How Would I Deceive the “Very Elect,” If I Were Satan? I’d Do in Through the Most Unlikely Way…Through Their Church, a Highly Trusted Source – And that’s Exactly What he Has Done! (KJV)

July 30, 2026 | www.gospelofjesuschrist.blog | River Wilde

(The views expressed in this article are my personal interpretations of the Bible, particularly concerning biblical prophecy and the end times. They have come to me through endless study of the scriptures, as well as frequent prayerful searching for TRUTH. They are offered for discussion, study, and personal reflection. I do not claim special revelation, nor do I speak on behalf of any church, denomination, religious organization, or its leaders. Readers are encouraged to study the Scriptures for themselves, seek God’s guidance through prayer, and draw their own conclusions.)

Many of you reading this are probably parents. And I like you to consider the emotion that you would have, if your child was in danger and did not know it. You would have a sense of rescue and concern out of your love for them. Right?

I am using this same emotion in writing this article to all of you. I have no intention on bashing a religion, rather, to warn, protect, and to show you the IMMEDIATE way to safety.

You might have had the experience when reading a scripture, and felt that it was written specifically for you. This was the case when I read the following:

Matthew 24:24 (KJV)
“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.“

We are living in the end times, and through this scripture, God is warning us that the adversary will be using religion to deceive the “Very Elect,” and specifically, a False Prophet. God is telling us that the adversary is going to reach us through such an unlikely source; RELIGION. Why? Because that’s what prophets are at the helm of.

Now, without sounding prideful, I somewhat thought at the time, that I was someone who might be in a group of the ”Very Elect.“ My church is full of people who would feel that they are part of the Very Elect group. They feel like they are doing all that they can to ensure that they will be going to heaven. Sacrificing their time, talents, and everything that they have for the church.

Could this be a group that God is giving the warning to? I think more so, that God is stating that the adversary’s plan of deception will be so cleaver, that it will reach all of those who consider themselves solid religious people, and not just one church.

So, since I, and perhaps even you, who think that you are religiously solid, this is warning should be a “heads up” for us to ponder and consider. Interesting, I thought. But this is certainly NOT my religion, and not my prophet.

This scripture, along with some deep thoughts stuck with me for several days. For the past several years, I had been studying the prophecies regarding the end times as written in the bible, and through this study, the prophets to were sharing an incredible amount of information regarding deception in the last days.

I continued to realize that even the “best of the best” were a target on satan’s radar. This scripture made sense to me knowing that satan would not be taking me out with his regular go to plan of temptation, and other strategies of easily seen evil.

If he were to get to me, he would have to do it through something cleaver, a trusted source…like my religion, just as the scripture warns.

But how would satan do this through my religion? It certainly would not be convincing me to be bad? Perhaps his goal would be to teach me something that would keep me out of heaven? Ridiculous, I thought. How could my church keep me out of heaven, for that is the very purpose of religion, right?

In my studies, I came across a story that intrigued me. That story? Nicodemus in the New Testament.

John 3:1 (KJV)

“There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:”

Nicodemus was the kind of man everyone would have expected to enter heaven. He was a Pharisee, a ruler of the Jews, “a master of Israel” (John 3:1, 10, KJV), respected for his knowledge of the Scriptures, his moral character, and his religious devotion. If anyone could have earned God’s favor through religious dedication, it would have seemed to be Nicodemus. He certainly sounded like a person who was “Very Elect” as well.

Are you with me so far? I want you to see yourself in Nicodemus for a moment, to relate to what I am saying:

You’re Religious – Good Moral Character – Faithful Church Attender – Devoted – Your Knowledge of the Scriptures, etc.

Then I read the most revealing part. When Nicodemus came to Jesus, the Lord did not praise his religion, position, or say “well done faithful servant,” praising his good works. Instead, Jesus immediately told him,

“Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God“ (John 3:3, KJV).

Then Jesus repeated the statement so there could be no misunderstanding.

“Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” (John 3:7 KJV)

Christ’s message was unmistakable: even the most religious, sincere, and respected person must experience a spiritual rebirth, or they would be denied HEAVEN. What a dramatic consequence of NOT being Born Again! Denied entrance to heaven!?!

