[Here he is represented as commanding Samuel to act the most _consummate hypocrite_.]
145. Wherefore 1 gave them also statutes _that were not good_, and judgments _whereby they should not live_. Ezek. xx. 25.
146. 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_. 2. Thes. ii. 10. 11.
147. And the Lord said, Who shall entice Ahab, king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one spake, saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner. Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said I will entice him. And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go out and be a _lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets_. And the Lord said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt also prevail; go out _and do even so_. 2 Chron. xviii. 19, 20, 21.
148. And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, _I the Lord God have deceived that prophet_, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel. Ezek. xiv. 9.
149. And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit, and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him a thousand years. And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, _till the thousand years should be fulfilled_; and after that he must be loosed a little season. And _shall go out to deceive the nations_ which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. Kevel. xx. 1, 2, 3, 8..
150. He is a merchant, the balances of _deceit_ are in his hand _he loveth to oppress_. Hosea xii. 7.
151. The beginning of the word of the Lord by Hosea; and the Lord said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee _a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms_; for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the Lord. Hosea i. 2.
152. And I will _make drunk_ her princes, and her wise men, her captains and her rulers, and her mighty men; and they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the king, whose name is the Lord of hosts. Jer. li. 57.