In Revelation 12:9 and 18:23 we see that the entire world was deceived. In Greek deceived means led into error, led astray, fall away from the truth, led to sin, wander, and roam. God warns even stronger in Matthew 24:24 that even the "elect" can be deceived. In Greek "Elect" means called or chosen by God, picked out to obtain salvation, persevering believers. We see that not every seed was born again to be fruitful in Matthew 13, as we see in verse 22 that one hears the word, yet the deceitfulness of riches, and the cares of this life can choke out the word making it unfruitful. Interestingly it's the same word in 2 Thessalonians 2:10 where the unrighteousness of deception will be among those who perish because they did not receive (the love of the truth) that they might be saved. But what is the love of the truth? We will dive further into that as we continue to look at the same word usage in Colossians 2:8 where God warns to not let anyone cheat you (which is the root word of deceitfulness) by philosophy, empty deceit, and traditions of men (Not God's). For they focus not on the power of the holy spirit and the faith in Christ, but rather external works to account oneself as holy, rather than true spiritual growth through faith. For many will focus on wisdom, knowledge, and physical works, rather than the spirit changing one's heart and mind to live holy. Growing in a distaste and desire for avoiding immoral movies and music, sexual desires, gambling, drugs, porn, addictions, and so on. As many never loved the truth that could save them, but rather was a characteristic of 2 Timothy 3 and Romans 1:18-32. Verse 29-31 "being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful" The love of the truth was not manifest within them by the indwelling spirit. For many can appear to have salvation, may have appeared to be delivered. But deep down the work of the holy spirit never led them to desire what is holy as they approve of their lifestyle and approve of others that does it as it says in (verse 32) For they did not think it was worthwhile to have the knowledge of God but rather their reprobate mind (verse 28) Reprobate in Greek means not standing the test, not approved. For we know that testing will come by fire which burns off the flesh to see whether or not our faith is genuine (1 Peter 1:7) So that our praise and glory might be in Jesus (Yeshua) alone. He warns us in Hebrews 3:13 to be careful not to be hardened by deceitfulness of sin. For the old man should be passing aways along with its lusts and deceitful desires (Ephesians 4:22). But those who do the will of God last forever according to righteousness and holiness (Matthew 7:21, Ephesians 4:24) As our mind in verse 23 should be renewed daily. Renewed is the character, morals, values of God through the spirit given to all who believe and repent. (Acts 2:38)
We know that the masses in the church will accept the spirit of the antichrist freely along with the beast. Did you catch what was said? "The Masses" will accept him. For Paul warns in 2 Thessalonians 2:15 to "hold fast to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or epistle" Which traditions in Greek is an ordinance, tradition, according to God's law. Notice Colossians 2:8 says the traditions of men? The pharisees would have added extra works like washing hands before eating bread (Matthew 15:2) for they believed that sin could cling to the body like dirt from unclean people or anything in the marketplace that was unclean. They believed that sin would enter the body if they didn't wash their hands before eating, as this was an extra tradition of man rather than a law of God. Jesus made a point that what comes out of a man defiles him, rather than the washing of the hands (of sin) and eating bread (Verse 16-19). For the pharisees were not honoring their mother and father commanded in the Torah/Law, but rather the traditions of man. As he continues on in verse 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20 These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.” Most today are adding traditions of men, adding or removing words from the bible. Which God warns not to do in Deuteronomy 4:2, in doing so God will also test us in Deuteronomy 8:2 whether we will keep his commandments or not, for God says "if you love me keep my commandments (John 14:15-24, 1 John 5:1-5) As he also goes back to Matthew 13:22 about the deceitfulness of riches in Deuteronomy 8:11-20 for when riches and wealth increases and the goodness of the land to be careful not to serve other gods or worship them. If people worshipped Baal, which is currently in many churches, by a physical and mental desire and care for health, wealth, prosperity, abundance, as well as the pride of life and love of money. 1 John 2:15-17 explicitly says that you can't love God or money. Nor can these things be the main priority or desire in one's life above God. Likewise, he said that he will test us by prophets and false prophets Deuteronomy 13:1-3 and if one follows a false prophets word turning from the living God to serve idols, covetousness, or the pursuit of your eyes and heart's desire. As he reiterates in Matthew 24:11, Matthew 15) as many will do signs and wonders with miracles. For many are leading people away from the truth and rather the deceitfulness of pleasure and sin, a seducing lustful fruit for the world from the Garden of Eden to captivate a dying flesh. For Romans 8:7 says, "The mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it cannot submit to God's law, indeed, it cannot" as Matthew 6:21 says "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" For many are seeking their "own gain" in their greed 2 Peter 2:3. As they exploit you with lying and artificial words. As God says in verse 2 the truth will be blasphemed. Meaning they will speak evil of the truth, revile, rail on, which God gave life through the holy spirit by believing in Jesus/Yeshua. As he warns many false Christs and prophets will appear leading many astray. It's many messages of Jesus rather than the one who truly sets you free and gives you a new life through true conversion, faith, repentance, and salvation.
We also know that the delusions sent in 2 Thessalonians 2:11 is also mental straying, as it is an error shown in action, leads others to error or fraud. As he warns in 2 Peter 3:14-18 to remain in holy conduct and godliness, and that many will twist Paul's letters as they do the rest of the scripture/Bible as he calls them unstable and untaught people in verse 16 and says that it's to their own destruction. As he says in verse 17 "You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." We must stand firm in the faith that delivers us to live holy and upright lives. For grace is written in Titus 2:11-15, and the power of it thereof. We know that he warns over and over again to be careful not to lose your steadfastness of your faith. Meaning in Greek, your firm condition and stability of the mind. Let your walk by holy, for many are turning aside to myths, arguments about the law, and foolish genealogies (bloodlines, DNA) (Titus 3:9, Timothy 1:4, 2 Timothy 4:4) As they have itching ears (2 Timothy 4:3) and will not tolerate sound doctrine (teachings, instruction) which continues one in the grace of God and the power of the holy spirit. Refraining from the mixture from error, wrong opinions, beliefs, and sin. For they will rather turn to what is pleasant, crave, desire, long for, and what is forbidden in the Greek. As they heap themselves up with teachers like themselves that heave hearts and minds like them and turn away from the truth.
