Deception, Delusion, and the Glad Tidings
This topic is of extreme importance concerning our salvation...
2Timothy 3:12 - Yea, and all that will live reverently in Yahushua the Messiah shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
Yahushua said to certain individuals...
John 8:44 - "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."
The focus of this study is on how deception and lies distort the Truth...
Jeremiah 9:6 - Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith YHWH.
Here, YHWH is speaking to the prophet Jeremiah, that he lived in the midst of deceit... as do we!
Let's now look at the deception that existed during Paul's day, concerning the second coming of Yahushua...
2Thessalonians 2:1 - Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Master Yahushua the Messiah, and by our gathering together unto him, 2 That 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 the Messiah is at hand.
There were apparently people, at that time, who were saying that Yahushua would be here at any moment, even forging letters as though they were from Paul...
Paul goes on to say in verse 3, regarding things that must take place before Yahushua does come again...
2Thessalonians 2:3 - 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; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called elohim, or that is worshipped; so that he as elohim sitteth in the temple of elohim, shewing himself that he is elohim.
This is the same one who is spoken of in Revelation 13...
Revelation 13:8 - All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Now, returning to 2Thessalonians...
2Thessalonians 2:5 - Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6 And now ye know what is restraining, that he might be revealed in his time.
The thing that is stopping the anti-messiah from taking power, at this time, is the fact that YHWH is still allowing the nations of the world to have sovereign powers; when this is taken away, there will be a one world government.
2Thessalonians 2:7 - For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now restrains will do so, until he be taken out of the way.
Actually, Paul is here speaking of a one world government and one world religion. Apparently, this power was already at work, even in Paul's day; but the climax will take place when the son of Satan rules the world. According to Paul, there is something that is "restraining" this event, and when it is taken out of the way, this Satanic power will rule the world. The question is, who or what is this power that is restraining? There has been much speculation concerning this question. Some ideas are that it is: The holy spirit or the church; the Roman state with its emperor; Paul's work; the Jewish state, etc. But who or what is correct? After this aforementioned restrainer is removed:
2Thessalonians 2:8 - And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom Yahushua shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders
Looking again at Revelation 13, we can see that it is the same one spoken of by Paul in 2nd Thessalonians...
Revelation 13:2b The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.
Now, returning to 2Thessalonians...
2Thessalonians 2:10 - And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause YHWH shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
People are already under strong delusion. Why?...because they do not have a love for the truth!!
Yahushua said in John chapter 6...
John 6:44 - "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day."
YHWH does know our hearts, and just because we call on His Name, that does not necessarily make us His!
2Timothy 2:19 - Nevertheless the foundation of YHWH standeth sure, having this seal, YHWH knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of the Messiah depart from iniquity. 20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
We do need to pray for mercy, that we will be accounted worthy!
Psalms 125:1 - They that trust in YHWH shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. 2 As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so YHWH is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.
Yahushua said...
John 10:14 - "I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine."
Yahushua gives us a stern warning...
Mark 13:5 - And Yahushua answering them began to say, "Take heed lest any man deceive you: 6 For many shall come in my name, saying, 'I am the Messiah,' and shall deceive many."
Therefore, concerning deception, we are warned by our master Yahushua, that we are to take heed and watch out that no one deceives us...
Yahushua said in Matthew chapter 24, concerning the time of the great tribulation...
Matthew 24:24 - "For there shall arise false messiahs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."
So we must be on guard and pray always...
Luke 21:36 - "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man."
Remembering what Yahushua said, how many will come in his name saying that He is the Messiah, and shall deceive many...So what must we do to insure that our hearts are right with Father YHWH?
Matthew 18:1 - At the same time came the disciples unto Yahushua , saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2 And Yahushua called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 3 And said, "Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
The Hebrew Scriptures give insight into what Yahushua was teaching...
Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O Elohim; and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Set-apart Spirit from me. 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with a willing spirit. 13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
Psalms 131:1 - YHWH, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me. 2 Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.
So, one sign of being converted is that we become as a child...
Matthew 19:13 - Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Yahushua said, "Suffer little children, and forbid them not to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven."
Matthew 11:25 - At that time Yahushua answered and said, "I thank thee, O Father, Sustainer of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. 26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight."
Another sign that we are to be humble...
Micah 6:8 - He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth YHWH require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy Elohim.
and to put to death the works of the flesh...
1Kepha (1pet) 2:1 - Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Master is good.
We must therefore turn from the ways of the world...
