The phrase 'Trojan Horse' comes to us from the Greek legend of the destruction of Troy. This destruction was so complete that the ruins have never been found to substantiate the story. It is believed that Troy was situated at the strategic strait that connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Black Sea now known as the Dardanelles.
The Spartans desired to control this area against the attack of the Persian fleet so they were looking for an excuse to wage war against Troy. Their wish was fulfilled by the kidnapping of Helen of Troy, the wife of Menelaus, king of Sparta. The beautiful Helen ran off with Paris, son of Prian, king of Troy. This naturally infuriated Menelaus and he determined to get Helen back. He commissioned his brother, Agamemnon, to lead an expedition to rescue her.
The Spartans prepared for the rescue mission for two years by assembling a fleet of 1000 ships and an army of 100,000 men. Hence the expression, 'a face that launched a thousand ships.' The Trojans heard of their plan, and they prepared for a protracted siege of the city by laying in supplies of food and water. The city of Troy was well fortified with a high wall which the Spartans could not scale.
After besieging the city for two years they finally gave up and appeared to sail away. However, a wily Greek named Odysseus suggested a way of tricking the Trojans. He had a huge wooden horse constructed which could contain 100 men and placed it outside the city gate. The Trojans saw the Greek ships sail away and when they found this horse outside their gate, they thought it was a gift and pulled it inside the city. That night while the Trojans slept, the 100 Greeks emerged from the horse, signaled the waiting ships to return and opened the city gates. Soon a thousand Greeks streamed into the city, killed all of the inhabitants except Helen, and razed the city to rubble.
Hence the expression, 'beware of Greeks bearing gifts.'
Ever since the expression, 'Trojan Horse,' has symbolized deception and treachery. The Greeks accomplished by subterfuge what they could not do by a direct frontal attack. Satan is a master of deception.
In fact, we are told that this is his most powerful weapon in the great battle between good and evil. He knows that he cannot win the battle by revealing who he really is, but disguises himself to conquer the minds of unsuspecting people. He presents cleverly designed counterfeits to deceive the very elect. Under his direction the magicians of Egypt were able to duplicate the miraculous signs that Moses performed for Pharaoh. We are told that he will appear to duplicate every miracle performed by Christ, and that the counterfeits will be so real that it will be impossible to detect the difference with our senses. The Bible states that unless we are fortified by a knowledge of Scripture that we will be deceived by these 'lying wonders.'
As the crowning act of Satanic deception, he will appear as an angel of light, and his glory will correspond to the description of Christ in the first chapter of Revelation. The kings and rulers of earth will bow at his feet as he attempts to duplicate Christ's second coming. The whole world will hail him as the long-awaited Messiah.
Only when it is too late, and their doom is sealed will they discover that they have embraced a "Satanic Trojan Horse."
