Before enumerating the many events that had to occur before His return Jesus warned His disciples, “Take heed that no man deceive you.” (Matthew 24:4). Yes, take heed that no one deceive you. Be wary of male, female, preacher, pastor, scholar, theologian, etc. We are ALL fallible and subject to err. The Lord then goes on to say, “For many shall come in my name (Greek “onoma”, pronounced ON’-om-ah, meaning “authority), saying, ‘I am Christ,’ and shall deceive many.” (verse 5, Matthew 24). Now only a handful of crackpots have surfaced down through the centuries claiming that they themselves were Christ, and those few who did so did not deceive but a very few. Jesus was actually saying that many would come supposedly by His authority, claiming to be anointed by Him, called by Him to represent Him and preach, saying Jesus was indeed the Christ of God, the Messiah, and would deceive vast multitudes by then preaching and proclaiming profound error. AND THAT HAS HAPPENED! Denomination after denomination has arisen proclaiming Jesus to be the Christ of God, the Savior of the world, and these various denominations have deceived multiplied millions by then preaching doctrines that are totally unscriptural.
Instead of proclaiming a deliverance of His followers by a secret “rapture” Jesus point blank warns them “Then shall they (the unbelievers, to-wit, the followers of a then worldwide false religion at the close of the times of the Gentiles – yet future) deliver you up to be afflicted, AND SHALL KILL YOU, and you shall be hated of ALL nations for my name’s sake (because you are Christians).” Christians are then hated by all nations as all nations at that time will then be followers of a worldwide religion that will proclaim God has no Son and teach it is blasphemy warranting the death penalty for teaching such. ALL nations means ALL nations, to-wit, America, England, Canada, Ireland Italy, Mexico, etc. This prophecy was never fulfilled in the past with the hatred of the Jews as the Jews were never hated and killed in all nations. The pogroms against the Jews were carried out in only a few nations in Europe and the Middle East. And even the nations wherein the Jews were hated, they were not hated by all the inhabitants of that nation, nor were the Jews ever hated and killed for Christ’s name sake.
“And then (at the time of this slaughtering of Christians in all nations) shall many be offended (Greek “caused to stumble, led to sin, apostasize – embracing this false religion), and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another” (Matthew 24:10 with 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5).). “And many false prophets (preachers, teachers) shall rise (by the thousands, scores in every community), and shall deceive many (prior to the surfacing of this great false religion)” (verse 11). This is as certain as the rising of tomorrow’s sun, friend. You don’t have to believe it. Truth remains truth whether it is accepted or rejected. There are 52 countries where the Bible is now banned or severely restricted. In North Korea, Afghanistan and Somalia just having a Bible in your possession carries the death penalty. At the time of the end, the time immediately preceding our Lord’s return, the Bible will be totally banned in all countries of the world. Friend, the only “rapture” this generation is going to experience is that which they enjoy when buying their first new car, marrying the love of their life, or holding their first child in their arms. Please believe that for it is so. To be continued in Part 2.
Christ’s Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
Donald Wiley