The Second Coming: Signs of Christ's Return and the End of the Age by John MacArthur

Author:John MacArthur [MacArthur, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Christian Books & Bibles, Bible Study & Reference, Bible Study, New Testament, Christian Living, Faith, Theology, Religion & Spirituality, New Testament Study
ISBN: 1581344937
Amazon: B0026BXD1E
Publisher: Crossway Books
Published: 2006-01-08T22:00:00+00:00

VULTURES GATHERING TOGETHER

Again Christ raises the issue of false messiahs: “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand” (vv. 23-25). The birth-pang signs are still coming in ever harder waves.

And now the false messiahs will even have the power to work great signs and wonders. These “miracles” will be so convincing that even the elect are liable to be misled, except for one thing—God sovereignly enables Christ’s sheep to hear His voice and to distinguish it from the voices of hirelings and thieves. “They will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers” (John 10:5).

Our Lord’s warning seems to suggest that false messiahs will actually infiltrate the ranks of those who flee. Though the people of God can take flight from Antichrist’s persecutions, they will not be able to escape Satan’s lying minions, who will evidently follow them into hiding. Even in their exile from the threat of annihilation, the refugees will constantly hear lying people claim, “Look, here is the Christ!”; “There!” (v. 23). “Look, He is in the desert!” Or, “He is in the inner rooms!” All such claims will be lies, perhaps even deliberately designed to lure the refugees out of hiding. Believers are solemnly instructed in advance to pay no attention to them.

So how will anyone know when the true Christ finally appears? How can the true Christ be distinguished from all counterfeits? It will be obvious to all: “For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be” (v. 27). “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him” (Rev. 1:7). His coming will be no secret. Suddenly, publicly, and gloriously He will return, and His coming will be universally visible! Not only will those in hiding from persecution recognize Him, but so will His enemies. He “comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him” (Jude 14-15).

And when Christ appears, His people and His enemies will exchange places, as it were. Those who have been in hiding in the mountains and caves will be set free from all fear and danger, while their tormentors will seek refuge from the righteous wrath of God, pleading for the rocks and mountains to fall on them and hide them from the wrath of the Lamb (cf. Rev. 6:16-17).

To underscore how obvious His return will be, our Lord employs what may have been a familiar aphorism: “For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together” (v.

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