Why will many believers again be the first to accept the false messiah, antichrist, and the beast? Well simply put, an antichrist according to 1 John, is one that can't love their brother and sister and forgive. They are ones that love the world and the things in the word, along with the pride of life. They are also those that deny Christ. Not only by word, but also those by their actions. For even the devil believes in Jesus (James 2:19) but they don't obey nor desire to with love and humility (Philippians 2:3) as 1 John 3:4-8 says 4 "Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. 5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. 6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil" For we know that he says that there are many Antichrists, as many more will come (Verse 18) and he warns us to remain in the love, grace, and faith in God. 1 John 2:29 "If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him." as 1 John 3:28 says, "Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us." We continue to read 1 John 5:3"For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"
Notice even more by faith we will overcome the world? By his love and grace empowers us to live and conduct our way of life as he did through the holy spirit and our belief in him by faith which comes from hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17)
1 John 5:18-19 "We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.
19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one." As the last verse 21 says to keep yourselves from idols. In Greek that's the image, likeness of God, physical objects, false gods, real or imaginary, or of the mind.
We see in Revelation 9:20 "But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. 21 And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts." Sorceries in Greek here is a metaphor for the deceptions and seductions of idolatry. As it's repeated in Revelation 18:23 which we go back to the beginning of the writing where the world caused everyone to be deceived. Galatians 5:20 goes on to repeat the same word "sorceries" in relation to the works of the flesh which comes after Idolatry, and right after comes hatred, strife, wrath, selfish ambition (elevate oneself, pursuits, or interests), dissensions, heresies and similar fleshly traits which are not the fruits of the spirit in Galatians 5:22-24.
We know that the lawless one will deceive all who are being led astray, who have characteristics and pursuits outside the guidelines of what was written above in 1 John and Galatians 5:19-21. For they did not receive the truth as to be saved! (1 Thessalonians 2:10) but was deceived by all lying wonders, power, signs, and works of the devil sent to those being led astray which will come during a time of great rebellion, lust for the world, pursuits, and confusion. The devil will trick these people, but God's desire is that all be saved (1 Timothy 2:4) People deceived by the devil will manifest the spirit of the Antichrist as mentioned earlier, rather than the fruits of the spirit. But be careful, multitudes will appear as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14) they will be ministers of righteousness but will not have the power to walk it out. For their end will be according to their works. For we know that false doctrines have no power except amongst those who don't love God with a pure heart.
As the great minister Leonard Ravenhill once said. "If you want to be popular, preach happiness, if you want to be unpopular, preach holiness." and "There are two kinds of people in the world, only two kinds. Bot black or white, rich or poor, but those either dead in sin, or dead to sin." The closer we get to God, the humbler we become. The more we learn the wisdom and knowledge of God, the humbler we become. The more Yeshua/Jesus is exalted in our lives, he will increase, and we decrease. As the church and its leaders become more exalted and appears to be more like the world rather than Yeshua, and as politics, religion, non-religious, business, education, the world, and everything in the world becomes magnified, let's ensure that we are not caught in the snare. Luke 21:34 "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly." As the world was drunk Revelation 18:3, but God says in Amos 5:13 " Therefore be prudent and keep quiet in such times, for the times are evil." Matthew 11:25 "At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes."
As we look into this word from Yeshua. Luke 4:25 "But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; 26 but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.” While there was a famine in the land during the time of Elijah, there is a famine now (Amos 8:11-13) yet the least of the those in the land received the faith and trust in God. While others believed to know him. Take account of the showdown on top of Mount Carmel where 850 false prophets ruled the land and deceived many. Yet one prophet like today (John:11-13) John was the image of the holy spirit working amongst all and the spirit of prophecy (Revelation 19:9-10) As an image of Elijah. Yet which sacrifice was consumed with fire and who was not? Likewise, who is consumed with fire, and who is not? Matthew 3:11 "He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." as he continues John 16:13 "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. (About the future.)" as continued Amos 3:7 "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he reveals his secret unto his servants the prophets."
Let us be those who hunger and thirst like Zarephath patiently waiting yet had great faith. Be like those who were unclean with sin like leprosy in the image of Naaman and washed clean in the Jordan which is the image of the holy spirit cleansing us. Be like the sacrifice on the alter and the prayers and righteousness like that of Elijah where the fire came down and consumes in the sight of all the false prophets. Let God be magnified and glorified in your life with true praise and worship of the king of kings. Let our walk and conduct be pure before him and be like those in Matthew 5. For God will save us from the destruction of the flesh and give us life by faith through grace through the power of the holy spirit (Acts 1:8)
Romans 8:11 "And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ/Yeshua from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you."
Acts 7:55-56 "But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” Let's be sure our gaze sees the fullness of the holy spirit in our lives and the glory of Yeshua/ Jesus the Messiah who is in the image of God as we continue in sanctification and striving to live holy lives with peace, love, and joy. As we present our bodies and lifestyle as a living sacrifice well pleasing to God (Romans 12:1) Hearing the voice of God that raised Lazarus from the dead, while remaining in eternal life now, rather than the death of the old flesh. Let us be full of the power of the holy spirit, which has come down from heaven until our redemption which draws near. (Luke 21:28)