Chapter Three

SIGNS OF THE TIMES

Matthew 16:1-3 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. 3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

Time statements are crucial in understanding the appearing of Jesus Christ at the end of the Jewish age. Equally important is the abundance of signs that were present during the Apostolic era. The question of Jesus to the hypocritical Pharisees was to show not only the blindness of these Pharisees to the manifestation of the messenger, John the Baptist, and the miracles of Jesus, it also proves that whatever signs were happening were taking place in the first century. The believing, unsuspecting Jews were oblivious to these very signs of the coming judgment upon the people of God. In fact, the signs of the deaf hearing, the blind seeing, and the dead being raised to life should have been obvious to the Jews. The appearance of John the Baptist was evidence that the judgment was drawing near (Malachi 3:1,2; 4:5). The Jews, however, because of the hardness of their hearts, refused to believe not only John and Jesus but also the signs or works of Christ. Jesus even had to rebuke Philip for his unbelief in questioning the Messiah:

John 14:8-11 Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? 10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

Jesus here declares that His authority and Person should be manifest by His very works. Again, this is precisely why Jesus responded to John the Baptist’s inquiry from prison whether He was the Messiah:

Matthew 11:4-5 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see: 5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

The signs were incontestable. The storm was about to come. The parallel passage to Matthew 16:1-3 is found in Luke 12:

Luke 12:54-56 And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is. 55 And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass. 56 Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?

We have seen that Jesus was amazed at the inability of the Jews to comprehend the signs to determine the approaching storm or “heat” of judgment.

Perhaps more than any other century in church history, the twentieth-century church has had the greatest obsession with what the Bible defines as the “signs of the times.” Jesus questioned why the Jews could not discern “this time” or the signs of the times. Yet, within the twentieth century evangelical movement, the vast majority are convinced that we are seeing presently the signs of the times. Why would Jesus be so astonished that Jews could not discern the signs of the times if they were not to take place for another two thousand years? The Christian church has bought the lie that we are in the “last days” and are experiencing the signs of the times. The Bible, however, is very plain that the those in the first century Christian church were the ones who were in the “last days” and were experiencing the signs of the times. The “last days” were the last days of the Jewish age, and the signs of the times were the signs of the time of the end of that same Jewish age and the imminence of the kingdom of God. We will now examine some of the signs by which the first century Christian church could be absolutely convinced that the return of Jesus Christ to judge the world and establish His kingdom was about to take place.

In Matthew 24, Jesus delivers His notable Olivet discourse. Within this chapter and its parallels found in Mark and Luke we see the signs that signified the nearness of the coming of Jesus Christ. He expresses with such certainty the signs that would indicate the imminence of His coming that the apostles would later declare the fulfillment of these signs as they transpired, thus preparing their hearers for the Day of the Lord. The context is just after Jesus had reproved the hypocritical Jews as the children of those that killed the prophets. To show the continuing Jewish judgment motif, here is the context from chapter twenty-three with the first verse of chapter twenty-four:

Matthew 23:35-39 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. 36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. 37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! 38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. 39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. 24: 1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to show him the buildings of the temple.

Without the chapter break the context is held intact. Jesus had just proclaimed to the apostate Jews that he was going to leave their “house” desolate. The whole context in Matthew 23:13-39 exhibits the intense anger Jesus expressed toward the Jews. Too often we break up the flow of the circumstance that had just transpired with the apostates. The first verse of chapter twenty four, without question clarifies the timing of the apostles showing Christ the things of the temple, for the verse says, “And Jesus went out and departed from the temple.” He had just been railing upon the Jews within the temple (21:23) about their self-righteousness and their slaughter of the prophets of God. We can be sure that His anger was kindled when He left the temple. It is important to keep in mind that one of the last statements He made to the Jews was that He was going to leave their house desolate. It was at this point that He exited the temple, and His disciples began to show Him the same buildings from the outside. Therefore, we can be sure what was on the mind of Jesus as the disciples marveled at the stones of the temple. His anger would be turned into the solemn warning to His disciples that He would come back in their generation to waste the Jews and their system.

