2 Thessalonians

He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.

- 2 Thessalonians 1:8-10 (NIV)

The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

- 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 (NIV)

It sounds like God is encouraging people to believe a delusion, so that he can punish them for it?

It's excerpts like this that make me wonder if something has got lost in translation. Is the delusion actually a test to determine the morality of the people?