In recent years it’s become popular to say there is no absolute truth; there is nothing anyone can know for certain, including right and wrong, good and evil. Every idea is true, if it’s true for you. The God of Scripture says otherwise and as Christians are devoted to Jesus , “the Truth” (Jn 14:6), we can not accept that all ideas are equal or that all ideas are true.
If a person doesn’t love the truth (2 Thess 2:10), then he must accept the lie (2 Thess 2:11). There is no neutral ground. Everyone either stands on the truth or the lie.

I. The Delusion (2 Thess 2:11). This section begins with For this reason, because sinful man has rejected the love of the truth unto salvation, God will send a strong delusion upon unbelieving humanity. God is not whimsical or capricious. He has a reason for everything He does.
Man’s rejection of the Son God sent means God will send the strong delusion (planao). To reject His love results in Him sending judgment upon the deluded. Like He did with Egypt’s pharaoh, He will further delude their deluded minds (Ex 4:21; 7:1-5, 13, 14, 23; 8.15" class="scriptRef">8:15, 19, 32; 9:7, 12, 27" class="scriptRef">27, 34-35; 10:1, 16-20, 27; 11:9-10; 14:4, 8; Rom 1:24, 26, 28).
Planao is the basis of the English word planet and means to wander about (Mt 24:11; 27:64; Rom 1:27; 1 Thess 2:3; Jas 5:20; 2 Pet 2:18; 1 Jn 4:6; Jude 1:11). It’s used metaphorically of religious conmen using lies on gullible people so they wander from the truth (Eph 4:14; 2 Pet 3:17). And this delusion is strong (energeian) or energized.

II. The Devil (2 Thess 2:11). Fools and the ignorant are easily deceived (Prov 14:8). Satan has no power to make you believe anything, but he does recognize the gullible mind lacking a firm grounding and commitment to and in the truth. So he deceives, through various means, the simple (1 Tim 4:1; 2 Tim 3:6-7; 2 Jn 1:7). This God-sent delusion will cement the unbelievers’ in the lie.
Here, like in verse 3 (the falling away and the man of sin), there is a definite article, pointing to a very specific lie the world in the Day of the Lord will believe. The first lie recorded in the Bible was Satan thinking he could be like God (Is 14:14). It’s the same lie he told Eve (Gen 3:4-5). It’s the lie of man making himself in God’s image (Rom 1:18-25).
Satan doesn’t necessarily demand worship, but he does want to keep you for worshiping God. Idolatry takes many forms, and every form serves Satan’s purpose to keeping humanity for worshiping the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. Antichrist will convince the world that he is god, and so is everyone on earth.
God’s delusion on humanity proves God and Satan are not equals locked in battle and looking for a way to get an advantage on the other. God is in control and is using both Satan and sin to fulfill His eternal, willed, purpose.

III. The Damned (2 Thess 2:12). The result of believing the lie is final. There isn’t hope these ones can be saved if given one more chance. Believing the lie results in condemnation. There is no “maybe they’ll be saved if we …”.
When a person hears the gospel and rejects it, each new hearing of the Gospel works like an additional helping of condemnation. The gospel is a promise of redemption to the elect, but a further condemnation to the wicked. Today is the day of salvation, therefore believe in Jesus now (2 Cor 6:2).
Paul provides two reasons for God’s condemnation: (1) a person doesn’t believe the truth; (2) a person finds pleasure in unrighteousness.