False Prophets Will Lead Many Astray

The Spirit Comes
The Pledge of God's Presence

Watch Out for Deceivers

Matthew 24:3-14  The Message

³ Later as he was sitting on Mount Olives, his disciples approached and asked him, “Tell us, when are these things going to happen? What will be the sign of your coming, that the time’s up?”
^4-8 Jesus said, “Watch out for doomsday deceivers. Many leaders are going to show up with forged identities, claiming, ‘I am Christ, the Messiah.’ They will deceive a lot of people. When reports come in of wars and rumored wars, keep your head and don’t panic. This is routine history; this is no sign of the end. Nation will fight nation and ruler fight ruler, over and over. Famines and earthquakes will occur in various places. This is nothing compared to what is coming.
^9-10 “They are going to throw you to the wolves and kill you, everyone hating you because you carry my name. And then, going from bad to worse, it will be dog-eat-dog, everyone at each other’s throat, everyone hating each other.
^11-12 “In the confusion, lying preachers will come forward and deceive a lot of people. For many others, the overwhelming spread of evil will do them in—nothing left of their love but a mound of ashes.
^13-14 “Staying with it—that’s what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won’t be sorry, and you’ll be saved. All during this time, the good news—the Message of the kingdom—will be preached all over the world, a witness staked out in every country. And then the end will come.

 

For Reflection

 Predicting what will happen and when at the end of time is dark and mysterious.  Jesus answered the question by pointing out what is important for the establishment of the Kingdom.  No one knows when or how time will end.  We do know, however, how we are to respond to the love and promise of God.

Jesus advised us to concentrate on the task at hand.  Try not to interpret every catastrophe as the "end."  Speak the truth.  Spread the word.  Don't worry about judgment day.

Pray

for those who deceive because they do not know the truth.  Pray for those who deceive intentionally.  Pray for those who are captured by deceitful promises.  Pray that you will have the wisdom to follow the truth as evidenced by the life of Christ.