Who is to Blame?

Good morning Pearl,
 As soon as I tell myself I will not pester you, a question arises.  I have been reading "Wolves in Sheep Covering"
(https://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/2013/03/wolves-in-sheeps-clothing.html.)
Within that post, you said, "All those at peace, while following the powerful Wild Beast are in darkness.  They do not know where they are going." (Prov.4:19; John12:35)

Among the scriptures sited, 2Thess. 2:10,11.   :...."they perish because they refuse to love the truth and so be saved.  For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie."  NIV

"God sends upon them, therefore, the full force of evil’s delusion, so that they put their faith in an utter fraud and meet the inevitable judgment of all who have refused to believe the truth and who have made evil their play-fellow."  Phillips

This is a little confusing to me.  God gives warning, but he is also sending (maybe allowing?) delusion?  This sounds like insult to injury.
___________________________________________________________

My Reply:

This is a good question which answer I have often reflected on, but no one asked the question before :)
The answer is important, because in giving it, we support what Christ said we should all be praying for ....(Let your name be held as holy) (Matt.6:9).
We know that God cannot lie (Titus 1:2). We may wonder then, why 2Thess.2:11 reads; "God sends upon them, therefore, the full force of evil’s delusion". Yet verse 9 reads; "9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie,"
So we see the actual source of the deception, is Satan. God is allowing it, and is therefore credited, with "sending it". God is actually sending Satan, by giving him permission to deceive.
Why would God do this?
We see two past scriptures that speak of this, and one in prophecy.
The two from the past, are 1Kings22:21-22 and 2Chron.18:18-22.
There we see God's judgment upon a corrupt leader of Israel.
We see a similar situation in prophecy, at Rev.16:13 and Rev.13:11.
God allows the downfall of corrupt leaders, through Satanic deception.

An examination of 2Thess.2:11 is also important, because it touches the original test in Eden. Why did God allow Adam and Eve to be subjected to Satan's original delusion, which lead them into sin and death?
Who is to blame, when people are deceived, or they make a decision to believe what is not true? Although 2Thess2:11 tells us that God sends the delusion... 1John1:5 and James 1:13 seem to contradict that idea. At 1Kings 22:22 and 2Chron.18:21 we see that God does allow Satan to work through his false and misleading agents (Rev.16:13-15; 13:11). When Gods' justice allows something, He is credited with causing it, because if He did not allow it, it would not happen.
If we are to honor the name of God, we need to know that His judicial decisions are righteous (Rev.15:4; 16:7).

With all the evil deceptions and confusion rife in the time of the end; we need to be able to know the difference between what God directly causes, what He allows, and why he allows it.
We don't want to get God's work mixed up with Satan's work, nor ascribe anything evil to God's name.

Lets first check in on Job 1:11 (Satan speaking to God)....
"But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”

Doesn't it sound like Satan is asking God to do the hurting?
But what was the reality?
The Bible tells, us at Job 1:12:
"And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.”   So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord."

When we compare these two verses, they teaches us a pattern for many scriptures.
They teach us four things...
1. When evil befalls any of us, it is never caused by God. (James1:13)
2. When Satan presents judicial basis to test those who have found favor with God,
    (or, righteous basis to execute the wicked), God allows it.
    (Job 1:12; Luke22:31,32; Matt.5:10; James1:12; 5:11; 1Pet.2:19; 3:14; Matt.4:1;
     John14:30; Rev.6:9; 12:10,11; 2Tim.3:12; Gen.3:4,5)
3. When God allows the faithful to be tested (by Satan), God limits that test
    to what we can endure, as well as the minimum amount of testing necessary
    to satisfy justice, to answer Satan's accusations, and to prove our loyalty.
    (Job 1:12 C; James1:3; 1Cor.10:13; 1:8; Matt.6:13; 2Pet.2:9; Matt.27:46; Heb.4:15)
4. God does not owe the wicked protection from Satan. We all have free will,
    and when God mercifully warns us of danger, His obligation to us is fulfilled.
    (Gen.3:3; Deut.30:15,16,17,18,19; Isa.48:18; Deut.5:29; Rom.8:13; 6:23; 1John2:6)
    Our inner desires and the actions that result then establish who we have chosen to obey and imitate...
    God or Satan (James 1:14). The one whom we choose to imitate, becomes our spiritual father 

    (Eph.5:1; Rom.8:14; John8:44).
    If we choose Satan, we are then under his domination (Isa.42:24; John17:12; 6:70; 1Tim.1:20)
    God respects our choice (good or bad); because to do so, is according to His righteous justice.
    We will "reap" according to our own choice. (Gen.3:17,19; Rev.20:4; Gal.6:7)

God alone is Almighty. Therefore nothing can take place without His allowing it. Satan knows that he needs God's allowance in order to act. Satan also knows that God is faithful to His own justice. Satan must constrain his machinations and goals; within what God's justice allows. Satan must find a judicial basis to act on his desires and purpose. Satan uses God's own righteous standards, to gain the liberty to pressure, tempt, and persecute the faithful, hoping that he can cause his foes to compromise and so, become condemned by God. By tempting the immature, weak, or lukewarm  into divine condemnation, Satan acquires dominion over the one who lost their integrity.
Satan hopes that this latitude to test those being shown favor by God, will allow him to
successfully test the kingdom heirs,
gain their compromise,
and buy his world dominion, more time.

