Deception

Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.” (Matthew 24:4-5)

Jewish historian Josephus tells us that the land was filled with anti-Christs between Nero’s accession in 54 AD and the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. (1) So, while this prophecy was literally fulfilled in the generation of Jesus’ prophecy, it has continued throughout history until the present age. Yet the ultimate fulfillment of this prophecy (The anti-Christ) remains to be seen. Paul picks up on Jesus’ warning against being deceived and tells his readers: “Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so…