After this long period (thousand years is a long period logically, not literally), Satan has now been loosed from the great chain that bound him. …and after that, he must be loosed a little season. – Rev 20:3.
He has desperately jumped into rapid action in this “little season”.

And, the devil has got one tried and tested weapon still in his hand – deception!

The Lord Jesus Christ warned about this deception when the disciples approached Him and asked Him about the last days or the end of the world. The first thing that He warned them about when He answered their questions was, “Take heed that no man deceives you”. (“No man” is translated “None” in the Thamizh Bible). Deception was the dominating theme of this discourse of the Lord. And He linked this time of the great deception and falling away to the (once forever cursed) fig tree (unbelieving Israel) becoming tender and putting forth leaves (not fruits, again!) – 1948 AD / 1967 AD (Independence of Israel as a country and control of Jerusalem, which has today become its capital city).

The Deceiver would deceive even the Elect (Matt 24:24) by hurling this offensive weapon at them. So doing, he can rob them of their valuable time, health, and sound mind, and ultimately their faith as well. No wonder, the devil is called a thief and a murderer.

I am borrowing a statement from Joel C. Rosenberg: “To misunderstand the nature and threat of evil is to risk being blindsided by it”.