![]() And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. Later in the book of Acts, we read of a man called Simon, who was a sorcerer.Īcts 8:9-11 (KJV) – But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. This imposter is mentioned in Acts 5:37:Īcts 5:37 (KJV) – After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. After his death, another false messiah rose up by the name of Judas of Galilee. The noted Jewish historian, Josephus also mentions Theudas (Jewish Antiquities 20.97-98). Gamaliel, who was a Pharisee mentions “Theudas.” Theudas “claimed to be somebody.” Theudas was somebody all right, a false prophet! He must have had a gift of oratory because he was able to persuade a small multitude to follow him. The book of Acts provides a chronicle of some of these impostors. For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. OK, so where is the New Testament evidence of the appearance of false Christs? Acts chapter five gives us the first example:Īcts 5:34-36 (KJV) – Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. Therefore since scripture reveals false Christs during the days of the apostles, we can conclude that they were indeed living in the “last days” as foretold by Old Testament prophets. The main question is this: were there false Christs during the lifetime of the apostles? Well if you study the scriptures and set aside previous biases you will find unanimous agreement among New Testament writers that false Christs and prophets had arisen during the first century. The apostles asked Jesus for a sign of His future (to them) coming and the end of the world or age. The tests in Matthew, Mark, and Luke are clear. False Christs Active In the First Century! So that being the case are we to believe that the “last days” have lasted nearly 2,000 years? And what is the test of prophetic fulfillment? If a prophecy is made in scripture and fulfilled in scripture, we need to stand on the testimony of scripture. Scripture reveals that the first-century church believed they were living in the “last days” (Acts 2:17, Hebrews 1:2, James 5:3, 2 Peter 3:3). When speaking of false Christs, the first thing that probably comes to mind is that since there are false Christs today that we must be living in the “last days.” While there certainly are false Christs today should we automatically assume that we are in the “last days”? What do the scriptures reveal about this important subject? Jesus Christ declared that before His return in judgment there would be false Christs. Luke 21:8 (KJV) – And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. Mark 13:21-22 (KJV) – And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ or, lo, he is there believe him not: For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ and shall deceive many. Matthew 24:3-5 (KJV) – And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. ![]() ![]() Jesus was addressing His disciples in the first century. Jesus warned His first-century followers to “take heed.” The gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke serve as warnings to the disciples of Jesus. Are there false Christs and prophets today? Of course, there are! What about in the first century? This article will explore that question.
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