In most scriptural  incidents where God does allow Satan to test those in God's favor, it is depicted as God doing the testing, or even as God destroying the wicked.

    (LINK:/how-does-god-destroy?.html)

This is only because, according to God's righteous justice; God allows it. He justly allows it, because the wicked desires of the unfaithful, choose their own judgment. This is why Jesus said that those who are under Satan's darkness, "do not know where they are going". (John12:35) They have chosen the darkness for a reason (John3:19,20), unaware of what lies ahead.

This pattern found precedent and was clearly demonstrated by the events which took place with Adam, Noah, Lot, Christ, and many other Bible examples.
The day is coming however, where Satan will run dry of accusations toward those who endure faithfully. That is the day he will finally lose all authority and power. (Rev.12:10,11; Prov.27:11; Rom.16:20)

We spoke of the things which Satan knows....
*the lethal condition and consequences of following the crooked path of destruction,
  upon which we were all born. 

        (LINK:what-is-sheole-hades?.html)
*God's justice in allowing Satan to test us.
*God's justice in allowing Satan to dominate and execute the un-faithful who fail.
*Satan's domination means spiritual blindness and death for those who keep him as father.
  (John10:10; 3:18)

We also need to know these things, and keep them in mind! That awareness means our life!
When the Bible describes God as "causing" people to be overcome by deception or death, it is because He is allowing Satan to do this (2Cor.4:4), because those people have chosen to surrender to apathy and ignorance, and unwittingly, it's King and "Angel (messenger) of destruction".

God offers Adam's descendants the path to life. If they do not take it, they will simply remain on the path to death, and remain under Satan's dominion (John3:18). For those who choose to follow in Adam and Eve's footsteps, the same results await....spiritual darkness, and death.

Those who defy their sinful nature to seek favor with God, are the exception (Matt.7:14). It is for the benefit of these ones, that God does act (2Chron.16:9 A,B; Psalm18:25; 115:11; Prov.18:10; 30:5).
I hope you can appreciate how and why this is righteous on God's part...
to allow those of callous heart to reap the consequences of their defect...
and to save those who prove their love for Him.
(1Pet.2:9; Col.1:13; Matt.5:14-15; Rev.1:20; Phil.2:15; Dan.12:3; Rev.22:6,16; John13:20; Matt.10:40-42)

Remember that Satan "demanded" to test all Chosen Ones (Luke22:31,32). Why? Because these are to be heirs of the planet (Ps.37:29; 2:8; Rev.5:10; Gen.12:7; Gal.3:29). Power over that planet is now occupied by Satan (1John5:19; Eph.6:12; Luke 4:5-6). Satan will not be evicted until the last of those heirs prove faithful (Rev.12:10,11; 6:11). So naturally, Satan demands to test them, so that he does not have to surrender ground to any of them, unless their integrity can not be broken.
The case of Job is recorded within the scriptures for the sake of these Chosen Ones, so that they understand their testing, and the consequence of their choice (2Tim.2:12; 3:12; 1Pet.4:12-13; Rom.6:5).

In the time of the end, many, many Chosen ones do fail
(Matt.22:8,14; Matt.7:21; 19:25,26; 24:24,25; 25:1,2,11,12,13,30; 1Tim.4:1; Rev.12:4; 13:7,8). The "Great Tribulation" is able to take down all but a remnant.
(Matt.24:22; Rom.9:27; Isa.10:22; Jer.44:14; Hosea1:10; Joel2:32; Rom.11:5)

    (LINK:/the-greatest-tribulation-why.html)
This not only applied to God's peoples of the past, but also to the time of the end (Dan.12:10; Luke21:36; Rev.6:17; Isa.63:3; Jer.25:29,30; Rev14:19; Jer.13:13; 51:7; Rev.18:4).
    (pearl-winepress.blogspot.com)
God's justice allows this. God knows that the sifting will not permanently harm his faithful anointed sons, just as Jesus proved faithful and was rewarded. (Rom.6:5,8; Luke 22:29; Heb.12:2)

So we ask ourselves....
Is God testing the faithful, or is Satan testing them?
Satan brings the trials to bear (Luke22:31; 2Tim.3:12; John15:18-21; 1John5:19; 1Pet.4:12-13). God, in His wisdom and justice, allows it. He will restore any loss or pain, just as he did for Job. Our suffering is temporary. (Rom.8:18; 2Cor.4:17)
 Remember that 2Thess.2:11 says that "And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie" (Eze.14:9,10). Is God teaching them lies, or is He allowing Satan to do it? Our answer is at 2Thess.2:9 : "The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders".  
Is God unjust in allowing this testing by Satan's lies?
Note 2Thess.2:10,12 : "with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved ...that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

