II Thessalonians 2:1-12 The Astonishing Day of Christ

The most significant characteristic of the end-time, according to Scripture, is not revival. It is deception.

YEARS AGO AN OLDER FRIEND directed my attention to II Thessalonians 2:1-12 and encouraged me to study it because of its importance for the last days. I have looked at it for years, awed by the power and energy of what it says.

Some statements in the passage are awesome and fearful. No warning is so terrifying as that occurring in verse 11. It is that God will release an energizing power of delusion to lock those who refuse to love the truth into believing the lie. Yet, with this warning, comes a positive hope. It is that we can still receive the love of the truth that will enable us to stand through the most fearsome time the world has ever known. Actually, this is a gift God is ready to release unto those of us who will receive it. Think of it—the love of the truth.

Our purpose in this article is to examine the passage to which my old friend directed me—and to see other passages confirming it and relating to it. We recognize the Scriptures about the end-time as coming out of the divine counsel of God for us who face the insidious deception of the last days. I believe no passage of Scripture is more important in this end-time day than this Thessalonian passage. It directs us to several matters that are of life-or-death importance. Following are the points that come to our attention:

• FIRST, II Thessalonians 2:1-12 tells about the coming of the “anti-Christ” on the world scene. Paul calls him…that man of sin, the son of perdition—verse 3. With his appearance, a strong deception—especially regarding him and the Lord Jesus Christ—will come against believers. This will blind many as to the true identity of anti-Christ, causing some to believe that he is Christ. This arch-enemy of the Lord Jesus Christ has an inclination toward that which is religious. Because of this, many religious people will flock after him. We must remember that the anti-Christ is not anti-religious; he is anti-Christ. His great aim is to inhabit the Temple of the Holy Spirit, the holiest place of all.

• SECOND, this Thessalonian passage tells of the apostasy, the great end-time falling away that will come among believers—especially those on the fringe of serving the Lord. It is apparent many will turn from the Lord and join the forces of the anti-Christ. Paul tells of this again in I Timothy 4:1 Now the Scripture speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall depart (“apostatize”) from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils (“teachings of demons”). What we learn from other Scripture leads us to conclude that at the same time many are turning from the Lord, there will come a great in-gathering movement of the Holy Spirit. This will draw many into the fold of the Lord Jesus. It will result in the greatest harvest of souls ever known. All persons, everywhere, will be either completely with the Lord or completely against Him. So sharp a line of contrast has never before been drawn.

• THIRD, in this passage we find how the anti-Christ will operate when he appears openly in the world. He will attempt a final great seduction of all Christians, aiming for their minds. In addition, he will receive power from Satan to produce signs and lying wonders. This great movement of deception will reach toward those who have not received a love for the truth and will draw some of them into the apostasy. Then, in what will be the last move of the Holy Spirit before the coming of the Lord Jesus, God will send strong delusion upon all refusing to receive the love of the truth. How amazing and how awesome! God will turn those deceived by unrighteousness over to the deception of the anti-Christ. This will bring iniquity to the full and call forth the judgment of the last Day.

• FOURTH, this passage clearly foretells what will finally destroy the anti-Christ. It is the Parousía of the Lord Jesus Christ—what many call His Second Coming. What we learn agrees with the end-time prophecies of Daniel, each of which speaks clearly of anti-Christ’s defeat. This powerful and important material also agrees, wonderfully and perfectly, with what Jesus taught in Matthew 24.

• FIFTH, the Thessalonian passage tells about our gathering together unto the Lord Jesus Christ. This will be so powerful a time that no force from heaven, earth, or hell can remain unaware of it or go untouched by it. The passage also tells us precisely what will happen in the Parousía of the Lord Jesus. This is when He comes with the open display of His might and governmental authority in all the earth. Concerning the above, II Thessalonians 2:1-12 has points difficult to translate and interpret, but vital to our understanding regarding the last days. For this reason, we ask the help of the Holy Spirit as we look deeply into its every statement.

LET US LOOK FIRST at the passage as it unfolds from the Greek New Testament. Some terms in it require a more precise interpretation than possible with a mere word-for-word translation. To give a clearer meaning, I’ve placed some words in parentheses. They do not occur in the original but are essential to understanding. Notice the word parousía. It means the coming of a great king or dignitary into his region of rule. It occurs three times in the passage. We do not translate it because its meaning is so precious.

