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, настолько, что, 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.
Твои пророки видели для тебя тщетное и глупое: и не открыли беззакония твоего, отвернуться от твоего плена; но увидел для тебя ложное бремя и причины изгнания (Плач 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; Так говорит Господь Бог; Горе глупым пророкам, которые следуют своему собственному духу, и ничего не видел! Израиль, твои пророки подобны лисицам в пустыне. Вы не взошли в пропасти, и не сделал ограды для дома Израилева, чтобы выстоять в сражении в день Господень. Они видели суету и лживое гадание, говоря, Господь говорит: и Господь не послал их: и заставили других надеяться, что они подтвердят слово. Не видели ли вы тщетного видения, и не лживого ли вы гадания говорили, тогда как ты говоришь, Господь говорит это; хоть я и не говорил?
Посему так говорит Господь Бог; Потому что вы говорили тщеславие, и видел ложь, поэтому, вот, я против тебя, говорит Господь Бог. И рука Моя будет на пророках, видящих суету, и эта божественная ложь: их не будет в собрании народа Моего, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, и не войдут они в землю Израиля; и узнаете, что Я Господь Бог (Иезекииль 13:2-9)
Her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, видя тщеславие, и угадывая ложь им, говоря, Так говорит Господь Бог, когда Господь не говорил (Иезекииль 22:28)
False prophets in the New Testament
In the New Testament there are many warnings about false prophets and false teachers. Paul, Джон, Питер, Джуд (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, кто тайно внесет проклятые ереси, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction (2 Питер 2:1)
Возлюбленный, верь не каждому духу, но испытай духов, от Бога ли они: потому что много лжепророков вышло в мир (1 Джон 4:1)
Jesus warned us about false prophets
Ибо восстанут лжехристы, и лжепророки, и покажет великие знамения и чудеса; настолько, что, если бы это было возможно, они прельстят самых избранных. Вот, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Вот, he is in the desert; go not forth: вот, 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 (Мэтью 24:24-28)
Остерегайтесь лжепророков, которые приходят к тебе в овечьей шкуре, но внутри они хищные волки (Мэтью 7:15)
И многие лжепророки восстанут, и обманет многих (Мэтью 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, доктрины, чудеса, знаки, и чудеса.
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, и ходить по Его заповедям? Do they bear плод Духа or the fruit of the flesh?
Например, when a charismatic prophet or preacher, preaches wonderful encouraging sermons from the pulpit. And when (с)he does many signs and wonders, but in private, (с)he lives like the world.
When the person experiences depression, совершает прелюбодеяние, 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, вместо того, чтобы следовать за Духом.
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, (известный) проповедники, пророки, and evangelists, without studying the Bible for themselves. They accept and believe their words, even if they contradict the Word of God (Читайте также: How doctrines of devils are killing the church? и Ложные доктрины, оскорбляющие Бога.
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; Прелюбодеяние, блуд, нечистота, похотливость, Идолопоклонство, колдовство, ненависть, дисперсия, эмуляции, гнев, борьба, мятеж, ереси, Envyings, убийства, пьянство, revellings, и тому подобное: 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, радость, мир, долготерпение, gentleness, доброта, вера, Meekness, умеренность: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts(Галатам 5:21-24)
Иисус говорит, 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, но правда в том, что, 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; Слово Божье, the more you will get to know the real Jesus Christ. Если you renew your mind со Словом Божьим, the easier you will discern, what is real (genuine) and what is false (a counterfeit). Но снова….Иисус сказал, 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.
Когда Иисус вернется, 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.
«Будь солью земли’
