"...that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. And for this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness."   (II Thess 2:9-12 NASB)

This passage clearly indicates that Satan has the power to work deceptions for his own purposes. It is always a possibility that one has made a mistake, either in interpreting physical data or statements of scripture. All those interested in truth should always be open to re-evaluation of their interpretations based upon discovering a better analysis or new evidence. Hence, we seek all alternative solutions to this brain-teaser for ours and your evalutation.

However, the passage also seems to indicate that such deceptions will only be effective among the perishing wicked and those at do not love truth, and hence reject salvation. The passage concludes that the people in view are those that are seeking to avoid the authority of God in order to pursue their pleasures in wickedness. Other passages such as Romans 8:35ff  tell us nothing, including principalities and powers, can separate the believer from the love of God. (Excepting of course the believer himself who chooses to desert God.) This passage seems to illustrate the type of hardening that occurs in the hearts of those who have already rejected the overtures of God. Certainly the believer seeking to know God would not be a candidate for being deluded by God.

This hardly seems to describe the penitent one who has been called by the gospel, is a baptized believer in Christ and attempting to live a life dedicated to righteous service; who is seeking to understand God's revelation in order to glorify God Almighty, save himself, and bring others to a knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

If Satan is presenting wicked deceptions through the evidences of astronomy then it seems odd for God to have appealed to that form of evidence Himself, as he does in Psalms 19:1-6  and Job 38:31-33, as well as many other allusions to God's power evidences in the heavens He created. Just as these evidences were effective to Job and the psalmist's audience, they continue to be powerful evidences of God's power yet today, especially so among the astromonical community. Reflecting upon the significance of the 1992 COBE data, astronomers using that instrument remarked "For one who is religious, it is like looking at the face of God!"
So if Satan is choosing to use astromonical data to destroy faith in God, he is doing a particularly poor job. The heavens have always been one of God's greatest testaments of Himself. Today the astronomical evidence for a universe with a beginning from a singularity of infinite energy density has become quite overwhelming. This very evidence caused even outspoken agnostics such as Albert Einstein and Arthor Eddington (both physicists) to conclude on the basis of astronmonical evidence alone, in spite of their strong philosophical objections against such, that the universe was created in the beginning by some transcendent entity. Why would we be inclined to label such a result the work of Satan?

The Thessalonians passage indicates nothing about ordinary, naturally occurring astronomical evidences being the means in view as devices of Satan. The terms for powers, signs and false wonders are in direct contrast to the terms used for the miracles worked by Jesus and His disciples gifted with the power of the Holy Spirit. Therefore the types of things included in this passage do not seem to include the ordinary, natural workings of the creation -- such as starlight. To place natural events into this context is similar to the exegetical mistake many make of placing a millenial reign of Christ on earth into Revelation 20. It doesn't mention such at all.

Furthermore, as a rhetorical device, this Thessalonians passage could similarly be mis-applied by those who felt a recent creation view was the result of deception by Satan. As such it doesn't help advance either sides position at illuminating truth, but rather is very effective at generating ill-will among believers. So Satan may have accomplished his goals all the same. Let's remember the focus of this passage -- it concerns the unbeliever in God and Christ, more than that it concerns those that seek justification for their pleasures in wickedness. Notice that nothing in the passage indicates it is unbelief in a young or old earth that is under consideration.

It is the philosophy of naturalism (that all there is is stuff) that Satan uses so effectively among those of the sciences who reject God (a small minority), not physical evidence. Listen to some scientists describe a worldview that I believe is the type of delusion Paul, by inspiration, had in mind with the Thessalonians. I do not know the lifestyles, hearts nor character of these men, so I cannot presume to know the motives or source of such a worldview.

Stephen J. Gould (Harvard Paleontologist)
“We ‘are’ because one group of fishes had a peculiar fin anatomy that could transform into legs for terrestrial creatures; because the earth never froze entirely during an ice age; because a small and tenuous species, arising in Africa a quarter of million years ago, had managed, so far, to survive by hook and by crook. We may yearn for a ‘higher’ answer -- but none exists.”

Paul Churchland, Matter and Consciousness, 1984
“The important point about the standard evolutionary story is that the human species and all of its features are the wholly physical outcome of a purely physical process … If this is the correct account of our origins then there is neither need, nor room, to fit any nonphysical substances or properties into our theoretical account of ourselves. We are creatures of matter. And we should learn to live with that fact.”

Richard Lewontin, NY Review of Books, 9 Jan, 97.  (Harvard geneticist)
“We take the side of science in spite of the patent absurdity of some of its constructs, in spite of its failure to fulfill many of its extravagant promises of  health and life, in spite of the tolerance of the scientific community for unsubstantiated just-so stories, because we have a prior commitment, a commitment to materialism. It is not that the methods and institutions of science somehow compel us to accept a material explanation of the phenomenal world, but, on the contrary, that we are forced by our a priori adherence to material causes to create an apparatus of investigation and a set of concepts that produce material explanations, no matter how counterintuitive, no matter how mystifying to the uninitiated. Moreover, that materialism is absolute, for we cannot allow a Divine Foot in the door.... To appeal to an omnipotent deity is to allow that at any moment the regularities of nature may be ruptured, that miracles may happen.”
 

