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The Surprising Sayings of Jesus Christ 'Many False Prophets Will Arise and Deceive Many'
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Dec 7, 2018 00:22:03   #
Doc110 Loc: York PA
 
03/04/2014 The Surprising Sayings of Jesus Christ 'Many False Prophets Will Arise and Deceive Many'. (Part 1)

Tom Robinson
https://www.ucg.org/the-good-news/the-surprising-sayings-of-jesus-christ-many-false-prophets-will-arise-and-deceive-many

When Jesus Christ foretold the major trends that would precede His return to earth, the first sign He mentioned was religious imposters who would come in His name.

Do you take that warning seriously ?

When Jesus Christ’s disciples asked Him what would herald His coming to rule all nations, He answered by first relaying a series of developments that would lead up to the grand climax of the present age:

Religious deception, wars, famines, pestilences and earthquakes.
Matthew 24:3-8; Mark 13:3-8; Luke 21:7-11

Jesus said that these were just the “ beginning of sorrows.”
Matthew 24:8

Emphasis added throughout—or, as the New International Version better renders this, the “beginning of birth pains.”

As birth pangs—or labor contractions—get stronger and closer together as delivery approaches, so these trends would appear with increasing intensity and frequency as the end of the age approached.


Let’s take a closer look at the first of these trends—religious deception.
“Many shall come in my name …”



Just what is the nature of this deception?

Notice Jesus’ specific warning:
“Take heed that no man or women may deceive you.
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.”
Matthew 24:4-5

Modern Bible versions often place quotation marks around “I am Christ,” the translators assuming that Jesus was talking about people who would claim to actually be the Christ or Messiah themselves.

There have been such people, and Jesus warned later in the same discourse of “false christs” at the end of the age.
Matthew 24:24

Yet there clearly have not been, as verse 5 requires, “many” such individuals who have been taken seriously—much less deceived the “many”—in the two millennia since Jesus said this.

And there certainly has not been a great increase in such individuals in recent centuries—while there has been a marked increase in the other prophesied signs.

Some have proposed that Jesus was referring to false “savior” figures like the Roman emperors of New Testament times or Napoleon, Hitler, Mao and Saddam Hussein in the modern era.

But this is stretching the concept of “the Christ” or “the Messiah” far beyond what Jesus’ disciples would have understood it to mean—the prophesied anointed king of the line of David.

Indeed, notice again that Jesus said, “Many shall come in my name “—His name being Jesus.

Furthermore, they would come in His name, not with His name or bearing His name.

In other words, they would presume to represent Him—not assume His identity.


So a clearer rendering of what Jesus meant in Matthew 24:4-5 would be: “Take heed that no one deceives you.

For many shall come claiming to represent Me, saying that I Jesus, am the Christ, yet shall deceive many.”

That is, they would proclaim Jesus as the biblical Messiah and would claim to be His representatives—but they actually would be part of a massive religious deception.

It is these people—false preachers and teachers claiming to be Christian—who would proliferate and deceive ever more people as the end of the age neared.

The apostle Paul later affirmed, in a Christian context, that “evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.”

(2 Timothy 3:13).

So not only do they deceive others.

These false teachers themselves are deceived.



Lawless fruits:

In His famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus issued the following warning regarding false prophets or preachers:

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.”
Matthew 7:15

Jesus being the great Shepherd, His followers are portrayed as sheep.

Yet these false prophets only appear to be Jesus’ followers.

Their true nature is one of devouring the lives of the unsuspecting—as a wolf among the flock.

Paul would later warn of this as well.

He told the leaders of the church in Ephesus:

“For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.

Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.”
Acts 20:29-30

Yet such imposters would be identifiable.

Jesus explained: “You will know them by their fruits.

Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles?

Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.”
Matthew 7:16-17

By “fruits,” Jesus is referring metaphorically to visible results or outcomes.

He then gives us an example of something to look for in our evaluation:

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord’ [merely acknowledging Him as Lord], shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”
Matthew 7:21

Then notice: “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied [preached or taught] in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’”
Matthew 7:22
Again, as in Matthew 24, we see such preachers coming in Jesus’ name —having done various works in His name.

But their lives are not lives conformed to the will of God. Jesus concludes, “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”
Matthew 7:23

Practicing lawlessness means living as if God’s law is done away or of no consequence.

Notice that these individuals are deceived about their own spiritual state. They think they have a special relationship with Jesus—but He ends up telling them they are gravely mistaken.

In reality, He doesn’t know them at all.

Why?

