Cedric Fisher: "earnestly contending for the faith."

Surviving the Great Deception

Recently, my wife and I watched as one popular televangelist offer 33 times the favor of God for $33.  Not to be outdone, a couple of days later another one offered 1000 times the favor of God for $1000.  A plethora of professing Christians follows these and other blatantly heretical and wicked individuals.  There is no doubt that they are under a strong deception.  Christ warned us in Matthew 24:24 that there would be a great deception so clever and intense that, if it were possible, the very elect would be deceived.  The Apostle Paul described it as Satan “coming with all power, signs, lying wonders, and all unrighteous deception.”  Obviously, it will be so powerful that the most dedicated Christian will have to endure aggressive satanic influences not to succumb to it.  I believe that the very elect will overcome because they are indwelt and equipped by the Holy Spirit.  However, the Great Deception will be the most powerful one that has ever afflicted the world.  Nominal Christians are in grave danger of being drawn into its fatal snare.  The consequence is eternal separation from God.  Of course, individuals bound by the world system are already snared. 

 The atmosphere that precedes and produces this type of deception will be a time of doldrums initiated by lethargic professing Christians that have grown lukewarm and apathetic.  When the deception reaches critical mass, the great and final apostasy will manifest.  If one is not deceived, he or she recognizes this powerful deception and even a strong delusion is presently active in all segments of society including Christianity.  Great numbers of people are succumbing to the influence of the satanic mind.  They believe that right is wrong and evil is good.  The political realm is inundated with individuals that cannot (or choose not to) discern between truth and lies.  Secular society is celebrating hedonism as if it is a type of freedom.  An increasing number appear to be without natural affection.  Hostility toward true Christians is increasing dramatically.  False religions, cults, and the occult are operating very powerfully in the religious realm.  In all sectors, godliness is being rejected on a mass scale while the spirits of darkness are welcomed as new ideas, revelations, and innovative philosophies.  Woven through it all is the bizarre delusion that mankind is somehow making the world a better place. 

This free slide into apostasy was made possible by the unwillingness of professing Christians to draw near to God during a critical period.  In a few words, they became obsessed with the offerings of the World System.  As a result they became lukewarm and spiritually destitute.  They abdicated to conservative news pundits their responsibility to oppose the darkness.  Nowadays, they lament when elections do not go their way, about how terrible the world is becoming, and yet cannot grasp how far they themselves have drifted from the truth and full surrender to God.  The more of them that resisted the consuming fire of God, the weaker organized Christianity became.  Instead of humbling themselves when they were convicted, they either changed pastors or churches.  That paradigm gave opportunity to hirelings, false teachers, and other wicked individuals.  Many of these apostates have taken over significant churches and even denominational leadership and other key positions.  They brought with them their proclivity to paganism and other elements of the New Age Movement.  The response to this encroaching darkness by other leaders in Christianity is to embrace liberalism, including homosexuality.  In short, the tragic and devastating prognosis is that Christianity is rapidly morphing into a false religion.  Multitudes of professing Christians have rejected the influence of the Holy Spirit.  Connect that with the precarious stability of the Middle East, the dramatic increase of the persecution of Christians worldwide, the coalescing one world government, and the imminent cashless global economy, we must conclude that this is the last days and we are in perilous times.  

The entire sorry mess is frustrating and discouraging.  It is a drain on ones spiritual energy and stifles hope and joy.  My wife and I have ceased watching certain news programs talk shows because of the drain on our spiritual energy.  Finding someone who even cares to discuss the end times is rare.  They will discuss politics, sports, and nearly every other subject except the end times.  It leaves me wondering how some professing Christians will survive such a period of great darkness.  I must be honest and declare that it will not be easy.  However, there are some basic principles that one must follow if victory is to be had. 

First, we must read and study God’s Word.  This puts the right information inside of us so that we are better equipped to recognize heresy and answer deception.  Additionally, the Scriptures contain God’s revelation of Himself to us.  The more that we read and study His Word, the better we know Him.  The better we know Him, the better we can recognize the deceptive portrayals of Him by the workers of darkness.  God’s Word contains Divine Order.  Divine Order is the Divine Continuum of how God works in this world.  All doctrine, revelation, and Christian conduct must harmonize with the Divine Continuum or it is not of God. 

