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Criss Angel - Mind Deception


There is this incredibly annoying commercial that appears frequently on TV advertising a reality show by illusionist Criss Angel. It shows this young man predictably dressed in gothic black performing all kind of "apparent miracles" while an incredulous public looks on in amazement and wonderment. One of the scenes shows the dark Mr. Angel (pun intended) walking on water. As I watched the commercial recently, the below passage of scripture came to my mind which I think fittingly captures the lure and presumed success of Mr. Angel's presentations:

Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for (that day will not come) until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God; For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4; 7-12 NIV)**
Mr. Angel is simply the latest in a long line of "illusionists" who wow the masses with their feats of miracles, signs and wonders. However, befitting the modern day dive into evil and darkness, Mr. Angel makes no pretension about his imagery and presentation. Gone are the days of light hearted illusions of the David Copperfields of the world. Instead, Mr. Angel is presented brashly and boldly as a character of insolence and darkness...all the while not worrying much about offending or turning off his public. If anything, the creators of his realty show embrace the dark persona and imagery, knowing full well that it will (in this day and age), draw more adoring spectators.

For those who care enough to have read this far into this post, I urge you to avoid Criss Angel and others like him. There are many out there, and the devil's puppets in the media are only to willing to bring you more and more as they are manipulated by the secret power of lawlessness already at work in our society.

**I highly recommend reading 2 Thessalonians Chapter 2 for some insights to where our society is now and also where it is heading.
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