Shema Living During End Times #15
Watch & Pray #15
Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe him. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
(Matthew 24:23-24)
Over the years, I have heard people, and as a minister sometimes experience that death occurs in threes. That is, sometimes the timing of death happens on such occasions that three people die, that you know or in the church or family, workplace, die within a short, well-known time period. Whether a truism to the saying or perhaps a psychological attempt to find solace through a time of grieving, this saying about death, lives on.
Concerning Jesus’ words of prophecy in Matthew 24the 15th part of “Watch and Pray,” our Lord has circled back around, now for the third time, of those who will seek to deceive.
Jesus answered them, “Watch out that no one misleads you. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many. (vv. 4-5)
And many false prophets will appear and deceive many… (v. 11)
And now, after Jesus had brought forth the Old Testament reminder from the prophet Daniel of a coming day that will not compare in trouble to any former days and times, Jesus declares again that an element of that prophetic moment’s fulfillment as Jewish believers flee to the mountains and the time of the Great Tribulation is shortened will be…
… false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders… (v. 24)
Have no doubt…deception will continue to escalate not only in frequency and intensity but, as will see, in its lure.
It has been recorded that over the past nineteen centuries, there have been over twenty major false Christ claims been made within in Judaism. So, a seemingly ongoing occurrence of false Christs and false prophets in Israel’s history will for a specific generation be uncommon in both severity and appeal.
Jesus’ clear instruction is to not give any attention to these who make a claim to be the Messiah nor to their followers. Because others, during a dark and chaotic generation, and hoping for a deliverer, will attach themselves and announce, “There he is.” Yes, make no doubt about it their appeal will be real, they will not lack confidence, nor will they be lazy in pursuing followers.
As mentioned, their deception and trickery will be enhanced by the power they exude to perform wonderful and amazing miracles. In their appearance they will “perform great signs (a mighty and glorious work) and wonders (issues forth amazement and marvel).” Their acts will go beyond human understanding and explanation and the conclusion that someone with that ability cannot be a mere human. Yes, it will be powerful, but the source of the power will not be of God as will be concluded. It will be the power of the evil one. Just as Pharaoh’s magicians were able for a while to keep pace with Moses, the staff, and the plagues in doing the unexplainable. (Exodus 7:12, 22) But God’s power was more than the power of evil.
Moreover, Jesus teaches that the ability to “signs and wonders” must not bring one to the conclusion that they are the Christ or a true prophet.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven – only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many powerful deeds in your name?’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Go away from me, you lawbreakers!’ (Matthew 7:21-23)
Yet, the power to do these great wonders would be to such a degree that even the elect could be impacted…but they are the elect and will not be swayed as God’s chosen children and servants. For in the end the elect will not be deceived they will remember Jesus’ words and not be pulled in as the crowd.
Our Father, we understand that three is an important spiritual number…a number of perfection and completion. Three times you have mentioned in the final days that false prophets and false Christs will be strongly present seeing to deceive people through an expression of miracle and wonder. We hear You and respond accordingly. Train our minds in Truth so we easily detect any lie or false spirit. Enable our lives as Your chosen ones to represent You well in our generation with endurance. To You be ALL the glory, in Jesus’ name, amen.
