Let us notice the book of Matthew 24:24. “For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” Let’s go back to the historical context of this statement by Jesus. He was telling the disciples what was to happen before the destruction of Jerusalem and eventually His second coming. At this time, the Jews had been oppressed by the Romans. They hoped for a Messiah who would save them from this yoke of bondage.
They had hoped that Jesus would topple the Roman empire and give them back their throne and freedom. This was a false study of scripture. Christ did not come to establish an earthly kingdom but a spiritual kingdom. The Jews were in a crisis. What would one not give for a deliverer, a Messiah, in such a dire crisis? The demand would create the supply. Men offering themselves as Saviors from Rome’s power, with prophets preaching smooth things and assuring a despairing people of deliverance at the last hour.
Such was a man called Barcochab, which signifies the son of a star. An allusion to Balaam’s fourth prophecy in Numbers 24:17, which says, “I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel. And batter the brow of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult.” This man, Barcochab, had a prophet called Akiba, who proclaimed him the messiah. And of course, many Jews crowned him as one. But then a Roman army was sent against him, and a place called Bitter was besieged and taken. He and a good number of Jews were destroyed. This deceiver was afterward, by them, called Barcoziba, the son of a lie, because they had been deceived.
Jesus did not just confine this occurrence to Jewish history; in making this statement, He projected things that would come before His return. We know that false christs have come who, without necessarily assuming the name of Christ, profess to be inspired or lawful teachers and have to lead many into false doctrines. They claim to have a new revelation or something additional and supplemental to the eternal gospel. Such was Mohammed; such were the founders of Buddhism, Mormonism, and other so-called religions, who based their views on special revelations given from heaven for the purpose of improving the existing faith or introducing a new one.
Jesus also mentioned that these people would show great signs and wonders. These are just terms for miracles. People like seeing things to believe them. As Jesus said in John 4:48, “Unless you people see signs and wonder, you will never believe.” And Jesus Himself did many miracles. Peter, in making a case for Jesus, said, “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.” And even God Himself did signs and wonders, For He led them (the Israelites) out of Egypt and performed wonders and signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea, and for forty years in the wilderness. (Acts 7:36) The fact that these false christs and their prophets did, do, and will do miracles cannot be reasonably doubted.
Remember, Satan is on their side, and hence he can affirm their teachings with supernatural assistance. Such will be the actions of the antichrist, as Paul says in 2 Thessalonians 2:9, “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders.” It is also important to note that many of these people’s signs and wonders have been effectuated by natural forces, and many people don’t know this.
For example, one can predict a tsunami after studying the scientific signs. Some make the appearance of doing them while not necessarily doing them. For example, Barcochab, the man I’d mentioned before, made it appear as if flame came out of his mouth. You know how magicians put gasoline in their mouths, blow it out while lighting a match, and make it look like they are breathing fire? Yeah, that’s what this guy used to deceive people.
Lastly, Jesus says something rather sad and unfortunate: that these false christs and their prophets will deceive, if possible, even the elect. This shows the difficulty, but not the impossibility, of drawing God’s people away from the truth. Friends, we are called to start firm in Christ. Looking to Him for guidance and protection. May we always pray for the Spirit of discernment so that we may know how to differentiate truth from falsehood. Christ has promised to be by our side even during the strongest temptations.
In light of all this, it is important for us to know how to identify false prophets. Many people in our time have come out, calling themselves prophets and apostles, claiming to do wonders, casting out demons, and miraculous healing, but in reality, these acts are false; they dramatize these things, and generally, their lives are not in line with Scripture. Isaiah gives us a hint in Isaiah 8:20, To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
Jesus Himself warned us to “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. (Matthew 7:15) And God has provided various tests for a prophet. As John warned, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1). And that “You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.” (Matthew 7:16-17) So how can we know these false prophets? I think the best way to tell a counterfeit is to be acquainted with the real. So, what are the traits of a real prophet?
How to test a prophet, if they are speaking for God or not:
- Their prophecies should honor God, not themselves or any other human being.
- Prophecies should always be in line with what has already been written as Scripture.
- Prophecies should never add anything to Scripture but only refer back to it for the purpose of reminding or expounding upon it.
- If they do make predictions, they must come to pass as spoken (Jeremiah 28:9, “As for the prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet comes to pass, the prophet will be known as one whom the Lord has truly sent.” And in Deuteronomy 18:22, “When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.”)
- Prophecies often point out the sins of the people and tell them how to change
- What they prophesy must never contradict that Jesus is the Son of God and the Savior of the earth (As we see clearly in 1 John 4:1–3). “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this, you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming and is now already in the world.)
- A person’s “fruits” are what they repeatedly do. When working for God, prophets should generally demonstrate a Christ-like character.
Let me wrap it up at that guys. Beware of these false christs, prophets, and teachers. May the LORD give us the Spirit of discernment so that we may know the truth and live it. See you in the next episode! Strive to know God and make Him known.
