Matthew 24:24, commentary and pictures

Christ warned beforehand that near the end deceivers claiming to be Christ and prophets with divine commission will arise in increasing number and power and will display great miracles, healings and wonders in plain sight. Behind these human agents Satan himself will work as never before, appearing in dazzling glory in royal garments with blessing hands and pleasant words, claiming to be Christ and God, healing disease he has caused and bringing fire from heaven to counterfeit Christ's coming in every outward detail. The counterfeit will be so close to the true and will grow so strong that even God's chosen faithful people would be swept away if that were possible. His true coming will not be secret or confined to desert or chamber but open and worldwide as lightning shining from east to west, so all local claims that He has come are to be rejected. Safety is found only by testing every claim, miracle and spirit by Scripture itself, holding fast God's law and Sabbath, abiding in Christ through the Holy Spirit, and standing watchful, prayerful and armored in faith until the conflict closes.

Verse Setting and Scope

Matthew 24:24 belongs to Christ's discourse in Matthew 24-25 concerning both the destruction of Jerusalem and the final events of earth's history, given also for those living in earth's last scenes. That discourse describes the second coming of the Son of man in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory to gather His elect, at a day and hour no man knows, as it was in the days of Noah, requiring watchfulness and readiness from the faithful and wise servant and portraying the condition of the church at His coming to arouse earnest zeal in the true believer. The destruction of Jerusalem typifies the final destruction of the world by fire, and the chapter refutes the claim that Christ came at the destruction of Jerusalem while teaching that His second coming is still future though shown to be near by signs in the sun, moon, and stars, with the comparison to Noah's day showing the world must be warned before its approaching doom. The warning about deception therefore blends the dangers surrounding Jerusalem's overthrow with the dangers before Christ's second coming, and applies to the period in which its events belong.

The chapter gives sure prophetic waymarks and an outline of what is to come upon the world concerning His second coming, and those prophecies will surely come to pass. Its predictions are being fulfilled in the present time now being lived, showing that Christ's coming is at hand, and they should be explained to people as truths that decide eternal destiny and affect their destiny. For this reason it is to be studied again and again and brought to the attention of all, both believers and unbelievers, with ministers and teachers presenting it and leaving matters of lesser consequence, while its unmistakable fulfilment calls the church to arouse. Christ with prophetic eye looked down to the very end of earth's history and marked out what would take place in the last days as a lifted danger signal, providing the starting point for an account of the present age and its closing events as the church endures conflict and suffering on its way to redemption. That outline means those perishing in sin must be warned, and those entrusted with means must give money to advance the work of giving the world the last message of mercy rather than spending in self-gratification, to sustain gospel work and save perishing souls.

Jesus spoke this warning beforehand in unmistakable language of dangers to precede His second coming, as solemn warning to take heed and not be deceived. False christs and false prophets shall arise showing great signs and wonders so deceptive that, if it were possible, even the elect would be deceived and His disciples seduced, and the people of God must carefully study these words about the last days, read and understand the specified dangers that will surely come, and not rush on blindfolded receiving messages that are not true. The warning was not given to satisfy curiosity about the secret time of His coming, but to prepare by faithful individual duty and by giving His warnings to others. It warns of a coming time of severe trial and departure from the faith, so believers would not be caught unawares, with assurance that He understands their experience and will not leave them to the enemy. Because fanaticism and deception will appear in the very midst of God's people in refined and plausible form, without marked inconsistencies or obvious untruthful utterances, and because false claims and signs purporting to come from God can enter among believers and lead astray even people easily deceived, believers must be on guard and as faithful sentinels keep the flock from accepting indiscriminately all that professes to be communicated from the Lord, staying alert, discerning the spirit and evidence behind every claimed message from heaven, and relying firmly on the Word rather than endorsing claims without unmistakable evidence.

As a sign of Jerusalem's destruction many false prophets did rise, deceiving the people and leading great numbers into the desert, with magicians and sorcerers claiming miraculous power drawing people into mountain solitudes, but this prophecy was spoken also for the last days and is given as a sign of the second advent. Even now it is being fulfilled when thousands go forth into the desert hoping to find Christ at the cry Behold He is in the desert, and when from thousands of gatherings where men profess to hold communion with departed spirits the call is heard Behold He is in the secret chambers, which is the very claim Spiritualism puts forth. No claim that Christ is here or there, in the desert or in the secret chambers or in a particular place or hidden location, is to be believed, for Christ commands Believe it not. His coming will not be a secret appearance or secret and local in desert or chambers, but will be open and worldwide and unmistakable, as lightning shining from east to west across the sky, and those who remain guided by the Word will recognize the false Christ because his teaching contradicts Scripture. Those who diligently study Scripture and love the truth will use its testimony to detect the deceiver.

