The deceptions of this world are ultimately the products of the Deceiver trying to taint the creation of the Creator. When one is deceived, they are intentionally misled by someone that has their own intentions in mind. As mentioned before, the Deceiver desires to deceive the entire world so that the creation of God could be also brought into eternal punishment with him. Misery loves company, and long story short, he is going to be very miserable. But even knowing this, some are still brought to their knees by the deceptions that are allowed to befall them. In order to fight against the evil rulers and spiritual wickedness, we must arm ourselves with the Word of God, not only to fight the devil, but to be versed on how to stay away from him and to recognize him when we see him.
Jesus himself even warns us to not be deceived. He has given us the greatest example of all time how to fight against the evil ruler and also how to fight the temptation that he provides to us. The Deceiver has had thousands of years to study humanity, to know what to do and what to say to convince us to do things for our own pleasure and satisfaction. In the later book of 1 John (4:4-6), it's author piggybacks off of what Jesus Christ says and adds that we are Gods and have overcome these evil people in the world, because we have Jesus Christ in us, and with Jesus Christ we are greater than those that are in the world.
Even in the case of religion the Deceiver has set up people in high places to look sound and appear to be prophets from the Lord. But their words will have no meaning. Their words will have no truth;therefore, they will be deceivers. We were also warned by the Lord to watch out for those with “empty words.” (Ephesians 5:6). In 2 Corinthians 11:3, it says But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your mind should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. This speaks to the craftiness of the devil and whereas he has to use subtlety and secret influence, Christ used simplicity that you can take at face value. And also regarding the serpent and deceiving Eve, once again this brings us to the aforementioned word in Ephesians that empty words, if they sound good, might affect anyone with any level of a relationship with God.
So how do we combat this deception? The Deceiver is a very powerful and cunning adversary. But he is not the Creator or the Savior of humanity;therefore, he is not all-powerful, and he is not the most powerful Source. Instead, he was created and he also has a weakness. In order to fight the deception, we must realize what the truth is and not just accept what we hear to be the silent truth. We must do our research, test and try what people are trying to influence us with. As with all things, in Christianity we must put God first and use the presence of God and his purpose against anything that we come against that may be deception.
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (1 John 4:1-3 KJV)
