SATAN’S DECEPTIONS TODAY
The Bible says that in the last days Satan’s deceptions will increase. “For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Mark 13:22). By that standard, we are clearly living in the last days now. Deception is one of Satan’s favorite weapons and he is a master at it. Often we aren’t even aware of how his deception works. Lets look at some ways he may deceive believers.
AN OBSESSION WITH SIGNS AND WONDERS. God still uses signs and wonders, especially in places where the gospel is spreading for the first time, like they were used in the book of Acts. But when people seek, even demand them, something is wrong. God says He will not give them to those people in the last days (Matthew 12:39-40). Since they aren’t from God, then they must be from Satan’s counterfeit power (2 Corinthians 11:14). He can and will fake supernational or sensational events and experiences to mislead the gullible. Jesus gave us the greatest sign, the final sign anyone will need, by coming back to life from the dead. Seeing a miraculous sign should not be the basis for your faith. Your faith should be grounded in believing in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and experiencing His power and grace in your life.
SEEKING SUPERNATURAL EXPERIENCES. When people want, even need, something that touches and moves them emotionally, they are setting themselves up for deception. Sometimes what we expect from our worship/music service in church comes dangerously close to that. We look for a church with the most moving music and attend there. Some people expect sensational experiences in their own lives to validate their faith and move them on in their Christian life. They place their assurance of salvation on a continual stream of these experiences. Some base their faith on having certain spiritual gifts, but that is not the purpose of spiritual gifts. One of the greatest ways God can be seen working in our lives is through His fruit being present in us (Galatians 5). Don’t be deceived by great emotional or sensational displays by individuals or churches and don’t think you are missing something if they aren’t present in your life. They may be Satan’s fakes.
BELIEVING UNBIBLICAL TEACHINGS. It’s popular today to hear that all religions are basically the same or that there is no hell or that God will ultimately save everyone or that the Bible isn’t our final and total authority. Even religions that say they believe in Jesus cannot all be true because they don’t agree on who Jesus is. For example, the Jesus of Christianity is different from the Jesus of Islam, Mormonism or the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Because these are all different, they cannot all possibly be true. This same argument can be made for the way of salvation or many of the other beliefs of all the various religions out there. Jesus, as defined and described in the Bible, is the only way of salvation (John 14:6; Matthew 7:13-14). These are very deadly deceptions we must speak against.
There are many other deceptions as well. Satan promotes new teachings that seem to be based on the Bible but really contradict it. He makes pride, lust, greed, gluttony, fear, anger, jealousy, etc., seem right and good. He does many other things as well. Those mentioned above are a good start in exposing Satan’s counterfeit and deceptive practices today. Ask God to show you any of these you may be susceptible to.
John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
Which of these areas of deception are you most open to? Confess any you are guilty of and ask God to make you alert to them.
Think of those you know who are susceptible to one or more of these things. Pray for them. Ask God how you can warn them about the danger they are in.
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India, Africa & Spanish Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
Copyright © 2025