Behold, I Come
Behold, I Come (by Tim Klink of Prison Discipleship Ministry)
Mt. 24:3
“…Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?”
Jesus always made sure that He spent time alone with His inner circle of disciples. These were the men He personally trained to carry on the work of God. One of them asked about His return to earth, and His earthly kingdom.
They thought Jesus would establish His kingdom immediately, and free the Jews from the Romans. What they failed to see was the entire reason that Jesus came to earth: to become the sacrifice, or payment, for the sins of man. It was their lack of knowledge that prompted them to ask Jesus what they should look for as a sign.
Mt. 24:4-5
“… Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.”
There have always been those who teach contrary to the Word of God, but present themselves as true Bible teachers and leaders. The key word is “many.” There will be a dramatic increase in false teachers and religions just before the tribulation, which is the outpouring of God’s judgement upon the world.
We live in a day when false teachers can present their lies in many different ways. Social media and the internet are now available to anyone who wants to use them. Not only has there been a great increase in the numbers of false teachers, but they have unlimited access to multitudes of people who do not know God's Word. Not only will there be an increase in the number of false teachers, they will succeed in deceiving “many.” In recent years we have witnessed this increase, with people believing things that are directly opposite of what the Word of God teaches as truth, coming directly from God.
People teach falsely by claiming to be teaching God’s Word, but bending it to fit their own agenda. They will believe a lie because they do not know the truth that is in God's Word and they have not applied that truth to their lives. God will deal with those who lead people astray in Jesus’ name.
Jeremiah 23:1
“Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.“