False Claimants Identified

False Christs and false prophets will arise showing great signs and wonders aimed at deceiving even the elect if that were possible, and their signs give no trustworthiness to their claims. They will come in sheep's clothing spreading heresies, and their deceptive influence will multiply and increase in number and power as the end draws near in an age of error on every hand. They will appear righteous while leading into false doctrines by attractive, carefully hidden deceptions and apparent miracles, with false doctrines, false prophets and false Christs fulfilling Christ's warning all along and with still greater delusions to arise. Among believers themselves men will arise speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them, claiming divine commission, special revelation, sinlessness and holiness.

The warning had a first fulfillment as a sign of Jerusalem's destruction, when many false prophets rose deceiving the people and leading great numbers into the desert, with magicians and sorcerers claiming miraculous power drawing people into mountain solitudes. That prophecy was spoken also for the last days as a sign of the second advent, and even now it is being fulfilled when thousands go forth into the desert hoping to find Christ and when from gatherings professing communion with departed spirits comes the claim of Christ in secret chambers. The same counterfeit work appeared in the first-century church and again in false prophets during the sixteenth-century Reformation, who claimed special revelations and a divine commission to complete the Reformation. They rejected the Bible as the sufficient rule of faith and practice and replaced God's word, the sure test of error, with their own changeable feelings and impressions, and by setting aside Scripture they opened minds to Satan's control, undermined the work of reform, and led people away from the true work.

The deception works through Satan with great power and subtlety, laying out special lines of labor for men who can be controlled by his power and working through human beings to fulfill his purposes of evil with the same subtle power with which he plotted rebellion among holy beings in heaven. It includes lords many and gods many and the cry Lo here is Christ and lo there, with varied deceptions of every degree and kind now arising over a vast field by subtle untiring efforts. The danger comes from within the ranks, from apostates and persons once valued for faith who have become ensnared and are not to be trusted as guides for believers or the young, and from giving confidence to one long in error who claims to be misunderstood and keeps influence by smooth words and fair speeches whose representations received and believed cause eternal injury. It operates by slander and falsehoods causing those who once believed to lose faith, by false zeal for new theories turning hearts against those who uphold truth, and by long private persuasion destroying confidence in God's messages and workers to draw away disciples.

Claims that Christ is in a particular place must not be believed, for false christs and false prophets bewitch the senses with Lo here is Christ or there is Christ, and the command is believe it not. The theory and confusion over the day line is one such fiction and devising of Satan, a snare and trap brought in by his agents to confuse minds, lead persons astray and discourage, and it is to be given no credence. The influence opposing God's messages centered at Battle Creek is identified with this danger of deceiving even God's people and leading them away from the faith, requiring withdrawing from every seductive influence, refusing to look to a greatly deceived man as instructor and counselor, resisting the devil, breaking free, and standing fully on the Lord's side. Commercialism and reliance on chance are among the enemy's devices, including money-making schemes and chance methods and the spirit of commercialism and chance brought into God's work and spread through published literature and the publishing house, and giving them place opens believers to great temptation and risks deception.

Signs and Wonders Exposed

The warning is that false claimants will display great signs and wonders in plain sight, lying wonders and miracles meant to deceive. These include healings, making the sick appear healed after suffering and disease have first been created, causing fire to come down from heaven as supposed proof of divinity, and terrifying events in nature. One form is a figure claiming to be Christ and presenting himself as a great medical missionary, performing striking miraculous work to make people believe he is God. Safety from this deception comes only from standing firmly on the truths of the Bible. Spurious healings that claim divine power are not to be relied on as evidence of Christ's work, and physical care is to be joined with teaching the word through genuine medical missionary work, which guards those seeking treatment.

Spiritualism is a chief form of these wonders, putting forth the claim of communion with departed spirits and crying from thousands of gatherings that Christ is in the secret chambers. Its manifestations include mysterious rapping, mesmerism, claims of superior light and power, and miracles presented as evidence that its followers are favored by God and possess the truth. Satan will have power to bring before God's people the appearance of forms claiming to be relatives or friends now sleeping, making it seem they are present, speaking familiar words in the same tone of voice they had while living, to ensnare the saints into belief of the delusion. Its teaching denies that the dead know nothing and contends that the Sabbath is changed. Near the final deliverance, evil powers will be permitted to imitate God's work, so even apparent miracles cannot by themselves prove a work is from God, and minds must be fixed on God with bold stand for the truth rather than seeking miraculous displays for curiosity or challenge.

