Deceived and Being Deceived.....

In the book of Amos you will see the progression of sin in Israel (disobedience to G-d, lies, betraying the righteous and poor for money, misplaced values, immorality, corruption, they knew not to do right, falsified balances by deceit), and the consequences to that land (famine due to crop failure, adversaries to bring down the strength of the nation, famine of hearing the words of the L-rd).

Jeremiah also laments over Israel because of her sins. He takes to task the prophets and priests who have been corrupted. Is it not so in our country----many have left the true Word of G-d, corrupting it with their own twisted interpretations of it, preying on the people, and calling good evil and evil good. Jeremiah 5:31---"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? "

Notice, "my people love to have it so". Today, we see much the same attitude among those who claim to be believers:

II Tim. 4:3, 4---"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."

II Timothy 3:13 tells us what things will be like in the last days: "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived."

At the end of 2008, we are there, are we not? It shouldn't be hard for us to understand, then, that after we are gone up to meet the L-rd in the air, and the antichrist comes on the scene, that people will be totally deceived and under "strong delusion".

II Thess. 2:9-12---"Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders. 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 G-d shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

II Thess. 2:3 tells us, "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;"

We who know the L-rd in these last days are His remnant. We must be in G-d's Word, cloaking ourselves with Truth; and in prayer for one another and our country.

I Thess. 5:8,9,11 admonishes us to keep our armor on, and to comfort one another: "But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For G-d hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our L-rd Jesus Christ. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another even as also ye do."