Nicodemus, You and Me…the “Very Elect” have not done what is required to get to heaven through all of our knowledge, good works, leadership abilities, etc. We MUST be Born Again, just like Nicodemus!

My immediate thought was my baptism and conformation. This certainly must be what Jesus was telling Him. You must be baptized in the Mormon church, or at least baptized.?.?

Something felt off. My spiritual red flags were flying high at this moment. It felt like this was NOT what Jesus was telling him to do in being born again.

I was prompted to study another first-hand account of the Savior where baptism did not fit in as a requirement for heaven. The experience of the thief on the cross.

One of the greatest teachings of Jesus Christ was in an event that happened during His crucifixion. Something so profound yet simple. The entire gospel preached through a very unlikely person – A person hanging besides Jesus, being punished for a considerable crime that he had done.

The thief hanging beside Jesus had no opportunity for baptism, church attendance, temple worship, religious ordinances, or years of faithful service. He simply placed his faith in the dying Savior.

As Jesus was crucified, one of the thieves acknowledged his own guilt, recognized that Jesus was innocent, and turned to Him in simple faith, saying,

“Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.“

Jesus answered him with these comforting words:

“Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.“
(Luke 23:43, KJV)

Therefore, Baptism is NOT what being Born Again means, for Jesus just told a person who had placed his faith in Him as the Savior, that he would be with Him today in Paradise.

The puzzle pieces seemed to start fitting, but I first needed to find out where paradise was that the Savior was referring to.

According to the KJV, Paradise is:

• A place of blessing where believers are with Christ (Luke 23:43).
• Associated with the third heaven (2 Corinthians 12:2–4).
• Called “the paradise of God” and associated with the Tree of Life (Revelation 2:7; 22:1–2).

I dove deeper:

Believers who die are with Christ, awaiting the resurrection of their bodies (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17; 1 Corinthians 15:51–53). At Christ’s return, they will receive glorified bodies and will dwell with Him forever in the new heaven and new earth.

So, from a KJV perspective, the people Jesus calls to Paradise are more than likely to go to heaven—they are already in God’s presence and await the completion of God’s plan in the resurrection. The greatest blessing of Paradise is exactly what Jesus promised the thief: “thou shalt be with me.”

There is no indication that the thief would later face another judgment to determine whether he would enter heaven. Jesus’ promise was one of assurance.

These were new teachings to me, yet they were directly from the Gospel of Jesus Christ that He and His apostles taught when they were on the earth. The purity of their words resonated with me.

I would continue to study these very words of Christ, and let GOD teach me what Jesus meant when He said “Born Again.” Back to the scriptures…

    Ephesians 2:8–9

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

We are SAVED by Grace through our faith, and nothing else. It is a gift. Humm…What are we being saved from? Let’s read..

Matthew 1:21 (KJV)
“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.“

In the King James Bible, the word “saved” means to be rescued or delivered. When it is used in connection with salvation, it means that God rescues a person from the penalty and power of sin and grants them eternal life through Jesus Christ.

This is exactly what Jesus had done to the thief on the cross. Jesus saved him! It was a gift from the Savior, received by the thief because of his faith, and had nothing to do with the thief’s works or baptism.

Let’s Continue learning about the process of Being Born Again.

Romans 3:28

“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”

Romans 5:1

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”

Romans 5:8

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:9

“Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.“

Romans 5:15 (KJV)

“But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.”

Romans 6:23

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Galatians 2:16

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ…”

Galatians 2:21

“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.“

2 Timothy 1:9

“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace…”

John 5:24

“He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life…”

…And the scripture that defines the specific answer to that question:

Acts 16:30–31

“And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…”

Being born again is a spiritual rebirth that takes place the moment a person places their faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. It is not a physical birth, nor is it accomplished by religious ordinances or good works, but by the work of the Holy Spirit.

A person is born again by believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who died for their sins and rose again, trusting in Him alone for salvation, and not in their own good works, nor their church as being a contributor.

Nicodemus had it all, but he was still lacking the only thing that was necessary for him to enter into the kingdom of heaven. He had not yet accepted the atonement of Jesus Christ as a gift, having faith that He was the Savior and trusting in Him Alone for salvation. Something so simple, yet it was the very core of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I had indeed learned a great deal, and received definite conformation from God, that what I was learning was indeed the truth.