Second, one must be filled with the Holy Spirit.  One of the most powerful factors in deception is that the deceived do not know they are deceived. Any sane individual knows when he or she is sick, injured, angry, sad, happy, and etc. But not one deceived individual knows that he or she is in fact deceived.  The great deception is so clever and intense that it is only recognizable when one is filled with the Holy Spirit.  The religious atmosphere is so convoluted that the human mind alone, no matter how intelligent, cannot always sort truth from error. In fact, I have observed intelligent individuals that rejected or neglected the Holy Spirit and entered deception as if it were an opportunity sent by God.  When they were challenged, they pitied the ones challenging their deception, making remarks such as, “What a shame, they’re so deceived.  We can’t teach them if they refuse to listen to the truth.”  As such are the attitudes of everyone who has been beguiled by deception and embraced the darkness.

Third, we must reject everything new.  The prevailing and misleading concept of truth in the deceived factions of Christianity is based primarily on new revelation.  In fact, those individuals are always searching for something new.  As a result, many new but false doctrines are inundating Christianity today.  The Apostle Paul obviously believed that the word God gave us must be held tightly.  There are no verses in God’s Word that tell us to hold onto truth for only a little while and then discard it for new revelation or “new manna”.  Why would God put the burden on us during the Great Deception to discover and accept new revelation in the midst of a deluge of false doctrine?  God would not subject us to such an opportunity for Satan to work during the great darkness of the last days.  Instead, we are instructed to “cling fast” to what we already know.  Paul wrote to the church that they should hold tightly to the things that they had been taught in order to avoid deception.  There is no danger in holding on to time-honored scriptural truths.  Further, and this may come as a shock to some people, we do not need new revelation in order to be spiritual, faithful, powerful, productive, Christians, or to be intimate with God. However, the propagators of new revelation try to shame people into accepting it by scornfully accusing them of being dry, dead, lifeless, clingers to the old manna.  There is no such thing as “old manna” when it comes to God’s Word.  His Word is “quick and powerful, sharp as a two-edged sword.”  To claim that His Word gets old, ruins, and stinks like old manna, is a diabolical lie.

Two thousand years ago God sent us the Savior with His plan for salvation.  It is not old, ruinous, or stinking news, but the effervescent good news.  It is the foundation and life of everyone who desires to escape the great deception and apostasy.  There are no scriptures that teach us to look for new revelation in order to survive the last days.  Everything that arrives that is new is likely part of the great deception.  One will not miss anything essential to ignore it. 

Fourth, we should take the responsibility to maintain our spirituality.  We depend too much on people to do everything for us.  Millions of professing Christians sit in churches or in front of the TV sipping spirituality vicariously from people that they really do not know.  There are homosexuals, adulterers, drunkards, drug addicts, thieves, liars, con artists, and etcetera, leading large congregations, and otherwise on TV and involved in highly influential positions.  Instead of rejecting them, multitudes listen to their lame excuses and go right on supporting them.  That is one of the main reasons so many people are deceived today.  In fact, most of the deceived ones cannot defend their positions from Scripture, but mingle the Word of God with the words of vain humanity.  They do not realize that they are growing up into these “heads” (actually, tails) rather than the true Head, which is Christ.  Those people may already be deceived beyond help. 

Last, we must pray.  I don’t have to say a lot about this because every Christians knows that they should pray.  It is the most necessary activity for spiritual life.  Of course, I’m not talking about Contemplative Prayer, which is nothing more than entering an altered state of consciousness with the danger of demon possession.  I’m referring to true prayer, talking to God with supplications and intercession. 

Many clever words are spewed out to the masses, but truth comes from only one source, and that’s the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit will speak to us through God’s Word.  One does not need fictional books, farcical movies, television programs (no matter how well-produced) to discover truth.  One simply needs to be hungry for the truth.  To such a one the Holy Spirit will not deny truth.  If you want to survive the great deception and apostasy, you will have to hunger for truth to the point of love for it.  Don’t let anyone deceive you.  Multitudes of professing Christians will not enter heaven because they foolishly ignored God’s warnings about the great deception.  There are many ways that seem right, but the truth is what saves us from deception. 

Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. (2 Thessalonians 2:15; NKJV)

Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.  That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. (2 Timothy 1:13-14; NKJV)

34 Comments

  1. Sherry Meyer

    Again you are absolutely correct. We too have cut back on what news, etc. we watch on TV as well as unsubscribing to some news we receive via email. However, we hang on to just enough news from those we trust in order to stay abreast of what is taking place now, etc. Holding fast to God’s Truth in His Word and hanging on to Jesus tightly 24/7. Every day we shake our heads and say, “when will people ever listen and heed?”…before it’s too late! We pray and pray! Thank you!

