Biblical Q&A: When does God begin judging those who reject Him?
2 Thessalonians 2:11: “...God sends upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false.”
The Dangerous Delusion of Delay
We so quickly push God into the future. ‘God can wait,’ we tell ourselves, ‘there’s plenty of time.’
But treating divine reconciliation like the proverbial ‘kick the can down the road’ may be the greatest deception ever.
Satan’s Role in Spiritual Blindness
God’s judgment isn’t just for the afterlife; He allows Satan to influence those who reject Him even today.
One of the more interesting verses that confirm this is 2 Corinthians 4:4, which warns, “…the god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
Why is that?
Could it be the same reason political parties censor, obfuscate, and promote propaganda? How else would evil retain its power and influence when everything is a lie? Unfortunately, the truth could lead to a different outcome.
Is this not part of God’s judgment?
God’s Response to Unbelief
While Satan blinds, God’s judgment isn’t waiting - it’s already at work in those who reject Him.
Romans 1:24-28 describes a passive influence whereby God “gives them up” or “hands them over” to their sinful desires - essentially stepping back and allowing natural consequences to unfold by removing His protective and restraining influence.
1:24-28 announces, “…God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator…”
2 Thessalonians 2:11 confirms an active response whereby “…God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false…” This is God’s “judicial” or “punitive” judgment against sinful man, which occurs during the Tribulation period.
Both situations confirm God’s vengeance against non-believers who are still alive.
Understanding Divine Judgment
Why would God do this?
God permits a passive giving them over (Romans 1:18-28) and an active delusion (2 Thessalonians 2:11) as judgment to those who persistently reject the truth and continuously deny God despite clear revelation.
This isn’t God arbitrarily deceiving people who seek the truth, but His righteous response to those who have already decisively rejected it. This judgment comes after repeated rejection of “the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
The Pattern of Persistent Rebellion
But man is not without responsibility for God’s judgment.
Revelation 9:20-21 demonstrates this intransigence:
“The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.”
Revelation 16:9,11 shows this pattern continuing even amid horrendous judgments:
“They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give Him glory... and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds.”
Apparently, ‘Derangement Syndromes’ run deeper than politics; it reveals something fundamental about man’s sinful nature and capacity for blind opposition.
PS…If you enjoy “The Inevitable Truth,” will you take 6 seconds to refer this edition to a friend? It will go a long way toward helping me grow this newsletter (and share more Biblical truths).
Also, if you value this content, please consider subscribing and supporting it. This will allow me to continue offering the highest-quality posts each week.
Finally, I’d love your input on how I could make “The Inevitable Truth” even more useful to you! Please leave a comment with the following:
Ideas and questions you’d like covered in future editions
Your biggest takeaway from this edition
I read every single one of them!
Thank you!
Thad Brown