The Deception Was SO GREAT They Believe It To Be True!
2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 says, "And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believeth not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness."
How true indeed. First, time to list out things what truth is not:
1.) Truth is NOT based on whatever works. This is the heresy of pragmatism.
Example: Major cults do operate at large scales and become mega churches but they do not preach the truth. Many of these cults including the Roman Catholic institution try to justify their wrongs by their popularity.
2.) Truth is NOT based on what is coherent and understandable.
Example: There are many conspiracy theorist groups across the web and many of them go against each other. One can always make up stories and post it as they see it. It's painting the world as they see it.
3.) Truth is NOT based on a majority vote.
Example: Most people today still count Christianity to be a lie and ignore the truths that they've seen. However the truth remains the same even if everybody doesn't believe it.
4.) Truth is NOT based on what is comprehensive.
Example: There are several pages on the Internet or even books written to disprove salvation by faith alone in Jesus Christ when a few verses in the Bible are enough to get rid of the lies in the book. There are many books that Catholic faith defenders use that never arrive at a logical conclusion.
5.) Truth is NOT defined by good intentions
Example: Proverbs 14:12 says that there is a way that seems right to anyone but it leads to destruction. A person may pose naked, steal or do anything unethical to support his/her family but it's still downright wrong.
6.) Truth is NOT based on what is believed to be true
Example: A child (or even a deluded adult) can believe Santa Claus to be a real person even when there is no Santa Claus.
7.) Truth is NOT something that has always to be publicly proved
Example: Even if the public didn't know that there's a bomb hidden somewhere, the truth that the bomb is hidden somewhere still prevails and it will explode anytime unless it's dealt with.
8.) Truth is NOT how we know but WHAT we know
Example: Why did Peter deny Jesus even if for a fact he knew Jesus?
So just by these illustrations, one can realize that the truth will remain the same regardless what people say. So how is it true today? Well let's just think about it- these stupid people are SO STUPID that they don't see HOW STUPID they are; they don't even see their mistakes because they think they are smarter than everybody else even when they are not. Proverbs 12:15 speaks true about it.. Here are some situations of how that kind odeception works, how God allowed Satan to blind their minds because they continue to reject His terms and how the absolute truth is distorted and eventually disregarded by godless men:
1.) Many atheists believe that they are the ones who know the truth and that Christians are liars. They think that there is no God even there is a God. They are so deluded to believe that they are way smarter than everybody else. Many of these writers what they believe to be the truth even when it comes from their own imagination... and they KNOW IT!
2.) Roman Catholics especially their faith defenders (or apologists) based on their delusions they are inside the one true Church that Jesus built when they are NOT. They are brainwashed into believing lies like Peter was the first Pope, Mary is the co-savior, that the Bible is not complete, the Inquisition was just a fairy tale and so on. Their standard for the truth is not based on the Bible but by the traditions of men (Mark 7:8-13) which can be illustrated through the Council of Trent. The Roman Catholic institution has undergone so many changes like from treating non-Catholics to heretics to later being separated brethren, the doctrine of Mary could not even be established whether or not she was sinless, the inclusion of the Rosary in the practice of faith, prayers to saints, priestly celibacy- most of these if not ALL of these were decided by majority votes or the incumbent Pope's decision. It's all about show business and poking fun at biblical Christianity.
3.) Some Pentecostal and/or Seventh Day Adventist followers resolve into making up their own stories and conspiracies to the point that people who read them believe them. Some Christians get momentarily deceived into believing some anti-Catholic websites are telling the truth and are Christian websites but they are not. Some of them are not that honest but rather conspiracy theorists made for their own convenience, getting money out of it from gullible followers and some sort of satisfaction out of it. It's all about mixing the truth with the lies that the lies seem to be also part of the truth when they're nothing but half-truths. These groups will usually expose themselves even without being listed. Some of them have gone too far as to disguise as a Baptist pulpit when they are not.
4.) People are so deceived by signs and lying wonders they ignore the fact that surprise, Satan can do miracles too! Many people today rather than read their Bible will just keep relying on signs and wonders and without a standard to measure the truth by, are deceived by lying apparitions. Many Roman Catholics would just believe any apparition that claims to be from God and won't put it to the test. 1 John 4:1 says that every spirit must be tested. The Word of God is the standard. Satan takes advantage of the fact that people would rather trust their religious leaders rather than the Word of God and they love to have it so (Jeremiah 5:31).