The Finished Word

Jesus stressed critical information that is vital if we hope to avoid deception by false prophets and other deceivers active in the Assembly . The discourse given by Jesus on the Mount of Olives includes instructions about the future. He warns repeatedly of “ the many deceivers ” and “ false prophets ” who will spread misleading information about his return, and thereby they will deceive many of “ the elect .” Constant vigilance and adherence to the Apostolic teachings are necessary so we may recognize their deceptions and lies.

The Spirit of Antichrist is working to destroy the church through deceptions spread by false teachers and charlatans . In popular preaching, the Antichrist is a political tyrant determined to conquer the world. However, only the Apostle John uses the term ‘Antichrist’, and he applies it to false teachers who originated in his congregations.

The New Testament warns that false prophets will appear, causing many believers to abandon their faith and betray Jesus Christ . Jesus warned his disciples to beware of deceivers, the false messiahs and false prophets who are determined to seduce his followers and thus destroy the Church from the inside. These warnings are reiterated and expanded in the writings of the Apostles.

When certain “ super-apostles ” began undermining his authority, the Apostle Paul warned the Assembly in Corinth not to heed anyone who “ proclaimed another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or a different spirit, or a different Gospel .” He pointed to the same Jesus that he first proclaimed, the “ Crucified Messiah ,” the Jesus who is the measuring rod against which all other messianic claimants must be evaluated.

The New Testament warns of a future apostasy caused by deceivers and the Son of Destruction, the Lawless Man, before the Day of the Lord arrives . The New Testament warns us that before Jesus returns, his Church will be attacked from within by deceivers, “ false anointed ones ,” and “ false prophets .” Before the “ Day of the Lord ” begins, his disciples will be confronted by the “ Man of Lawlessness , ” whom the Apostle Paul links to the “ Apostasy ,” the final great “ falling away ” from the faith.

Popular preaching often claims that Jesus commanded his disciples to “discern the times and the seasons” so they may know when the end of the age draws near. They must know and understand the “signs” so they can be prepared to meet Jesus on his return. Though we may assume this is an established fact, Jesus never stated anything to this effect. At no place in the New Testament does he command his followers to know all the times, signs, and seasons. He taught them something rather different.