Matthew 3:1 - In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, "Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
To repent means to change direction because of sin:
1Kepha (1pet) 5:5 - Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "YHWH resists the proud, but gives favor to the humble." 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of YHWH, that He may exalt you in due time,
Proverbs 29:27 - An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.
Let's look at some of the works of the flesh compared to the fruit of the Spirit...
Proverbs 21:3 - To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to YHWH than offering. 4 - A high look, and a proud heart, and the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
When we show forth pride, we fail to put YHWH first!
Proverbs 11:2 - When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
Proverbs 13:10 - Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.
The fear of YHWH is the beginning of wisdom...
Proverbs 8:13 - The fear of YHWH is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the perverse mouth, do I hate. 14 - Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength. 15 - By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. 16 - By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth. 17 - I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
The need for temperance or self-control is exalted...
Proverbs 16:32 - He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
Yahushua has wisdom from the Father. He possesses the "words of life"...
Matthew 18:3 - And he said, "Truely I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 - Whoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 - And whoever shall receive one such little child, in my name, receiveth me. 6 - But whoever shall cause one of these little ones, which believe in me, to stumble, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 - Woe unto the world because stumblingblocks! for it is necessary that stumblingblocks come; but woe to that man by whom the stumblingblock cometh!"
What exactly is meant by "stumblingblock"? The word is translated as "offence" in later translations. A stumbling block is something "that causes someone to sin". To better understand this concept, let's turn to the Torah...
Leviticus 19:14 Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind, but shalt fear thy Elohim: I am YHWH.
Yahushua is the master! He made a clear distinction between those who are his followers, and those who are not...
Luke 10:16 - He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.
When Yahushua sent the seventy out to prepare his way, he gave instruction, telling them how to discern who was worthy to receive the truth...
Luke 10:1 - After these things He appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. 2 - Therefore said he unto them, "The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Master of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. 3 - Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. 4 - Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. 5 - And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, 'Peace be to this house.' 6 And if a son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.
Yahushua said that if a son of peace is there, then your peace will remain upon that house; but if not, then it will come back to you. Yahushua is teaching how to discern. We do need to understand words of wisdom.
We also need to learn to fear YHWH, and not man! In the book of Acts, the apostles were being persecuted by Yahushua's enemies...
Acts 5:27 - And when they had brought them, they set
them before the council: and the high priest asked
them, 28 -
Saying, "Did not we straightly command you that ye should not
teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with
your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon
us."
29 - Then Kepha and the other apostles answered and
said, "We ought to obey Elohim rather than men. 30 - The
Elohim of our fathers raised up Yahushua, whom ye slew and hanged
on a tree. 31 - Him hath YHWH exalted with his right hand
to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel,
and forgiveness of sins. 32 - And we are his witnesses of
these things; and so is also the Set-apart Spirit, whom Elohim
hath given to them that obey him."
33 - When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and
took counsel to slay them.
The apostles trusted YHWH, putting Him first! We are admonished to always be ready to defend what we believe...
1Kepha (peter) 3:15 - But set apart YHWH Elohim in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 - having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in the Messiah may be ashamed. 17 - For it is better, if it is the will of YHWH, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
Shaul testified that he was not ashamed of Yahushua...
Romans 1:16 - For I am not ashamed of the glad tidings of the Messiah: for it is the power of YHWH unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 - For therein is the righteousness of YHWH revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."
More about stumblingblocks, with Yahushua stressing the importance of forgiveness...
Luke 17:1 Yahushua said to his disciples: "Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. 2 It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. 3 So watch yourselves. "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. 4 If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him."
We must continue to remember that the word of YHWH is a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto unto our path!..
Proverbs 3:1 - My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: 2 - For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. 3 - Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: 4 - So shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of Elohim and man. 5 - Trust in YHWH with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 - In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7 - Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear YHWH, and depart from evil. 8 - It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
The following are words of encouragement...
Colossians 1:12 - Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us worthy to be partakers of the inheritance of the set-apart ones in light: 13 - Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 - In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15 - Who is the image of the invisible Elohim, the firstborn of every creature
Yahushua said....
John 14:15 - "If ye love me, keep my commandments."
The apostle John reiterates...
1John 2:3 - Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 - He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 - But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of YHWH is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 - He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
What are some of the characteristics of a child, that are needed, in order for us to be as Yahushua instructs?
Proverbs 3:5 - Trust in YHWH with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
1Kepha (Peter) 5:7 - Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
The heavenly Father really does want us to repent!!...
2Kepha (Peter) 3:9 - YHWH is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of YHWH will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in set-apart behavior and righteousness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of YHWH, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.
Study by YermeYah