Are these ones trying their best to be faithful? Do they persist in their search for God? (Matt.7:7; Jer.29:13; 2Chron.16:9)
No. They "love the lie" ...they are content/comfortable with darkness and many take prideful pleasure in the unrighteous injustices that follow from believing it. (Rev.22:15; Rom.1:25; Rev.13:8,7,9,10,15,17). Without realizing it, they are satisfied with Satan being their father, not God.
Why should God protect them from Satan's deceptions, when He even allows the loyal ones to be tested by them? For those whose heart really loves the truth; God will show his power and salvation from Satan's hand
(1Pet.2:9; Ps.118:27; Rev.7:9 E; Isa.9:2; Ps.103:4; 40:2,3; John1:5; Acts 26:18; Matt.16:18)
(Matt.13:15).

Just as 2Thess.2:10 indicates,
" and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

...they could have been saved, if only their hearts loved Truth!
Had Adam and Eve loved the truth, and the source of truth, they would never have fallen into the dominion of the king of death (John8:44; Heb.2:14; Rev.9:11; Isa.33:1)

There is much I have not yet written about, when it comes to what God allows to befall both--
 those who prove faithful, and those who don't.
There is also the end of this world (1John2:17; 1Cor.15:24; 1Pet.4:7), and the judgment of all the wicked. Their consequence will be at Satan's hand and power, not God's.
Yet God will, in all righteous justice, allow it.
[Satan is over the Abyss of Death since Eden. He will retain this authority until Jesus uses his key
 over Death and Hades, to free those held captive there. Jesus acquired that authority when he died
 faithfully, thereby conquering Satan's power over death. 
 (Heb.2:14; Rev.9:11,1) (Rev.1:18; 1John3:8)
 (pearl-leviathan.blogspot.com) (pearl-revelation9.blogspot.com)]

In all these things,
the scriptural pattern found in the account of Job, still applies.
Satan owns everyone since Eden. Only those Called to light and it's salvation, (and those who receive these faithful prophets -Matt.10:40,41,42), will be rescued from the consummation of Satan's destructive plan.
Satan has been a murderer from the beginning, and will be to the end (John8:44). Salvation is the exception. All those not saved, will perish....
not by God's hand, but by His righteous permission. Satan will destroy all his own seed/sons, under his mother covenant of death ("Babylon the Great") Rev.17:5 (pearl-thewoman.blogspot.com).
Only those who are taken under the protective tent of the New Covenant of life (Gal.4:26; Rev.22:17), will be shielded from Satan's destructive wrath.

    (https://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/2016/03/two-mothers.html)

God has the right to protect His own tested and proven sons. He also has the right to surrender and abandon all those who reject Him, His love and mercy, and His provisions for eternal life. He owes them nothing. (Matt.24:40; 2Pet.2:3; 2Thess.2:3; Rev.9:11)

When Almighty God's perfect justice allows Satan His permission to destroy Satan's own seed,
the Bible equates this with God's decision. This is accurate. But we need to realize that God gives righteous permission to the lying murderer.
God Himself is not the liar, nor the murderer. (Psalm36:9; John10:10; Matt.6:9)

So when we read, "For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion") (2Thess.2:11)
It is because God alone is the universal Sovereign; and anything which occurs, He must allow.
Even in the case of the righteous man Job, God allowed Job to be tested BY SATAN; and the scriptures recorded it as God Himself, "stretching out His hand" (Job 1:11). 

God's hand is extended in His heavenly court, granting permission to Satan to test our character. 

God "sends", directs, or abandons, those who have strayed from Him, to their chosen god Satan, allowing them to be overcome by the Devil's deceptive power (2Cor.4:4). That "sending" is the result of God abandoning/leaving them. 

Why does He leave them? Because they have left Him and the truth, first (Num.32:15; Deut.30:17,18; 2Chron.7:19,20; 15:2; 1Chron.28:9) to serve the Gentile "Wild Beast" Organization (Rev.13:15,12,7,8), the "Man of Lawlessness", who is the god enforcing the deception mentioned in your cited scripture (2Thess.2:10,11) (2Thess.2:9,3,4). 

That identity (Wild Beast-Man of Lawlessness-"Gentile" Organization) is not anointed, but has raised itself up above the anointed (2Thess.2:4; Rev.13:7). 

Many who awaken to the evil of the organization, then choose to reject God, truth, and scripture... all because of ascribing to God, the Devil's work. They are no better off than those who remain with Satan's messengers of falsehood.
("Who is the Man of Lawlessness?")
(pearl-disgustingthing.blogspot.com)
(https://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/2013/01/what-is-jew-what-is-gentile-answers-to.html)

I hope this satisfies what you were seeking.
If not, please let me know, and thanks for the good question.
Love,
Pearl.

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