A Moment in Time is really the prequel to Angel of Light, the second book in the Strong Delusion Trilogy. If you are familiar with what the Bible has to say about Jesus’ Second Coming, then you will know that the phrase “strong delusion” is taken from 2 Thessalonians 2:11:
And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
Second Thessalonians chapter eleven deals with the details of Christ’s return and the appearance of Antichrist. Many of the Thessalonians feared that Christ had already returned. Paul writes to assure them that Jesus had not returned and gives great insight into the scenario of our Lord’s return, which still calms our hearts today and keeps us looking up! So, what does Paul tell them?
He tells them:
- To be careful of deception (v. 3)
- That there will be a falling away from the truth before Jesus returns. (v.3)
- That the Holy Spirit will be “taken out of the way.” (v.7)
- Antichrist will be revealed. (v.8)
- He will be powered by Satan (v.9)
- He will perform signs and wonders. (v.9)
- The unsaved will be completely deceived (v.10)
Paul then mentions that God will send them–the unsaved–strong delusion, “that they should believe a lie.” So all this takes place after Antichrist is revealed. The final result concerning those “who believed not the truth” is stated in verse twelve:
That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Who is Paul talking about? He tells us: the people that didn’t believe the truth. In order to not believe, they had to have heard the truth of the Gospel but rejected it. Paul even gives us the reasons that they rejected the truth: unrighteous or sinful pleasures.
Ever since I read the Left Behind series by Time LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, I have been burdened about the authors’ interpretation of these verses. In their books, they clearly put forth the idea that people who heard the Gospel before the Rapture, but did not truly receive Christ, would have an opportunity to do so after the Rapture. Many believe this doctrine. But what if these verses say what it sounds like they say? What if someone who is playing games, sitting in a church hanging onto a “profession” that they know was not genuine, lives at the time of the Rapture? What if a prayer was said that never changed the heart? What if the decision was made for a logical reason–not wanting to go to hell–but the truth never reached the heart to change the life?
We cannot see into someone’s heart. My husband often says that there are only two people that truly know if a person is saved: that person and God. It reminds me of Mary and the cloud of doubt that surrounded Jesus’ birth. How many people truly believed that her conception was by the Holy Ghost? Surely even Joseph may have doubted, but Mary KNEW, and so did God!
A Moment in Time is based upon the conclusion that someone who heard the Gospel but did not truly receive Christ will be terribly deceived when the Holy Spirit is taken from the earth at the time of the Rapture. In His place, the spirit of Antichrist will pervade the earth; so much so, that those who rejected Christ will not be saved.
Are you concerned about someone whose profession does not seem genuine? Perhaps A Moment in Time could be a help to bring the truth to light. Throughout the book, Carrie Spangler, the pastor’s daughter, convinces herself that she truly is saved. At first, she KNOWS that she didn’t mean what she prayed. The circumstances surrounding her conversion were completely man-led not Spirit-led. But as time passes, the lie solidifies in her mind. Her life is a lie because of the “pleasures of unrighteousness” that have taken hold of her life.
Is Carrie a bad girl? Not really. She reminds me of so many of our young people in our churches today!
My prayer is that God will use A Moment in Time to open the eyes of anyone who is deceived, before it is too late! Take a look at the book and tell me what you think!
Beyond Common Sense 