  2. Roxy

    I am very sad and I know for a fact that what you state here is true. I live with an ungodly husband and my 19 year old son is blind as well and I feel like throwing in the towel. I feel deception is everywhere, that is why I never opened a facebook account and I use the internet for work and study. When I look around, I think everyone is lost starting by the pastors, priests and most of the people that go to church. No one really knows what is going on behind the scenes. The tv and internet are enticing people to destruction and this generation of youth is totally oblivious and blind. It is like everyone is headed toward the abyss and there is nothing I can do about it except trying to save myself and my 5 year old daughter who still listens to me. :/

    • Ramal

      Roxy, I was touched by your testimony and hope and Pray the Lord will see you and your family through your battle. The enemy is constantly trying to tear down others to submit to the destruction and judgment that awaits him. God bless you and your household. KEEP THE FAITH!

    • lazarus

      Roxy i feel for you. I am in the same position. My little brother is hungry for truth and im thankful im able to feed him. I believe these hard times are what unbelievers need. And the good father has been preparing his children to be standing right there for those scared blind people to cling too. We are going to save people. But its going to be in scary times thats why selflessness is encouraged. Because in these times you will need to stay calm and wise to hold those frightened confused souls through the night prepare and be patient love you – laz

  3. Matt David

    I think you really overlooked something here.
    First you quoted the verse that says that it is NOT POSSIBLE that the elect could be decived, Then shortly after, you said that nominal Christians would be in danger. Nominal or not, the elect is the elect and its just NOT POSSIBLE.
    I believe the verse is saying that its not possible because they won’t physically be here. Yet another nuggett of truth about a pre-trib rapture.

    Great article otherwise.

    God Bless,

    MD

    • C.H. Fisher

      Nominal Christians are in danger because they are not listening to the Holy Spirit and are not obedient to God. They cannot be called the elect no more than the five foolish virgins are the elect. Consider that all ten virgins in Matthew 25 were identical in every way except one. They were all virgins, all had lamps, all had fire on the wicks, all were slumbering and sleeping, all were waiting for the Bridegroom, all of them heard the midnight cry, all arose and trimmed their lamps and all went out to meet Him. The only difference was that five of them had no reserve of oil. When they begin trimming their lamps, which is to raise the wick for more light, there was not enough oil in the reservoir to sustain the flame. There is no proper conclusion to this parable other than it is a depiction of Christianity in the last days. The five (nominal) Christians heard those dreaded words, “I do not know you.”

      The idea that the “called, chosen, but faithless” are equal to the “called, chosen, and faithful” is no doubt influenced by the unscriptural doctrine of Unconditional Eternal Security. There are a number of verses that declare otherwise. Further, there is no scriptural basis for a pre-tribulation rapture doctrine. Although the challenge has been (since J. N. Darby’s doctrine was introduced to Christianity in the mid 1800’s) to find even one scripture that clearly depicts a timing for a secret rapture, no one to date has found such a scripture. Attempts to validate and defend the doctrine are simply impositions on the text.

      • sara

        I agree with your point about the foolish virgins and I agree about there being no rapture. I would like it to be true but I can’t find scripture to support it.

  4. Mickey Sticks

    Please expound on your comments about contemplative prayer. I recently came across a book on the subject (Open Mind, Open Heart – Thomas Keating) and was interested in the concept of entering a state of oneness with God through stillness and intention. I am now Googling “the dangers of contemplative prayer” upon reading your words, and would like to know your views extrapolated fully. Thanks in advance.

    • C.H. Fisher

      I just posted an article about CPon my FB Truthkeepers page. There are other articles on this site and also Lighthouse Trails Research.

  5. ron

    how about the lying signs and wonders movement diamons gold dust angles foot prints mana from heaven oil driping from bibles. josh mills says that he is anointed and oil poors from his body and feet and he sells it for profit. these are all false lying signs and wonders and just a small part of the GREAT DECEPTION.

    • Wendy Reichelderfer

      Hi Ron…. I’ve never heard of Josh Mills, and boy, am I glad I haven’t!!! People that prey on others with these outlandish money schemes make me SO ANGRY and JUST SICK!!!

      Know that I am grateful that the Lord has given you the discernment to recognize that GARBAGE for what it is! How I PRAISE HIM for that!!!

      For those of us who, by God’s grace, have “eyes to see and eats to hear” AND have acess to the Internet, I believe with my whole heart that we have a great responsibility to both ENCOURAGE others online when possible, and to WARN people about WHO the wolves in sheep’s clothing are.
      PLEASE SPEAK TO OTHERS THAT LACK THE DISCERNMENT ABOUT WHAT OUR POWERFUL LORD ALMIGHTY HAS SHOWN YOU. I believe that the more we band together and call out the False Teachers, the more people will be impacted with the TRUE GOSPEL for Salvation, instead of being conningly ripped off!!!
      May the Lord BLESS YOU as you routinely share the Good News, as I’m sure you are doing already ~~
      Peace be with you!!!

