Could the whole world be religiously deceived? Could it be possible that the majority of people today are blind to the truth of God? Could it really be possible that the “enlightened” and brilliant minds of today’s world are groping in the darkness of ignorance, deception, and trickery?

Some estimate that there are more than 4,000 religions in the world. Some of the biggest religions include Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Neopaganism, and Wicca. To make things even complicated, religion can be very difficult to define. Religion can be considered as a cultural system, belief, world view, moral value, and spirituality. The belief of many people has become too subjective to the point that truth has become relative and not absolute.

When we look into Christianity, the condition has become even worse. According to some estimates, there are about 30,000 to 40,000 Christian sects today! This number can be refuted depending upon which source you are using. However, the point is very CLEAR. Even Christians are confused about what they should believe!

Because of the massive confusion in the world of religion, many people are turned off and decided to be agnostics or atheists.

With all these being said, we should ask a question. Could all of these world’s religions, with all their conflicting views, be correct? How about in Christianity? Could it also be possible that 30,000 of Christian sects be right at the same time with their differing and contradicting doctrines, ideas, and beliefs?

Why so much confusion?

Satan is a master deceiver. He uses his almost-perfect strategies and fuse it with our human nature to cause confusion. Jeremiah 10:23 tells us that “the heart is deceitful above all things” (Jeremiah 17:9). With our tendency to be deceived and hostile toward God (Romans 8:7), Satan is so cunning to use our weaknesses and turn it into his strength.

In a world battered with so much suffering, he is successful in swaying human beings to blame God. Instead of blaming him, he has convinced a big number of people that he does not exist. As a matter of statistics, according to a Barna survey in 2009, only 35 percent of Christians believe that Satan exists!

The Bible reveals that God is not the author of confusion (I Corinthians 14:33). Surely, the blame should be pointed to Satan, himself and not God. Jesus has this to say about Satan:

John 8:44: You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the FATHER OF LIES.

Satan has been regarded as an accuser of the brethren who accuse them day and night before our God (Revelation 12:10). To make things worse, this kind of thinking has been broadcasted throughout the world. Satan is now considered to be the “the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2). People are not aware that they are being deceived by the devil through what we hear and see around us.

Is the whole world deceived?

With the number of religions in the world, the answer should be obvious. The whole world is deceived! Though it might be difficult to believe, this is the plain truth spoken of from the Bible. We might think, how can the brightest and most brilliant minds of today’s world could be deceived? Yet, this has happened and has been happening ever since from the first lie was told to the first human beings (Genesis 3).

The Bible clearly and plainly tells us:

Revelation 12:9: “So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, WHO DECEIVES THE WHOLE WORLD; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”

Satan did not just deceive hundreds, or thousands, or millions. He has deceived BILLIONS of people! He has deceived the ENTIRE world! Could you believe that? Could the majority of Christians today is deceived? Well, the Bible said the WHOLE world! So this does not just include other religions, but also the world of Christianity! The Apostle John added:

I John 5:19: “We know that we are from God, and THE WHOLE WORLD LIES IN THE POWER OF THE EVIL ONE.”

No wonder that we see so much confusion in the world today. To make things worse, the Bible reveals that the actual and real god of this world is no other than Satan himself!

I Corinthians 4:3-4: “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the GOD OF THIS WORLD [or age] has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.”

The antidote to deception

It is said that religious deception has been so widespread that it is part of the signs of the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ. When asked by His apostles about when He will return, Jesus answered:

Matthew 24:4-5: “And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and WILL DECEIVE MANY.”

This prophecy is being fulfilled before our very eyes. This is the main reason that Jesus issued a warning:

Matthew 24:24: “For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” 

The people of God is not immune to deception! Though we might have already found the truth of God, there is still a possibility that we can be deceived. The Apostle Paul tells us that “let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12).

We must take heed these warnings! This is not a laughing matter. The greatest problem with deception is that the deceived person don’t know that he or she is already deceived! There is a great danger for people to be so convinced that they don’t see anymore the light of the Gospel. Though the majority of the Christianity today are really sincere, but sad to say, they are sincerely wrong.

So what’s the antidote?

II Thessalonians 2:10: “And with all delusion of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”

This passage reveals that we need to LOVE THE TRUTH! But what is the truth? The word of God is the truth (John 17:17). The TRUTH OF GOD is found in the Bible. If there is only one ultimately source of all ABSOLUTE TRUTHS, it would be the Bible, the very mind and word of God! And what will happen to us when we know the truth? The truth will set us FREE (John 8:32)! Free from deception. Free from all the lies that Satan has broadcasted throughout the world. And Free from the control of Satan, the great deceiver!

The Bible revealed that there will come a time when the whole world would be free from Satan’s deception.

Habakkuk 2:14: “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.”

Thankfully, God will ultimately step into the affairs of man and destroy the “the surface of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations” (Isaiah 25:7).

Though the whole world is deceived, we can have the confidence that God is still in control. He will not forsake mankind and His creation. He will eventually get rid of Satan and give everyone a chance to know all truths revealed in the Bible.