Deceiving the Nations
We are warned that satan “…will go out to deceive the nations…” Revelation 20:8
The Bible continually warns us: “lest satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.” 2 Corinthians 2:11
“But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” 2 Corinthians 11:3
In the Book of Revelation we are told that at the end God will send an Angel to bind satan “so that he should deceive the nations no more…” Revelation 20:3
We are taught that: “…satan who deceives the whole world…” Revelation 12:9. Plainly satan is deceiving nations today.
The Scripture warns us of “The lawless one… according to the working of satan, with all power, signs and lying wonders.” 2 Thessalonians 2:9
“…the Prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience.” Ephesians 2:2
“Whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” 2 Corinthians 4:4
Spiritual Warfare
We are called “to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, from the power of satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by Faith in Me.” Acts 26:18
“Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”Ephesians 6:11-12
Defeating Deceit
The Church of Ephesus is commended by God: “You have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars.” Revelation 2:2
The Church in Smyrna is told: “I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of satan.” Revelation 2:9
To the Church of Philadelphia, the Lord writes: “Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie… he who overcomes I will make him a pillar in the Temple of My God…” Revelation 3:9-12
“You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another.” Leviticus 19:11
“Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips and from a deceitful tongue. Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord. But those who deal truthfully are His delight.” Proverbs 12:22
“A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who speaks lies shall perish.” Proverbs 19:9
“Everyone will deceive his neighbour, and will not speak the truth. They have taught their tongue to speak lies, they weary themselves to commit iniquity.” Jeremiah 9:5
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?”Jeremiah 17:9
“Their throat is an open tomb; with their tongues they have practised deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips.” Romans 3:13
“You shall destroy those who speak falsehood: the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.” Psalm 5:6
“Let the lying lips be put to silence, which speak insolent things proudly and contentiously against the righteous.” Psalm 31:18
“He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house. He who tells lies shall not continue in my presence.” Psalm 101:7
Do You Like Being Lied To?
We are being subjected to the most pervasive tsunami of disinformation in history. This includes: Hollywood’s distortion of history, myths and legends propagated in school textbooks, half-truths, distractions, glaring omissions, selective focus, fictional incidents, imaginary anecdotes, prejudicial language, stereotypical characterisations, inverting reality, manipulating emotions, politically correct parrot cries, stock phrases and mantras to demonize the victims and to justify aggression, trivialising the main issues, ignoring key issues, focussing on side issues and reinforcing deceit with manufactured versions of the past.
Disinformation and Deceit
Some of the lies that we have repeatedly been bombarded with in recent years include:
Evolutionism.
“Billions of years…”
Global Warming is a fact of science.
God loves everybody – equally!
All religions are the same.
The Crusaders were aggressive, imperialistic colonisers who tried to force Muslims to become Christians at the point of the sword.
Islam is a peaceful and tolerant religion.
The camera never lies!
Animals do not have souls!
Wolves are a threat to people.
Sharks hunt people.
Snakes stalk people.
Abraham Lincoln was America’s greatest president and he saved the country.
The First World War was the war to end all wars!
The Kings and Emperors were to blame for the First World War.
The Kaiser was a warmonger.
The Germans were militaristic.
Germany was expansionist.
Germany was set on world domination.
World War II was a war for Christian civilisation, democracy and freedom.
We never fought an aggressive war. Our side was always on the side of justice and freedom.
Katyn was a German War Crime.
The Allies never committed atrocities.
Lenin overthrew the Tsar of Russia.
Winston Churchill was the greatest Englishman – who saved the British Empire.
The world today is a better place because of the First and Second World War.
Rudolph Hess was imprisoned for War Crimes.
Martin Luther King Jnr. was a saint.
All whites are racists!
Blacks cannot be racists!
1994 was South Africa’s first democratic election.
Mandela abolished apartheid!
Everyone lived happily ever after in the new rainbow South Africa.
No one is discriminated against because of race in the new South Africa.
South Africans have enjoyed 28 years of democracy and freedom.
Decolonialisation brought freedom to Africa.
The United Nations is dedicated to world peace.
Hollywood just wants to entertain us.
The News Media presents all the news that is fit to print, “without fear or favour!”
Facts are Stubborn Things
We need to understand the context of our history and rediscover the real facts, the real people and the real history – so that we might counter satan’s deceptions of the nations. The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. Our highest priority on earth is the fulfilment of the Great Commission. It is impossible to fulfil the Great Commission without understanding the times and knowing what God’s people must do. For us to teach the nations to obey all things that the Lord has commanded, we need to understand how satan is deceiving the nations. Truth does not fear investigation.
“Remove from me the way of lying…” Psalm 119:29
“The truthful lip shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.” Proverbs 12:19
“Remove falsehood and lies far from me…” Proverbs 30:8
“These are the things you shall do: speak each man the truth to his neighbour; give judgement in your gates for truth, justice and peace.” Zechariah 8:16
“Therefore, putting away lying, let each one of you speak truth with his neighbour…” Ephesians 4:25
“Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but to your Name give glory, because of your mercy, because of your Truth.” Psalm 115:1
“Buy the truth and do not sell it. Also wisdom and instruction and understanding.” Proverbs 23:23
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.”
2 Timothy 2:15
LIES WE HAVE ALL BELIEVED
