Paul declared, “Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12).
On April 25, 2026, the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner was disrupted. The President of the United States and other top officials were ushered out of the gala after a gunshot was heard. A man named Cole Allen had rushed a Secret Service checkpoint and was attempting to enter the main ballroom with the stated purpose, according to his manifesto, of murdering administration officials ranked from highest to lowest.
A disclaimer is in order: I do not believe politics belong in religious literature. People differ on how government should be run, and God has blessed this nation with the freedom to debate and test different policies and agendas. I believe that is a real blessing. I do condemn violence of this kind, though. What this man did was evil, and his manifesto provides a learning moment.
God has given us the blessing of choice: free will. With that blessing comes the possibility of the curse of a strong delusion mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 2:11. God has given us the ability to believe what is false, because without that ability, choice would not truly be choice, and free will would be destroyed. But what does this strong delusion look like? How does it appear in real life? This attempted assassin gives us a vivid picture of how it can manifest and how terrifying it can be.
Cole Allen was a bright engineer who seemed to have a bright future. He was even featured on national news for trying to solve a problem by helping wheelchair users become safer and more secure in their chairs. He became a teacher, wanting to pass knowledge on to a younger generation. Everything seemed well with him. The great danger was that he surrounded himself with people filled with hatred and religious error. Unfortunately, the company we keep can shape us dramatically: “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.’ Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame” (1 Corinthians 15:33-34).
Mr. Allen began to believe lies, half-truths, and distortions until he was using religious language to justify evil actions. That pattern is all too familiar when temptation leads us down the path of sin. That path can carry us into echo chambers that reinforce our own beliefs and desires while God’s direction is ignored. Jeremiah said, “I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps” (10:23). The Proverb writer added, “A man’s steps are from the Lord; how then can man understand his way?” (20:24). Finally, the psalmist declared, “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain” (127:1).
Many people ask God for a sign about which way to go, yet ignore the Word already given to them. Even when something points them in the right direction, they choose to dismiss it. But once a person has entered strong delusion, the devil no longer needs to tempt in the same way, because the man now believes his own way is best. In Mr. Allen’s case, he began to ignore every warning sign before him. His conscience cried out, and even his body resisted the course he had chosen. The delusion shows itself in the ability to silence conscience, ignore the body, resist society’s warnings, and rewrite one’s own rules of right and wrong.
That delusion is the result of free will twisted and manipulated by Satan so that a person can destroy his own soul. It creates a justification for human beings to behave however they please, so long as they have convinced themselves it is right. In that sense, their god has become themselves and their own desires. It is no different from idolatry. James explains: “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death” (1:14-15).
Cole Allen is fortunate in one sense, though. Even though he will face the consequences of his actions, he still has breath in his lungs. No matter what the sin, and no matter how far we may fall, as long as we are alive, we should seek God and perhaps feel our way toward Him and find Him, though He is actually not far from each one of us (Acts 17:27). God is gracious, giving another undeserved opportunity and showing the riches of His grace: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20).
Lance Byers