Even the Elect will be deceived

[Wileyzmuse]

Brothers & Sisters,

It really concerns me that the Bible talks about the end times deception, and even the Elect being deceived. That's us, you know.

Matthew 24:24 "For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect - if that were possible."

What is/are the things that could deceive us? How will we know what to stay away from? What would a believable counterfeit look like for each of us?

I think it's important for us not to get too comfortable, thinking that any deceiver would look or act obvious like Benny Hinn et al. Let's assume that the deceit would be so cleverly disguised that we struggle to decide whether to beleive. And it WILL happen.

What do you imagine the deception to be??

YSIC,
Patricia

[Hootmon]

It really concerns me that the Bible talks about the end times deception, and even the Elect being deceived. That's us, you know.
This passage implies that it ISNT possible to deceive the Elect.
Other translations are clearer...
Matthew 24 (NKJV)
24For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.Matthew 24 (NASB)
24 "For false Christs and (1) false prophets will arise and will show great (2) signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even (3) the elect.

[dusty]

I think the words "if it were possible" speaks of it not being possible. :)

Titus 3:1-8
For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived....according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Is the elect being spoken of in Matt., us, the church age saints?

Matt. 24:21-25
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.


:)

[dusty]

How will we know what to stay away from?

I'm not sure that being able to avoid deceptive teachings, etc., for the saint consists of being informed of all the errors out there, but rather, perhaps it's being so immersed in truth that error will stick out like a sore thumb. "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free"...the light, truth, by nature dispels darkness, error.

:)

[Wileyzmuse]

Ah, ok thanks.

So does that mean that the elect cannot be deceived?

*edited for poor spelling :D

[dusty]

As far as being deceived into following a false Christ? It doesn't seem so since He says His sheep hear His voice and will not follow another. :)

[Hootmon]

The part I am not so sure of is whether it means each Elect individually or all of the Elect as a group.

Im inclined to say its the group.

Thats why threads like this are valuable. We reinforce each other so that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

[Wileyzmuse]

I agree Hootmon...this thread is a question that I've worried about for years at the back of my mind...wondering how and who would be deceived...very stressful!

Thanks Dusty!

YSIC,
Patricia

[kevandrew]

ok let me break it down .... we know that a man will act good... but will really be evil ( anti christ ).... so u should only trust jesus and god. and from daniel we know that the beast will have a "beast kingdom or country" ... so supporting leaders and countries blindly is not good... trust jesus and the heavenly kingdom only... read the bible and use gods word as a defense against deceit.

[kevandrew]

here are a few verses from the bible you might find useful...


Ps 118:9 -
It is better to trust in the Lord than to depend on human leaders.

Ps 146:3 -
Don't put your trust in human leaders; no human being can save you.

jeremiah 17:5 -
The Lord says, "I will condemn those who turn away from me and put their trust in human beings, in the strength of mortals.

[Patty T]

Originally posted by dusty
Is the elect being spoken of in Matt., us, the church age saints?

Matt. 24:21-25
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.


:)


Yes, elect is "chosen" in the Greek:


elect - 1588 (eklektos) from 1586; select; by impl. (abstr. or concr.); - chosen, election


Patty

[dusty]

It could be referring to church age saints only if the verses do not refer to the period of the tribulation.

If the verses are thought to be referring to the period of the tribulation, with church age saints being in the tribulation, those discussions are prohibited on other areas of the board except in the Rapture Doctrine Discussion forum.


:)

[antsinmypants]

it does refer directly to the tribulation

[lookingup]

A close study and understanding of 2 John verse 1 and verse 13 show that both Christians who are saved before the rapture and those saved after in the tribulation are both called elect.

2 John 1 reads, "The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;...........
13 The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.

The elder in verse 1 is Jesus not John. Verse 13 describes the Church in heaven. The book of 2 John is addressed to those who find themselves in the 5th year of the tribulation or 70th week of Daniel.


2 Peter 2:
1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

Matt. 13:33
33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

The word "privily" in 2 Peter 2:1 means "secretly." A close study of this passage along with Matt. 13:33 shows that the majority of people who call themselves Christians will be deceived and that the church will be full of leaven (false teaching, etc.) before the rapture takes place. The false teachers and leaven will be so believed and embraced that the many or majority in the so-called church will speak evil of the way of truth. Just look at how Baptism in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins (or Acts 2:38, 1 Peter 3:21, Gal. 3:27, etc.) is spoken evil against today by most who claim to be Christians.

2 Peter 2 shows us that the books and speeches of these false teachers sell greatly and become very popular among Christians.

2 Tim. 3:6 tells us, "For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts," The word creep here is very interesting. It means to sneak, to put on armor, or an envelope. This is a blanket indictment by the Holy Spirit regarding T.V., Radio, and mass mailings evangelism. Compare this with what true teachers look like in 2 Cor. 2:14-3:3. There is a big difference.

14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
3:1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?
2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

In Christ.

[antsinmypants]

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[jjkn]

Originally posted by dusty
Is the elect being spoken of in Matt., us, the church age saints?

Matt. 24:21-25
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.


:)


My Pastor preached about this at Church this morning. (Mark 13:21-23.) This is speaking of the Tribulation. The elect here are the people that have accepted Jesus as Savoir after the Rapture.

And I agree with Dusty about "if it were possible". The elect will not be deceived.

JMHO,
Janis

[dusty]

This is speaking of the Tribulation.

I fully agree. :)