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Before we get into today’s discussion, I want to once again
give you a word of caution about signs. The disciples asked
Jesus “When will you return, and what will be the sign of
your coming?” His answer was:
“Of that day and hour no one knows, no, not even the angels
of heaven,
but My Father only.” (Matthew 24:36)
And He said “It is not for you to know times or seasons
which the Father has put in His own authority.” (Acts 1:7)
These two verses warn us not to predict a date or ‘season’
for His return, but He did say in the parable of the fig
tree that we can know the general time of His coming. “So
you also, when you see all these things, know that it is
near, at the doors.” (Matthew 24:33)
And now to today’s subject:
During the Mount Olivet discourse, Jesus also said that we
should “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will
come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive
many.
At least 6 times in His Olivet discourse, Jesus warned his
disciples against false teachers and deceivers. For
example:
“Take heed that no one deceives you” (Matthew
24:4)
“For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am
the Christ,, and will deceive many” (Matthew 24:5)
“Then many false prophets will rise up and
deceive many” (24:11)
Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the
Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it” (24:23
“For false christs and false prophets will rise
and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible,
even the elect (saints)” (24:24)
“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 no believe it” (24:26)
There have always been and there always will be false
teachers. That’s how Satan works. Jesus called him a
‘deceiver’ and a ‘liar’ stating that he had been a liar from
the beginning. If Satan can’t get people to rebel against
God, he will get them hooked on some false teaching to lead
them astray. Consider the “New Agers”, or those who
followed Jim Jones in Guyana in 1978 or David Koresh’s
Branch Davidians in Texas in 1993.
There will always be those who are easily led astray.
Millions of people are searching for answers and are
susceptible to deception. But those of us who know the
bible will not be deceived. Therefore, know the signs as
given to us in the bible, and turn away from those who would
deceive us.
Friday: Signs Part III – War and Rumors of War |
