December 3, 2025

| http://www.endtimeswatch.blog | River Wilde

Like many of you, I am realizing that many things in my life have been nothing more than a deception from the truth. But WHY? What is the point of people taking time, and sparing no expense to deceive us.

There might be many different motivations of deception that lie outside of this article, but today, I would like to focus on the one that should mean the very most to us.

Satan’s Focus on Deceiving Humankind

Humans are created to reflect God’s image and to choose between good and evil. Deception aims to undermine that choice, corrupt understanding, and lead people away from truth, goodness, and obedience. By distorting perceptions of sin, justice, and mercy, deception sows doubt and fear, weakening faith and solidarity within communities.

The motive often imagined is to sever the relationship between humans and their Creator, exploit weakness, and gain influence over human actions, choices, and destinies. Understanding this motivation places things into perspective, and also give us insight into flushing out some of these deceptions that surround us.

Let’s start with some simple deceptions that satan has managed to create, changing our relationship with God.

Changing the Sabath Day

Exodus 20:10 states, “But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates”

Genesis 2:2-3 also supports this, saying God “ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made,” and sanctified the seventh day as holy. These scriptures affirm that the Sabbath is the seventh day, which corresponds to Saturday, not Sunday.

Satan’s attack on the Sabbath centers on turning hearts from the clear command that “the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God,” a day blessed and set apart by God from Creation itself as holy rest on the seventh day, not the first.

By inspiring a gradual shift of common worship to the first day of the week, he works to obscure the memorial of God as Creator and Lawgiver, even though Scripture shows no change of the Sabbath command and repeatedly warns that in the last days Satan will use subtle deceptions, signs, and lying wonders to lead astray, if possible, even the very elect.

Thus, when tradition and human authority elevate Sunday above the seventh-day Sabbath, it fits the pattern of satanic strategy: to make void the law of God in practice while professing loyalty in words, drawing many away from the sign that God Himself appointed as a perpetual covenant between Him and His people.

The Celebration of Christ’s Birth

Satan has cunningly supplanted the true remembrance of Christ’s birth—unrecorded in date by Scripture—with the pagan figure of Santa Claus, whose image merges the Norse god Odin (a winter gift-bringer on a flying steed) and the Catholic St. Nicholas (transformed into a jolly elf by commercial interests like Coca-Cola in the 1930s), diverting focus from the Messiah’s humble advent to materialism and idolatry.

This deception roots in ancient Babylonian rebirth cults of Nimrod as Tammuz, celebrated with evergreens and solstice rites condemned in Jeremiah 10:2-4 KJV (“Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen… For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest… They deck it with silver and with gold”), practices echoed in Christmas trees and festivities that early Christians rejected until the fourth century.

By promoting December 25—a date tied to Roman Saturnalia orgies and Mithraic sun worship, not biblical evidence—Satan fosters lying wonders and traditions that obscure Christ’s actual birth around 6-2 BC during Herod’s reign (Matthew 2:1 KJV), drawing hearts to demonic proxies rather than the Savior.

Religious Deception

Jude 1:4 (KJV) warns, “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into *lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ,” describing infiltrators who pervert God’s unmerited favor into a license for unrestrained immorality and self-indulgence rather than holy living.

*Lasciviousness in the King James Version translates the Greek word aselgeia (ἀσέλγεια), meaning unbridled lust, licentiousness, wantonness, or outrageous shamelessness in sensual excesses. Biblically, it describes unrestrained indulgence in fleshly desires—such as lewdness, debauchery, or sexual immorality without shame—that defiles from within.

Today, many churches echo this deception by preaching a diluted “grace” that excuses sin—such as affirming lifestyles of fornication, greed, or idolatry—while demanding tithes, offerings, and prosperity seed-faith donations to fund lavish lifestyles, private jets, and megachurch empires, twisting Christ’s command to give freely to the poor (Acts 20:35 KJV) into a pay-to-play system. This mirrors the antinomian error condemned in Romans 6:1-2 (KJV), where grace becomes a cover for lasciviousness to extract money, denying Jesus as true Master by prioritizing profit over repentance and obedience.

