Believe Them Not!

Matthew 24:23 - 24 "Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. (24.) For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." Now that we have passed December 21, 2012 we all now know that this was another false prediction. This will not be the last prediction that will turn into a lie. The simple fact is; we simply do not know when Christ will return but only that He is going to return because God promised in Acts 1:11 that He would. "Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." However the exact time we do not know, in Matthew 24:25 – 27 we learn "Behold, I have told you before. (26.) Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. (27.) For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Therefore all we can do is to pray and look eastward. I personally am looking forward to the Lords return and I know if you are a believer in Christ and have oil in your lamps then you also are ready. I believe these false predictions are also a sign of the times and therefore must be fulfilled to produce doubt in the minds of the lost and unprepared believers. While we look at them as jokes and pure stupidity we must also treat them seriously. In both passages of scripture we have just used the Lord promised they would be made and assured that many would believe them. Therefore when these ignorant people make these predictions, look at them as ignorance but also look at them as proving that the Lords return is just a little closer. These predictions deliver much doubt. Doubt to the lost in that they can use them to mock the coming of the Lord, and doubt in the weak believer in that they will not concern themselves with it. But be assured beloved when we least expect it the Lord will return, and at a time that many believers in Christ are unprepared. Let us notice the Lord said in Matthew 24:24 “…insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." Not all the elect of God because there are a lot of believers who are ignorant to this very event, but the elect of God whom God has kept learned and pure in His truths. Just because one is saved does not mean he or she has been elected to be truthful follower of Gods word. The elect here are those who are learned and well taught in Gods Holy Script. These things may get so real that they have a chance in fooling these well learned ones. However the Lord warned us that no matter how real they may look, to believe them not. We must keep our minds on the scriptures and only on them, they are they that will teach you truth and keep you well learned. Mark warned us in Mark 13:22 "For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect." But it will not be possible if our hearts and minds are on what God is teaching. While the ignorant predictions continue, do not be surprised if they get more and more real, even enough so that the very well learned of God may have a hard time separating them. Folks, we are only as strong as the grace of God allows us to be. Therefore we must all be instant in prayer and very watchful or other wise we may be fooled by the fools.