“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” Hebrews 3:15
The Bible warns that in the last days there will be great deception. Jesus Himself said, “See to it that no one misleads you” and that many would come in His name and mislead many.
Before people are deceived on the outside, something often happens on the inside. The heart grows hard. The ears grow dull. The eyes stop seeing clearly.
For modern-day Esthers and women of faith who love Israel and the Lord, this is not a message of fear. It is a call to stay awake, to guard our hearts, and to cling to Jesus and His Word.
Let us look at some signs of a hardening heart and the kind of deception the Bible says will increase as the end draws near.
When “no” becomes a habit
Think about Pharaoh in Exodus. Moses brought a simple message from God: “Let my people go.” Pharaoh said no. Plagues came, Pharaoh softened for a moment, then hardened again. Over and over, he pushed God away.
Sign one:
A hardening heart keeps saying “no” to God and treats repentance as temporary relief instead of real change.
In the end times, the Bible says many will “refuse to love the truth.” That refusal is a heart-choice. It opens the door for deeper deception later.
When pride blocks correction
King Saul started in humility, but over time he cared more about his own image than God’s word. When confronted, he made excuses and blamed others.
Sign two:
A hardening heart resists correction and refuses to admit wrong.
The enemy loves this. Pride makes us easier to mislead because we stop listening. The spirit of Antichrist feeds on pride. It wants us to trust our feelings over Scripture, our opinions over God’s commands.
When truth is near but never welcomed
In the Gospels, some religious leaders saw Jesus heal, heard His teaching, and watched miracles up close. Instead of worship, they hardened their hearts. They twisted His words and even called His work evil.
Sign three:
A hardening heart can sit close to truth but never receive it. It hears the Word but grows more resistant, not more repentant.
Jesus warned that false messiahs and false prophets would come, performing signs to mislead, if possible, even the elect. Being near “religious things” is not enough. The heart must stay soft before God.
When deception looks spiritual and powerful
The Bible says that in the last days, deception will not always be weak or obvious. It will be strong and convincing.
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The Antichrist will come with “counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders” that come from Satan. Many will be impressed, not realizing they are false.
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The beast in Revelation will call down fire from heaven and deceive people into worship.
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Many will distort truth, turning ears away from sound teaching toward messages that simply feel good.
Sign four:
A hardening heart chases experiences and signs more than it clings to Scripture and the real Jesus.
The spirit of Antichrist always tries to pull attention away from the true Christ. It may mix Bible words with lies about who Jesus is, or about Israel, or about sin. It may downplay the cross, deny the resurrection, or treat obedience as unimportant.
When love grows cold and sin feels normal
Revelation speaks of people who keep on in their sins and “did not repent.” Paul says God allows a powerful delusion for those who refuse the truth and delight in wickedness.
Sign five:
A hardening heart stops grieving over sin, stops loving truth, and grows comfortable with darkness.
Jesus warned that because of the increase of wickedness, the love of many would grow cold. That is one of the clearest signs of danger. When we stop loving God, stop loving His people, and stop caring about righteousness, deception already has a foothold.
Keep your heart soft and your mind clear
God does not leave us helpless. He gives clear steps to keep our hearts soft and our minds clear.
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Test everything by Scripture.
Acts 17 praises believers who examined the Scriptures daily to see if what they heard was true. If a teaching, dream, or “word” does not match the Bible, we must reject it, no matter how impressive or emotional it seems. -
Depend on the Holy Spirit.
Jesus said the Spirit of truth would guide us into all truth. Ask Him to check your heart, warn you when something is off, and draw you back when you start to drift. -
Watch your own spirit with humility.
The Bible warns us not to be wise in our own eyes. Ask God often, “Lord, am I hardening my heart anywhere? Am I making excuses for sin? Am I ignoring something You are trying to show me?” -
Stay in loving relationship with Jesus.
Deception is not just a head issue. It is a heart issue. Stay close to the Lord in prayer, worship, and obedience. Talk to Him about your fears, confusion, and questions. A heart that loves Him deeply is harder for Satan to deceive. -
Let your love for Israel and God’s people stay warm.
The enemy hates God’s covenant people. Lies about Israel and about the Church will increase. Ask God to keep your love tender and your intercession strong. Coldness toward God’s promises can be a warning light on the dashboard of your heart.
A prayer for soft hearts in hard times
Lord, I do not want a hard heart. I do not want to be easy to deceive. Search me and show me any pride, stubbornness, or coldness in me. Keep my heart soft, my ears open, and my eyes clear. Protect me from the lies of Satan and the spirit of Antichrist. Help me cling to Your Word, follow Your Spirit, and love Jesus more than anything. Make me a modern-day Esther who stands for truth, loves Your people Israel, and stays faithful until You come.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