Just what was it that the disciples showed Christ after He left the temple? There are some differing interpretations as to the meaning of the word temple; however, upon comparison with the other Gospel accounts, the physical temple at Jerusalem is the object of concern. Examine these comparisons:

Matthew 24:1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to show him the buildings of the temple.

Mark 13:1 And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!

Luke 21:5 And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said...

The subsequent response of Christ assured His audience that He understood that they were speaking of the temple.

Matthew 24:2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

Mark 13:2 And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

Luke 21:6 As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

The brooding message Christ delivered was that which would signify the final destruction of the Jewish religious system which had been around for at least thirteen hundred years. The consequent response of the disciples asserts the gravity of Christ’s omen against the temple and the correlation between this event and the coming of Christ:

Matthew 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

Mark 13:3-4 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?

Luke 21:7 And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?

There has been much confusion over the understanding of the disciples in regard to Christ’s pronouncement against the temple. Various interpretations have been set forth by many expositors; nevertheless, we must use the Scripture to explain why the disciples asked what they asked and what they associated with the destruction of the temple. The account in Matthew 24:3 presents two questions asked by the disciples. The questions are: when shall these things be? what shall be the sign of Thy coming and of the end of the world (Gk. aeon or age)? Some have proposed that the account of Matthew proves that the disciples were addressing two events that would take place thousands of years from each other, i.e., “when shall these things be”, refers to the destruction of the Temple in A.D.70., and “what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world”, refers to a yet future coming and destruction of the physical planet. This argument is quickly dispelled when the mindset of the disciples is considered. Often in eschatological commentaries the significance of what a first-century Jew understood is overlooked. Pondering the response of the disciples to the proclamation of the destruction of the Temple by Jesus should cause us to question why the disciples asked what they asked.

The first question was, “when shall these things be?” The second question was, “what shall be the sign of Thy coming and of the end of the age.” The question of when is a logical question that any generation of Jews or Gentiles would ask. The second question involved that of Christ’s coming and His ending the age. If it is true that the first question involved the destruction of the Temple, then why would the disciples be so quick to follow that question with asking what the signs would be showing the coming end of the age? The answer lies in the disciples’ understanding of the O.T. We must be careful to not assume that the disciples’ understanding of O.T. prophecy was limited or faulty pertaining to timeframe. After all, they had been with Jesus, who spoke to them of many things concerning Himself, of which things He would probably have corrected them after His resurrection if they were mistaken. But even then the Savior says:

Luke 24:44-47 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures, 46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

We also must remember the disciples’ response when Jesus questioned them concerning their understanding of the parables of the kingdom of God which involved the timeframe and the nature of the kingdom:

Matthew 13:51 Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.

Therefore, when considering some O.T. passages that pertain to the end of the Jewish system, it should be assumed that the disciples were probably aware of those particular passages. Let us investigate some of these passages:

Zechariah 14:1-5 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. 2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. 3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. 4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. 5 And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.

We must not take the telescopic eschatological position and try to separate the taking of the city and the coming of the Lord with the saints with a two-thousand-year interjection. The disciples did not separate these, nor did Jesus, or any of the apostles in the N.T. Scriptures. In Zechariah 14:1,2, the destruction of Jerusalem is clearly prophesied. No gap should be imposed upon the text between the destruction (vs.2) and the coming of the Lord (vs.5). This is one passage that should give us understanding as to why the disciples associated the destruction of the Temple with the coming of the Lord and the end of the age.

Yet another passage that associates the coming of the Lord with the destruction of Jerusalem is also found in Zechariah 12:10-14:

And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. 11 In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. 12 And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart; 13 The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart; 14 All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.

Those who had truly searched the Scriptures were very aware of the fact that the destruction of Jerusalem was synonymous with the coming of the Lord. With these two texts in mind it becomes very evident why the disciples associated the two events.

