But we all know that it is just illusion.   Furthermore, the magician tacitly acknowledges that his tricks are just that - tricks.   

But what if an illusionist declared that he had really performed magic - that his illusion was real?   What if no one was allowed to investigate the magic to show how it was done - that it was simply an illusion?   

If the only information that came to you was filtered by a deceiver, a propagandist, a spokesperson or a False Prophet, would you be able to resist the lie?   

And now you know what withholds that he might be revealed in his time. 2Th 2:6 'What withholds' is not specified here though it no doubt was when Paul ministered in person at Thessalonica.      The 'he' and 'his' are not associated with a particular being in this passage.      I rather think that `what withholds` is Michael, the archangel Dan 10:13,20,21 Dan 12:1.      There are many who believe it is the church.      While yet others believe that it is the Holy Spirit.      The fact that there are Christians on the earth at the time of Jesus` return counters the supposition that the church is withholding.      The fact that the Holy Spirit is in the body of believers who are still on earth at the return counters the supposition that the Holy Spirit is withholding.      The 'man of sin', the beast, is to whom the 'he' and 'his' refer.

For the mystery of iniquity does already work: only he who now lets will let, until he be taken out of the way. 2Th 2:7 Satan is the mystery of iniquity.         ➛ Who he was.         ➛ Who he now is.         ➛ Why he rebelled.         ➛ What his plan is Michael (see comment on 2Th 2:6) is 'he who now lets' contending with Satan and keeping him from unleashing the fulness of his raw evil.      When Michael is taken out of the way Rev 12:7-10 Satan will incarnate himself in the beast, the Anti Christ.      At that point, he will manifest lying wonders with which to deceive the whole world.

And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 2Th 2:8 The wicked beast, the Anti Christ will appear for a short time.      Christ will return to destroy and consume him in the Day Of Wrath,

Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 2Th 2:9 Satan is the force behind the beast, the Anti Christ, enabling him to do signs and lying wonders.

And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 2Th 2:10 The beast will exercise influence and power over all those who have received his mark, name or number.      Those in his power did not receive a Love Of The Truth through Christ Jesus and so were deceived,

And for this cause the Lord shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 2Th 2:11 Not having a Love Of The Truth resulted in them falling under the power of Strong Delusion to believe the lie of the Anti Christ.      Men are born in darkness.      Those who hear the Gospel (light and Truth) and receive it enter into light and Truth.      Those who hear and reject he Gospel not only remain in the darkness in which they were born, but by knowingly and willfully rejecting the light and Truth of Jesus Christ, they enter into Gross Darkness out of which there in no escape as they have blasphemed the Holy Spirit Of Christ Jesus.      Such are damned.

That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 2Th 2:12 Damnation is the end result of rejection of the Truth, believing the lie and worshipping unrighteous pleasure.

And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. Rev 13:1 Beast indicates an animalistic person devoid of the touch of the Lord.     The sea is the people of the world.     The heads, horns and crown represent the heads of nations who will support him.     Blasphemy indicates a total disregard for the Lord.

And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. Rev 13:2 The amalgamation of parts from different animals speaks to the globalist nature of his support.     He is empowered by the nations and people who have come under the influence of the Spirit Of Antichrist.     Once he is seated Satan will sanction and empower him to destroy humanity.     Dan 7:4-8

And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. Rev 13:3 I suspect that the head that is wounded to death is America.     The economic path we are on is weakening us so that we will be near death when a `compromise with the Devil` is done to bring us back.     Because we are `saved` by the beast we will begin to worship him.

And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast?     who is able to make war with him? Rev 13:4 The beast will accomplish this short-term miracle in `saving` the world from financial collapse and so most everyone will begin to trust him and give him more power, His support will be so strong that there will be no possibility of opposing him.

And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. Rev 13:5 The beast will be a great orator unencumbered by truth so that he lies and blasphemes with impunity and great effect.     But, he will only be in power for 3 1/2 years.

And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against the Lord, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. Rev 13:6 A major thrust of the beast will be to eradicate religion.     So, he will disdainfully speak of the Lord and humiliate those who believe in the Lord.

And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. Rev 13:7 The people of the earth will enable and encourage him to come against Christianity.     He will overcome Christianity in the sense that he makes it illegal, confiscates church properties and denies the right of Christians to participate in the world financial system.      In coming against religion and overcoming Christianity he will effectively exercise power over everyone and every nation.

And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Rev 13:8 In His mind, Jesus was slain for our sins in the beginning.      Because of the Beast`s control of the world financial system he will effectively have the attention of all people, demanding and receiving obedience to all his edicts, and enlisting and gaining their trust.      In other words, they worship him.

Because of AI and CGI, it is now possible to produce life-like events which cannot be distinguished from the real thing except by witnesses who tell the truth about them.   

As lying increases and threats of controlling 'misinformation' are raised, the possibility of propaganda becoming the only information we receive is real.   

Once the technology and the ideology form an unholy alliance, the means by which the world is deceived to receive the beast as their savior will be in place.