FALSE CHRISTS AND FALSE PROPHETS.
JESUS has given us the warning: “Many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” And again: “Many false prophets shall arise, and shall deceive many.” Not only are these deceivers to arise, but they “shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Notwithstanding all these signs and wonders, there is no excuse for any one’s being deceived, for the Lord has given us instruction by which we may know the appearance of the true Christ, and may know the teaching and work of the true prophet. So it is evident that the reason why the “elect” are not deceived by false pretenders is that they heed the instruction of the Word. Concerning His coming, the Word says: “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.” Again it says: “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.” Why this wailing? Because the great mass of humanity, all save the “elect,” the “little flock,” will have been deceived by the false christs and false prophets doing great signs and wonders, and will be unprepared to meet the true Christ. Any “christ” that does not come “in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory,” accompanied by “all the holy angels” and with “a great sound of a trumpet,” is a false christ. Any pretended “christ” whose appearance is not in such a conspicuous manner that “every eye shall see Him,” is a false christ. So, “if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.” When Christ really does come, there will be no need for any one to tell you He is here or there, for you will see Him for yourself. The Lord has given us all these particulars to guard us against deception in the matter of His coming. The following scriptures are sufficient to guard any believer against the wiles of the enemy: Matthew 24; chapter 25: 31; Luke 21: 25–28; 1 Thess. 4: 16, 17; Rev. 1: 7. As to the false prophets, we have also a simple but sure test by which we may recognize them. The Lord says by His prophet, “To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isa. 8: 20. All those who do not care to study the Word of God, and to obey His law, in order to be able to detect fraudulent prophets, have no assurance of protection. Nor have they any security who pervert the Word, construing its plain teachings according to the wisdom and traditions of men. As in the case of false christs, a failure to study the Word in a spirit of obedience will not only place one at the mercy of the false, but it will blind him in the matter of recognizing the true. In these days of deception it is as essential to receive the instruction of the true Spirit of prophecy as it is to be guarded against the false. “Despise not prophesyings,” but “try the spirits, whether they be of God.”