Reflections

“Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.”Matthew24:11NKJV

““Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand.” Matthew24:23-25NKJV

When I was in college I had two professors that gave True and False quizzes. They instructed us that if the statement was false we had to identify the false statement and give the true statement. This made the test much more difficult because we actually had to know the material in order to not only identify the true statements but explain why the false statements were not true. This is the same with God’s word. If we are going to be able to identify the false we must know what is true and we must study God’s word.

Jesus is warning the disciples in Matthew that in the last days there will be false christs and false prophets.  They will be able to show great signs and wonders and deceive many.  Their acts will be so believable that if God does not cut short these days even the elect could be deceived.These false christs and false prophets will come from the church.  They will be people who were once in the light and knew the truth but departed from the way and fall into darkness.  We will not be able to distinguish them by their signs but Jesus told us we would know them by their fruit.

It is so important for us to know and understand the word of God.  So many today are consumed with signs and wonders.  False teachers will be able to perform great signs and wonders but their lifestyle will be full of unrighteousness.  We also cannot entertain false teachings.  A little of bit of error is not acceptable.  Satan will deceive us by twisting the word of God.  Most false teaching is about 90% true.  We will not be able to discern the truth if we are not in the word of God. 

Another major sign of false christs and false prophets is the anti-christ spirit they will have.  Their hearts will be full of hate, their conscience will be seared and the truth will not be in them.  The Bible describes these individuals.  So please do not be fooled by their acts.

Jesus rebuked the Jews because they wanted signs. They ignored Jesus’ teachings and His word. They said they would only believe if they were shown a sign but even the signs Jesus performed they still denied Him. We must pursue the truth of God’s word. We must grow in the knowledge of Jesus. This is how we guard ourselves against deception and many that will come in Jesus’ name claiming they are the “Christ.” Be alert. Be on guard. Stay sober and meditate on God’s word day and night.

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“And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.”

Matthew24:4-5NKJV

There has been great debate about the end times. From a historical perspective the end times have been predicted multiple times but has yet to come to pass. There are many that are looking for the antichrist or the mark of the beast. Most would agree we are living in the last days because of the signs Jesus speaks about in Matthew 24.

The disciples asked Jesus to tell them the sign of His coming and the end of the age.  Jesus responds first by telling them not to be deceived.  After that statement Jesus said that many will come deceiving people.  When we look at the text closely the word deceive here refers to “cause to wander”.  In essence Jesus was warning the disciples not to wander from the truth – Jesus’ word.

When we look at the world today we see a lot of deception.  We know that there are false prophets, false teachers and people claiming to be Jesus.  However, Jesus’ warning was in the time of deception we cannot wander from Him – the truth.

Many may think deception is simply having the “wool pulled over our eyes”, but Jesus warns that people will actually be led astray from Him.  This is one of the major signs we will see in the last days – people falling away from Jesus.

It is important that we guard against all deception that would cause us to wander from the truth of Jesus Christ.  We must know that Jesus is the word made into flesh, so the words of Jesus are the truth that we live by.  We must guard our hearts in Jesus’ word and keep our minds stayed on Him.

Deception is only going to increase in the last days. Jesus goes on to tell the disciples what will happen. There are also other scriptures that warn us about various types of deceptions that we must guard against. Keep in mind the warning of Jesus in that no matter what deception is cast before you do not wander from the truth. The truth is what will protect us in these last days and help us to endure. Heed Jesus’ warning – Do not be deceived!

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