False Christs

 

Jesus warned that in the last days there will arise counterfeit christs who would masquerade as the Messiah and claim to be the savior of the world.

  • Matthew 24:4-5 HCSB  Then Jesus replied to them: "Watch out that no one deceives you.  5  For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Messiah,' and they will deceive many.

 

In the New Testament, the original Greek word for Christ is 'Christos'. The same word in Old Testament Hebrew is 'Mashiach', which in English is rendered as 'Messiah'. The literal translation of both Greek and Hebrew is "the anointed one". It is the title and identity which Jesus acknowledged during his ministry in Palestine.

  • John 4:25-26 HCSB  The woman said to Him, "I know that Messiah is coming" (who is called Christ). "When He comes, He will explain everything to us."  26  "I am He," Jesus told her, "the One speaking to you."

 

Shortly before his crucifixion, Jesus preached his great prophetic discourse regarding profound events that would occur at the end of the age just prior to his Second Coming. Jesus warned: 

  • Matthew 24:23-26 HCSB  "If anyone tells you then, 'Look, here is the Messiah!' or, 'Over here!' do not believe it!  24  False messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.  25  Take note: I have told you in advance.  26  So if they tell you, 'Look, he's in the wilderness!' don't go out; 'Look, he's in the inner rooms!' do not believe it.

 

Jesus emphasized that the false christs will perform great signs and miracles, and will manifest terrible deception. Many Christians think that as long as they believe in 'Jesus Christ', they will be shielded from the deception of the last days. However, the deceit proliferates due to the fact that there are actually two Jesus Christs, not just one. Some people are deceived into following the wrong Jesus.

  • 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 HCSB  But I fear that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds may be corrupted from a complete and pure devotion to Christ.  4  For if a person comes and preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit, which you had not received, or a different gospel, which you had not accepted, you put up with it splendidly!

 

The apostle Paul is here speaking to the Christians of the early church. He warns them concerning false apostles who were preaching about a Jesus who is not the real Jesus of the Bible. This other Jesus is a fictitious Jesus, a fabrication of the corrupt imaginations and erroneous thinking of the spurious apostles. The gospel associated with this other Jesus is a different gospel; it is not the gospel recorded in the Bible and preached by the true apostles. Further, this false gospel is accompanied by an empowerment of the spirit, but it is a counterfeit spirit, it is not the Holy Spirit of the divine Trinity. Who are the followers of the other Jesus really serving? 

  • 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 HCSB  For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.  14  And no wonder! For Satan himself is disguised as an angel of light.  15  So it is no great thing if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their destiny will be according to their works.

 

The 'other Jesus' is a counterfeit Jesus devised by Satan, a false Jesus who can even masquerade as an angel of light. Just prior to the day of Jesus' Second Coming, there is going to appear visibly on Earth a great counterfeit christ.

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 HCSB  Don't let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.  4  He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits in God's sanctuary, publicizing that he himself is God.

 

In this profound prophecy of Last Day events, the Bible says there is going to be a rebellion, an apostasy, a great falling away from the faith. In conjunction with this apostasy, there will be an appearing of the 'Man of Lawlessness', also known as the 'Man of Sin', the Antichrist. This magnificent false christ will set himself up in God's temple and counterfeit the ministry of Jesus. What will happen to this false christ, and how will we recognize him?

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:8-10 HCSB  and then the lawless one will be revealed. The Lord Jesus will destroy him with the breath of His mouth and will bring him to nothing with the brightness of His coming.  9  The coming of the lawless one is based on Satan's working, with all kinds of false miracles, signs, and wonders,  10  and with every unrighteous deception among those who are perishing. They perish because they did not accept the love of the truth in order to be saved.

 

The followers of the counterfeit Messiah are deceived because they refuse to love God's truth as revealed in his Holy Bible. Jesus emphasized that it is not enough to simply profess the "name" of the Lord in order to enter into heaven. There needs to be a "doing" of the Father's will.

  • Matthew 7:21 HCSB  "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord!' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven.
  • John 14:15 HCSB  "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
  • John 15:10 HCSB  If you keep My commands you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commands and remain in His love.

 

Thus there needs to be a "looking to the Son", a contemplation upon the real Jesus, upon his life, and a belief in the words he spoke.

  • John 5:24 HCSB  "I assure you: Anyone who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.
  • John 6:40 HCSB  For this is the will of My Father: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day."

 

Tragically, the counterfeit Christians will in all sincerity regard themselves to be genuine believers actively doing the work of Christ. They will even prophesy in the name of Jesus, cast out demons in the name of Jesus, and work miracles in his name.

  • Matthew 7:22-23 HCSB  On that day many will say to Me, 'Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?'  23  Then I will announce to them, 'I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!'

 

The followers of the false christ practice lawlessness. They break God's law; they disregard the commandments of Jesus. In contrast, Jesus declares

  • John 14:21 HCSB  The one who has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me. And the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father. I also will love him and will reveal Myself to him."