  6. Hayden

    Hello, I’m a minister with 20 plus years of being a servant to the local churches. Your website is GREAT and I’m glad I found it. OK, so how do I say this…? Would you all consider changing your picture of the picture of the earth? If you re-read the bible you will see that the moon produces its own light, the earth is still and does not rotate and is not a globe. The bible many times speaks about the earth as being in an enclosure with a firm dome over it. I do not think the bible is wrong and would not (anymore) explain away what God said as not understanding how He created His… CREATION.

    Love to hear back from you all if you so choose. Thank you for your ministry.

    • Michael

      It is so good to see a pastor that believes the scriptural truth of Gods universe. Unfortunately, as you well know, you are in a minority. How are you dealing with the barriers of hostile, cognitive dissidence?

    • Michael

      It is a pleasure to see a pastor who sees the universe as God actually created it. The creation account was not written as an allegory or parable but literal. How are you dealing with the knee jerk, cognitive dissidence? how well are you congregation accepting the truth of their home? I would enjoy discussing Flat Earth truth with a pastor. Please feel free to contact me at michael@eyeofsolomon.com

  7. Tamara

    Great read, thank you. The deception is huge. I’m stuck between wanting to be aware of all aspects and depth of the deception, or ignoring it all completely lest fear enter my spirit. I pray to know only truth in Jesus Christ, and He gives me comfort. That’s all I can think of to do. God bless and keep you.

  8. Deborah

    The greatest deception is first believing that the earth is a spinning ball. I’m not kidding. Your article even has a painting of it! The Bible clearly supports a flat earth that is stationary. So many Christians believe whatever NASA tells them and when NASA says there is life on Mars and the aliens (demons) want to be our friends it will be a time of great tribulation as many will believe these lies. This clever deception began 500 years ago with Copernicus. I’m happy to say that the earth is flat and Jesus is my Savior!

  9. Jessica

    Such comforting words of truth and hope! He’ll be back soon! All we have to do is hold on!

    “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” (Romans 15:4)

  10. Bill Solley

    enjoyed your page! Great work!!! God bless you all!!!
    your brother in Christ
    Bill

  11. Peter MacIntyre

    Recently I’ve been thinking about the great deception mentioned in the bible. My thoughts were, how will this affect the world and individuals in a personal way. What will the great deception look like and how will it manifest itself in the last days of this world. As it happens I came across this article and in what I read corresponded with my view on how the great deception of Satan will make its self known. This article is a thought provoking must read.

  12. Lyn Malherbe

    This article is soo relevant. The Lord has been showing me so much of this same stuff over the years. Right now it seems satan is playing a final TRUMP CARD. He has gotten into the Church .. and so many don’t know it? Teachings so subtley slanted that the meaning is taken out of context. Our ONLY PROTECTION is in clinging to the WORD with everything we have. The church is copying the world in so many respects. No wonder it has lost its power. The world has its icons and idols. We have our GLAMOUR BOYS etc and people hungrily cling to their every word. .instead of to THE Word. People are perishing “for a lack of knowledge “

  13. Wendy Reichelderfer

    Hi, I am 21 years old in the Lord and, indeed, knowing Him IS the “Greatest Thing That’s Ever Happened to Me”!! He has certainly made my life an adventure and has blessed me with great joy most of the time!!

    My husband (also a Believer, praise God) keep up daily work the news, both online and on TV. We do our best to be discerning of the truth.

    I just wanted to drop a quick note on here and express my idea as to WHAT “The Great Deception” of the End Times is…….after much consideration , I believe it is this whole circus as to how many GENDERS there are and WHAT, exactly, a given person IS!!!

    I believe this because it flies SOOOOO in the face of our dear Creator…. and because THE ELECT KNOW THAT THERE IS SIMPLY ONLY TWO ‼️‼️‼️
    PERIOD!

  14. Mark

    The Lord is coming much sooner than most humans realize. Look up Nibiru. Keep an open mind. I believe the impending world conflict is a big piece of the great deception puzzle. Nibiru is what will cause the great earthquake, but the government will have us believe it’s a war. As I said, check out Nibiru – there is now footage of it eclipsing the sun. We’re getting close. No, I am not a conspiracy theorist. There is plenty of evidence of this planet within out solar system.

