What is the delusion, and why does Paul say that God is going to send the delusion? Christ does not say one word about a rapture. If you really want to know who the play actor, instead of Jesus is, you can find out. Christ said Take ye heed, I have foretold you all things. We are suppose to know in advance who it is so we are not deceived.
The delusion being sent and why it’s being sent is located in II Thessalonians 2:7-12.
7For 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. 8And 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. 9The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
You’re right about the word rapture not being found in the Bible, but the concept is still relevant. Why? Because the word “rapture” comes from the Latin word rapturo, which is a translation of the Greek verb “caught up” that’s found in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. So again by technicality, even though the word rapture is not technically there as that word, its meaning still communicates the same, so it is safe to use that word.
Christ did foretell all things, but those who are not included in the event of the rapture will be left behind due to the fact that they willfully denied the truth and refused to be saved. We cannot know who the antichrist is because we (those who have accepted Christ as their Lord and personal Savior) are promised to be kept from the hour of trial that will come across the whole world (Rev. 3:10). The way the world is now, people, even Christians could fall victim to the Antichrist. Barack Obama’s support last year from evangelicals serves as a referendum, to me anyway, of this truth. People will fall for the Antichrist, including Christians. That is one of the reasons why Christ will take us away from the earth.
I think that God sends the delusion by simply giving Satan permission to act. Since Satan is a deceiver, and is the father of all lies, he can openly display all sorts of signs and wonders so sight (performing openly what looks like miracles, signs and wonders) will be in competition with faith.
For more information on the rapture, Please read my 2008 piece, “The Promise of the Rapture.”
http://makingsense.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=talked&action=display&thread=119
In previous generations, people have thought the antichrist was waiting in the wings during their time. People thought Nero was the Antichrist. People thought that Hitler was the Antichrist. Everyone who has said, “the antichrist is....” has been wrong. I’m just going to leave it at that for now.