Is this your church? Do they demand a “Pay-to-play” system to enter a church or temple? Have their leaders, pastors, preists been accused of sexual abuse, using their position of power to dominate others into submission? And, what about “Freely Giving to the Poor?” Is this their intent, to follow God’s command, or do they choose to “HORD” billions of dollars to promote and build their mortal kingdom rather than the kingdom of God?

Now, the One that is TRULY Satan’s Greatest Deception – Confusing the Atonement of Jesus Christ

Without doubt, one of the most sacred events in history that has taken place upon this earth is the atonement of Jesus Christ. Satan did all that he could possibly do to prevent this from happening, and when he was unsuccessful, his mission then was to minimize the grand accomplishment of Jesus Christ.

Satan perverts the perfect atonement of Jesus Christ—which is declared complete in Hebrews 10:14 (KJV)—by inspiring false teachers to add man’s works as essential for salvation, nullifying grace as in Galatians 5:4 (KJV).

To put this in simple terms, Some Christian churches teach that the atonement is not enough…not complete, until you do as much as you can do through your works FIRST…then the atonement becomes effective. This sacrifice is just as much your contributions as it is with the Saviors.

For a moment, I would like for you to consider this personally, and see things “through the eyes of Christ.”

The atonement required EVERYTHING that Christ had. He felt the sins of all mankind, suffering to the point where He sweat blood from his pours. He was humiliated by having a crown of thorns placed upon His head. Whipped with a strap, again suffering physical pain, and finally hung on a cross to die. Spit on and ridiculed, and having a sword thrust into His side. He gave it ALL so that He could fulfill His calling of the atonement.

How difficult was this for Him to Accomplish? Let’s learn:

Matthew 26:39: “And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” This moment in the Garden of Gethsemane reveals Christ’s human desire to avoid the immense suffering ahead, yet shows His perfect submission to the Father’s will, accepting the cross as necessary for the redemption of mankind. It captures the tension between Jesus’ humanity and divinity, His willingness to fulfill the divine plan even though it meant great personal anguish.​

And Finally, Understanding His Words: “It Is FINISHED!”

John 19:30: “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”

Jesus had gone through this entire experience that pushed Him to the very MAX of His abilities, then, declaring that the atonement of Jesus Christ is FINISHED! Yet now your church is teaching that it is NOT FINISHED…NOR IS IT SUFFICIENT. The atonement requires something further…YOUR WORKS. Can you see how hurtful this must be for the Savior to hear? Can you see how BLASHPHEMOUS this thinking actually is? It has NOTHING to do with our sacrifices, only His.

Saved by Grace NOT Your Works

Ephesians 2:8-9 states, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast”.

Titus 3:5 affirms, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost”.​

Romans 11:6 declares, “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. Where is boasting then? It is excluded”.

2 Timothy 1:9 explains, “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began”.​

Romans 3:28 adds, “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law,” emphasizing grace over human effort.

These passages collectively teach that salvation rests solely on God’s grace through faith in Christ, excluding any merit from works.

The atonement of Jesus Christ is enough. It is COMPLETE. Do not let satan take away this divine credit that simply belongs to the SAVIOR…He does not need our works in order to make the atonement work.

So, Where Do Works Come into Play in the Big Spiritual Picture?

Understanding the TRUTH is the best defense against deception. When you think about it, knowing what is false serves no purpose unless you study and know what is TRUTH. So, let’s learn the truth about our works, certainly God wants us to live a good life and do good things for others, right? RIGHT!!

Good Works are the FRUIT of accepting Christ into your life, rather than the ROOT of salvation. When we have been Born Again as taught in the Bible, we desire to do righteous things, and have a decreased desire to sin.

