When Jesus was talking with His disciples about the end times and the sign of His coming, Jesus said in Matthew 24:24, there shall arise false Christs and false prophets and shall shew great signs and wonders, insomuch that, 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; 주 여호와께서 이같이 말씀하시되; 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, 속담, 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, therefore, 보다, I am against you, saith the Lord God. 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 (에스겔 13:2-9)
Her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, 허영심을 보는 것, 그들에게 거짓 점술을 하여, 속담, 주 여호와께서 이같이 말씀하시되, 여호와께서 말씀하지 아니하셨을 때에 (에스겔 22:28)
False prophets in the New Testament
In the New Testament there are many warnings about false prophets and false teachers. Paul, 남자, 베드로, 주드 (and others) wrote about them. They warned the saints to be cautious
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, 누가 은밀히 저주받을 이단을 끌어들일 것인가, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction (2 베드로 2:1)
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world (1 남자 4:1)
Jesus warned us about false prophets
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 보다, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, 보다, he is in the desert; go not forth: 보다, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together (매튜 24:24-28)
Beware of false prophets, 양의 탈을 입고 너희에게 오는 것, 그러나 속으로는 게걸스러운 늑대들이다. (매튜 7:15)
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many (매튜 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, doctrines, 기적, signs, and wonders.
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 the fruit of the Spirit or the fruit of the flesh?
예를 들어, when a charismatic prophet or preacher, preaches wonderful encouraging sermons from the pulpit. And when (에스)he does many signs and wonders, but in private, (에스)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, instead of after the Spirit.
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) preachers, 선지자, and evangelists, without studying the Bible for themselves. They accept and believe their words, even if they contradict the Word of God (또한 읽어보세요: How doctrines of devils are killing the church? 그리고 하나님을 모독하는 거짓 교리.
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.
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, 간음, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, 평화, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts(갈라디아서 5:21-24)
예수님께서 말씀하십니다, 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. Imagine that! These prophets seem so real, and so devoted to God, but the truth is, 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; 하나님의 말씀, the more you will get to know the real Jesus Christ. If you renew your mind with the Word of God, the easier you will discern, what is real (genuine) and what is false (a counterfeit). 하지만 또….예수께서 말씀하셨다, the only way you will discern false Christs and prophets, is to look at their lives and the fruit they bear.
예수께서 계속해서 말씀하셨다., 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.
When Jesus returns, 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.
'세상의 소금이 되어라’
