“For there will arise false Messiahs, and false prophets, and will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.”

Nevertheless they will arise. There will be false Messiahs (compare Matthew 24:5) and false prophets (compare Matthew 24:11). And they will even be able to show great signs and wonders. Indeed they will appear to do wonders of such a nature that if it were possible they would even deceive the elect. Fortunately that is not possible, for the elect know that no man on earth can truly be the Messiah, but such would be the wonders that had they not known that some of them might well have been deceived.

We can compare how the Egyptian ‘magicians' aped some of Moses' signs and wonders. By conjuring men are able to give the impression of great wonders. And it may well even be that He intends us to recognise that Satanic power has produced, or will produce, such wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:9; Revelation 16:14, compare Acts 8:9. See also Deuteronomy 13:1; Revelation 13:13; Revelation 19:20).

Continues after advertising
Continues after advertising