    • C.H. Fisher

      I agree that the Coming of the Lord is near. However, I do not believe “Nibiru” will have anything to do with His Coming. Planet 9, planet X or Nibiru, whichever one prefers to call it, has never been seen. The reason some scientists believe that it possibly exists is because it is the only logical reason for some observational evidence. That evidence includes stretched out orbits of some planets and possible tilting of our solar system. Predictably, the Internet is frantic with conspiracy theories and doomsday predictions.

      “Nibiru” describes a theoretical encounter between earth and a large space object, i.e., and asteroid or stray planet. The term originated from a Russian writer who wrote a book explaining human origin that involved ancient astronauts. The doomsday attachment came from a woman who believed that she was the person that extraterrestrials chose to contact to warn humanity.

      With all due respect I believe that it is unhelpful to make a theory the basis for one’s view of the Endtimes. The foundation of our preparedness for the Endtimes should be established firmly in God’s word. Certainly, the prospect of Nibiru might frighten a lost soul, but fear of disaster is no substitute for trust in and love for God.

      • From quidah to nri

        Great deception I believe is anti semitics. World for centuries been systematically wickedly tricked into hating jews. So the real jews will discard true religion therefore the promise land “israel”. Ultimately keeping the fake ones in place. Middle East rulers conspiring to wipe Israel off of the earth plays rite into the deception.

  15. From quidah to nri

    GOD plan is AWESOME!!!….KING of KINGS….LORD of LORDS…..HOST of HOST’S

  16. From quidah to nri

    ALPHA and OMEGA!!

  17. John

    I believe the Great Deception will be Demons posing as aliens deluding the world that they are here to help and becoming friendly. They were here after creation as Nephilm, and will be allowed to come here and deceive man. Look at how much Science Fiction has greased the skids for this introduction. Many Christians I talk to believe UFO’s are real aliens, and that some are friendly.

  18. Mike

    So what “IF”…
    The biggest deseption that I can think is that the rolls are reversed, god is the bad one and Satan is good . How messed up would that be ? I’m not saying that I believe that, don’t get me wrong . Just what if ?

    • Casey

      It says good will be evil and evil will be good. I don’t understand this.

  19. Fred

    Perhaps the deception is that we don’t have to guard the Word (instructions, 1st 5 books) which we were given to live by. So, by deception, we break the commands and right rulings, eat pork and catfish, accept sexual deviants as our brothers and friends, charge interest on loans, substitute pagan holidays (sunday sabbath, easter, christmas) for the ones we were given from above, and so much more. But, we don’t care because we believe in “Jesus” and He will save us in a non-existent pre-tribulation rapture. Who needs the Old Testament? That is what Christianity teaches today. If you seek Him (read it for your self), you will find the Truth. He is the Way, the Life, and the Truth. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

  20. Cynthia

    I don’t understand your attack on conservatives. Everything that liberals and their policies stand for are anti-Christian, anti-family, and anti-freedom. Everything they are promoting in their New World order is distructive and evil. One day, if or when they finally get control like they so viciously and desperately want to (think rabid antifa groups and that violence inciting Maxine Waters), then those of us who are still operating in the free market system will either have to take the mark of the beast in order to buy or sell goods, or else have a death warrant on our heads and have to endure unspeakable suffering on this world until Christ returns. Anyone who takes that mark will go to hell so true Christians will refuse it and as a consequence will SUFFER!!!! I love everything you wrote here except for your attack on conservatives. You are absolutely wrong there.

  21. Cynthia

    I’m so sorry. I reread it and now I realize you were putting the impetus on conservatives. You were saying it is our responsibility to monitor who is preaching the word in our churches. You were saying we were the most responsible and accountable ones and that we were deferring our responsibility as watchdogs and whistleblowers to news casters on our favorite news programs, and instead of properly rebuking those who are in error, we simply change churches instead of making a change where we stand. I’m sorry I reacted too early to what I perceived at first as an attack on conservatives.

  22. Jonathan

    Jesus said to love your enemies, bless those who curse you, pray for those who spitefully use you. If you stay focused on the negative and the bad going on in the world and you’ll never see the joy through Christ. Do not be discouraged by the things going on in the world instead be in encouraged knowing that your faith is helping you to persevere and become a better surrendered man or woman of God. Set your mind on things above not on things on this Earth for that is where you are seated with Christ 🙂 remember how that woman reached out and touched the garment of Jesus and he turned to her and said your faith has saved you. in this context she was referring to her faith healed her however look at your own Walk with Jesus being something very similar. Your faith is making you well not sick.

Leave a Reply to C.H. Fisher Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

© 2024 TruthKeepers

Theme by Anders NorenUp ↑