Something’s been bothering me lately - actually, for a really long time. I didn’t really consider it blog material, but after Evan’s post about some popular misnomers (worth reading, by the way... Evan’s blog I mean, not the misnomers...), I started toying with the idea. You may or may not agree with what I say, but hear me out. I simply can’t stay silent any more, so here goes...

Revelation 13 contains a very solemn warning by saying that “...all the world wondered after the beast.” The skeptic-father of a friend mockingly declared, “You’re going to be deceived, it says all the world, you’re in the world, aren’t you? You can’t escape the deception!”

As if that’s not sobering enough, Christ warns that there will be such great deceptions in the last days that, “if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” (Mt. 24:24) Add to this His somewhat cryptic rhetorical question, “When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth,” (Lk. 18:8) and one really begin to wonder what our odds are.

In response to these warnings, some have taken upon themselves a particular responsibility for warning people of end-time deceptions, counterfeits, and things of this nature, working untiringly to uncover the true intentions of the papacy (the beast-power of Revelation 13), it’s works, and the supposed support system surrounding it (e.g. secret societies, rites, ceremonies, etc.).

If you so desired, you could go to an entire series primarily focused on the origin of certain fraternities, their roots in papism, and their perceived roles in modern politics. You could listen to quotes from leaders in these societies, politicians, religious leaders, even the pope himself, that betray the seditious intents of the of the church and it’s co-conspirators. You can return, night after night, to hear about satanic symbols, secret rituals, connections with the occult, pagan traditions, influences in pop culture, sacred rites performed by these organizations, and on, and on, and on...

Now I have a problem with all this. Didn’t Revelation 13 warn us about wondering after the beast? If you look up that word ‘wonder’, it basically means to marvel at or behold. Immediately after His warning about deception, Christ said “Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.” (Mt. 24:26). Why? Because there’s a danger in seeking out and dwelling on deceptions.

The threat is not only to those who are openly wandering after the beast. It is possible to become so obsessed with the study and unveiling of deception as to be to be unwittingly wondering along after the beast.

Satan will use anything to distract the mind from God and heavenly themes, even the study of his own deceptions. If the primary theme of our study and interest is the deceptions of satan, then in a very real way, he has taken our attention from God, and we’ve turned our. The Bible tells us that God “will bring to light the hidden things of darkness.” (1 Cor. 4:5) It’s not for us to search out Satan’s deceptions. Would our time not be better spent searching out the “deep things of God” (1 Cor. 2:10)?

“Oh, but it’s necessary for us to know these things to awaken the church and bring revival!”

This will never bring revival! True revival is a response to God’s goodness and this begins by beholding God, not the devil and his agencies (Isa. 6). Revival brought on by a cerebral awareness of spiritual danger leaves the heart untouched and unreconciled to God. This kind of revival, like Judas’ repentance, is motivated by fear of consequences and is insincere and insufficient.

II. Creating a culture
The thing that bothers me more than this pursuit of the latest deception, is the effect it has upon it’s audience.

Satan wages war upon the beautiful, simple truth of God by any means available. Always seeking to thrill the senses and enthrall the imagination, he strives at every turn to inhibit our ability to appreciate and contemplate God’s simple truths.

As if the sensationalism from 21st century pop-culture isn’t enough, we bring that same mentality into the pulpit by presenting mysterious secrets of organizations, and the obscure influences of occultism, exciting the senses and entertaining the imagination of the hearer. The result is that these people find the simple truths of God’s word dull and uninteresting in comparison with the scandal and mystery of the papal system. In essence, the beast has captured their wonder.

I have seen people who can scarcely defend their faith from the Bible, who are easily excited and become animated by the discussion of the papacy, secret societies, and conspiracy theories.

“Okay, so how then can we safely identify Satan’s deceptions?”

Quite simply, return to the Scriptures. Think of a dollar bill. If your ability to avoid counterfeit bills is wrapped up in your intimate knowledge of counterfeits, one needs only make a counterfeit with which you’re unfamiliar in order to dupe you. But if you’re intimately familiar with the original, no number of counterfeits, no matter how carefully crafted could fool you. Our safety isn’t found in being savvy of Satan’s work - but in being intimately connected to our Savior.

Rest assured, all the world will wander after the beast. But though we be in the world, we need not be of the world.