(II Thessalonians 2) 1Now we exhort you, brethren, concerning the Parousía of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering under His leadership, 2that you not be so quickly shaken from (soundness) of mind, nor terrified, neither by a spirit, nor through a spoken word, nor by a letter claiming to be from us, as that the Day of Christ is (already) at hand. 3Let no one cheat you into believing (this lie) by any means, because (that day shall not come) unless the apostasy comes first and the man of sin is unveiled, the son of destruction, 4who sets himself against (Christ) and exalts himself above everything that is called god or that is worshipped, so that he sets himself in toward the Holy Place of God as God, proclaiming that he is God (or, that he is a god). 5Don’t you remember that when I was with you, I told you these things? 6And now, you know what is placing a restraint on (all his activity) that he might be unveiled in his own designated season. 7For the mystery of the iniquity is already at work, only there is presently a restraining force (at work) until he comes into (his) being out of the midst (of humanity). 8And then, the lawless one will be unveiled, whom the Lord will destroy with the breath of His mouth, and render powerless by the brightness of His Parousía…9(even him) whose parousía is according to the energizing work of Satan, with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10and in all deceit of the unrighteousness (residing) in those who are perishing because they received not the love of the truth whereby they could have been saved. 11And on account of this, God will send them an energizing work of deception that will cause them to believe the lie; 12that they might all be judged who believed not the truth, but took pleasure in the unrighteousness.

___________________

I am reading through this teaching and wonder if any others might like to read with me. Although this teaching has been around a while it is new to me. In this first portion that I posted I really appreciate the point of being a lover of "GODS WORD." I am seeing more clearly how important it is to know HIM, to know HIS truth and to walk in it. Just spending time with GOD and listening for HIS still small voice as well as spending time in prayer and the WORD is not only vital to my growth in HIM, but I am learning is a must if I am to remain in HIM as I make my way on this life long journey. I also find I am seeing more and more each day just how true the opening statement is, deception among those who profess the name of JESUS is alarming. I have come out of deceived teachings myself and am so thankful to the LORD for opening my eyes to HIS truth.

Be blessed
maryjane

Post removed. I'll do some more thinking.

NOW WE FOLLOWED each verse as it comes out of the King James Version. We will give special emphasis to key words. This is Paul’s finest and most precise word regarding Christ’s Parousía. In presenting it, he had reason for grave concern. Even in that early day, erroneous teaching had come among believers. In a matter so serious as the day of Christ, it was important that their understanding—and ours in this day—be right and pure.

Take note that Paul pointed to two important matters regarding the time of the end. They are clear in the verse.

II Thessalonians 2: 1Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him…

In approaching these two matters, Paul used the strong word beseech. It is from the Greek erotáo and means “to put a matter before someone for their consideration by making an earnest appeal.” It is a word used sometimes in prayer to God. Paul was concerned for the Believers. A deceptive spirit had come among them bringing wrong understanding about the return of the Lord Jesus. His concern was that of a spiritual father, who wanted his people kept straight in the truth.

The first thing to which Paul gave attention was the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Coming is from the Greek parousía, that powerful word describing the most powerful Event ever. It will take place at the end of this age as the Lord Jesus takes His place and reigns over all things. His glorious burst upon the scene will render powerless all satanic operations. There are seventeen references in the New Testament to the Parousía of the Lord Jesus; there is one reference to the parousía of the man of sin in II Thessalonians 2:11. He will attempt to make his own “glorious burst” on the world scene to claim the position belonging to the Son of God. But, the glory of the Lord Jesus will exceed his little show of power even more than the blinding light of the sun exceeds the flame of a burning match.

From the beginning, Satan has put up a contest to place his own man in the high position belonging to the Lord Jesus. His attempted grand parousía will be with the design of taking this place finally and completely. But alas for him! His parousía will call forth the Parousía of the Lord Jesus.

Before the end, a determined force from Satan will work at bringing all world governments and institutions into favor with the anti-Christ. As his influence spreads and the final day approaches, all outward hope of a deliverance from his grip will seem to vanish—except from those whose eyes have been trained to behold Jesus in the darkness. Believers whose knowledge of Him reaches through the thick veil of deception and oppression will survive to the day of Christ.

