Be not deceived, God is not mocked, whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap (Galatians 6:7). And he said, “Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, ‘I am Christ’; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them” (Luke 21:8).
Christ means “anointed”. Not everyone in ministry is anointed. Not everyone who claims to know Jesus really knows Jesus.
We are in a period of time where many false Christs’ have arisen; preaching, teaching and embracing doctrines that do not align with the Word of God. We are also in a time where we have people who once embraced truth now openly rejecting truth in order to erect pillars of importance for themselves. This is why we are in a time of shaking and this is why we must remain steadfast in the Word and in the promises of God so we too are not led astray by every wind of doctrine that comes across the landscape. While there are well-meaning believer’s operating in ignorance who can be redirected and corrected, there are just as many (if not more) believer’s who have rejected the truth and are proclaiming lies in the name of Christ.
The above scriptures are speaking to those who say they are anointed but they are liars or they have fallen away from the teachings of the Word of God and the instruction of Holy Spirit.
2 Thessalonians 2:3-12
Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. 5 Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? 6 And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. 8 Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; 9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, 10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. 11 For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, 12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.
Why does God send them a strong spirit of delusion? Because they loved not the truth. Truth belongs to the Children of God and they can reject it, please study out Hebrews 6:1-8. The lost have no understanding of the truth, so this passage does not apply to the lost. The Lord is speaking to those in the Body who reject the truth–to them He sent a strong spirit of delusion. False pastors, false preachers, false teachers, false prophets and false apostles…speaking Christ in one breath and fellow-shipping with Satan in another…who once knew the grace of our Lord Jesus but chose instead to follow after other winds of doctrine.
As believers and leaders in the Body of Christ we have to rightly divide the Word of Truth and reject those who are preaching death. The Spirit of the Lord gives us life, but the spirit of Antichrist gives death. We are children of light.
Judgment begins at the House of God (1 Peter 4:17). Acknowledge those who are in error and correct them, rebuke those who are in rebellion and have nothing to do with them.
May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ bless us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places. Amen.