Regarding the End of the Age and the Return of Jesus Christ, there are many Christians today who dedicate their lives to prophecies, end time revelations, world peace, and even searching for secret codes spending years trying to decode them. But if you look at what Jesus warned us about, it had nothing to do with these things rather when the disciples came to Him and asked: “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” (Matt. 24:3) Jesus responded with:
“Take heed that no one DECEIVES YOU For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and WILL DECEIVE MANY“ (Matt. 24:4)
Those involved in the Word Faith Positive Confession Movement, as well as the ever growing, extremely popular Pragmatic and Emergent Church movements, guarding oneself against falsehood and being very meticulous about deceitfulness is far from their list of “to-do” things—in fact to them these things are considered negative, offensive, and the cause of divisions. Church service, dedication, and being involved in every aspect of church activities is priority to them, but to discern, test, and search the scriptures is no where to be found in their agenda. Other Christians continually warn people about the things mentioned in the Book of Revelation, while others spend years convincing people of the Rapture of the church. But is this what Jesus told us to do? Were these things imperative to the coming of the End of the Age and the Sign of His’ Return?
Within this same episode of answering His disciples, Jesus says again: “…MANY false prophets will rise up and DECEIVE many” (Matt. 24:11), He then says: “…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. Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ DO NOT GO OUT; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ DO NOT BELIEVE IT.”
Jesus then gives descriptive information regarding these warnings by using the Parable of the Fig Tree: “…learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you SEE ALL THESE THINGS, know that it is NEAR—AT THE DOORS!” (Matt. 24:32,33) And in great assertiveness He goes on to say: “Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till ALL THESE THINGS TAKE PLACE.”
Now of course there were other things He mentioned as well, such as “nation rising against nation, kingdom against kingdom, and how there will be famines, pestilences, earthquakes in various places (Matt. 24:7), and great tribulation,” (Matt. 24:21), however it was Falsehood and Deceitfulness that He mentions twice. There must be some significance to this matter for Jesus to reiterate it within one response.
Jesus then ends His retort with:”Therefore you ALSO BE READY, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour YOU DO NOT EXPECT” (Matt.24:44) “…Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.” (Matt. 24:46, 47)
He then gives one final warning to those who do not care to guard themselves against Falsehood and Deceit but rather go along with it: “But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matt. 24:48-51)
Are you looking out for Falsehood and being very careful of not being deceived by testing the spirits, discerning teachings, and identifying falsehood? If not then scripture teaches us we are not doing what Jesus commanded us to do.
Falsehood…Who cares? I do, and so should you.
In Christ,
Marc
1 Thess. 5:21 