PAUL’S SECOND CONCERN was with regard to our gathering together unto him. Gathering together is from the wonderful Greek word episunagogé. It means a “gathering together in one place.” The power of this word is that there is coming a gathering together unto the Lord Jesus Christ, Himself. He is The Powerful One to Whom God has given the rulership over all governments, principalities, powers, earthly and unseen, with all of His enemies made His footstool. He is the Seed of David, the Seed of Abraham, the Son of God. Concerning Him, God made an oath declaring that He shall reign over all with an everlasting dominion. (See the article The Covenant Promise).

Jesus told of the gathering together in Matthew 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. From all over the world, he will draw those who are in the company of His elect.

The distant Prophets confirmed this gathering together unto him—from Genesis 49:10, through Deuteronomy 18:15, through Psalm 2:6-7 and Psalm 72, through all of Isaiah 53, and on, and on, through Matthew 28:18-20, Ephesians 1:10, then through Revelation 11:15 and 21:22-24. Christ Jesus will be the Head. No movement—within Christendom, or without—can provide a leader to take His place.

How this gathering together unto Him at His Parousía will take place I cannot imagine. It is beyond the scope of my mind, so I won’t even try to tell. We can know some things, however. The Spirit will connect all believers, everywhere, to the power and government of Christ’s Throne. There will be no more movements of the Holy Spirit known only by some few earnest believers, but not by others. The power of this gathering and of Christ’s Parousía will reach into the most remote darkness the earth knows with a magnificent bond that will include every believer.

Paul’s concern in this Epistle—and our concern, too—is that we arrive at the Day of Christ’s return whole, with nothing to hinder His flawless government over us, in us, and through us as He Returns for His Bride.

WHILE OUR MINDS cannot grasp how the gathering together unto Him will take place, Revelation gives us an amazing Scripture that will help us understand at least a little. It will be an event in the class with Christ’s Resurrection. All the power that worked to bring that wonderful Event about will come into force at the Parousía. It will touch every believer in the world.

Revelation 5: 9And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blo od out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. 11And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

Revelation 5:12 and 13 tells about the Event: 12Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. 13And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

Word has just come in the preceding verses 9 and 10 that some, redeemed through Jesus’s death, out of every kindred (from the Greek phulé meaning “tribe; a body of people united by blood and descent,” that is, every family), and tongue (language), and people (culture group), and nation will reign with the Lamb over all.

Go over that again. Representatives out of every family, every language, every culture group, in every nation will participate with Christ in His Kingdom in the Age and Realm to come. This is one of those passages confirming to us that a great movement of the Holy Spirit is coming in all the earth to prepare a people for the Day of Christ.

Then, verse 12 reveals the seven-fold ascription of worthiness Heaven gives Christ as He takes the throne of His Government and reigns. It is apparent this is His Parousía. A multitude of heavenly beings say with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive…

• power (dúnamis, the dynamic ability to perform mighty works),

• and riches (ploútos, opulent wealth),

• and wisdom (sophía, superior knowledge and enlightenment),

• and strength (ischúos, robust might, the power of muscle to overthrow one’s enemy),

• and honour (timé, the highest estimate of personal worth),

• and glory (dóxa, the magnificent glory of being the highest dignitary in the earth),

• and blessing (eulogía, a mighty celebration of praise).

As earth joins in verse 13, the adulation increases. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying,

• Blessing (eulogía),

• and honour (timé),

• and glory (dóxa),

• and power (krátos, governmental might and authority), be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

By looking at these verses carefully, we see the three kinds of power that will find release as the Lord Jesus expresses His Kingdom. (Go back to verses 12 and 13 and see the words dúnamis, ischúos and krátos.) The energy of all this power came into effect two thousand years ago in His Resurrection. It will come into an even grander effect at His Parousía and in our gathering together unto him.

Paul used these same words of “power” in Ephesians 1:18 describing the resurrection and the power the Lord Jesus released for us. We covered these words in past Ephesians articles. Let us review them:

• dúnamis—dynamic power

• krátos—governmental power

• ischúos—muscle power

• energeía—energetic power.

