And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:
Christ warns that no one should believe or follow anyone who claims He has appeared in some particular place here or there. He gave this as part of His answer on the Mount of Olives about the end and the signs of the things He foretold, a warning that met its first fulfillment before Jerusalem fell and continues through the ages to the last days. In those days many false christs, false prophets, and false lords and gods will rise with rival claims, working signs and wonders to mislead, until Satan himself personates Christ and declares himself the Son of God while voices point to Him here and there and elsewhere. Such locating claims will multiply from every quarter amid a fierce struggle, as a deep plotting to divert men and women from present duty and to undermine the landmarks of faith after the truth has gone to all nations. Believers must therefore stay alert and refuse these claims, holding the truth faithfully by listening to the divine Teacher rather than following departures from the work God has given.
Context and Warning
Christ's words forbid belief in or following anyone who points to Him as present in this or that particular place. False christs and false prophets will arise to mislead with such locating claims, even attempting it by signs and wonders, so followers must heed the warning and stay alert rather than trust them. The prohibition covers every competing assertion — that He is here, that He is there, that He is somewhere else — including the ultimate imposture when Satan himself personates Christ and declares himself the Son of God. The saying belongs to the answer given on the Mount of Olives about the end, concerning the signs and the fulfillment of the events foretold.
That warning met its first fulfillment in the period before the destruction of Jerusalem, when false messiahs appeared making such claims. It was not exhausted then but continues in force through the ages, including the last days. The very pattern of conflicting cries of lo here and lo there describes what perplexed God's people after October 1844.
The warning applies with special force after the truth has been proclaimed to all nations, when evil powers are active and false voices amid confusion seek to mislead and undermine the landmarks of faith. Claims locating Christ here or there will multiply and must not be accepted. Such impostures will increase from every quarter amid a fierce struggle before the man of sin is disclosed, and believers are commanded not to follow them.
Agents and Methods of Deception
False christs and false prophets will arise with rival announcements that Christ is in this place or that, seeking to deceive and lead astray. Many false lords and gods appear with competing here-or-there claims, and their effort to mislead is carried on by means of signs and wonders. The deception deepens when some depart from the faith and give heed to seducing spirits, until Satan himself personates Christ and declares himself to be the Son of God, while one voice says He is here and another says He is there and still another says He is somewhere else. At that same time God works through consecrated human agents, while a power from beneath works through everyone who yields to Satan's control.
These locating claims can come together with new theories and turnings away from the work God has given. A false christ stirs up deceptive hopes in all who allow themselves to be deceived. Such claims are Satan's deep plotting made manifest everywhere to divert men and women from present duty and to distract them from what they ought now to be doing. Yet the eye of faith recognizes in these manifestations forerunners of the grand and awful future and of the triumphs that await God's people.
Vigilance and Faithful Response
Claims that place Christ in a particular location are not to be trusted or believed. False christs and false prophets will arise and try to mislead people, even by means of signs and wonders, so followers of Christ must heed His warning and remain alert rather than accepting such locating claims. Wherever claims that He is in one place or another arise, the truth is to be held faithfully by listening to the divine Teacher instead of following them. Such claims can accompany new theories and departures from the work God has given, and they are not to be heeded.
Amid the confusion caused by competing voices asserting that Christ is in one place or another, clear messages from His servants guide humble seekers to gather under His banner. Trials will come upon the true church when some depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and Satan himself will personate Christ declaring that he is the Son of God, while one says He is here and another He is there and still another He is somewhere else, none of which are to be believed. Christ cannot co-operate with a dead church but desires a church full of vitality, taking hold by living faith of His power, with each person knowing individually that He abides within and saves by His righteousness.
Christ warns that no one should believe or follow anyone who claims He has appeared in some particular place here or there. He gave this as part of His answer on the Mount of Olives about the end and the signs of the things He foretold, a warning that met its first fulfillment before Jerusalem fell and continues through the ages to the last days. In those days many false christs, false prophets, and false lords and gods will rise with rival claims, working signs and wonders to mislead, until Satan himself personates Christ and declares himself the Son of God while voices point to Him here and there and elsewhere. Such locating claims will multiply from every quarter amid a fierce struggle, as a deep plotting to divert men and women from present duty and to undermine the landmarks of faith after the truth has gone to all nations. Believers must therefore stay alert and refuse these claims, holding the truth faithfully by listening to the divine Teacher rather than following departures from the work God has given.
Context and Warning
Christ's words forbid belief in or following anyone who points to Him as present in this or that particular place. False christs and false prophets will arise to mislead with such locating claims, even attempting it by signs and wonders, so followers must heed the warning and stay alert rather than trust them. The prohibition covers every competing assertion — that He is here, that He is there, that He is somewhere else — including the ultimate imposture when Satan himself personates Christ and declares himself the Son of God. The saying belongs to the answer given on the Mount of Olives about the end, concerning the signs and the fulfillment of the events foretold.
That warning met its first fulfillment in the period before the destruction of Jerusalem, when false messiahs appeared making such claims. It was not exhausted then but continues in force through the ages, including the last days. The very pattern of conflicting cries of lo here and lo there describes what perplexed God's people after October 1844.
The warning applies with special force after the truth has been proclaimed to all nations, when evil powers are active and false voices amid confusion seek to mislead and undermine the landmarks of faith. Claims locating Christ here or there will multiply and must not be accepted. Such impostures will increase from every quarter amid a fierce struggle before the man of sin is disclosed, and believers are commanded not to follow them.
Agents and Methods of Deception
False christs and false prophets will arise with rival announcements that Christ is in this place or that, seeking to deceive and lead astray. Many false lords and gods appear with competing here-or-there claims, and their effort to mislead is carried on by means of signs and wonders. The deception deepens when some depart from the faith and give heed to seducing spirits, until Satan himself personates Christ and declares himself to be the Son of God, while one voice says He is here and another says He is there and still another says He is somewhere else. At that same time God works through consecrated human agents, while a power from beneath works through everyone who yields to Satan's control.
These locating claims can come together with new theories and turnings away from the work God has given. A false christ stirs up deceptive hopes in all who allow themselves to be deceived. Such claims are Satan's deep plotting made manifest everywhere to divert men and women from present duty and to distract them from what they ought now to be doing. Yet the eye of faith recognizes in these manifestations forerunners of the grand and awful future and of the triumphs that await God's people.
Vigilance and Faithful Response
Claims that place Christ in a particular location are not to be trusted or believed. False christs and false prophets will arise and try to mislead people, even by means of signs and wonders, so followers of Christ must heed His warning and remain alert rather than accepting such locating claims. Wherever claims that He is in one place or another arise, the truth is to be held faithfully by listening to the divine Teacher instead of following them. Such claims can accompany new theories and departures from the work God has given, and they are not to be heeded.
Amid the confusion caused by competing voices asserting that Christ is in one place or another, clear messages from His servants guide humble seekers to gather under His banner. Trials will come upon the true church when some depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and Satan himself will personate Christ declaring that he is the Son of God, while one says He is here and another He is there and still another He is somewhere else, none of which are to be believed. Christ cannot co-operate with a dead church but desires a church full of vitality, taking hold by living faith of His power, with each person knowing individually that He abides within and saves by His righteousness.