Miracles and signs alone do not prove divine guidance or that Christ has come, and claimants are not to be trusted merely on the strength of their signs or claims. The counterfeit will resemble the true so closely that only the testimony of Scripture can distinguish them, so every claim and miracle must be tested by its plain testimony, including agreement with God's commandments. Only those who give the surest evidence that they are doing the work God appointed are to be received. Scripture is the safeguard that exposes false claims and spiritual deception, and those not firmly grounded in eternal truth will be swept away.

The deceptive force will be so great that, if it were possible, even the very elect, God's chosen and faithful people, would be deceived. As the end of earth's history approaches, temptations and deceptions grow stronger and more numerous, with powerful delusions coming upon a world turned from the truth and using every device to hinder preparation for what is coming upon the earth. The deception will reach rulers and ordinary people throughout the world through impressive miracles, claimed healings, and revelations contradicting Scripture. The danger makes necessary a living, active faith that works by love and purifies the soul, with Spirit-filled proclamation of clear, important Bible truth rather than abandoning it for false theories.

Satan's Crowning Deception

Behind the human agents stands Satan himself, working near the end of earth's history with a power and intensity never seen before. He hides his deformity under the garb of Christianity, moves as a wonder-worker disguised as an angel of light, and acts as director of the Christian world. Assuming the attributes of a Christian and even the attributes of Christ, he personifies Christ, counterfeits righteousness with persuasive language, lofty ideas and apparently good deeds, and openly claims to be Christ Himself and to be God. His mark is that while claiming Christ's name he turns people away from God's law, yet rulers and others in high positions accept his false theories, and his lying wonders and miracles through human agencies become so convincing that, if it were possible, even the very elect would be deceived. That assault also works by slander and falsehood that shake those who once believed, by false zeal for new theories that turns hearts against upholders of truth, and by the same subtle power with which he plotted rebellion among holy beings before his fall.

He will appear as a beautiful, majestic being in dazzling glory and royal garments, with soft, pleasant words, lifting his hands in blessing just as Jesus did when on earth. He creates sorrow and suffering and disease and then, seeming to change his character, apparently heals those he himself has tortured, performing healings and miracles in plain sight, even healing the sick before the eyes of beholders. In this guise he presents himself as a great medical missionary and causes fire to come down from heaven to make men believe he is God, counterfeiting Christ's appearance in every outward detail while promoting false worship. Departing from the plain precepts and commandments of God and giving heed to fables prepares minds to receive these lying wonders, so that some are tempted to receive them as from God and many are ensnared and taken.

This impersonation reaches its height in the time of trouble and the final conflict over loyalty to God, after truth has been proclaimed as a witness to all nations and when every conceivable power of evil is set in operation. Then church and state prepare for persecution, with Protestants working to promote Sunday and the papacy preparing for a return of former persecutions, with landmarks removed, foundations torn down, established truths attacked, and a false sabbath exalted by oppressive law over the day God blessed and sanctified. Minds are confused by many voices claiming Christ is here or there and claiming great light and revelations from heaven that contradict Scripture, while the faithful are few, feeble, poor and cut off from buying and selling for refusing Sunday observance. At the same time the wicked claim miracles, angelic visits, world conversion and a temporal millennium, and when Satan is working with his lying wonders the time has come for the mighty angel that lightens the earth with his glory to proclaim the fall of Babylon and call God's people to forsake her.

He deceives with all deceivableness of unrighteousness because he knows his time is short, knows what it is to be a free, glorified being, knows the happiness he enjoyed in his exalted position in the heavenly courts and lost forever, and desires to prevent others from enjoying it. He gathers up all the beautiful and grand knowledge he had when he was an angel of light, with its skill and subtlety, and comes with that very knowledge to deceive the very elect, telling his company he will have the whole world as his subjects gathered under his banner. His field is vast and his efforts subtle, untiring and increasingly determined, laying out special lines of labor for men who can be controlled by his power, using every device and temptations stronger and more numerous as the end draws near to hinder preparation for what is coming upon the earth. He keeps minds confused, harasses those he cannot force, and binds people in secret combinations and confederacies as transgression nears its limit.