So, let’s plug in this new knowledge, with how a religion could be used to deceive the very elect.

A church may sincerely teach many beautiful truths about Jesus Christ—His love, His miracles, His teachings, His death upon the cross, and even encourage people to live moral lives. Which is what my church had done.

Yet if it does not clearly teach what Jesus Himself declared to be absolutely necessary for entering the kingdom of God, it leaves people in eternal danger.

Teaching that being born again is baptism and comformation of the Holy Ghost, is where the deception has been introduced. And, as we have learned, Being Born Again is the ONLY thing necessary to go to heaven. I had been deceived, not because all of the teaching regarding my church were false, I was deceived because the ONLY teaching that matters in me being able to go to heaven, being Born Again, has been corrupted in the churches teaching. one “small” deception was INCREDIABLY ESSENTIAL relating to my eternal life.

This indeed fulfills the warning from God to beware of “False Prophets ..they shall deceive the Very Elect.”

If a church defines the new birth as merely baptism, church membership, religious ordinances, or a lifelong process of earning God’s favor, rather than the spiritual rebirth that comes by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8–9; Titus 3:5, KJV), it may unknowingly direct people to trust in religion instead of Christ alone.

No matter how many other biblical truths are taught, there is no more important doctrine than the one Jesus Himself said determines whether a person will enter the kingdom of God.

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9, KJV).

The moment you place your faith in Christ, God gives you new spiritual life, forgives your sins, and makes you His child.

To me, the church clearly teaches a different doctrine, as we see here taught in the Book of Mormon.

2 Nephi 25:23 in the Book of Mormon:

“For we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.”

As these scriptures above teach, being saved and going to heaven has NOTHING to do with our good works nor our church. It is a GIFT from Jesus Christ through His atonement. That is all that is necessary, and does not include things that we do through good works.

His atoning sacrifice is completely sufficient to save all who place their faith in Him. When a person believes that our good works, religious ordinances, church membership, or personal righteousness are also required to secure our salvation, we are no longer relying on Christ alone but are placing part of our confidence in ourselves or in religion.

Good works are the evidence of a changed life and the fruit of genuine faith, but they are never the reason God accepts us. Our only hope of salvation is the finished work of Jesus Christ, who paid the full price for our sins on the cross.

The atonement of Jesus Christ was for all mankind. Knowing that each of us has free agency, we must choose to accept His atonement “gift” through the process of being Born Again. We receive it through our FAITH in knowing that it is all that is necessary for us to go to heaven.

Once you see this deception, you cannot unsee it. The scripture of a false prophet deceiving the very elect happened to ME, just as God warned.

In my studies, I also came across something that I would like to share with you as well. There can be so much religious confusion, because churches teach different gospel principles. Let me show you how to resolve all of this.

Galatians 1:8–9 (KJV)
 “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.“

These are some of the strongest words in the New Testament regarding the purity of the Gospel.

The Apostle Paul declares that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is unchangeable. He emphasizes that even if he himself, another apostle, or an angel from heaven were to proclaim a different message of salvation, than the one already delivered, that message must be rejected.

Paul does not tell believers to follow miracles, religious authority, or heavenly messengers if their teachings differ from the Gospel of Christ. Instead, he commands Christians to remain faithful to the Gospel already revealed through Jesus Christ and His apostles. This passage reminds every believer to measure every teaching, every preacher, and every claimed revelation against the Word of God, for there is only one Gospel that saves, and it must never be altered or added to.

This is the gospel that Jesus Christ and His apostles taught when they were upon the earth, and recorded in the New Testament. All other gospel teaching must agree to that same gospel.

I’ve also come to believe that one of the greatest other deceptions from the church centers upon One Word… “Restored.”

We all have assumed that the gospel that Joseph Smith taught was the same as the gospel of Jesus Christ, because he had restored the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Restored means to bring back as complete, to its original form. To me, the church would be more truthful if they were to say that Joseph Smith CHANGED the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Members are lead to believe that these two gospels are the same, so we have no desire to continue searching for the details of what Jesus taught. We thought that we KNEW the Gospel of Jesus CHrist as Christ Himself taught.