Because they don’t honor God by obeying His law.

As the apostle John would later explain:

“Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.

He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”
1 John 2:3-4

Jesus is telling these false prophets that He doesn’t know them and they don’t know Him.

For if they knew Him, they would understand what He required—obedience to God’s law.

As Jesus stated in Matthew 19:17
“If you want to enter into [eternal] life, keep the commandments.“


Earlier in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said:
“Whoever … breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called the least [by those] in the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 5:19
Notice that Jesus speaks here of those who would disobey God and those who would teach others to disobey Him.

So it’s not only a matter of practicing lawlessness —but also of teaching it, whether through word or example.



Exalting traditions over God’s law:

Jesus applied these principles to the religious leaders of His own day.

For instance, Jesus chided the scribes and Pharisees for establishing many legalistic traditions that sidelined God’s actual commandments.

He said: “Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.

Hypocrites!

Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.

And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men’.”
Matthew 15:6-9

Thus it is actually possible to worship God in vain—uselessly—in this case by putting the traditions of men ahead of the commandments of God.


Moreover, the scribes and Pharisees went beyond mere false teaching.

As Jesus explained, “All their works they do to be seen by men.”

Matthew 23:5

He castigated them, “Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”
Matthew 23:28

Yet it should be made clear that it’s not necessary to be a hypocrite to be a false preacher.

A man preaching that God’s law is done away may be completely sincere in his belief—yet he is nevertheless a false teacher and certainly not a true representative of Jesus Christ.



Counterfeit Christianity

Jesus’ prophecy of false teachers coming in His name began to be fulfilled even during the era of the apostles.

Paul mentioned a number of false teachers. He said a “different gospel” was already being preached.
Galatians 1:6

Paul even identified a heretical system he referred to as “the mystery of lawlessness,” which during his ministry was “already at work.”
2 Thessalonians 2:7

This system, he showed, would persist until the end of the age:

“And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.

(End Part 1)

Reply
Dec 7, 2018 00:22:59   #
Doc110 Loc: York PA
 
03/04/2014 The Surprising Sayings of Jesus Christ 'Many False Prophets Will Arise and Deceive Many'. (Part 2)

Tom Robinson
https://www.ucg.org/the-good-news/the-surprising-sayings-of-jesus-christ-many-false-prophets-will-arise-and-deceive-many

When Jesus Christ foretold the major trends that would precede His return to earth, the first sign He mentioned was religious imposters who would come in His name.


The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. ”
2 Thessalonians 2:8-10


The book of Revelation refers to this lawless mystery religion as “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT.”
Revelation 17:5

And shows it appearing with “two horns like a lamb” (presenting itself as Christ-like) but speaking “like a dragon.”
Revelation 13:11

The “dragon” in Revelation is Satan the devil, who deceives the whole world. Revelation 12:9

So what we’re seeing here is an extremely powerful “wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

What Paul and this section of Revelation are describing is a great counterfeit of the true religion—a world-dominating false Christianity led by Satan and his ministers, who appear as ministers of righteousness.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15

As shocking as it may sound, the world religion that now lays claim to the name of Christianity, having nearly 2 billion adherents, is that very lawless mystery system!

This is not to question the sincerity of its many followers.

Most are motivated by a sincere desire to please God.

But sincerity is not the measure of right and wrong.

God defines what is right by His laws and commandments, and Christianity in general has rejected many of God’s clear instructions.

It is just as Jesus said of the Pharisees: “In vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.“

The true Christian Church, holding fast to God’s commandments throughout history, has remained, in the words of Jesus, a “little flock.”
Luke 12:32

In contrast, the popular substitute for Christianity has grown enormous and powerful—just as Jesus foretold in
Matthew 24



The worst yet to come:

Recall Christ’s warning that false teachers would be on the rise through history, culminating in the vast and powerful deception of the last days.

Of the time just before His return Jesus said, “False christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”
Matthew 24:24

These signs and wonders are the same ones Paul mentioned.

They have happened at times throughout history—yet will grow in magnitude at the end of the age, reaching their height with the coming of the great false prophet, who also appears to be representing Christ but in reality is the Antichrist.

All of us need to be wary and watchful.

We must examine the fruits of all those who claim to represent Jesus Christ—in the way they live and the doctrines they teach.

Do they insist that we are required to obey God’s commandments?
Or do they preach a message of cheap grace—that we can come to God just as we are without making any fundamental changes in our behavior?

Remember, most of those who claim to represent Jesus actually don’t.

