Matthew 24:4 Jesus said " Watch out that no one decieves you. For many will come in my name saying 'I am the Christ' and will decieve many.
Do you think he meant:
1 - In the last days people would show up proclaiming to be the Christ?
2- False Christians who say "Jesus is the Christ" would deceive people by living and teaching contrary to the word of God?
I welcome any additional insight you wish to offer.
2007-12-03 03:35:43 · 14 answers · asked by A Voice 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Greek scholars indicate the second is true.
In other words, there would be people agreeing that Jesus is the Christ and deceive the many, not the few.
2007-12-03 03:39:38 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Yes both things are happening around us in the world . However, as Christ says we should watch out for this to happen.In Colossians 2:8 Christ through Paul tells us this too.We should take note that being converted the sinner comes to God but in the second advent, Christ comes for the saints. In 1 Thessalonians 4 ;16 it says"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first." Acts 1: 9-11 also tells us that Christ's coming will be visible to everyone as also recorded in Revelation 1:7. Psalms 50 :3 tells us that "Our God will come and will not keep silence:... because He is coming back with all the heavenly angels with Him. Heaven will be empty.
2 Peter 3 tells of Christ's coming and also verses 16,17 tells us that people would be deceived by error being taught them. But 2 Timothy 2:15 says in order not to deceived we should "Study to show ourselves approved unto God..... prayerfully.
2007-12-03 12:13:43 · answer #2 · answered by Getwisehealth 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Considering the Spanish Jesus that just showed up having the number 666 tatooed on HImself and proclaiming himself to be Christ - I would think the first applies. I believe there will be more coming like him.
The second could not be true because "Jesus is the Christ and Messiah" that the Jews were waiting for. They just rejected Him because they were looking for a soldier to come and lead them in war and He came to die for them and all who would believe instead.
2007-12-03 11:50:09 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Look at the punctuation. Jesus didn't say "many will come in my name saying I am the Christ" (which would mean people would be saying Jesus is the Christ) -- He said "many will come in my name saying 'I am the Christ' " (which means people will come in my name saying of themselves, "I am the Christ."
That would make the answer to your question number 1: people will show up proclaiming to be the Christ.
2007-12-03 19:50:13 · answer #4 · answered by mrscjr 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
2-Oh definitely. Pretty much every church in America is doing this...Jesus is in fact the Messiah, but people don't follow His teachings.
As for number one, I would say that there will be people claiming to be able to do Christ like things, but may not say it out loud. We all know about the "big one" that will come and proclaim to be God, and he'll have power to back it up. We'll see.
The Bible says "let God be true and everyman a liar." Focus on the Bible and it'll see you through this hell like earth.
2007-12-03 11:41:04 · answer #5 · answered by tcjstn 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think he is talking about false prophets. They have always been in existence. Even during Christ's time, there were many people who claimed divinity. It's interesting that only Jesus stood the test of time. I also believe many more false prophets will come in our lifetime and beyond.
2007-12-03 11:39:58 · answer #6 · answered by ? 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
We must go back to the Word and make sure that the Jesus they are preaching agrees with the Jesus of the Bible. One of Satan's main tricks is to portray a Jesus just enough off of the mark to lead people astray without causing them to question the variance.
2007-12-03 11:44:52 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
The answer is the first above. There will come false Christs...those claiming to be the actual Jesus ..... returned from heaven...the bible tells believers to "believe it not". There will be no mistaking His appearance when He returns.
2007-12-03 11:45:23 · answer #8 · answered by loveChrist 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He saying don't be ny'eve, read people and know who you are and what you beleive before beliveing others. He is also saying that there are mentally ill persons out there running around saying that they are Jesus adn that you'd better know enough not to believe them.... Hope this helps!
2007-12-03 11:46:26 · answer #9 · answered by sophia_of_light 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think He meant the first one. He said that many would come in His name, but that they'd be deceivers. It seems pretty clear to me.
2007-12-03 11:45:11 · answer #10 · answered by The_Cricket: Thinking Pink! 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