Question: What might be included in the “strong delusion” in 2 Thessalonians:2:11And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
See All...? And is it already here, or does it only take effect after the Rapture?
Response: Paul says that the “delusion” specifically causes those who “received not the love of the truth” to be deceived by the “lying wonders” performed by Antichrist (“that Wicked...whose coming is after the working of Satan”) and by his “deceivableness of unrighteousness...” (2 Thessalonians:2:8-10 [8] And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
[9] Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
[10] And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
See All...). Clearly this applies to those left behind at the Rapture in a world ruled by Antichrist; but it would seem that their rejection of the truth preceded and prepared them for “that man of sin” (v. 3,4) and thus could occur at least to a lesser degree before the Rapture.
The delusion causes “that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned…” (v 11,12). Revelation:13:2And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
See All...,4,8 says that the world will worship both “the beast” (Antichrist) and “the dragon [Satan who] gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.” Thus we could conclude that the lie is Antichrist’s claim that he is God: “He as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God” (2 Thessalonians:2:4Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
See All...). The lie would seem to be the total delusion under Antichrist and the false prophet which would include taking his mark and bowing down to his image. All who do so are damned (Revelation:14:9-11 [9] And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
[10] The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
[11] And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
See All...).