Moreover, as time goes on, ever more pretenders will arise, however sincere they may be. A

nd finally, bear in mind that the greatest period of deception ever is just ahead of us.

“See,” Jesus said, “I have told you beforehand.”
Matthew 24:25

He was warning us to be prepared.

Are you?


(End Part 1)

Do you take that warning seriously ?

Reply
Dec 7, 2018 05:39:54   #
PeterS
 
Doc110 wrote:
03/04/2014 The Surprising Sayings of Jesus Christ 'Many False Prophets Will Arise and Deceive Many'. (Part 2)

Tom Robinson
https://www.ucg.org/the-good-news/the-surprising-sayings-of-jesus-christ-many-false-prophets-will-arise-and-deceive-many

When Jesus Christ foretold the major trends that would precede His return to earth, the first sign He mentioned was religious imposters who would come in His name.


The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. ”
2 Thessalonians 2:8-10


The book of Revelation refers to this lawless mystery religion as “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT.”
Revelation 17:5

And shows it appearing with “two horns like a lamb” (presenting itself as Christ-like) but speaking “like a dragon.”
Revelation 13:11

The “dragon” in Revelation is Satan the devil, who deceives the whole world. Revelation 12:9

So what we’re seeing here is an extremely powerful “wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

What Paul and this section of Revelation are describing is a great counterfeit of the true religion—a world-dominating false Christianity led by Satan and his ministers, who appear as ministers of righteousness.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15

As shocking as it may sound, the world religion that now lays claim to the name of Christianity, having nearly 2 billion adherents, is that very lawless mystery system!

This is not to question the sincerity of its many followers.

Most are motivated by a sincere desire to please God.

But sincerity is not the measure of right and wrong.

God defines what is right by His laws and commandments, and Christianity in general has rejected many of God’s clear instructions.

It is just as Jesus said of the Pharisees: “In vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.“

The true Christian Church, holding fast to God’s commandments throughout history, has remained, in the words of Jesus, a “little flock.”
Luke 12:32

In contrast, the popular substitute for Christianity has grown enormous and powerful—just as Jesus foretold in
Matthew 24



The worst yet to come:

Recall Christ’s warning that false teachers would be on the rise through history, culminating in the vast and powerful deception of the last days.

Of the time just before His return Jesus said, “False christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”
Matthew 24:24

These signs and wonders are the same ones Paul mentioned.

They have happened at times throughout history—yet will grow in magnitude at the end of the age, reaching their height with the coming of the great false prophet, who also appears to be representing Christ but in reality is the Antichrist.

All of us need to be wary and watchful.

We must examine the fruits of all those who claim to represent Jesus Christ—in the way they live and the doctrines they teach.

Do they insist that we are required to obey God’s commandments?
Or do they preach a message of cheap grace—that we can come to God just as we are without making any fundamental changes in our behavior?

Remember, most of those who claim to represent Jesus actually don’t.

Moreover, as time goes on, ever more pretenders will arise, however sincere they may be. A

nd finally, bear in mind that the greatest period of deception ever is just ahead of us.

“See,” Jesus said, “I have told you beforehand.”
Matthew 24:25

He was warning us to be prepared.

Are you?


(End Part 1)

Do you take that warning seriously ?
03/04/2014 The Surprising Sayings of Jesus Christ ... (show quote)


You mean like Donald Trump? No, you guys don't seem to have taken the warning too seriously...

Reply
 
 
Dec 7, 2018 11:36:22   #
Doc110 Loc: York PA
 
PeterS,

A straw-Man Fallacy to the Article Post:

The Surprising Sayings of Jesus Christ 'Many False Prophets Will Arise and Deceive Many'

Really Peter, but your "thinking cap on"


Are you a non-conformist like Bad-Boob, your defiantly "not" . . . but are you of the same liberal prevailing attitudes. . . . "The Resistance" . . .


I don't put my faith in the hands of any politician and neither should you.

Republicans-Democrats, They are one and the same ideology . . . Money Power and $Greed . . .


Again the article title, 'Many False Prophets Will Arise and Deceive Many.'

PeterS, are you deceiving other on the Forum ?

There you go again "Inking the well" with fallacies, your socialist diatribe thinking and labeling others.


Doc110



PeterS wrote:


You mean like Donald Trump?

No, you guys don't seem to have taken the warning too seriously...


Reply
Dec 7, 2018 12:09:19   #
Rose42
 
There you go again Doc. I hope Zemirah doesn't mine me quoting her here

"Doc,

Truly, you are creating a unique experience for those of us who remain in our right mind
.
through the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ,

As your madman ravings frame each day in spittle and "Lunatic fringe" pronouncements.

