Our Lord in giving a brief outline of the world's history, from the first to the second Advent, twice gives warning of false christs that should arise.—His first words are, Take heed that no man deceive you; for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many. This may refer to those false christs that arose soon after; for history informs us that different individuals did arise about that time, professing to be Christ, and deceived many. The 69 weeks of Daniel were ended, and the Jews were looking for Christ. But having rejected and crucified the true Messiah—having filled up the measure of their iniquity—and now suffering under the just judgments of God, they were prepared to be deceived by, and follow any impostor who should promise them deliverance from the Romans. They, who in rejecting Christ declared, "We have no king but Caesar," were now ready to listen to any deceiver, promising them deliverance from Caesar. We may here see the fatal consequences of rejecting the truth, as revealed to us by the prophets. This same Jesus promised to come again, and gave signs of that event, which have been fulfilled before the face of this generation. And now if we reject the Advent doctrine, founded as it is upon the words of Christ, do we not reject him? Do we not plainly show that we are ashamed of Christ and his words, and thus crucifying the doctrine of Christ's coming, shall we not be prepared for the strong delusion of the false christs of which I am about to speak?
Our Lord passes down the stream of time to the period of the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, to which are given 1260 years, [Dan. vii, 25,] and having passed this period he says, Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there, believe it not; for there shall arise false christs, &c. This, I think, refers to persons professing to be Christ in his second Advent, for the following reasons:203
1. It is mentioned immediately after the Papal abomination, which, as I have before remarked, had a period of 1260 years allotted to it, and is introduced by the word then.
2. It is said, they shall show (not pretend to show,) great signs and wonders. This was not fulfilled by those ancient false christs; therefore it remains to be fulfilled just before the second Advent.
3. The deceiver with which Jesus furnished his disciples, proves this point. In his first Advent he grew up from childhood like other men; in his second, he will be seen coming in the clouds of heaven. Hence he says, If they shall say, Behold, 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. Thank the Lord! none need be deceived in this matter, and none who believe his word, and trust in his promises will be.
But what an awful delusion will come upon those who follow the Jews in their example of unbelief! How awful to awake from their dreams of peace and safety when it is too late! The hour of temptation is swiftly coming upon all the lovers of the world. Reader, do you love Christ? Then love his righteous appearing. R. F. COTTRELL.