It is interesting to note that Jesus used yet another “power” word in Matthew 28:18 when He made His Own declaration of governmental might. He said, All power (exousía, the authority and privilege of ruling) is given unto me in heaven and earth.

All the above—Oh, wonderfully! all the above—will work in His Parousía.

All that is contained in the eternal purposes of God, all that is proscribed in His Covenants with man, all that was released in Christ’s resurrection will come into force and effect at the Parousía. Christ’s followers, when He was here the first time, could not imagine His resurrection. It escaped their comprehension. So, how can we suppose to comprehend His Second Coming? We can only be ready.

Of course, there is coming satanic opposition to this powerful display of might from the Lord Jesus. The enemy’s only hope of stopping Christ’s dominion is through his power of deception. But, we thank God, the power of Christ is so much greater.

The deception of the closing days will be more intense and determined than ever. It will reach toward the high things of God’s Kingdom and present duplicates of them—replicas, yea counterfeits, of the real—with the intention of swindling the elect out of their inheritance in the Kingdom.

__________________________

This is the next part of the teaching.

God bless
maryjane

PAUL HELD A CONCERN for the minds of those early believers. That kind of concern is all the more important for us as the time of the end draws closer. To deceive the people of God in the closing days is the great final tactic of the enemy.

II Thessalonians 2 2That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither • by spirit, nor • by word, nor • by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3Let 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.

To be shaken in mind and troubled means to be thrown out of one’s sober and natural state so as to be unable to think straight or comprehend what is going on around one. Shaken is from the Greek saleúo. It can be used to speak of winds shaking a tree or tossing a ship at sea. But here, its reference is to the mind—a mind, if you please, in turmoil.

Mental shaking results in our being troubled. This is from the Greek throéo meaning “to be in an uproar.” It is an operation of the emotions and describes someone who is alarmed, disturbed, terrified.

Imagine, if you will, being in a house shaken by the winds of a hurricane—as many have been—or being in a ship driven by a storm—as many have been and perished—and yet, in the midst of it all remaining calm and surviving. This is what will happen with many believers in the time of the end. Terror will strike into many hearts—but, others will remain quiet and stable who are under the same affliction.

A mental shaking leads to an emotional shaking. This destabilizes a person and makes one very liable to fall when the times become unstable. There is so close a tie between the mind and the emotions, that instability in one has an effect on the other.

Psalm 46 tells of a stability in mind and emotion that is possible in the midst of trouble. It lays out the strengths—mental, emotional, and physical, along with material security—belonging to those under the rule of God’s Coming Expression in His Saints, seated with Christ is Heavenly Realms.

The Greek word Paul used in II Thessalonians 2:2 for mind is nous. It means the part of us that perceives and thinks, that remembers and makes decisions. It is the part that makes resolutions and forms purposes. The nous is the intellectual part of us where understanding and intelligence reside.

Daniel had insight regarding this mental part of us. In telling of the maneuvers of the anti-Christ in the last days, he revealed how at one point…he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant—Daniel 11:30. This means the anti-Christ will take control of the mind—psychic control, if you please—of all who apostatize from the faith. He will reach for the interior parts of the apostates to take them captive in mind, emotion, will, and conscience.

Anti-Christ supposes, by possessing these parts, he can then make his boldest move to take over the spirits of persons everywhere and gain control of all parts of the world system and its authority structures. If he can gain the spirits of those given over to the Jesus, he can then have the place he most desires—the temple. This is very important.

There will be those who withstand his maneuvers, especially his last one. We will see this as we look later at II Thessalonians 2:4. Here Paul tells of the man of sin sitting in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. We take note that every time Paul made reference to the temple as the dwelling place of God, he saw it composed of believers (The passages where Paul used the word naós when making reference to the temple are I Cor 3:16,17; I Cor 6:19; II Cor 6:16; Eph 2:21 and II Thes 2:4). He said, Know ye not that ye are the temple of God—I Corinthians 3:16. In his last great move toward obtaining this temple, the anti-Christ design is to confuse and deceive those of us who make up the temple, and attempt to deceive us as to who does in fact make up that temple. “Many will say to Me on that day. But, I never knew you.”