Now, keep your mind open to the truth, for here comes a NEW Bible Gospel Principle for you that I believe satan has successfully hidden from most of us.

The Judgment Seat of Christ, referenced in the King James Version, describes a future event where believers will stand before Jesus to give account for their deeds done in the body, receiving rewards or suffering loss based on faithfulness, not for salvation which is already secured by grace.

For those “Born Again” who have accepted Jesus into their lives they will be judged for their works… The GOOD Things which they have done! (We are not judged for our sins, as they have all been removed through the atonement of Jesus Christ). This is done through what is called in the bible as the “Judgment Seat of Christ.”

2 Corinthians 5:10 (KJV) declares, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad…” (Bad does not indicate sin here, and could be considered as NOT doing good things for your neighbor).

So, what happens at this judgment? Are we judged for our sins? Are their rewards given for Good Works?

Again, common sense here. For those who have accepted Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice, who have repented of their sins, there are NO SINS to be judged on, for they have all been forgiven. ALL of them, even the ones that we might have forgot about due to our mortal ability to remember.

It is here that we will not be judged based upon sin, but rather our works. The scriptures teach that during the Judgment seat of Christ; CROWNS will be given for righteous works:

Crowns Awarded

Five main crowns are given to faithful believers at this judgment:

Incorruptible Crown (1 Corinthians 9:24–25): For disciplined Christian living, like athletes striving for an eternal prize.​

Crown of Rejoicing (1 Thessalonians 2:19): For soul-winning and leading others to Christ.​

Crown of Righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8): For those who love Christ’s appearing and live righteously.​

Crown of Glory (1 Peter 5:4): For faithful shepherds and leaders serving God’s people.​

Crown of Life (James 1:12; Revelation 2:10): For enduring trials, temptation, and persecution faithfully.​

And now, the best of all news!

Weve also learned that these same people will be taken in the rapture, (please consider my other writings regarding the Rapture for more details). The rapture happens, immediately followed by the Judgment seat of Christ.

There is a very telling scripture relating to this rapture:

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (KJV): “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord”

From the moment that we are caught up in the clouds to be with Christ, We will FOREVER BE WITH HIM! Always, no breaks, no time away from Him…but ALWAYS.

So, why is this important? Because Jesus Christ will be in Heaven after the Judgment Seat of Christ takes place, and if He is there, so will all of those who have been promised to always be with Him, as this scripture indicates. There is NO Suspense as to where these people will end up after the judgment, for we have already been told.

So, what about the people who have not accepted the atonement of Jesus Christ, what happens to them?

These people will be judged at the end of the 1,000 year millennial period in what is called the Great White Thorne Judgment, as written about here:

20:11-15 (KJV):

“And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”.

This makes perfect logical sense to me. If a person accepts the atonement and repents for their sins, they are all washed clean, and will go to Heaven. Those who do not accept the atonement into their lives are responsible for ALL OF THEIR SINS, and will be judged accordingly. They will all be sent to the Lake of Fire, to live with satan for eternity.

The TRUTH makes the gospel of Jesus Christ simple to follow. It allows for you and me to know where our heavenly home will be…RIGHT NOW… and not have to wait for God’s Judgment, for we know the outcome of BOTH judgments. It is all about being Born Again, having the power of Jesus Christ change our lives.

There is so much peace and comfort in knowing the TRUTH, rather than to be caught up in the DECEPTION of a false gospel.

Matthew 11: 28-30

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

I invite you to add God to your team as you look for the deception that satan has created for all of us. He will help you not only see this, but will lead you to the truth as was taught in the Bible.

A word of caution. If you do not believe in satan’s spiritual deception in your own life, you are in serious trouble when he ramps things up in the deception of the 7-year Tribulation period. He will certainly be more convincing then. I invite you to shake out the deceptions in your own life right NOW, and ask God for continued clarity in decerning the truth, for He indeed has more power than the losing team of satan.

Discover more from "End Times Watch"