Thief in the Night by -William Sears- 34 Para

Christ warned His followers to beware of false prophets and not to be misled by them before the Day of His 'return'. He said: (200:1)

"Take heed that no man deceive you. (200:2)

For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many." (Matt 24:4-5) (200:3) see

Again He said: (200:4)

"Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not." (Matt 24:23)mat*24:23 (200:5)

Jesus warned His followers that there would not be one, but 'many' false Christs and false prophets who (200:6)

"...shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. (Matt 24:24)mat*24:24 (200:7)

It was to protect His followers from error that Christ gave them His three great promises concerning the proof of his return: (1) The Gospel would be preached everywhere; (2) the times of the Gentiles would be fulfilled; and (3) the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel would come to pass. He warned them to 'watch!' with spiritual eyes and ears for these proofs, so that they would not be misled. Christ knew that only the pure in heart would recognize Him in the day of His return. He knew that every Prophet had been called false by His own generation. It had been true of Himself as well. Christ was considered, by the great mass of the people of His day, to be a 'false prophet'. It is written: (200:8)

"And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man; others said, Nay; but he 'deceiveth the people.'" (John 7:12) (201:1) see

When the simple, humble people went to their religious leaders and asked about the truth of Christ's Mission, they were told that He was a false prophet. They were warned against Him. Even though Christ showed signs and wonders that attracted people, the leaders still denied Him. This is shown clearly in the words: (201:2)

"The officers answered, Never man spake like this man. (201:3)

Then answered them the Pharisees, 'Are ye also deceived'? (John 7:46-47) (201:4) see

The great separation between the few who considered Him true and the vast majority who considered Him false is clear from John: (201:5)

"So there was a division among the people because of him." (201:6)

The public was told that only the lowest class believed in Christ, and that the important and influential people who had knowledge, education, and wisdom 'knew' Christ to be false. It was pointed out to those foolish ones who wanted to believe: (201:7)

"Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?" (201:8)

It was repeatedly said that only those ignorant ones who didn't know the book of Moses believed in Christ. These people were misled, and as false as Christ, the leaders warned, saying: (201:9)

"...this people who knoweth not the law are cursed." (John 7:49) (201:10) see

The great public of Palestine did not believe in Jesus of Nazareth because He had not fulfilled their understanding of the prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah. (202:1)

To the followers of Christ who tried to win over their allegiance, the people replied scornfully that He, Christ, was a false prophet. They proved it from the prophecies in the Scriptures. (202:2)

"The Messiah will sit upon the throne of David," they pointed out. "Where is the throne of the Nazarene?" (202:3)

"Mount Zion will dance in the day of the Messiah. Who has yet seen this wonder?" (202:4)

"The Messiah will rule with a sword. This Jesus does not even have a staff, let alone a sword." (202:5)

"He will be a son of David, yet you say he is born of a virgin. He cannot fulfil this prophecy." (202:6)

"Daniel has promised that He will be a prince. This Jesus is but a carpenter, and not a prince of noble birth." (202:7)

"It is written that a holy one will not hang upon a tree, yet this Nazarene was nailed to a tree and hung." (202:8)

"In Deuteronomy it states plainly: (202:9)

"...he that is hanged is accursed of God." (Deut 21:23) (202:10) see

Some of Christ's own followers eventually thought Him false too, because they could not understand the symbolical meaning of His parables. (204:1)

It was the 'inward' truth not the 'outward' form which they must understand, He told them: (204:2)

"...the flesh profiteth nothing; the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." (John 6:23) (204:3) see

They heard from His lips words which they felt were contrary to all the things they had been taught for generation; and we are told: (204:4)

"From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him." (John 6:66) (204:5) see

His Holiness Christ was considered to be a false prophet for hundreds of years by many. To the present day the followers of Moses do not accept Christ as the Messiah, nor does the majority of mankind. (204:6)

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