Testing Truth by Scripture

Safety against false Christs and false prophets lies only in diligently studying Scripture for oneself and loving the truth, testing every claim, miracle and spirit by its plain testimony. Like the Bereans each person must go directly to the Word and hold to its plain declaration rather than taking a teacher's word, relying on human claims, or following feelings. These teachers come in sheep's clothing spreading heresies, multiplying in an age of error on every hand and with deceptive influence increasing as the end draws near. Their teaching is recognized as false because it contradicts Scripture, including God's law, commandments and Sabbath covenant sign, and miracles alone never prove that a person speaks for God or that Christ has come. The counterfeit will be so close to the true that only Scripture can safeguard and expose it, and those not firmly grounded in eternal truth will be swept away unless established to withstand error. The warning belongs with the description of the real coming as unmistakable and visible to the whole world, unlike a claimant appearing in a particular place or secret appearance.

The elect stand only by holding firmly to the evidence that established the truth, proclaiming it over and over until the close of earth's history. In the perils of the last days all God's people must stand on the platform of truth given in the third angel's message and hold to the old landmarks, remaining firmly rooted in Christ and Bible truth and holding to what God has plainly said. Some will leave the faith, so students must not be put under physicians or teachers who have left those landmarks, but must test faith by the Word so as not to be led astray by plausible false teachings. The church is called to distinguish false teachers from the genuine, to learn to recognize the true Shepherd's voice and fruits as against strangers, and those led astray are urged to humble themselves and repent. Satan is at hand to work miracles with pleasant pictures and appealing displays to confirm minds in belief that he is God and, if possible, to mislead even God's chosen ones.

Discernment must be sharpened by divine enlightenment and illumination so as not to be ignorant of Satan's devices and to know what is of God. Close connection with God, wholehearted consecration and daily union with Christ are needed, for those weak in faith may fail to recognize artful snares and intrigues worked through human agents. A mind and heart not filled with Christ's pure, unselfish love is vulnerable to entrancing words even when faithful to Christ. Self-exaltation weakens people and exposes them to temptation, especially experienced members and ministers whom Satan seeks with superior knowledge and every snare, while practicing Bible truth, humbling before God and keeping a hopeful spirit invite saving power and help workers stand firm. Standing against principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness in high places brought into warfare against the truth in the time just before the closing work is finished requires human effort combined with divine power to accomplish the closing work.

False prophets deceive by misapplying many Scriptures, appropriating precious truth to substantiate error, and taking beautiful Scriptures given to adorn the truth and using them as a robe to cover false and dangerous theories. Satan works in them as an angel of light presenting pleasing fables and satanic delusions in attractive, flattering form, with past deceptions returning in new forms through corrupt influences to capture minds and draw away from real connection with God. Doctrinal errors will be so specious and cleverly pleasing and fanciful, including scientific problems, unsound science, hypnotism, sophistry and higher-education philosophy, that spiritual perception is dimmed, confidence in God's truth undermined, and truth made hard to distinguish from error. This danger from seducers who draw away disciples is greater to disciples than persecution and must be guarded against more carefully than any other peril, especially by those with little experience of the Holy Spirit and little spiritual knowledge and by those standing faithful to truth specified in Revelation. The sixteenth-century false prophets illustrate the pattern: claiming special revelations and divine commission to complete the Reformation, they rejected the Bible as the sufficient rule of faith and practice and replaced it with changeable feelings and impressions, setting aside the sure test and opening minds to Satan's control to undermine reform. So the call is for plain, solid truth without confusing explanations that undermine established Bible truths, for wide-awakeness regarding the signs of the times, and for preparation for coming events belonging especially to God's people in the last days down to the present, lest subtle fallacies make sin appear righteousness, divide God's people, remove old landmarks, spoil faith, and turn people from God's law, even on phases such as the sanctuary question.

Watchfulness and Mission

Delusions will grow more varied and powerful until the close, and will be aimed even at experienced members and ministers, at the church itself and at God's chosen and faithful people, so that if it were possible even the very elect would be deceived. Indifference to the high calling leaves ministers and people vulnerable, while conversion, wholehearted consecration, close connection with Christ, and faithful practice of Bible truth strengthen them to resist the snares. Safety therefore requires remaining constantly watchful and prayerful, following the light given, holding to the old landmarks, and refusing self-exaltation, sensual excitement, and dependence on human organizations. Discernment must come by divine enlightenment so believers are not ignorant of the devices worked through smooth words and fair speeches, and a clear message grounded in Bible truth and filled with the Holy Spirit is needed to meet the danger of being drawn from the definite truths of the time. The coming test and trial by deceptive miracles will cause some to leave the faith, so all must prepare now by staying awake, by humble self-distrust and daily conversion, and by not placing students under physicians or teachers who have left those landmarks.

