The time the world is being plunged into is characterized by strong delusion. There are many factors contributing to this, but the chief one that can be scripturally identified is a lack of love for the Truth of the word of God. Instead of searching the scriptures to know the Lord, people follow the philosophies of men, which in turn are inspired by the “God of this world” which is Satan. Even in the church people are abandoning the scriptures and following men. As God said through the prophet Jeremiah when His people Israel were in a similar situation:
Jer 5:30 A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?
Paul said that in the end, that God Himself will send great delusion as a judgment on those who do not receive “the love of the truth”.
2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie…
It should be stressed that this passage is not speaking of regenerated children of God. It is speaking to the world that rejects Christ and His word. However, if the children of God are themselves not grounded in truth, they may be found running alongside those that God has turned over to strong delusion and not even know it. If we are in such a situation when the Lord secretly comes, we will surely be “asleep”.