The age we are entering is defined by a pervasive, divinely permitted delusion. While many factors contribute to this darkness, Scripture identifies the root: a lack of love for the truth of God’s Word. When men turn from the Scriptures, they do not simply become neutral thinkers—they become prey to the philosophies of men, which are, in fact, energized by Satan, the “god of this world.” This is not a distant threat; even within the church, we see a wholesale abandonment of the Word in favor of personalities, trends, and human reasoning.
God’s own people have faced this before. Through Jeremiah, the Lord described a time when false prophecy and corrupt leadership flourished—not because the people were deceived against their will, but because they loved to have it so:
“A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?” (Jeremiah 5:30)
This is not a minor error or a secondary issue. Paul is explicit: when people refuse to receive the love of the truth, God Himself responds with judgment—He sends a strong delusion, so that they will believe lies and perish:
“And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie…” (2 Thessalonians 2:10-11)
Let there be no confusion: this passage addresses the world that rejects Christ and His Word. But do not imagine that believers are immune to the consequences of neglecting truth. If we are not steadfastly anchored in the Word, we risk being swept along with those under God’s judgment, running with the deluded and not even recognizing it. The result is spiritual sleepiness—a state of unpreparedness that will be exposed when Christ comes.
What is lost if we accept this error? We forfeit our vigilance. We lose the clarity that comes only from the Word, and we risk forfeiting our readiness for the Lord’s return. Worse, we undermine the very foundation of our justification and inheritance. If we allow human philosophies to supplant the finished work of Christ, we are left with no ground for assurance, no anchor for sonship, and no defense against deception.
The only safeguard is a steadfast love for the truth—a loyalty to the Scriptures that refuses to compromise, no matter how persuasive or popular the alternatives may seem. This is not about intellectual pride or sectarianism; it is about survival. To neglect the Word is to invite delusion. To cling to it is to remain awake, sober, and prepared for the Lord’s appearing.
Let the warning stand: the spirit of this age is not merely a cultural drift—it is a judicial delusion sent by God upon those who despise the truth. If you treat doctrine as negotiable, if you trade the Word for the approval of men, you place yourself in the path of this judgment. The only way to remain vigilant and ready is to love the truth, to abide in the Word, and to refuse every philosophy that would set itself against the finished work of Christ.
Do not let the current of this age carry you away. Stand firm in the truth, and you will not be overtaken by deception. This is not optional; it is essential for those who would be found awake and ready at His coming.