When I set out on this path of learning TRUTH, I chose to start all of the way back to the beginning. I had a desire to know the truth. I didn’t care to discover what was false in my religion, for that did me no good. It only made me depressed and upset.

I craved the truth only. The truth gave me direction, and things that I could believe in. They also gave me hope and peace. Never in my life have I known that I would go to heaven, as there had always been this nagging uncertainty of being good enough. Now, through this spiritual rebirth, I have done what Jesus Christ said was necessary to go to heaven. His sacrifice was all that I need received by me though my faith and belief.

I don’t sin now because I want to remain close to Jesus Christ, not just because it is a rule that I must follow. My desire to serve others has increased, as I know tht it is though my service that I am showing glory to my Savior, rather than selfish intent.

As your FRIEND, I would like to suggest the following path forward. I’d like to help you with this truth discovery

First and foremost, do not just take my word that these teachings are true. Take them to God in your prayers. Let HIM be the one and only person that confirms truth. Trusting a man with a religious title got us into this mess.

Psalm 118:8–9 (KJV)

“It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.”

Continue to study being Born Again as Christ taught. The task at hand is simple but urgent.

Keep studying until you firmly believe that going to heaven is solely based upon the atonement of Jesus Christ, and us accepting that atonement through faith. You can not still believe that it is because of the church, temple ordinances, and your good works that you will receive salvation…(living with Jesus Christ in heaven).

Once God has confirmed this teaching with you, return again to God in prayer, and tell Him what you now believe, and that you trust in Christ’s atonement for salvation.

Being Born Again does not have steps, but let me share these gospel teachings so that you can understand the process:

1. Realize that you are a sinner.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23, KJV)

2. Believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins and rose again.
“That Christ died for our sins… and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day.” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4, KJV)

3. Repent and turn your heart to God.
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.” (Acts 3:19, KJV)

4. Receive Jesus Christ by faith.
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12, KJV)

5. Confess Jesus as your Lord and trust Him alone for salvation.
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Romans 10:9, KJV)

At that moment, God performs the miracle of the new birth. Jesus said, after being born again, the believer follows Christ in obedience, including baptism, not to earn salvation, but as a joyful public testimony of the new life already received through Him.

This spiritual rebirth again happens instantly, and never has to be redone. It is NOT a lifelong PROCESS. Our faith in Jesus Christ is what keeps us spiritually connected to Him through the Holy Spirit. We now belong to God as His child.

Now, for the emotional part of this journey of discovering truth. When a person realizes that they have been deceived by such a trusted source it can be a train wreck. I know, because I too have gone through this.

In moving forward, realize that it was not your ward family, bishop, or stake president that deceived you. I can testify that the love and concern that all of these people have shown towards you has been “Christlike” and wonderful. They likely have been deceived as well.

Next, spend some time thinking about all of the good things that the church has done to help build your spiritual character. You MUST NOT think that your entire life has been a waste of time because of a deceitful church, for it has NOT been.

I still feel that the church was very good for me in my life and in the life of my kids. It has been a moral compass for all of us.

For those of you desire to learn more of the truths that Jesus taught which are different from the Mormon doctrine, buckle-up, because at first it is an emotional rollercoaster. You can decide how much further you would like to go in this discovery.

You can learn all truth in a matter of minutes due to today’s technology. In a computer search, just type in “what are the differences in the Mormon Doctrine and the doctrine that Jesus taught when He was on the earth, KJV?”

AI has the capacity to scan the entire KJV Bible, as well as all of the doctrine of the church and show you the difference. You are not looking for AI descriptions, rather, you are looking for the scripture of church teachings to compare. It is up to you to decide how much further in your truth discovery that you would like to go.

I made a choice and stopped attending church. Being truthful here, because of my new beliefs, the relationship with my friends and family changed. These were the losses that I experienced.

I kept thinking, Jesus died for me…I can sacrifice these things for Him. Was it worth it?

I realized just what I had gained from this new truth:

A firm Knowledge of going to heaven.

A firm Knowledge of being rescued by God through the rapture that will soon happen.

I will NOT have to go through the upcoming 7-year Tribulation Period, which will be the most difficult period of time ever, for God will have removed me from the earth by then.