Can you not see it? Those truly given to Jesus on His completed cross and our cross of abandonment to the cross of Jesus—are that temple. He wants us because we are where the Spirit of God dwells. From us, redeemed and made whole in Christ, will go forth heaven’s kingdom for all Eternity. The enemy abhors this fact.Consider your spirit as the core of who you are. Surrounding your spirit, with roots reaching into it and drawing substance and strength from it, is your soul. Your soul consists of your mind at the top, your emotions and your will each to the side of the mind, and your conscience giving foundation to the whole. All this is the real you, housed in your body.

In order to lay hold of our spirits, the man of sin is reaching for our minds. On obtaining this part in us, he aims to control our emotions and gain their strengths. By controlling our emotions, he intends to draw our will after him. On taking control of this, he thinks he will use us at his will. Then, he supposes he can possess the part in us called conscience. If successful, he actually believes our awareness of being sons and daughters of the Kingdom of God will fade and we will slip into his kingdom of darkness.

Let us not be ignorant of this. The forces of anti-Christ are moving with confidence to overthrow every follower of the Lord Jesus.

IS THIS A TEACHING that we can lose our salvation? Well, let me say there are some powerful statements in Scripture that seem to point to this possibility.

The roots of my own upbringing in the Lord reach into the Baptist faith, with strong ties to “eternal security.” I do not quickly say that we can lose our salvation. But I do state that the enemy of our souls has set out to draw us back under his hold and present us as trophies in his kingdom. Because we have trusted Jesus as our Savior, we are a threat to his design. He will use every means possible to wipe us out.

Just holding the doctrine of “eternal security” or belonging to a church believing this way will not suffice in the day of his most determined attack. We must have a strong relationship with Jesus, Himself. This is not a doctrine within me. It is simply one principle of the life I live with Jesus Christ. And, I also firmly believe, we must receive the love of the truth.

Here is another verse that laid hold on me back in those early years of knowing the Lord. It is Jude 24 Now unto him that is able (powerfully able) to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. Hallelujah! What’s wrong with believing this with all our hearts?

At the same time, I am aware of what Paul said in I Timothy 4:1 at which we looked earlier. In this verse, he said…in the latter times some shall depart from the faith. Depart from is from the Greek apostésontai. It means to separate one’s self, to withdraw, to become an apostate. In the very meaning of the word is the idea that for one to apostatize he must first have been with the faith. Otherwise he could not have departed from it.

How shall I regard this? In II Thessalonians 2:3, Paul said, before the day of Christ comes, there will come a falling away first. This is a weak translation regarding a falling away. It is from the Greek hé apostasia. Hé is a Definite Article. It means “the.” Apostasia means “defection, apostasy; the act of standing against someone with whom one once stood.” These words mean “the apostasy.” It is apparent Paul had reference to something very definite that will take place in the latter day.

Paul made another powerful statement in II Timothy 3:1-7 about the last days and those who hold a form of godliness but are never able to come to “an acknowledgment of truth.”With this, we must also face of Hebrews 10:26-39 and Hebrews 3:1 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. Departing is from the same Greek word as above that means “to become apostate.” “Take heed, brethren, lest perchance there come to be in any of you an evil, unsound, malignant heart that could cause you to become apostate from the living God.”

Facing these verses, and being aware of my own tendency to stray from the Lord, I had to allow my security to find a greater stronghold than my adherence to the doctrine of “eternal security,” even though I saw it had wonderful Scripture teaching us of His enduring love.

Two things happened that I believe are keeping me. One, I let the Lord Jesus break my will. In His becoming my Lord, I gave up any right I might one day have to defect from Him, even under the most severe pressure. Two, I received the love of the truth. I remember the time. Something from His Spirit was placed in me that would enable me to know—instinctively and certainly—what comes from Him and what comes from the enemy.

The battle is fierce; it rages all around. It will become more severe. More than any believers have ever faced at any time in history, we will face trouble at the time of the end. We cannot have our confidence in our ability to hold on to Him. Our confidence must be in Him. He does the holding.

PAUL HELD A CONCERN that…no man deceive you by any means. This was especially so with regard to the day of Christ. In II Thessalonians 2:2, he laid out three means by which deception might come. Incidentally, these are precisely the same means by which truth can come—by a spirit, by a spoken word, by a written word. Since truth from God and deceit from Satan both come in these same three dimensions, discernment in our spirits, born of the Holy Spirit, is necessary.

