Miracle Deceptions
Don't Be Deceived ...
“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”
— Matthew 24:24
When Supernatural Signs Are Used to Deceive
Jesus repeatedly warned His followers about deception.
He did not say that deception would always be obvious.
In fact, He warned that the deception would be so convincing that, if it were possible, even God's elect would be deceived.
The danger is not simply believing something that is false.
The greater danger is believing something because it appears to be supernatural, powerful, miraculous, or spiritual—without first testing it by the Word of God.
The Bible gives us a clear warning:
“Believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God.”
1John 4:1
TEST EVERYTHING BY THE WORD OF GOD
“To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” -Isaiah 8:20
Satan Can Perform Miracles!
1 If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
2 And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;
3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
4 Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.
Deuteronomy 13:1-4
A MIRACLE CAN BE REAL — AND THE MESSAGE CAN STILL BE FALSE.
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.
2 Thessalonians 2:9,10
13. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
14.And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
Revelation 13:13,14