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***WHEN DECEPTION COSTS THE WORLD ITS LIBERTY** And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth…” — Revelation 13:14 The coming world system will not be established by **power alone**. It will also advance through **deception**. Revelation describes a time when the world will accept a system that promises answers, demands allegiance, controls economic participation, and ultimately brings mankind into terrible bondage. “And all the world wondered after the beast.” — Revelation 13:3Notice those words: “all the world.” The world will not merely be conquered. Much of it will **wonder after** the very system that eventually enslaves it.That is the danger of deception. DECEPTION MAKES BONDAGE LOOK LIKE DELIVERANCE.People rarely surrender liberty because someone announces: **“Give me control over your life.”**Control is much easier to accept when it arrives promising **security, peace, prosperity, equality, safety, or solutions to problems people fear they cannot solve themselves.**The Bible warns: “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them…” — 1 Thessalonians 5:3 The promise sounds wonderful. The consequences are devastating. THE COMING SYSTEM WILL DEMAND MORE THAN COOPERATION.Revelation 13 tells us where this ultimately leads. “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond…” — Revelation 13:16 Then comes economic control: “And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark…” — Revelation 13:17 KJV Think about that. The Bible foretells a system in which participation in ordinary economic life becomes dependent upon submission to the authority of the beast. **BUYING. SELLING. WORSHIP. ALLEGIANCE.** What begins with a deceived world ultimately becomes a controlled world. And what promises unity eventually demands **submission**. LIBERTY CAN BE SURRENDERED BEFORE PEOPLE REALIZE WHAT THEY HAVE LOST.That is why Christians should never become careless about truth. Jesus warned: “Take heed that no man deceive you.” — Matthew 24:4Before Revelation speaks extensively about persecution, control, and judgment, Christ warns about **deception**.Why?Because deception prepares people to accept what they would otherwise reject.A lie believed can eventually become a chain willingly worn. BUT THE CHRISTIAN MUST NEVER TRADE TRUTH FOR THE WORLD'S PROMISES.Our hope is not ultimately in capitalism, socialism, communism, democracy, governments, political parties, or international organizations. Our hope is **Jesus Christ**. Every kingdom of man will eventually fall. But Christ's Kingdom will not. “And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High…” — Daniel 7:27 The world is moving toward its final rebellion against God. So don't be deceived simply because something is called **progress**. Don't assume something is good merely because it promises **peace**. Don't surrender truth simply because everyone else has accepted the lie. And never exchange the liberty found in truth for the temporary promises of a world system that rejects God. Jesus said: “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” — John 8:32 KJV** DECEPTION PRODUCES BONDAGE. TRUTH PRODUCES LIBERTY.**The world will someday discover that what it embraced as its solution became its master. DON'T WAIT UNTIL THE CHAINS ARE VISIBLE TO RECOGNIZE THE DECEPTION.