Spirits of deception flock after believers as soon as they are born again and seek to draw them back into the darkness of former ways of living. Spiritual deception, born out of satanic darkness, often carries with it religious overtones. It can be close to truth born of the Holy Spirit. Only the pure in heart can discern the difference.

The first time I became aware that demonic forces will presume to use the Scriptures was over 35 years ago in Haiti. I would not do this now, but I went then into a voodoo conclave to see what they did. It was a display put on for tourists, yet it was authentic. In the course of the ritual, much was made of chanting what many call “The Lord’s Prayer.” At first, I thought it was an indication that some of what they were doing might be all right. Perhaps they were Christians. Then I saw the absurdity and filth of the ritual and realized it was all evil. They had taken something wonderful and pure and polluted it by placing it in a demonic ceremony.

I have repented of going into that voodoo tent, and have renounced the curiosity I then held. I did learn something, however. I saw how demons can take what is pure and good and defile it.

Now, it did not take much discernment to recognize the corruption in that voodoo tent. A babe in Christ could see that. But here we are now in the time of the end. Deception in these days is reaching for us with an intensity and refinement higher than any ever known.

I DISCUSSED THE DECEPTION that is coming upon us with my friend, John Brown. He made mention that the most significant characteristic of the end-time, according to Scripture, is not revival. It is deception.

The greatest deception of the end-time will be religious delusion. The closer we come to the end, the more subtle will be the deceit. It will reach into the high things of the Kingdom with counterfeit word and faith and manifestation so like the pure that only the most discerning can know the difference.

The value of a counterfeit to a crook is measured by how closely it resembles the original. The nearer it is to the true, the greater is its power to deceive. Should a counterfeiter reproduce a perfect likeness of an original, it would yet remain worthless. The value is not in how it comes but from whom it comes. The only difference between a perfect counterfeit and its original is the source.

When the tempter came to Jesus, he spoke what was true and yet conveyed the lie. He quoted Scripture, but it was wrong because it was not what the Father was saying to Jesus.As we have seen, the great end-time battle of Satan is for our minds. This is the seat in us of either truth or deception. For us who are believers, he intends to win us with what is dear to us—the truth of God’s Kingdom. But, let us know this: truth from him becomes corrupted into falsehood.

Is this disturbing? Then what Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23 should be disturbing also. 21Not 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. 22Many 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? 23And then will I profess unto them, • I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Note what they called Jesus…Lord, Lord. Note the three things they did—prophesied, cast out devils, did many wonderful works—all marks of good committed believers. Note what He said to them…I never knew you. This is strong language. It is even stronger in the Greek. This makes me tremble.

The reason Jesus turned these away from His Kingdom was that they still worked iniquity. The Greek has a Definite Article with iniquity, making it the iniquity. It is from the Greek hé anomía. This is a very definite iniquity. I believe it is the original iniquity that entered through Adam. These people did everything that was right, but they still held on to the iniquity that came through being descendants of Adam.

Iniquity means the attitude of doing what one wants with no regard for what God wants. It is the exaltation of self-will above God’s will. It is basic in human nature. The difference in us and in the anti-Christ is that in him it is raised to its highest degree. He is lawlessness personified.

Doing all the right things, no matter how religious and productive—if they are born out of self-will—they cannot fit one in, or enable one to function in, the Kingdom with Christ. Therefore Jesus said, I never knew you.

Those whose faith resides in ministry, doctrine, affiliation, experience, saying prayers, and even the bare Word of God not quickened by the Holy Spirit, if they are not subject to God’s will, they will find themselves subject to the great delusion of the last days.

____________________

Thank you for sharing these important teachings. In the past couple of years I have read a handful of articles written by Ed Corley -- they have been (and continue to be) a blessing in these last days.

IN II THESSALONIANS 2:3, Paul said,…Let no man deceive you by any means. Deceive is from the Greek exapatáo, a strong word meaning to deceive thoroughly. It could be used to speak of seducing a woman, of cheating someone into believing a lie, of swindling someone out of what is rightly his, or of beguiling a person away from the right course of action.

