Delusion, Deception, and the Price of Ignorance

The Book of Revelation presents the unrepentant world’s reaction to the two witnesses’ death not merely as an act of rejection, but as a chilling confirmation of successful spiritual deception. The intense celebration described in Revelation 11:10—where the inhabitants of the earth "shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another"—provides factual proof that common social order and commerce were not entirely destroyed by the catastrophic trumpet judgments. This ability to celebrate and exchange gifts confirms that society retained enough structure and resourcefulness to engage in common vice and pleasure, even after the death of one-third of mankind. This structural persistence sets the stage for the final, ultimate deception.

The Triumph of the Counterfeit Narrative

The global celebration over the death of the witnesses is rooted in profound spiritual delusion. The delusional populace attributes the cause of their suffering—the divine judgments of the earlier trumpets and the torment of the locusts—to the prophets themselves, believing the messengers were the source of the misery. This error confirms the successful orchestration of a supernatural narrative by the adversary, who uses the very fear and pain of the judgments to create a narrative that demonizes God's agents. This mass psychological error justifies the celebration and ensures the world is prepared to readily accept the Beast, the figure who is factually responsible for conquering and killing the witnesses (Revelation 11:7). Furthermore, the persistence of sins like idolatry (worship of idols of gold and silver), fornication, murders, and thefts (Revelation 9:20-21) provides factual proof that the surviving populace retained sufficient spiritual ignorance and hard-heartedness to be sold this lie.

The Normalization of Supernatural Deception

This widespread spiritual delusion is aided by the normalization of the supernatural, as foretold by Jesus in the Olivet Discourse. The text of Matthew 24 establishes that deception during this period is saturated and widespread: "there shall arise many false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect" (Matthew 24:24). The deception is not limited to one central figure but is executed by a diverse, multiple array of agents performing genuine supernatural acts (signs and wonders). This proliferation of miracles, coupled with the unique judgments (locusts, fire-breathing horses), creates an environment where the spiritual realm is constantly and visibly interfering with the physical world. This normalization prepares humanity to accept the demands of the Beast and the False Prophet, whose authority is built entirely upon verifiable public spectacle.

The Danger of Scriptural Unfamiliarity

The susceptibility of the populace to this deception is heightened by spiritual ignorance. The factual failure of survivors to repent, despite witnessing the direct evidence of divine power, is facilitated by their lack of genuine scriptural knowledge. This is compounded by the prophetic consequence of relying on popular but unverified interpretations. For those professing faith, reliance on arbitrary, external inferences—such as the idea of a fixed seven-year Tribulation—allows them to focus on a false, unscriptural chronology rather than the clear covenant demands of the text. When the genuine scriptural test of allegiance arrives (the Mark of the Beast), those relying on external, popular inferences are poorly equipped to discern the truth, as their faith is grounded in an external timeline rather than the internal covenant demands. The populace is condemned because their lack of scriptural knowledge enables them to be convinced by the enemy's narrative.

Final Admonishment: The Cost of Disobedience

The prophetic warnings in Revelation and the counsel of Christ in the Gospels converge on a single, inescapable point: mere profession of faith is insufficient for endurance. The great failure is not a lack of supernatural power, but a failure of obedient allegiance to the written word or even shallow familiarity of it. To those who claim allegiance to Jesus Christ but neglect the effort required to read, consume, and master the book containing His words, understand that you are self-imposing the very conditions for deception. You equip yourselves poorly for the precise spiritual tests foretold in the Apocalypse. Your claim of Lordship is undermined by your neglect of His commands. Remember the Lord's own stern question, which stands as a condemnation against all who offer empty praise: “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). The ultimate preparedness for the judgments of the end time is not speculative chronology, but a life defined by the active, committed obedience found only in His word.