it? Do you search the internet? Search engines brag that they use AI. Do you use a program that helps you to write a better research paper? AI helps you do that. Unfortunately, it’s not your own research or knowledge, but AI making you sound as if you know what you’re talking about. Would you like to see Jimmy Stewart in a new movie? AI can make that possible.
You can be assured that every commentary I write is prayed over and has no AI help, but has HS help…Holy Spirit. I’ve even heard of a church in Germany that has no preacher. The congregation sits in pews and listens to an AI robot. Does your pastor write his own sermons, or does AI do it for him?
God tells us that in the end, there will be a one-world government, monetary system, and religion. This can be accomplished easily using AI. The Starlink satellites are a major part of a grid system to watch people and enforce the decrees of the Beast System. Some say that the Anti-Christ will be an AI robot, or at least part human/part robot. AI can be helpful if used properly, but it has the power to deceive everyone. Be cautious when you use it.
So much is happening so fast, but like the people in the days of Lot and in the days of Noah, most people just don’t care and don’t want to believe we’re living in the days that the prophets of old spoke about. The only way to not be deceived is to study Scripture. Don’t just study Sunday school propaganda. Most is very shallow and won’t prepare you for a thumb war, let alone spiritual warfare. Study Scripture. Time is short, and we need to get busy. Pray that God will open doors for you to share the Gospel. Study Biblical prophecy and have answers for all who have questions.
“For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved” (2 Thessalonians 2:7-10) (NKJV).
We are seeing just the beginning of deception and the rise of the Beast System described in Revelation. The Holy Spirit lives inside of every Christian, and He is restraining the evil that’s coming. Christians will be Raptured prior to the takeover by the Anti-Christ. When we are gone, the world will be in shambles. Evil will prevail, and the Anti-Christ will deceive everyone. Avoid deception by studying Scripture and understanding God’s truth. Accept Jesus Christ for salvation, and the Holy Spirit will indwell you. Don’t be deceived.
God bless you all,
Nathele Graham
www.raptureready.com
All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.
If you would like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries, just drop me an email and let me know.
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee” (Psalm 122:6).
The post The Great Deception :: By Nathele Graham appeared first on Rapture Ready.
Comments