Greater support that the disciples were not addressing two events separated by thousands of years emerges when the parallel passages are placed beside each other:

Notice the accounts of Mark and Luke as they present the disciples’ questions. Mark and Luke, like Matthew, record two questions asked by the disciples. The first question in all three accounts is the same: "When shall these things be?" When the second question is harmoniously compared, the mind of the disciples is exposed concerning their true assumption regarding the destruction of Jerusalem:

In Mark and Luke the phrase, “these things” is referring to the first question, “When shall these things be?”. “These things” in the second question of Mark and Luke is referring to the Temple. Mark’s and Luke’s account with the parenthetical statement, “the destruction of the Temple” would read as follows: Mark: “What shall be the sign when all these things (the destruction of the Temple) shall be fulfilled?” Luke: “What sign will there be when these things (the destruction of the Temple) shall come to pass?”

The word “sign” should now inform us about the intention and thought of the disciples in regard to the account in Matthew, especially when the parenthetical statement is interjected: “What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world (the destruction of Jerusalem)?” The signs which the disciples requested were those that would prove the imminence of the coming destruction and the return of Christ.

If the disciples were mistaken in their assumption that the destruction of the Temple was synonymous with the coming of the Lord, one would think that the Lord, who knew their hearts (Matthew 9:4; Mark 2:8; Luke 16:15), would have corrected their erroneous conclusion. This, however, is not the case. Rather, He began to answer their questions with what would be the primary text used to prepare the early church for the return of Christ; i.e., so the apostles could identify the signs by which they could assure themselves and their hearers that the Lord was about to judge national Israel and vindicate Heavenly Israel.

As far as signs are concerned it should be noted that many evangelical circles are talking about the signs of the times. It is very true that in the twentieth century we have experienced false Christs, false prophets, earthquakes, famines, pestilences, wars and rumors of wars, etc. However, does the presence of these things validate the supposition that Matthew 24 refers to this century? Have there not been wars throughout the last two thousand years? Have there not been pestilences? earthquakes? famines? Of course there have! One need only to go to the library and look up wars or famines or pestilences, and they will find an abundance of these throughout the centuries following the apostolic era. In fact, it is amazing to see how many generations thought that Christ would be coming in their lifetime because they thought that the signs in the Olivet Discourse applied to their generation. Providentially, the focus in this chapter is not to prove that the signs in Matthew 24 took place throughout Christian history to the twentieth century.

Instead, the focus of this chapter will be to prove from Scripture that these signs took place, with the frequency that our Lord predicted, before the destruction of Jerusalem. In so doing we will, by the grace of God, be able to see and repudiate the extreme deception into which the twentieth-century evangelical movement has fallen.

There are many signs in the Olivet Discourse; however, we will examine three of these signs in particular: the presence of false prophets and false Christs, the persecution of the Christians enduring to the end, and the proclamation of the Gospel to the world.

FOR THERE SHALL ARISE FALSE CHRISTS

Matthew 24:4-5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. Mark 13:22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.

The first of the signs we will investigate is the first sign the Lord gives that would be a sure indication of His return, and that is, the presence of false Christs. The first thing that would come into the mind of a twentieth-century Christian upon considering this verse might be something like, “We must be in the last days. There are so many false Christs arising.” The observance of the presence of false Christs in the twentieth century is to be commended; however, when the testimony of Scripture is taken into consideration, it should cause us to reconsider whether we have the right to say we are in the last days. After all, the Scripture testifies with abundance that the first-century church was in the last days (Acts 2:17; Hebrews 1:2; James 5:3; 2 Peter 3:3). The appearance of false Christs in our century should no more cause us to believe we are in the last days than a twentieth-century virgin birth should cause us to believe that Jesus was born in the twentieth century. In other words, if a prophecy is made in Scripture and FULFILLED in Scripture, we must lean entirely upon the Word of God in understanding and determining prophetic fulfillment.

