The apostle Paul writing to the Thessalonians about the days just prior to Jesus’ return: “And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie.” (2Thess. 2:11). The text is clear that the “reason” God does this is because “they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”(verse 10). The “lie” is Satan’s “unrighteous deception among those who perish” (also verse 10). So it appears from a quick reading of the text that God is sending some sort of deception so that they will believe Satan’s lies. But, this doesn’t seem to fit with God’s character. After all, isn’t He love, mercy and grace ? Is this really a fair interpretation of the text ?
After a review of the internet to see what prophecy teachers are teaching about this it’s soon evident that there is a wide range of opinion on what this strong delusion is. Opinions range from mind interference to angelic visitations to alien UFO’s or a recurrence of Nephilim. I think that all these wild theories miss the boat, as simple objective hermeneutics quickly resolves the mystery. (See the article on Hermeneutics below). One of the simple rules is to look to the context to find answers. So, let’s look at the context where this “strong delusion” is presented.
In the earlier verses of this chapter just before the verse in question, Paul is describing the revealing of the antichrist. In verses 6-8 Paul says this:” And now you know what is restraining, that he (antichrist) may be revealed in his own time.” “He who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way“. “And then the lawless one will be revealed.” (For a discussion of who the restrainer is scroll down to the recent post “The Restrainer”). Verses 9&10 follow: “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….” Then comes the verse 11 about the strong delusion from God. The Greek words for strong delusion are energia plane, or a ‘powerful working of error’. The context here clearly connects the strong delusion from God with His removal of the restrainer allowing Satan and his man their “own time”. This will be a 3 and 1/2 year period of great tribulation where lying wonders will be the order of the day. So, no, God is not sending a specific deception to unbelievers, but reassigning the one who has been restraining Satan permitting verse 12: “that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” This is entirely consistent with God’s character as demonstrated throughout scripture. “And their soul delights in their abominations, so I will choose their delusions, and bring their fears on them; because when I called, no one answered, when I spoke they did not hear; but they did evil before My eyes and chose that in which I do not delight.” (Isaiah 66:3-4). Paul says this about men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness: “Professing to be wise, they became fools….Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts….For this reason God gave them up to vile passions….And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind to do those things that are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness…” (Romans 1: 22,24,26,28,29) In Ephesians, Paul says this about the pagan mindset; “They walk in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who being past feeling have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.” (Ephesians 4:17-19). Here “past feeling” is, in Greek, apalgeo or being so inured to sin that one is not bothered by what he is doing. God gives them over because they have given themselves over. To use modern vernacular, it seems God has a “red line”. When one crosses it, God gives them over to a reprobate mind, and no longer draws them by His Spirit. This is, no question, a harsh reality, but one justified by God as He has given them every opportunity, over and over. However, only God knows where this red line is with any individual, and it is not for us to make such a judgment. We must continue to pray for and witness to all no matter how lost they might seem to be. Judgment lies completely with God.
There is a time coming in the near future when the antichrist will be revealed and a huge portion of humanity will be be given over en masse by God to follow the lies and deception of the antichrist. He will do this by removing the restrainer from his present task of battling on our behalf in the spiritual realm. We need to be fully prepared so as to not believe the lies that that will bombard our senses. Stay strong in the Word.
Maranatha, Jim
Great explanation of this topic. Very informative