The following passages will be very familiar to any who gives thought to the time of the end, along with the accompanying deception.
Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”
II Thessalonians 2:8-10 “And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.
Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs, and lying wonders,
And in all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”
Both of these passages offer us some critical insights concerning the time of the end. In Matthew 24:24, we learn that the deceptions will be accompanied by supernatural manifestation that mimics the authentic. If a person does not walk close to Jesus; if they lack discernment and are not grounded in the scriptures, they “will” be led astray. II Thessalonians 2:10 identifies a primary reason that folks are led astray. They don’t possess “the love of the truth.” If a person doesn’t have enough love for the truth to diligently seek out a matter, they will believe a lie which requires no footwork (sincere, prayerful, investivating) to embrace. Such a one will be easily influenced by emotional ploys, the direction of a crowd, promises for material abundance, and what have you. Subsequently, they make themselves easy prey for the agents of falsehood, who skillfully employ the three lusts (flesh, eyes, pride of life) to lure the lukewarm and undiscerning away from the Lord Jesus and into the domain of what Jesus referred to as “false Christs and false prophets.” Once they step into the camp of another, they are quickly indoctrinated and they become fierce defenders of the lie.
II Peter 2:19 “While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.”