Those who have heard the gospel and the truth of God's Word but rejected it will be ready to accept the Antichrist.
Les Feldick, based on 2 Thessalonians 2, teaches that the Antichrist's deception targets those 'who perish' because they 'received not the love of the truth.' These are individuals who had an opportunity to respond to the gospel but chose not to believe it. Consequently, God will send a strong delusion so they will believe the lie.
2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 — Directly identifies those who will be deceived as those who rejected the truth and did not love it.
According to 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12, the coming of the Antichrist is accompanied by 'all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.' The scripture further explains that 'God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.' This indicates that those who are deceived are those who have knowingly rejected the truth of the gospel. The Bible also describes the Antichrist as the 'man of sin' and the 'son of perdition' (2 Thessalonians 2:3), who 'opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God' (2 Thessalonians 2:4). His coming is 'after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders' (2 Thessalonians 2:9). In Revelation 13, the Antichrist, depicted as a beast, is given power and authority, and the world marvels and worships him (Revelation 13:3-4). This shows a global acceptance of his authority.
Les Feldick teaches that those ready to accept the Antichrist are not people who lacked opportunity, but rather those who heard the gospel and consciously rejected it. They loved unrighteousness more than truth. Because they rejected the truth, God will send a strong delusion upon them during the tribulation, causing them to believe the lie of the Antichrist. Les emphasizes that the Antichrist will be a charismatic and powerful figure, performing satanic miracles, and the world will be deceived by him. He will be accepted by the masses, including many in Israel who are looking for a Messiah with military and economic prowess, not realizing they are describing the Antichrist. Les also clarifies that believers will be taken out before the Antichrist's revelation (the Rapture), so they will not see him. The deception targets those who remain and have rejected the truth.
Les Feldick teaches that the Antichrist will come with Satanic power, signs, and lying wonders, and he will be a charismatic figure whom the world will follow. He will be a counterfeit christ, and Satan will work through him. As the tribulation begins, supernatural activity will become commonplace, and those who rejected the truth will be deceived.
Les Feldick emphasizes that those who reject the gospel during the Age of Grace will not have a second chance. They will have heard the truth, considered it, and refused it. Because they did not receive a love of the truth, God will allow them to be deceived by the Antichrist.
Les Feldick notes that many Jewish people are looking for a Messiah who is a powerful, charismatic, and capable leader with military and economic strength. He tells them that they are describing the Antichrist, for they will embrace him when he comes, not realizing he is not the true Messiah. This acceptance will lead to the fulfillment of Israel's covenant promises after the tribulation.
No Second Chance for Those Who Rejected Truth
Les explains that those who had opportunity to be saved but rejected it will not have a second chance; they are the ones who will be deceived by the Antichrist.
The Antichrist's Charismatic Deception
Les describes the Antichrist as a godless, charismatic man who receives power from Satan and will deceive the world with apparent good and answers.
Israel's Acceptance of the Antichrist
Les recounts telling Jewish people that their description of the expected Messiah matches the Antichrist, whom they will embrace.
Daniel's Vision of 4 Beasts & the Antichrist Explained
And remember, before he makes his appearance, we have to go. The Lord's going to be taking us out. We're not going to see him. I don't think we'll even be able to put a thumb on who he is. We may have some ideas. And of course, those have come and gone, so we have to be careful. You don't just glibly say, Well, I think he's going to be the Antichrist. Because we don't know.
Satan's Miracles Deceive the World
Les warns that not every miracle is from God; the Antichrist will perform satanic miracles that will deceive the world's inhabitants into worshiping him.
Jacob's Trouble: Why the Tribulation is for Israel, Not the Church
But then at the midpoint of that tribulation, they will suddenly realize that indeed he is not the Messiah, but in fact he is quite the opposite. I was reading a book the other evening concerning the New Age movement, and you know, it's amazing how gullible people can be. I just can't understand it.
The Antichrist Revealed: What Revelation 13 Really Says
And here we have yet another introduction of the man Antichrist. Now, we talk a lot about the Antichrist, because after all, he is the central figure in these seven years. He is the very emissary of Satan. He is going to finally, at the end of the seven years, actually try to make war against the coming Christ.
The White Horse Rider: Antichrist or Jesus? Revelation 6
So they're going to have a time of rebuttal, but not these two men. The false prophet and the Antichrist, these two humans who are part of this unholy trinity, they're men, and they of course will go to their doom. Now Satan is going to go there as well, but he will join them sometime later.
2 Thessalonians 2:10: And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
This reveals that the deception targets those who perish because they rejected the love of truth.
2 Thessalonians 2:11: And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
God sends a strong delusion upon those who reject the truth, making them believe the Antichrist's lie.
2 Thessalonians 2:12: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
The condemnation is for those who did not believe the truth but took pleasure in sin.
2 Thessalonians 2:9: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
The Antichrist's coming is empowered by Satan, with deceptive miracles.
Les Feldick implies that those ready to accept the Antichrist are those who had the opportunity to hear the gospel and rejected it, not those without opportunity. The deception is directed at those who 'received not the love of the truth' (2 Thessalonians 2:10).
According to Les Feldick, believers taken in the rapture will be gone before the Antichrist is revealed. The Antichrist will come after the church is removed, and the deception targets those left behind.
Watch the Teaching: What Happens to the 144,000 Jews in the Tribulation?