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Respondee's Original Suggestion for Brain Teaser:
I also noticed your "Brain Teaser" (SuperNova SN1987a). Without spending a lot of time thinking about it, I do have another suggestion as to how such an event could take place in a young universe: II Thes. 2:9-11.

Do you remember the streaks on the windows of the building in Florida - the ones that were alleged to be an apparition of Mary? Last I knew, no one was able to explain them scientifically. Likewise with the various statues that weep and bleed. But I don't believe that they are what they are claimed to be. It is not because I am irrational. It is because I don't expect science to be able to explain everything.

Even though I am not a scientist, I do know something about science: it changes. Things that were taken as facts by brilliant minds of the past have been proven false. This will continue to happen. Science is useful, and I am thankful for the many benefits I enjoy that resulted from the labors of scientists (like this computer I'm writing you on). However, I do not think that the pursuit of science will ever yield absolute truth. I suspect that the mind of God is so far above ours, and the universe He created is so wonderfully complex and profoundly elegant, that just as soon as scientists believe they have really figured everything out, they will learn some new thing that hints at just how far away they really are. I think that the history of science bears this out. (For example, consider what discoveries in molecular biology have done to the General Theory of Evolution.)

In fact, I believe that this is what Rom. 1:20f is telling us: By observing the natural world, we can determine that God exists, that He is eternal, that He cares for us, and that He is indescribably powerful. The wonderful, awesome way in which the universe is structured, and the orderliness with which it operates, provides solid evidence of a God who is infinitely superior to us. (I think that's one of the major reasons why many intellectuals don't like to admit He's there - because they'd have to admit how much smarter He is than they!) Rom. 1:20f is not telling us that by studying the universe we'll be able to figure out how and when it was created. I do not think - though I may be missing something - I do not think that any amount of scientific research will ever lead to the conclusion that light was spoken into existence. However, I am firmly convinced that this is what happened (II Cor 4:6).

Also, I do not expect the truth to ever be palatable to the intelligentsia. (I'm generalizing, I know, but please bear with me.) Whereas I am no scholar, I do have a passing familiarity with some of the ancient philosophers (Aristotle, Plato, Euclid, Ptolemy, etc.). These men were brilliant students and deep thinkers. Yet, in spite of all their brilliance, see what God had to say about their efforts in I Cor. 1:18-25 and Mat. 12:25f!

Four additional thoughts suggested by contributor (full uneditedtext as submitted by respondee):
Concerning:
"If Satan is presenting wicked deceptions through the evidences of astronomy then it seems odd for God to have appealed to that form of evidence Himself, as he does in Psalms 19:1-6  and Job 38:31-33, as well as many other allusions to God's power evidences in the heavens He created."

What about astrology? Are there not people who are deceived by the "signs" they see in the stars? If this is not a work of Satan, it is certainly consistent with his goals. More to the point, it is not unusual for the same event or truth to soften one set of people while hardening another. Most conspicuous among these is the crucifixion of Christ (I Cor. 1:18-25). While the evolutionist looks at fossils and sees common ancestry, the creationist looks at the same fossils and sees evidence of a designer. Just a short time ago the same universe that caused David to praise the God who created all of those stars for the sake of the earth, caused men like Carl Sagan to insist that there must be life on other planets.

Concerning:
"Reflecting upon the significance of the 1992 COBE data, astronomers using that instrument remarked "For one who is religious, it is like looking at the face of God!" So if Satan is choosing to use astromonical data to destroy faith in God, he is doing a particularly poor job"

If the same sign that gets a man to believe that there is an all-powerful creator also causes him to question the veracity of the true Creator's own account of creation, then yes, it is a work of Satan. I don't believe it does any good to persuade a man that there is a god, if at the same time we persuade him that God's history of creation is a mere parable. After all, the same reasoning that makes Genesis 1:1-2:3 a parable can be used to make the virgin birth (along with a number of other events) into mere parables.

Concerning:
"The Thessalonians passage indicates nothing about ordinary, naturally occurring astronomical evidences being the means in view as devices of Satan...To place natural events into this context is similar to the exegetical mistake many make of placing a millenial reign of Christ on earth into Revelation 20. It doesn't mention such at all."

See verse 10: "and with all unrighteous deception...". This would seem to include any means used by Satan and his servants to deceive people. Therefore, a misinterpretation of a normal celestial event could readily fit this category. Again, think about people who believe in astrology. Is this not an unrighteous deception that involves the ordinary movements and configurations of the heavenly bodies?

Concerning:
"However, the passage also seems to indicate that such deceptions will only be effective among the perishing wicked and those at do not love truth, and hence reject salvation."

Even the faithful can be allured by the things of this world. (David's sin with Bathsheba and Uriah is a prime example.) An otherwise faithful man could be taken in by a sign of Satan for any number of reasons: his friends all believe it; all the educated people believe it; being an educated man, he becomes enamored of the wisdom of men (whether we label it "philosophy" or "science", it is the wisdom of men - we need to keep in mind that these are artificial and arbitrary labels); he finds it exciting to believe it; etc. We all need to be watchful, because any one of us can lose his focus on the things above, and slide into love of the world. Pointing this fact out should not cause any ill feelings; it is merely a fact. But aside from all of that, we are all human and prone to mistakes. We may not believe the lie for the same reason that worldly people believe it; we may simply be mistaken. But hopefully, if we continue loving and seeking the truth, we will eventually realize our mistake, and change our view.