You are very discerning, blessed1195,There are many false teachings in man's institutional churches. There always has been because we try to understand God in human terms (Romans 6:19). The NKJV bible is filled with discrepancies that are simply not Godly. Many modern versions of the bible have been perverted because the modern translators have made them to be 'politically correct', but the NKJV is the worst. Notice the front cover has a logo with 3 points and 6 lines (666, only discerning GODLY Christians notice this). The strong delusion of 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 has always been present for those who don't truly LOVE God and His ways.God said that the gates of hell could not prevail/WIN against His church, but they can and always have been able to secretly infiltrate the church with lies, yet they will not WIN/prevail. FEW understand this, but you are very discerning because of your LOVE for The Lord (it's not simple TRUST/faith, you LOVE The Lord (the GREATEST of these, 1 Corinthians 13:13,...God is LOVE).It’s important to realize that the strong delusion is not a FUTURE 'event', but neither is it something that only others will be exposed to, it is an unrealized and self imposed cloak of the truth of God's will for us that is caused by our own personal bias (the mind works the way we want it to, our mind/heart dictates our understanding).----------------------------I find it sad that, all throughout history, humanity has not placed much value on "truth" (objective and absolute truth) and has instead embraced SUBJECTIVE truth ('truthS' with a bias, philosophies, and certain types of 'logic'). It's like Pilate said,..."What is TRUTH?".All throughout history, people have chosen to modify the absolute truth so that it would be possible for each individual to continue doing whatever pleases them. In other words, our iniquities determine which 'style' of SUBJECTIVE truth will govern our conscience and lifestyle. Contrary to what vain ego would have us believe, it is these 'doctrines of our heart' (idolatrous doctrines) that present to us the "strong delusion" that God has sent (the one that we so comfortably like to believe will be in the FUTURE).No modern scripture is completely devoid of discrepancy. All translators of ancient scripture have always had to use their discretion in translating from the original language of scripture. No language translates completely/accurately the concepts expressed in another. Even more so, many translators have been careless, and some have been/are completely reckless and sloppy. The most accurate version of modern times is the AUTHORIZED King James Version (KJV). Even the RSV that I use has received criticism of containing inaccuracies (but far less than many modern versions), but if the heart is set right and focused on objective truth, text shall not present a stumbling block to those who love The Lord. However, there are times when going back to cross reference with the KJV can illustrate the principles of God (Ezekiel 14:4 KJV...lack of dedication to truth=strong delusion). A 'love for the truth" is not just a very noble and commendable quality of the character, but it is PRIME for knowing God.I never found it so difficult to address any subject as I do this one, for, I love truth, but realizing the insistence of some to mock/ignore the truth troubles me greatly, so I will spare my heart the burden of being kind on this subject, and simply let God speak for me.-------------------------------------------EZEKIEL CHAPTER 14 KJV (the RSV uses the word "because" in place of "according"...VERY sloppy)Starting with verse 4 (you will see/understand according to the idols/desires in your heart).-Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;Eze 14:5 That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols.Eze 14:6 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn [yourselves] from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.Eze 14:7 For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to enquire of him concerning me; I the LORD will answer him by myself:CONTINUE WITH 2 Thessalonians 2.----------------------------Some people are uncomfortable hearing the truth of their actions (not uncommon), but there are also some who simply INSIST and continue arguing that they are justified in their actions/iniquities (they make their own choice, the iniquities of their heart are their stumblingblock and strong delusion).Traditional Christianity is strangely (because of a collective "bias") not in the habit of READING/seeing what is actually IN scripture, but rather INTERPRET, but we are supposed to be a "pillar of the truth" (Jesus is the truth, John 14:6, but we should be the "pillar")...We read the introductory doctrine of Christ (Hebrews 6:1), which is the "word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15, Ephesians 1:13), but the word that we should live by ("sword of the spirit", Ephesians 6:17) is what we should also learn so that we will be able to "walk by the spirit" (Galatians 5:16 and 25) and realize that the law of the Ten Commandments and the law of ordinances ('commands' in the N.T.) were both replaced by the law of liberty (James 1:25 and 2:12, Ephesians 2:15), and apart from the laws that were abolished (laws against sin), sin lies dead, Romans 7:8. By far, the worst impediment to spiritual growth is this doctrine of "self abasement" (Colossians 2:18 and 23, 'The identity crisis of Christianity') because if there is no SELF, you cannot you have a PERSONal relationship or relate to anything or anyone (including “I am who I am”). Our devotion/relationship should be “in my inmost SELF”, Romans 7:22 and have a CONSCIENCE that can be purified by the spirit (Hebrews 9:14). Adam and Eve ate of the tree of conscience, and we have to learn how to use that knowledge properly (Hebrews 5:14) by learning from God's eternal spirit to divide between right and wrong (as a sword would) so that the change from right to wrong is clear and abrupt with no middle ground ("no variation or shadow due to change", James 1:17). There are many other things in scripture that traditional Christianity has comfortably ignored. By the intentions of your heart, you will develop eyes to see and ears to hear, so you can discover the "depths of God" (1 Corinthians 2:10). We must develop eyes to see and ears to hear so that we can have the present heaven in our heart, because it is not enough to simply EAT of the bread of life, we must DRINK of His spirit (Revelation 7:16) and have "rivers of living water" (John 7:38, that were mixed with Christ's blood at the cross). God bless you, GodLOVER.