Matthew 24:1-5

First let me humbly apologize for my absence yesterday but welcome back to the second week, let's jump back in where we left off on Friday.

Have you ever wondered why there are so many different denominations associated with Christianity? How can so many people read the same scripture and interrupt it differently each time? Some have gone so far as to add to the scripture in order to supplement what they feel is "missing" from the Word. You could go to almost any corner in a United States city and see three or four "churches" that each teach a different system of beliefs based off of Christ's teachings and the gospel. To date there are approximately more than 38.000 Christian denominations! While we do see slight variances in other religions I challenge you to find any other religious group that is as splintered or varied in their beliefs as the "Christian" community.

The beginning of Matthew chapter 24 (verses 1-5) offers two things. It introduces us to the settings in which Christ made His end time prophecies and it Christ gives us our first sign of the second coming.

Jesus had just taught in the temple and after the disciples had given Him a tour of the temple He made the prophecy that "not one stone of the temple would be left standing on the other." (vs. 1-2) Directly following this prophetic word the disciples come to Him on the Mount of Olives and ask Him to tell them when this will happen and what is the sign of His return and the end of the world? (vs. 3)

 "Take heed that no man deceive you."(vs 4)

This strange statement is the beginning of Christ's prophetic teaching on His second coming. The first indication of the end times is a day full of deceit. "For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many." (vs. 5) I always thought this verse had been about the Antichrist proclaiming he is God. But after studying chapter 24 I think we see that Jesus' prophecies are in chronological order. There is a steady progression towards the end as things get worse and worse and the first thing we shall see is "Many" coming in the name of Jesus Christ.

What we see is a spiritual tug of war, not only between true and false doctrine but also among the false teachings themselves. Each vying for your soul to believe what they have to teach. All of them saying "I am He that you seek." "Here I have Christ here!" "No, I have Christ over here." "They are lying, Christ is over here!"
We don't always see an outright false teaching but a dilution of the truth that progresses over time until we have in the end many speaking and all saying they are Christ.

Paul address' this concern in his second letter to the Corinthians 11:13-15 "13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness..." Even shortly after the beginning of the church from Acts 2 we see Satan was already at work sowing the seed of sedition. Separating the church using those who would twist the teachings of Christ. As time has progressed 2,000 years later we now have a saturation of "Christians" all saying "I am Christ" and each one teaching a different Christ.

This is why it is so important for us to not let any man deceive us in these last days. We must all "study to show ourselves approved." With so many saying they have the real Christ the best way to find out who He is is go back to the bible find out who Christ said He is and what the bible says we must do to be saved. (Show us the father and it will suffice us. Have I been with you so long and you know me not. I and my father are one. And I will send the comforter in MY Name.)

Many false apostles preaching they are Christ[ians]. This is the first sign of the end and Jesus told us to not be deceived by any man. Look around you only you can answer this next question: Are they're many saying they are Christ?
Tomorrow I will move on to the next scripture and look more into current news to see if there is any correlation. I urge you to speak with your pastor before formulating any beliefs on the end times they are there by God to lead you. And as always pray and search out the scripture because the end is soon and we must be sure in our faith, for those who endure shall be saved. God Bless.