The strong delusions

One of the punishments that will come into the world in the last days, according to the Apostle Paul, is that strong delusions will arise which will further mislead the wicked.

Paul said that those who take pleasure in unrighteousness will be so deluded that they will "believe what is false so that all who have refused to believe the truth but have preferred disobedience, may be condemned." (2 Thess. 2:1-11, American Translation, Smith and Goodspeed).

Since this condition is to be a part of conditions in the last days, and an outgrowth of the Great Apostasy, as Paul so clearly explained to the Thessalonians, what are some of the great delusions that are now in the world? There are many.

One is that it doesn't matter to what church a person belongs, "for all roads lead to heaven." Christ has but one true Church.

Another is that redemption from sin may be obtained by merely coming to the "penitent bench" and there "confessing belief in Christ," or even doing so over the radio. The gospel provides for no such things.

Still another is the "new morality" that is being flaunted now; a lowering of the standards of virtue, a philosophy that anything does these days. This is a doctrine of Satan.

Not only does this delusion include sex before marriage, the abolition of marriage altogether, and assent to infidelity, but it embraces the now widespread movement of homosexuality.

The homosexuals claim that God made them that way and hence they are powerless to change, which is a complete fabrication and a deep delusion, for it was the Lord who provided the death penalty for those people in ancient times. (Lev. 18:22; 20:13; Deut. 23:17).

The Sacramento, Calif., Bee, on Dec. 4. 1977, said that there are 18 million homosexuals in the United States, 150,000 of them living in San Francisco alone.

The newspaper gave expert evidence that homosexuals certainly are not born—they are made—further defusing claims that they "can't help it."

Another fast rising delusion appears now in many school textbooks on science, giving only the evolutionist theory on the origin of life and the universe. This is adding drastically to the rapid spread of atheism among our school children.

We might include others. But these alone should put thinking people on guard. True believers in God must recognize each for what it is, and as Paul further said, "hold fast to that which is good." (1 Thess. 5:21).

HOW FORTUNATE WE are to have among us seers and revelators to guide us in these latter days. How fortunate we are to have our modern scriptures, which fully sustain the Bible, and help us to avoid the intellectual deceptions which draw so many away from God and into paths of transgression.