Throughout the New Testament believers are continually warned “Do not be deceived!”
Paul warns in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11: Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor males who have sex with males, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”
James 1:16-17: “Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
And Jesus personally issued this dire warning:
Matthew 24:4-5: Jesus replied to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and they will deceive many.”
He is clear so that believers fully comprehend. Out of His great love for humanity Jesus Christ came to earth the first time as a Lamb—serving—lowly—meek—sacrificial. The second time the Lord Jesus Christ comes to earth it will be as a Lion—avenging—mighty—powerful—King. The Ruler of nations!
Right now believers are living in the ‘between’—some 2000+ years—where we benefit from the actions of His first visit. Believers are saved, we are His, we are beloved, and we will benefit further when He Raptures (vanishing, departure, disappearing, harpazo) us to Him in the air, in a twinkling.
Therefore believers, do not be deceived! The Lamb and the Lion bookend the two times the Lord Jesus Christ physically steps foot on earth. And He warns strongly that during the between, anyone claiming to be the Messiah—through false narrative, signs and wonders, etc.—IS NOT HIM.
This world is governed by Satan the great deceiver, with whom God is at war for the souls of His beloved creation. And God knows that mankind is easily deceived! Humans live by the lustful and prideful desires of their hearts (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
And Jesus warns that even the elect will be deceived during the between. And this will happen because people who claim to be His have fallen away from their relationship with Him. They are not reading the Word, or studying, praying, praising, or worshiping. He is no longer the desire of their hearts. They removed themselves from His protection and they are vulnerable.
The Lord is CLEAR. Do not be deceived! During the between Satan is prowling to and fro looking to devour anyone he can. Daily fill your hearts to the brim with the Lamb’s Word, so that when He returns as the Lion you will be riding behind Him as a member of the Saints of God.
Amen!