The text in Matthew is clear. The apostles asked for the signs that would precede the coming of Jesus Christ and the end of the age. The question is, did the appearance of false Christs take place within the apostles’ generation? There is unanimous support among the N.T. writers that false Christs had arisen and that this emergence of false Christs proved positively to the apostles that they were in the last days.

In the book of Acts we find several clear examples of these pseudo-Christs appearing. The first example is found in Acts 8:

Acts 8:9-11 But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, 10 to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is the great power of God." 11 And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time.

The people of Samaria were seduced into thinking that Simon was “the great power of God.” Simon accomplished this seduction by his astonishing sorceries. The Word teaches us that all the Samaritans gave heed to this man from the least to the greatest, thus fulfilling Christ’s words, “and shall deceive many.” We also see the signs which Simon performed to persuade the people. He practiced sorcery to convince the people that he was the “great power of God.” This title was not only by their claim but by Simon’s also. This would accurately be a fulfillment of our Lord’s words in the Olivet discourse:

Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. Matthew 24:23-24 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Jesus said “take heed that no man deceive you,” yet these Samaritans “all gave heed” to Simon because of his signs and wonders.

Another account of antichrists arising is found in Acts 13. Here again, we see a fulfillment of Christ’s prediction that there would arise false prophets:

Acts 13:6-10 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus: 7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. 9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, 10 And said, O full of all subtlety and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

Elymas is identified as a false prophet. In this case, deception and turning men from the truth was his craft. His method was to pervert the right ways of the Lord and keep men from hearing the words of the Lord. Paul, in defense of the truth, classified Elymas as a child of the devil, an enemy of all righteousness, and full of subtlety and all mischief. Truly, Elymas was an antichrist and a false prophet.

In Acts 16 we see an account of a false prophetess who was possessed with a devil:

Acts 16:16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:

The word “soothsaying” is defined by Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible as “supposed to rave through inspiration); to divine, i.e. utter spells (under pretence of foretelling).” Christ had foretold that there would arise antichrists and false prophets. This woman was clearly raving through her supposed foretelling or false prophesying.

Modern “eschatologists” rave about the prevalence of false prophets and antichrists in our century. These eschatologists often cite characteristics of both the antichrists and their followers. Some of the characteristics that these men have observed in these antichrists are eloquence of speech, denying “orthodox” Christianity, immoral lifestyles, etc. They also frequently notice that these antichrists have small congregations. This particular characteristic may be true in some instances. This, however, is not always the case. Consider the mass cult of Catholicism which dominated church history for over a thousand years with their pope-glorifying, Mary-worshipping heresies. What about the huge Judaizing movement of the “Church of Christ” with its diabolical doctrine of baptismal regeneration? The cult of “Jehovah’s Witnesses” denying the deity of Jesus Christ? The polygamist, man-deifying sect of Mormonism? These congregations are enormous. Their speakers are often dull and dry, filled with liturgical spew. Or what about the man-centered, Arminian-based gatherings of the “Assembly of God,” “Calvary Chapel,” and other fellowships catering to the lusts of the unregenerate man? They all are fundamentally erring from apostolic Christianity. Therefore, we must conclude that just because a congregation is small does not mean it is a cult of an antichrist. This brings us to an important point regarding the true spirit of Antichrist that existed in the first-century Jewish synagogues.

More than any other century, the first-century Jews were filled with the spirit of Antichrist. In order to identify this spirit we must know the truth. The apostle John in his first epistle warned the Christians to be aware of the spirit of Antichrist and confirmed that many false prophets had already gone into the world.

1 John 4:1-6 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

There is a way to discern between the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. This way is being born of God and knowing the truth.

John informed his readers that the spirit of Antichrist was already in the world. How were John and his readers able to identify this?