We find this same word in II Corinthians 11:3. What a revelation is here! But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled (deceived) Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

There are words so important in this verse and so relevant to what is presently upon us that we must take time to see them. First take beguiled. It is from exapatáo, the word translated deceive in the Thessalonian verse. Seeing it here helps us understand that the serpent did indeed swindle our dear ancient Mother out of what was rightly hers. He presented her with something so close to the true that she could not discern the difference. He seduced her. He cheated her. He beguiled her. He deceived her thoroughly.

How did the serpent accomplish this? Through subtlety. This is from the Greek panourgía which means “capable of doing anything.” The serpent was not a snake in the grass as we might suppose. Revelation 12:9 tells us he was…the great dragon,…the Devil and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world. His seduction of Eve came out of his ability to fake his way on any level.

That first deception released in the hearts of Adam and Eve was not a call to become like demons, but rather, to become like God. The intrusion into their understanding was not to distract them from their godly calling, but rather to provide them with Satan’s way of coming into calling. How cunning and deceitful!

Genesis 3:1-9 tells of that serpent’s approach to Eve. In that first deception we can find the basis of all spiritual deception. What began there will become full in the final days.

In that first deception, the serpent cast doubt on God’s Word as he said to the woman, Yea, hath God said…Genesis 3:1. This meant, “Is it indeed a possibility that God said thus and so to you?” His intent was to deny God’s Word and replace it with his own altered version. In doing this, he set out to confuse Eve as to what the Lord had said. What he went on to say bore enough resemblance to the original to sound right. It seemed to remain in line with the divine intention. Satan’s words drew Eve away from the purity of what God said so he could replace it with what would aid him in his plan to gain the world for himself.

The woman was open to the serpent’s attack because she twisted God’s Word, then added to them. God had said in Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it. She said in : God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it. She added that last part.

God said in Genesis 2:17…for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. Eve altered it to say lest ye die—Genesis 3:3. This means, “…lest, perchance, ye might die.” She interpreted it to mean, “There is the possibility of death coming as a result, but there is also a possibility that it may not.” What she said was so close, and sounded almost right, yet it bore two errors prevalent in spiritual deception. She added her own thoughts to what God said and she altered what He said.

Paul’s concern was that our minds not be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. Corrupted is from a Greek word meaning to become “ruined and depraved” so as to have no more value—especially for the purposes of God. Simplicity is from a word meaning “simple, open, frank, straight-forward.” The enemy would like to ruin the inner parts of us so that a simple, open, frank relationship with the Lord Jesus becomes so difficult as to be almost impossible.

What the Holy Spirit is doing right now is reaching inside us to free us from the spiritual and emotional trash that makes us liable to fall into the anti-Christ’s traps. We welcome the Holy Spirit’s awesome—and, some times, painful—work.

PAUL ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERN in II Thessalonians 2:2 about believers being deceived by the spoken word. It is interesting that he made use of the Greek word lógos. This means the spoken word, plus the idea and life behind that word. The Lógos of God, when spoken by a person, carries with it the power to accomplish what that word is saying. The same is true of the deceptive lógos. It carries with it the power of satanic delusion. The deception of it can enter the spirit of the person who hears and receives it.

The “prophet” Balaam, Numbers 22-24, is a prime example of someone bringing a word that sounds right, is nearly right, and is spoken with regard to the high purposes of God, but that carries with it a contamination that comes over on the people who hear it.

Before he became involved with the people of Israel, Balaam was a diviner. The Lord held divination as an abomination. According to Deuteronomy 18:10-12, it brought corruption over on those who practiced it. Even though Balaam began speaking what was right and apparently chose the side of the Lord against the inhabitants of the land, the corruption remained in his spirit.

The New Testament brings three indictments against Balaam. These judgments help us see what can be transferred to the hearers of false teachers and prophets who speak what is true but convey a lie.

•ONE: Some people become taken with the way of Balaam and sell themselves out for money. Peter tells of those…which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness…—II Peter 2:15,16.

