The strong delusion cause people to believe the lie
How will the strong delusion cause people to believe the lie (2 Thessalonians 2:11)?
Second Thessalonians 2:10–12 mentions those who are deceived by the Antichrist and are perishing. Their end is condemnation. The text indicates that those who refused the truth—so refusing to be saved—receive a “strong delusion” from God. Here is the context:
The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:9–12, ESV)
Some have used this passage to teach that, if the lost hear the gospel prior to the rapture and do not believe it, they will receive a strong delusion and never have another chance to believe. In other words, if you reject the gospel now, then after the rapture you cannot be saved. This is not the correct interpretation. The text in 2 Thessalonians 2 is simply describing the people who choose to follow the Antichrist. They choose a liar over the one who is the Truth. They reject forgiveness and take pleasure in wickedness. They turn their backs on the God who loves them and cling to someone who hates them. These unbelievers will be given a strong delusion so as to confirm them in their unbelief. Their conscience is seared, and God makes it easy for them to believe the lie.
All humanity possesses knowledge of God’s existence. All humanity is without excuse; everyone has the witness of natural revelation (God’s creation) and a conscience. Consequently, all humanity is accountable to God for not living in a manner consistent with such knowledge. Romans 1:18–20 teaches that humanity does not rebel because there is insufficient knowledge of God’s existence. Fallen humanity actively suppresses the truth of God in unrighteousness.
The coming of the Antichrist will be accompanied by miracles designed to deceive many. “He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing” (2 Thessalonians 2:9–10). The false prophet, the Antichrist’s right-hand man, will be a master of deception: “[The second beast] performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people. Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth” (Revelation 13:13–14; cf. Revelation 19:20).
During the tribulation, the Antichrist and the false prophet have the ability to perform “signs and wonders,” and the wicked will be inclined to trust them. God’s sending of a strong delusion is part of the punishment of the wicked. To reject the truth is to narrow one’s options to a set of lies. The end will be eternal punishment for those who follow the beast and take his mark (Revelation 14:9–10).
God is glorified not only in His salvation of the righteous but also in His judgment of the wicked. The somber application of 2 Thessalonians 2:11 comes when the church proclaims the gospel. For the lost to hear the gospel and reject it is a serious matter. No one can have any confidence that God will give him another opportunity to trust in Christ again. No one knows when it’s his or her last chance to be saved.
“See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness” (Hebrews 3:12–13).