What were the signs? John states in certain language the chief characteristic of the spirit of Antichrist: “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” Anyone that would claim that Christ or Messiah had not come in the flesh was antichrist:

1 John 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

The task at hand is to first identify the truth about the Messiah. That is, we must recognize His office as the Christ or the Anointed One. The Greek word Christ or Christos means anointed. The Hebrew word Messiah (mashiyach) is translated the same.

It is imperative to understand that the word anointed, in reference to Messiah, can be referring to either His anointing as King, or His anointing as Priest (Exodus 28:41; 29:7; 40:12-15). It is His anointing as Priest or High Priest that must be understood in order to appreciate the significance of John’s warning. In Exodus the type and shadow of the anointing of Jesus is illustrated with the anointing of the Levitical high priest:

Exodus 28:41 And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him; and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office.

Exodus 29:7 Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his head, and anoint him.

Exodus 40:12-15 And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water. 13 And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. 14 And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats: 15 And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.

It is this anointing type with which first-century Jewish Christians were familiar. Any Jew reading John’s epistle would understand John’s intention when he used the word Christ. This intention is fully developed by the writer of Hebrews as he defended the superiority of Christ against the apostate Jews (Hebrews 3:1-6; 5:1-10; 6:20; 7:20-28; 9:11-28). These apostate Jews were denying a fundamental aspect of the Christ, and that is, His manifestation in the flesh as the High Priest who would make atonement for His people. It is true that the Deity of Christ was also denied by these same apostates; however, Christ’s Deity is implied in His claim as Messiah. To deny Christ’s anointing is to deny His Deity. John makes this implication evident:

1 John 2:22-23 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

John summarizes the coming of the Messiah as God in the conclusion of his first epistle:

1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

As we have seen, the anointing of Christ as the High Priest is essential in understanding the significance of Antichrist or literally, the opponent of Messiah. Who could this be? The greatest blasphemy would be to deny the High Priestly sacrifice of Christ and affirm the continued sacrifices of a sinful high priest on earth. This also is confirmed in the book of Hebrews:

Hebrews 10:26-30 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

Hebrews 10:38-39 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul Shall have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

The writer was warning these Hebrews in Jerusalem (13:14) that drawing back to perdition would only heap the fiery indignation of God upon their heads. The perdition when seen within the context of Hebrews is irrefutably referring to the affirmation of the continued sacrifices by sinful high priests. It is these men/man who, in their unbelief and wickedness, would exalt themselves above all that is called God by affirming that their sacrifice was greater than Christ’s. The immensity of this sin is seen when the chief end of the sacrifice of Christ is considered. It was Christ’s death that demonstrated the eternal wrath and love of God, for which, He was to receive all glory (Philippians 2:8-9). To deny Jesus as the Christ is to deny His glory and the act which earned Him that glory.

The antichrists/Antichrist would be punished with a much sorer punishment than those who died without mercy under the law of Moses. (Even today the same blasphemy is committed in affirming that Christ shed His blood for men in the lake of fire, thus making void the payment for sin and sacrifice that satisfied the wrath of an angry God. Universal atonement is merely a subtle residue inherited from its Pharisaic ancestors.)

Once the truth of Christ as the eternal high Priest is established then the error becomes transparent:

1 John 4:3-6 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

The spirit of Antichrist was already in the world, which is exactly why John could write with certainty that he and his reader were in the last hour:

1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time (hour-Gk.-hora): and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

There are many that are claiming that we are in the last hour. John, however, was the inspired apostle. It is true that there are, without a doubt, false prophets in our century, but John specifically cited the presence of antichrists as a fact whereby his hearers would know that it was the last time. How did John know that they were in the last hour? He was in the presence of Jesus as He admonished the disciples to be aware of the signs that would take place before the coming of Christ (Mark 13:3). Why would John incite his hearers to KNOW they were in the last hour? We cannot dismiss John’s time statement for two reasons: 1.) The use of time statements in Scripture consistently pertains to real chronology, thus, agreeing with John’s statement of imminence. 2.) John cited the presence of antichrists which proved he and his hearers were in the last hour.