From Numbers 22:7 we learn that the wages of unrighteousness are the rewards that come from delivering false prophecy, which is divination. II Peter 2:3 tells of those who through covetousness…with feigned words make merchandise of you. Feigned is from the Greek plastós from which we get our word “plastic.” It means that which is fabricated, forged, counterfeited. Peter is telling of words coming from “plastic” ministers who make speeches that please the hearers and bring in offerings. The followers of these will be poor and lacking in the day of Christ.

• TWO: Others become taken with the error of Balaam which promoted greed. Jude said, Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core—Jude 11.

The word error in this verse is from the same Greek root word as deceit in II Thessalonians 2:2. So it could be called “the deceit of Balaam.” Greed will cause a person to run after a delusion with their eyes blinded to what actually lies before them. What a woe!

• THREE: Others become taken with the doctrine of Balaam which leads into impure practice. The Lord Jesus said in one of the church letters in Revelation, But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication—Revelation 2:14.

How terrible this is! But let us see something. Balaam did not teach the people outright, with words, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit fornication. We learn some thing here. What a Prophet or a Teacher is ministers more than what he or she says. Look at Numbers 24 and 25. Balaam gave such exalted words in 24:15-24 they were like Messianic prophecy. But see Numbers 24:25 and 25:1 And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place. And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.

If his words did not teach it, what he was in himself communicated it. His personhood taught fornication. His spirit came over on the people.

What a minister is carries more importance in ministering the word than what that one says. Is it possible to communicate deceit and error while speaking what is true? This is the insidious form of deceit that will try and come over on the people of God in the last days.

What a challenge to us who minister the Word! Let us wait before God to hear what His Spirit is saying. Let us learn to speak what we hear from Him. But, more than that, let us lay our hearts bare before Him for His searching.

PAUL HELD ANOTHER CONCERN in II Thessalonians 2:2. It was that believers not be deceived by the written word. Most of us have learned to reject teachings put out by groups like the Herbert W. Armstrong association and the Watchtower publishing society. But there are others more insidious in their deception. It is with regard to these that we need the help of the Holy Spirit.

Years ago, shortly after I received the infilling of the Holy Spirit, I became taken up with some books then popular in the Body of Christ. They were filled with unusual and high revelation about Christ, the word of God, faith, and who and what we are in Christ. Much of it was true, but it led to my own self-gratification in the things of the Lord. To put it plainly, those books led me to use the promises of God for my own personal gain rather than the gain of Christ’s Kingdom. They led me to center on myself by concentrating on getting God’s blessing on my own life.

One day, the Lord spoke to me to lay these books aside. Not long after that, I picked up a book written by a famous minister who was having many miracles in his meetings. The words in his book were almost exactly the same as in the books the Lord directed me to put down. I saw the same in another’s books. I only took notice but said nothing. I knew the Lord was directing me away from some of the doctrine that was developing throughout the Body of Christ. I neither spoke against it, nor did I promote it.

Years later, I found how greed and deception had remained in the lives of many who had subscribed to those teachings. It became so corruptive that it came over on large segments of the Body of Christ and caused many to turn from the faith.

A deep concern came within me. The question arose: How can I know what is truth?Then, the precious Holy Spirit led me to the word in II Thessalonians 2:10…they received not the love of the truth. I could see it! There lay my answer. They would perish because they received not the love of the truth. If they only would receive the love of the truth they could be saved.

I didn’t know how to go about doing that. So, I simply asked the Lord for it.

Oh, He gave it to me that day! I did not know all truth, but I did receive a love for truth.

Receiving the love of the truth has sometimes been painful because it has meant knowing the truth about myself. As I’ve seen my need and depravity, He has revealed His mercy and righteousness. Sometimes it has meant walking alone while others followed what was popular. That has been especially painful, but it has helped me know the Lord better.

Now, here is the amazing thing. There are countless others who have received the same love of the truth that I received. The Holy Spirit is gently bringing us together. What a precious thing it is. We are no longer joined by doctrine, experience, affiliation or class. We are joined in the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is precious; when we come together, we come under the Head of the Lord Jesus Christ.May God’s gracious Spirit release this love of the truth—and of Him—within you. Amen!

____________________

Greetings this is the last portion of this teaching and I have felt very blessed by it. There is much here I want to continue to seek the LORD on and pray over. I do hope that if you have been led to read it also that you were blessed as well :)

God bless
maryjane