Your failure to offer either compassion to those you've personally consigned to the flame,

or your lack of congratulations to those who will escape it,

are sorely missed by the 1st beseiged group

and add immensely to the hilarity of the latter."

Reply
Dec 7, 2018 16:25:35   #
tNotMyPrez Loc: So. CA, USA
 
PeterS wrote:
You mean like Donald Trump? No, you guys don't seem to have taken the warning too seriously...

Every day, every week, every month, every year, every decade, every century, every millennium since Jesus was crucified, died and arisen, there were occurrences which made followers point to them heralding the end times & when believers were absolutely sure that the second coming was imminent...



Jesus' approximated likely appearance:
Jesus' approximated likely appearance:...

Reply
Dec 7, 2018 16:39:42   #
mwdegutis Loc: Illinois
 
tNotMyPrez wrote:
Every day, every week, every month, every year, every decade, every century, every millennium since Jesus was crucified, died and arisen, there were occurrences which made followers point to them heralding the end times & when believers were absolutely sure that the second coming was imminent...

Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:3-9


Even you tNotMyPrez.

Reply
 
 
Dec 7, 2018 16:53:38   #
tNotMyPrez Loc: So. CA, USA
 
mwdegutis wrote:
Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:3-9


Even you tNotMyPrez.
i Know this first of all, that in the last days m... (show quote)

So very sad that you cannot tell the difference between imparting information and mocking...

Here ya go - - THIS is mocking:







Reply
Dec 7, 2018 16:59:03   #
mwdegutis Loc: Illinois
 
tNotMyPrez wrote:
So very sad that you cannot tell the difference between imparting information and mocking...

Here ya go - - THIS is mocking:

Actually the word mockers in the NASB translates into scoffers in the King James.

Reply
Dec 7, 2018 17:11:04   #
tNotMyPrez Loc: So. CA, USA
 
mwdegutis wrote:
Actually the word mockers in the NASB translates into scoffers in the King James.

So what...

Reply
Dec 7, 2018 17:47:29   #
Doc110 Loc: York PA
 
mwdegutis,

Amen, Believe, Let it be so, Amen

Do we have to turn the other cheek. ?

Eye for Eye
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’[a]
39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.
40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.

[quote=mwdegutis][I]

Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming?

For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.”

For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water.

But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:3-9

Even you tNotMyPrez.[/quote]

Reply
 
 
Dec 7, 2018 17:51:52   #
Doc110 Loc: York PA
 
Rose42,

You probably are the worst offenders on the OPP Religious forum . . .

'Many False Prophets Will Arise and Deceive Many'

For Jesus I'm turning the other cheek, . . . but they are not listening to your words, instructions and biblical commandments.

Doc110


Rose42 wrote:


There you go again Doc.

I hope Zemirah doesn't mine me quoting her here

"Doc,

Truly, you are creating a unique experience for those of us who remain in our right mind

through the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ,

As your madman ravings frame each day in spittle and "Lunatic fringe" pronouncements.

Your failure to offer either compassion to those you've personally consigned to the flame,

or your lack of congratulations to those who will escape it,

are sorely missed by the 1st beseiged group

and add immensely to the hilarity of the latter."
br br There you go again Doc. br br I hope Ze... (show quote)

Reply
Dec 7, 2018 17:58:24   #
tNotMyPrez Loc: So. CA, USA
 
Doc110 wrote:
mwdegutis,

Amen, Believe, Let it be so, Amen

Do we have to turn the other cheek. ?

Eye for Eye
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’[a]
39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.
40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.

The bible isn't the only place where inexplicable dichotomies are found:

A stitch in time saves nine...
- - Look before you leap.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder...
- - Out of sight, out of mind.

Etc etc etc...



Reply
Dec 7, 2018 18:18:22   #
tNotMyPrez Loc: So. CA, USA
 
Doc110 wrote:
Rose42,bYou probably are the worst offenders on the OPP Religious forum . . .

'Many False Prophets Will Arise and Deceive Many'

For Jesus I'm turning the other cheek, . . . but they are not listening to your words, instructions and biblical commandments. Doc110

It is interesting how the religiosos think that the non-believers could ever be swayed by biblical quotes...



Reply
Dec 7, 2018 23:13:45   #
mwdegutis Loc: Illinois
 
tNotMyPrez wrote:
So what...

I was calling you a scoffer.

Reply
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