Don’t Be Deceived

“Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.  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.”  Matthew 24:23-24

The 24th chapter of the book of Matthew is a detailed account spoken by Jesus of what it will be like when the world comes to an end as we know it.  He said that there will be wars and rumors of wars, famines, diseases, earthquakes, hatred, and many will be offended.  In my opinion, it is here now, but perhaps not in the numbers that have yet to transpire.  People over the last 2,000 years have thought they were living in the last days, but there are things happening now that those folks likely never even thought possible.  I don’t have to elaborate.  I know that I am offended at some of the ungodly things that are going on and also by the large number of people who are supporting depravity.

One of the things that Jesus said would occur in the last days was a rise in false christs and false prophets.  He had already mentioned these in verses 5 and 11.  If Jesus says something one time, it is noteworthy.  If He says it twice, then we better pay attention, but if He says it three times, we better be prepared.  Actually, Jesus only needs to say something one time, but His love and mercy usually gives us plenty of warnings.  In these verses, Jesus was stressing how imperative it is for believers to be on their guard against these imposters.

The deceivers will have their so-called “spiritual words and skills” so highly polished that, if it were possible, they could deceive believers.  They will be so clever and charismatic, that many unbelievers will apparently fall into their trap.  Those who were mockers of God, or just indifferent to Him, will see things in a different light after they suffer in the tribulation, but, because they had chosen to remain ignorant of God and His word while times were relatively “good”, they will not have enough scriptural knowledge to discern truth from fiction and will succumb to the lies of the false christs and false prophets sealing their doom forever.  How vitally important it is to know God and His word.

Jesus said that it would be impossible for true believers to be completely deceived by these imposters.  This brings up an interesting question.  Does the fact that He is speaking of believers during the time of the tribulation indicate that believers will not be “raptured” from this earth prior to the seven-year period of tribulation?  Many Christians believe that they will be taken out of this earth before the tribulation (pre-trib), but not all followers of Christ believe that because there are Christians, as we speak, who are being persecuted and some killed for their faith in some parts of the world.  Those who argue that believers will go through at least part of the tribulation say that because some Christians are now suffering at the hands of unbelievers, why do many believers think they will get off without enduring any persecution?   However, could it be that those believers of whom Jesus is speaking are those who will come to Christ during the tribulation?  Food for thought.

Thus, the believers who will be living during the time of tribulation will know that Jesus will rescue them.  In their zeal to find Him, they must not follow every lead that they hear concerning His whereabouts.  They will hear rumors that He is in the desert, for that was one of the places that He spent some time when He was on earth (Matthew 14:13), but they are not to go there.  Another rumor will be spread that He is in a secret chamber.  Jesus escaped crowds but He never hid Himself away when He was on earth.  Jesus’ appearance will be as a streak of lightning that comes out of the eastern sky and flashes all the way westward across the sky.  His return will be very obvious:  “Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him.  Even so, Amen.” (Revelation 1:7).

Jesus then said, “For wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together”.  I believe that He was saying to not follow the crowds, using the example of how a carcass, like a dead body of an animal, will attract numerous eagles and other birds of prey to its location.  When rumors abound, Jesus says to not believe them.  Don’t run where everyone else is running.  It is only a dead end.  His appearing will be in plain sight.  Like a great flash of lightning in a storm that you can see even with your eyes closed, Jesus will appear, and all people will not miss the glorious sight of the King of kings and Lord of lords as He steps out of glory to return to earth to bring justice and righteousness to a sin-soaked world.  Just like unbelievers will flock to false christs and eagles to a carcass, judgment will follow spiritual corruption.