In verse 3 of chapter 24, the disciples asked Jesus what they should be looking for that will signal His coming and the end of the age. Jesus spent a lot of time in these two chapters talking about the end times and His return. And then the balance of the chapter is His response.
But i want to focus quickly on the first thing that He said. In verse 4 He told them,“Take heed that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.
And then dropping down to verses 23 through 27 He says, “23“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25See, I have told you beforehand.
26“Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it. 27For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.”
Almost immediately after Jesus was taken up to Heaven, when He left the disciples with the Great Commission, imposters have declared that they were the returned Christ. Most have been quickly set aside as wackos, but some have managed to gather followers, and a few have even gathered millions.
It just goes to show that most of these deluded people never studied the words of Jesus. His first warning was, “Don’t be fooled.” Further down he said, “Don’t believe those who say, ‘He’s here!’”
Then how will we know? Look at verse 27 again, “For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.”
When the lightning flashes and the thunder roars, it’s obvious isn’t it? Everyone knows instantly, don’t they? That is how it will be when Jesus returns. Everyone on earth will know the second Jesus makes His appearance. It will be nothing like His first appearance in Bethlehem. There will be a great sound like a trumpet blast, and BAM!…you’ll know.
Don’t be fooled by charlatans and false teachers.
Your thoughts?