Cry Out: "Your Refuge Is Made of Lies"

"This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Clap your hands in horror, and stamp your feet. Cry out because of all the detestable sins the people of Israel have committed" (Ezek. 6:11, NLT).

Israel is led by drunks who reel with wine and stagger with alcohol. The priests and prophets stagger with alcohol and lose themselves in wine. They reel when they see visions and stagger as they render decisions. Their tables are covered with vomit; filth is everywhere.

“Who does the LORD think we are?” they ask. “Why does he speak to us like this? Are we little children, just recently weaned? He tells us everything over and over—one line at a time, one line at a time, a little here, and a little there!"...

God has told his people, “Here is a place of rest; let the weary rest here. This is a place of quiet rest.” But they would not listen.

So the LORD will spell out his message for them again, one line at a time, one line at a time, a little here, and a little there, so that they will stumble and fall. They will be injured, trapped, and captured. Therefore, listen to this message from the LORD, you scoffing rulers in Jerusalem.

You boast, “We have struck a bargain to cheat death and have made a deal to dodge the grave. The coming destruction can never touch us, for we have built a strong refuge made of lies and deception.”

Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: “Look!...Since your refuge is made of lies, a hailstorm will knock it down. Since it is made of deception, a flood will sweep it away. I will cancel the bargain you made to cheat death, and I will overturn your deal to dodge the grave" (Isa. 28:7 – 10, 12 – 18, NLT).

Now, dear brothers and sisters, let us clarify some things about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered to meet him.... That day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed—the one who brings destruction.... He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them.

So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies (2 Thes. 2:1, 3, 10 – 11, NLT).