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by Wayne Blank
"Truth will make you free"
Carnal-minded humans reject God's Truth and God's Law, sometimes to the extreme that they knowingly demand lies and illusions in place of the Truth, as in this example of the ancient Israelites, who were very modern in their rebellion toward God. "Prophesy not to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions" is as prevalent today as when Isaiah recorded this centuries ago:
"For they are a rebellious people, lying sons, sons who will not hear the instruction of The Lord; who say to the seers, "See not"; and to the Prophets, "Prophesy not to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions, leave the way, turn aside from the path, let us hear no more of the Holy One of Israel." (Isaiah 30:9-11 RSV)
Repentant people are no longer shackled by illusions. God's people have been set free.
"If you continue in My Word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free" (John 8:31-32 RSV)"Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. We have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways; we refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's Word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God." (2 Corinthians 4:1-2 RSV)
The carnal-minded people of the world in the time just prior to The Return Of Jesus Christ (see also Could Christ Return Tonight?) are going to be deceived by many powerful illusions. On the other hand, those who read, and live by, the Word of God already know that they're going to happen and will not be fooled by them when they do. Examples of the many great Satanic deceptions that are coming:
"For False Christs and False Prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Lo, I have told you beforehand." (Matthew 24:24-25 RSV)"It works great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in the sight of men; and by the signs which it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast, it deceives those who dwell on earth, bidding them make an image for the beast which was wounded by the sword and yet lived; and it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast so that the image of the beast should even speak, and to cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain [see The Great Tribulation]. Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom: let him who has understanding reckon the number of the beast, for it is a human number, its number is six hundred and sixty-six." (Revelation 13:13-18 RSV)
Fact Finder: What is going to happen to the "beast" and his "false prophet" who are going to "work the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image"?
Revelation 19:20; see also Revelation 13
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