“See to it that no one misleads you. Many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He!’ and will mislead many. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened; those things must take place; but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs” Mark 13:5-8

Deception, global conflict, aggression, earthquakes, and famine. Such is the course of this age; things which increase in intensity and frequency as with labor pains.

Some forty years after Jesus spoke these words, occupants of Jerusalem and Israel would experience the horrors of war and accompanying famine as Roman armies laid siege to the city. From their perspective, it seemed as if the end of the age had come but, possibly for this reason, Jesus qualified such event as “the beginning of birth pangs.” Rather than signifying the end, these events would characterize the age stretching now over two thousand years.

Deception warning bookends these events. Jesus began with the solemn warning, “See to it that no one misleads you.” He stated that deception would precede His Second Coming: “for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect” Mark 13:22.

His twice mention of deception should concern us more than a focus on frequency of earthquakes and the latest conflicts. The “signs of the times” are a mute point if we have been led astray from truth and faith.

Playing “loose with the truth” is ever a concern. Those who have long been taught biblical truth, but who flirt with popular teachings and trends, are especially in grave danger. James 4:17 applies: "to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.” Enlightenment carries a certain responsibility along with privilege.

In harmony with Jesus’ warning about deception is the description of the ultimate deceiver to come, as mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10: “the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.”

If a knowledge of future events tells us anything, it is that we must take every measure to “deceit-proof” our lives. What good is it if we know prophetic details but have had our salvation ship wrecked through deception?

Be sure to also see Amazon ebook & print devotional and podcast: New Day Dawning.