The predictions are being fulfilled now to show that Christ's coming is at hand, and their unmistakable fulfillment calls the church to arouse. The outline of what is to come upon the world applies to the perils of the last days now being lived, and it is to be studied again and again and brought to the attention of all, both believers and unbelievers. Ministers and teachers are to present it and leave matters of lesser consequence, because its truths decide the eternal destiny of souls. Those perishing in sin must be warned that the end is near, including in cities whose inhabitants dishonor God and reject calls to repent, and those entrusted with means must give money to advance the work of giving the world the last message of mercy rather than spending in self-gratification, to sustain gospel work and save perishing souls. God's people must therefore remain very watchful and labor earnestly and unceasingly to counterwork evil in the church and in the world, actively sharing the gospel of present truth, publishing it and carrying it to cities and unworked fields, with watchmen sounding the trumpet so people are fitted with Christ's righteousness for the conflict, against deceptions of every degree and kind now arising through lords many and gods many and the cry, Lo, here is Christ, and lo there, worked with the same subtle power that plotted rebellion among holy beings in heaven, through vast fields and special lines of labor for men who can be controlled and through human beings to fulfill purposes of evil.

Even amid deceptive miracles performed to support satanic teachings, people can seek and obtain salvation by hiding in Christ, standing firm and trusting God's promises rather than human words. The elect stand undeceived because they have listened to the Word of God and know it is true, and they do not stand on human representations but cling to Christ, believe in Him and do His works, keep His commandments, and are kept by Him so they keep their souls and are counted among those washed and made white in His blood with provision to cleanse them from all sin and unrighteousness. To escape deception they must be wide-awake to the devices of the enemy, refuse the spirit of the world and the spirit of commercialism and chance with its money-making schemes and chance methods brought into God's work, consecrate themselves wholly to the Lord, walk humbly with Him, follow Him in meekness and singleness of heart, seek daily the sanctification of His Spirit, and unite with heavenly beings and every sanctified agency for the upbuilding of Christ's kingdom, with human effort combined with divine power to accomplish the closing work while principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness in high places are brought into warfare against the truth. The devil will bring in every conceivable deception, including false science, hypnotism, spirit rapping and mesmerism some directly and some indirectly, making people sick and then healing them so the miracle is claimed as God's power when it is the devil's power, leading those departed from the living God to converse with and seek knowledge from the dead who know not anything, and even bringing down fire from heaven in the sight of men, with power increasing until his devoted followers work miracles while the nominal church and the world covered in gross darkness call it the power of God, count it blasphemy to speak against the rapping, and account for all the miracles Jesus did by rapping and mesmerism. That danger, coming very soon with great signs and mighty wonders to deceive God's people and overthrow them, requires keeping hold of the strong arm of Jehovah with the mind stayed upon God, not fearing what the wicked fear nor reverencing what they reverence but being bold and valiant for the truth, for believers live on enchanted ground and must watch, with forms of evil angels around them trying to invent some new way to annoy and destroy them, while angels of God guard them and God's watchful eye is ever over Israel for good to protect and save all who put their trust in Him, and when the enemy comes in like a flood the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him, so safety comes by putting on the whole armor and taking the shield of faith, and then it is possible to stand so that the fiery darts of the wicked cannot harm.

The result divides two parties only, revealed in the coming test and shaking and crisis when those claiming to be Christ and prophets sent from God will do good things in order to deceive. In a time of great confusion Satan will disguise himself as an angel, appear like Christ at His second coming, use supernatural wonders and false appearances with real miracles within limits and counterfeits of what he cannot truly do, and try by strong delusions to lead even God's faithful people astray. Faithful servants firmly decided on the truth and pure in heart will be revealed and protected, standing firmly and going through the shaking, while those who trusted human wisdom rather than God, rejected light, resisted the truth, or followed fables give themselves over to strong delusions, are unsettled to doubt the truth and the Holy Spirit's power and are drawn toward false security and ensnared. Praising and exalting people who have not accepted God's commandments and who exalt a false sabbath leaves defective discernment that will fail to see through that deception when it comes. Their efforts do not make God's truth false or change it, for human faith and feelings may fail but God's truth remains sure and the third angel's message is infallible, until God's patience is at last exhausted in judgment upon deceivers.