When Jesus was talking with His disciples about the end times and the sign of His coming, Jesus said in Matthew 24:24, sorgeranno falsi cristi e falsi profeti e faranno grandi segni e prodigi, tanto che, if it were possible they shall deceive the very elect. What did Jesus mean? What will these false Christs and false prophets and their deceiving signs and wonders look like? What does the Bible say about false Christs and false prophets?
False prophets in the Old Testament
Not only in the New Testament do we read about false prophets. But also in the Old Testament, we read about false prophets, who were not sent by God.
Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment (Lamentations 2:14)
Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord God; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts. Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord. They have seen vanity and lying divination, detto, The Lord saith: and the Lord hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word. Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The Lord saith it; albeit I have not spoken?
Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, Perciò, ecco, I am against you, dice il Signore Dio. And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord God (Ezechiele 13:2-9)
Her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, detto, Thus saith the Lord God, when the Lord hath not spoken (Ezechiele 22:28)
False prophets in the New Testament
In the New Testament there are many warnings about false prophets and false teachers. Paolo, John, Peter, Giuda (and others) wrote about them. They warned the saints to be cautious
Ma c'erano anche falsi profeti tra il popolo, così come vi saranno tra voi falsi maestri, che segretamente introdurranno eresie dannate, rinnegando perfino il Signore che li ha comprati, e attireranno su di sé una rapida distruzione (2 Peter 2:1)
Amato, non credere ad ogni spirito, ma provate gli spiriti se sono da Dio: perché molti falsi profeti sono usciti nel mondo (1 John 4:1)
Jesus warned us about false prophets
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; tanto che, se fosse possibile, inganneranno gli stessi eletti. Ecco, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Ecco, he is in the desert; go not forth: ecco, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; così sarà anche la venuta del Figlio dell'uomo. For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together (Matteo 24:24-28)
Attenzione ai falsi profeti, che vengono a te in veste di pecore, ma dentro sono lupi rapaci (Matteo 7:15)
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many (Matteo 24:11)
Jesus warned us of false prophets, and told us, how we can recognize false prophets. We can recognize them by the fruit they bear.
False Christs and prophets do great signs and wonders. Therefore we cannot rely upon their teachings, dottrine, miracoli, segni, e meraviglie.
Jesus told us that we should look at their lives, and what fruit they bear in their lives. Do they walk according to the Word of God, and walk in His commandments? Do they bear il frutto dello Spirito or the fruit of the flesh?
Per esempio, when a charismatic prophet or preacher, preaches wonderful encouraging sermons from the pulpit. And when (S)he does many signs and wonders, but in private, (S)he lives like the world.
When the person experiences depression, commits adultery, watches porn, goes to clubs/bars, leaves his/her spouse and gets a divorce, or is habitually living in sin, and do those things which go against the Word of God, you know that the person is not rooted and seated in Jesus Chris. The person is carnal and walks after the flesh, invece che secondo lo Spirito.
When you look at the fruit, which a person produces, you will know if you’re dealing with a true shepherd or a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
How do you recognize false Christs and false prophets?
We have accepted too much garbage and false doctrines in the church. And because many Christians don’t examine the Bible by themselves and are led by the flesh instead of being led by the Holy Spirit, there is hardly any discernment anymore. Many Christians follow their pastors, (well-known) predicatori, profeti, and evangelists, without studying the Bible for themselves. They accept and believe their words, even if they contradict the Word of God (Leggi anche: How doctrines of devils are killing the church? E False doctrines that are an insult to God.
Let us be serious and watchful and look at the fruit of the person; are the fruits they produce, fruits of the Spirit or fruits of the flesh.
Ora le opere della carne sono manifeste, quali sono questi; Adulterio, fornicazione, impurità, lascivia, Idolatria, stregoneria, odio, varianza, emulazioni, collera, conflitto, sedizioni, eresie, Invidie, omicidi, ubriachezza, baldorie, e simili: di cui ti dico prima, come vi ho detto anche in passato, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, gioia, pace, longanime, dolcezza, bontà, fede, Mansuetudine, temperanza: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts(Galati 5:21-24)
Gesù dice, that this is the only way, that we can recognize and discern true and false prophets and Christs.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 24:24, that these false Christs and prophets could even deceive the very elect, if Jesus didn’t warn us about them. Immaginalo! These prophets seem so real, and so devoted to God, ma la verità è, that they aren’t sent from God. Therefore be and stay watchful!
How do you recognize real from counterfeit?
The more you study the Bible; la Parola di Dio, the more you will get to know the real Jesus Christ. If you renew your mind con la Parola di Dio, the easier you will discern, what is real (genuine) and what is false (a counterfeit). Ma ancora una volta….Gesù disse, the only way you will discern false Christs and prophets, is to look at their lives and the fruit they bear.
Jesus continued and said, that if these false Christs and prophets say, that the Son of man is in the desert, you should not go there, or in the secret chambers, you should not believe it. You do not have to search for Jesus in places. You shouldn’t be led by supernatural manifestations, which could also be a counterfeit of the devil.
Quando Gesù ritornerà, everyone will see Jesus, not just one person, or a few persons. He shall return at an unexpected moment. Jesus gave us the example of lightening to compare to His return. Jesus will return like a thief in the night, therefore we should always stay watchful and be prepared to meet Him at His return.
‘Sii il sale della terra’
