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Criteria for Distinguishing True Christs from False-- This is the third warning about false Christs in Jesus' Olivet Discourse(24:5,11, 23-4). This emphasis suggests the very real danger such individuals will present. But Christ has not given these warnings without having first provided the believers with clear guidance for distinguishing the true prophets from the false. Previously Christ stated: (98:1) Beware of false prophets, who came to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. (Matt. 7:15-20) (98:2) Christ provides the simple criterion, 'You will know them by their fruits'.That is, we can know false prophets by their qualities or characteristics. Moreover, Christ indicates that they must have the characteristics that are appropriate to their claims: 'Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles?' Grapes are found on the grape vine, figs on fig trees, and thorns on thorn bushes. A true prophet will have the qualities of a prophet - divine attributes - and a false prophet will not have such qualities. (98:3) Some will be deceived, but Christ's words are clear: if we follow His criterion, we will know the good from the bad. He does not say we will be unable to know them even though we examine their qualities. Similarly, Baha'u'llah expresses this criterion with these words: (98:4) The proof of the sun is the light thereof, which shineth and envelopeth all things. (Certitude 209) (98:5) In other words, the light of the sun is the quality by which we are able to recognize the sun's reality. Sunlight is proof of the sun. Likewise, a true prophet is one who raises the spiritually dead to life, who gives sight to the spiritually blind, and who provides spiritual bread to those who hunger for the truth. 'Abdu'l-Baha likens a true Prophet to a spiritual Teacher:
(98:6)
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