I learned about the Judgment Seat of Christ as taught in His gospel, where all in attendance will be going to heaven, and the judgment will be for our good works rather than the things that we have done wrong.

Crowns of Glory will be presented by Jesus to us for those good works.

I learned about our relationship with Jesus Christ during the millennium, and just how glorious that will be. A relationship, unhurried from someone that sees us wholly. All that we are, and all that we have struggled with here on earth…He will take all the time necessary to heal our hearts. Not shared or hurried, due to His abilities.

All of the damage that I carry inside from the loss of my son, will be discussed with Him and He will heal my heart.

I also learned about the Great White throne judgment that will take place at the end of the millennial period, for all those who have rejected the atonement of Jesus Christ. They will be responsible for 100% of their sins, as a result, will be cast into the “Lake of Fire.”

And something very troubling that I learned, through my deep dive into the prophecies of the end times, was that I had just dodged a “bullet.”

After the rapture, the antichrist will be presented upon the world stage. His goal will be to get everyone who is on the earth at the time, to take his mark…the Mark of the Beast. This is a pledge of alliance to the beast, and a devotion to worship him, rather than God. Those who take this mark will join satan in the lake of fire. That’s kind of important to know, don’t you think?

Why aren’t church leaders teaching us about something that is coming that has such sever consequences?

Then I realized, our “prophet” has deceived already. Can you see how the “church” might very well be involved in the deception of that period of the Tribulation Period?

People will do whatever the prophet says to do, as they now do. What if he were to use that influence in talking members into taking this mark, saying that it’s no big deal? Can you see the disastrous consequences that this would produce?

Is this perhaps why church leadership is not teaching anything about God’s revelations to His prophets regarding the end times, which are recorded in the Bible?

Amos 3:7 (KJV)

“Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.”

In its immediate context, Amos 3:7 teaches that God does not bring His judgments upon a nation without first warning the people through His prophets. Before Israel faced punishment, God faithfully revealed His intentions to Amos so that the people would have an opportunity to repent. More broadly, this verse reveals an important principle about God’s character: He is not arbitrary or secretive in His dealings with mankind.

Throughout Scripture, God graciously gives warning before major acts of judgment. He warned Noah before the flood, Abraham before the destruction of Sodom, Joseph about the coming famine, and the prophets before Israel and Judah were judged.

Rather than leaving His people in darkness, God has revealed what they need to know through the prophets and through His inspired Word so that believers may be prepared, remain faithful, and place their trust in Him.

People don’t realize that God has already revealed His plan of the final 7 years on earth to His prophets, and it is recorded in the bible. One third of the Bible contains these teachings of the end times.

Members today are waiting for who they think is a prophet of God, to tell them how to proceed in these last days. “If he’s silent, we must be ok” is what they are concluding. Members do not realize that He has already revealed such a tremendous amount of information regarding the last 7 years on earth.

So, has learning the truth been worth it to me? I don’t even need to answer that. It has been a guarantee of heaven and the rapture, which is priceless.

In moving forward, it is all about your relationship with God through Jesus Christ. This is what matters. This is where salvation comes from. It has nothing to do with a person’s religion, for as we have learned, sometimes a religion can be the reason that someone actually doesn’t make it to heaven.

When we die, I can promise you that your religion will be nowhere to be found. Your relationship will be directly with Jesus Christ, the way that it should be right now.

Do not be overwhelmed in this truth discovery. Again, the first step is for you to ensure that you have been Born Again as taught in the New Testament, THEN the pressure is off!

Realize that you will be going to heaven, and be rescued in the rapture, even if you have no idea what the rapture is or when it will happen. God will find you, and rescue you.

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 (KJV)
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

Paul concludes this teaching with these comforting words:

1 Thessalonians 4:18 (KJV)
“Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

So, realize that you have actually bee saved, TWICE. Saved from sin through the gift of Jesus Christ’s atonement, and saved again through the rapture, as He will remove you from the earth BEFORE the final 7-year Tribulation Period begins. Are you feeling that comfort that Paul is teaching?

And finally, I leave you with this promise…

John 8:31–32 (KJV)
“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.“

God’s Speed. I hope to see you shortly up in the air, on such a glorious event of meeting our Savior, and receiving our perfect bodies. I can ONLY imagine!!!!!