The mere warnings in Scripture should be enough to convince students of the Word that the apostles actually believed Christ was returning in their generation: John, again, warning his readers of the antichrists which had arisen, lets them know why there is such urgency:

1 John 2:26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.

Paul’s warnings against false teachers permeate virtually every one of his epistles. In 2 Corinthians we see a blunt caution regarding the “ministers of unrighteousness”:

2 Corinthians 11:1-4 Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. 2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

2 Corinthians 11:12-15 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. 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; whose end shall be according to their works.

The book of Galatians commences with an abrupt signal concerning those who would bring another gospel to this Galatian congregation:

Galatians 1:6-9 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Paul actually confirms that these false apostles had already crept in to the assembly at Jerusalem:

Galatians 2:4-5 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: 5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

It should be made clear at this point that the apostles were convinced that anything in addition to the cross of Christ (Galatians 6:14) whether circumcision, baptism, free-will, or sacrifices, was another gospel. Therefore, those who propagated such false gospels were to be named false prophets.

Paul continued, in his letter to the Galatians, to tell them of his amazement that they would bear with these false teachers and their gospels:

Galatians 5:7-12 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? 8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. 9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. 11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. 12 I would they were even cut off which trouble you.

As far as Paul was concerned, he wished that those who taught another gospel would castrate themselves. These were those who would desire to make a fair show in the flesh and in others’ flesh as well.

In the book of Acts, Paul assures the Ephesian elders that after his departure these false prophets would arise:

Acts 20:29-30 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

These wolves were none other than those to whom the Lord was referring when He spoke to His disciples:

Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

This subject of wolves is also found in found in Matthew 10 which contains a very strong statement concerning the coming of Christ:

Matthew 10:16-23 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. 17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; 18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. 19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. 20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. 21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. 22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. 23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

Jesus associates the presence of these wolves with His coming before the disciples would have gone through the cities of Israel.

Paul also, in keeping with the manner of His Savior, associates the presence of the enemies of the cross with the return of Christ in the book of Philippians:

Philippians 3:18-21 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) 20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

These Philippians were encouraged by Paul’s excitement over the fact that Christ, for Whom Paul and his readers were eagerly awaiting, would return to give them their glorified bodies and subdue these very enemies.

These same enemies of the cross were the Judaizers of Colossians 2:

Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

The false teachers were persuading men to return to the elements or rudiments of the Old Covenant. This is also seen in vv.16-23:

Colossians 2:16-23 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. 18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. 20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

In his epistles to Timothy, Paul declares their position as being present in the latter times, in which false prophets would arise, Paul even named those who were making a shipwreck of the faith:

1 Timothy 1:19-20 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: 20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

1 Timothy 4:1-3 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

2 Timothy 2:16-18 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; 18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

In the second epistle of Peter, we see a similar admonition:

2 Peter 3:1-4 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: 2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: 3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

Peter’s affirmation of the words spoken by the holy prophets and apostles confirms the knowledge these readers had concerning those false teachers who would arise in the last days. In this passage, these false teachers were scoffing the promise of the Lord to return in the generation in which they were living (Matthew 24:34). The generation of which the Lord spoke was almost ending, and these false teachers were mocking the integrity and words of Christ to fulfill His promise.

Jude goes to great length to describe the characteristics of these false teachers that had come in the last days of the Jewish age:

Jude 1:4-19 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. 5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. 6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. 7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. 8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. 9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. 10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. 11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. 12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; 13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. 14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, 15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. 16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage. 17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

The signs of false Christs and false prophets were unequivocally fulfilled within the writings of the New Testament. They were fulfilled to such a degree that the apostle John could tell his readers with certainty that they were in the last hour and that the spirit of Antichrist was already in the world. Paul, Peter, and Jude likewise affirmed that the last days had come and were proven by the prevalence of false Christs. Because of this vast appearance of false Christs, the apostles knew that the time of the end of the Jewish age was near, and the coming of Jesus Christ was about to take place.