Matthew 24: 3-5

[NotmebutHim]

Many times I watch Youtube videos which concern Scripture, doctrine and the like. Here is one that I watched yesterday; it was a sermon by the late Dr. Hank Lindstrom. I had never heard of him before but he made an interesting assertion. Before I get to that, here's my take on Matthew 24: 3-5. I'll quote it first:

"[FONT=&quot]Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what [/FONT]will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”[FONT=Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]And Jesus answered and said to them: [/FONT][FONT=&quot]“Take heed that no one deceives you.[/FONT][FONT=Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif] [/FONT][FONT=&quot]For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many."
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
C[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT][FONT=&quot]onsider verse 5. I have always interpreted it to mean that Jesus was saying that many would come and claim to b[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT][FONT=&quot]e Christ, the Messiah. However, Dr. Lindstrom asserts that what Jesus actually meant was that many would come in His name and proclaim that He is indeed the Christ; only that they would use this truth to substantiate and promote their false doctrines. In other words, the phrase "I am the Christ" was not a claim of messiahship by someone else, but rather the declaration that Jesus is the Messiah. Again, this is according to Dr. Lindstrom.

So my question is: Is my interpretation of that verse true? Is Dr. Lindstrom's view of it true? Or are both views true?[/FONT]

Thanks!

P.S: Sorry for the formatting issues!

 

[Chris1975]

Many times I watch Youtube videos which concern Scripture, doctrine and the like. Here is one that I watched yesterday; it was a sermon by the late Dr. Hank Lindstrom. I had never heard of him before but he made an interesting assertion. Before I get to that, here's my take on Matthew 24: 3-5. I'll quote it first:

"Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you.For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many."

Consider verse 5. I have always interpreted it to mean that Jesus was saying that many would come and claim to be Christ, the Messiah. However, Dr. Lindstrom asserts that what Jesus actually meant was that many would come in His name and proclaim that He is indeed the Christ; only that they would use this truth to substantiate and promote their false doctrines. In other words, the phrase "I am the Christ" was not a claim of messiahship by someone else, but rather the declaration that Jesus is the Messiah. Again, this is according to Dr. Lindstrom.

So my question is: Is my interpretation of that verse true? Is Dr. Lindstrom's view of it true? Or are both views true?

Thanks!

P.S: Sorry for the formatting issues!

Dr Lindstrom sounds accurate.

 

[graceNpeace]

The big emphasis in that verse is the warning not to be deceived.

Lindstrom's take on the verse is indeed plausible - deceivers will indeed claim that Jesus is the Christ but then use it as a pretext for deception.
However, it is also true that there are individuals who have claimed Messiah-like qualities and have, in fact, deceived many through history right into the present.

 

[samuel23]

The word Christ means ,one with the anointing, today we have people claiming to have an anointing while teaching false doctrine. So I see it as possibly people with a false anointing.

 

[Johnny_B]

The Greek read "egō eimi ho Christos" "egō eimi" is what Jesus said in John 8:58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” "egō eimi" the same words used in the LXX in Exodus 3:14 “I am who I am.” they are making an actual claim to be the Christ, someone that acts like a Christian and lead others astray are false prophets or false teachers or false christs.

I was ready to say he is wrong, but as I'm looking these things up and reading it, the part that made me see what he is saying is, "for many will come in my name, saying" and we already see it with the JW's, mormons, oneness and the baptismal regeneration groups to name some.

 

[Grandpa]

I never thought of it that way. Pretty interesting food for thought.

 

[Meggido]

The word Christ means ,one with the anointing, today we have people claiming to have an anointing while teaching false doctrine. So I see it as possibly people with a false anointing.

wrong,
The word Christ means the anointed one and his anointing.

 

[KJV1611]

Many times I watch Youtube videos which concern Scripture, doctrine and the like. Here is one that I watched yesterday; it was a sermon by the late Dr. Hank Lindstrom. I had never heard of him before but he made an interesting assertion. Before I get to that, here's my take on Matthew 24: 3-5. I'll quote it first:

"Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you.For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many."

Consider verse 5. I have always interpreted it to mean that Jesus was saying that many would come and claim to be Christ, the Messiah. However, Dr. Lindstrom asserts that what Jesus actually meant was that many would come in His name and proclaim that He is indeed the Christ; only that they would use this truth to substantiate and promote their false doctrines. In other words, the phrase "I am the Christ" was not a claim of messiahship by someone else, but rather the declaration that Jesus is the Messiah. Again, this is according to Dr. Lindstrom.

So my question is: Is my interpretation of that verse true? Is Dr. Lindstrom's view of it true? Or are both views true?

Thanks!

P.S: Sorry for the formatting issues!

That's good stuff! I never noticed that before, thank you. I think the Dr. is right.

 

[MattforJesus]

Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
Mat 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Matthew 24:24,is in the future when the new age movement is popular big time,and the world will not endure the truth of the Bible,but according to their own lusts,power through nature,and be turned unto fables,the imaginations of people,which is what the occult is.There is no truth in the occult,and no benefit,which the world that followed the man of sin will realize there was no power to get through nature.

The new age movement,all paths are vaild for spiritual evolution,and will have many prophets,teachers,and paths.

They will do great wonders,and the false prophet will do great wonders to convince the world that the beast obtained power through nature,and shared this power with the false prophet,and will share this power with all who follow him,but the bible says they are lying wonders.

While someone saying,I am Christ could be someone actually believing they are the chosen one by God for humanity,which will give humanity the highest benefit,and prosperity from God,a Christ can also mean someone that says their teachings is the best way for humanity to benefit,and operate.

The new age movement acknowledges the power of nature,and does not believe in a personal God,and the man of sin,the New Age Christ will not acknowledge the God of his fathers,and not regard any god,but in his estate he will honor the God of forces,the force of nature as his God,and spiritual evolution through the power of nature.

So a Christ does not have to neccessarily be someone claiming to be from a personal God,but what they have to teach the world is the highest benefit,and properity,for the world,and the best way for the world to operate.

They do not look at Jesus as Lord and Savior,but as a good teacher in spiritual enlightenment,and an ascended master,and the New Age Christ will claim to bring a higher revelation to benefit mankind than Jesus.

While Matthew 24:24 appears to fit the new age movement,and what is going on,the verses before that speaking of Christs,and prophets could be people actually believing they are the chosen one of God to teach mankind,with a back up representative,but it could also mean they represent Christ wrong,and His teachings for humanity,and the false prophets are backing them up,or on their own telling wrong things concerning Christ.

Christ does not necessarily mean the person believes they are chosen of God to teach the world the best benefit for humanity,but can apply to that.

Like in false religions like the Mormon Church,where their Christ is different than the Christ of the Bible,yet they believe that their Christianity is the truth,and the best benefit for humanity,and Jehovah's witnesses,where their Christ is different than the Christ of the Bible,but believe their Christianity is the truth,and the best benefit for humanity,and Scientology,Christian Science,new age movement,and many more that hold a teaching of Christ,that is not the Christ of the Bible,but say that their Christianity is the truth,and the best way to benefit,and prosper,humanity,and for the world to operate.

1.Since Jesus is talking of the end time now,it could appear those that claim,I am Christ,could be all these false versions of Christianity,that does not have the right viewpoint of Christ,yet believe they are the truth,and there is so much deception in the world today concerning this,which Jesus is pointing out of the deception at the end time.

2.But it can also mean someone that believes they are annointed,and the chosen one of God,and represent God to give the highest revelation of God to mankind,and want to supercede the revelation of Jesus,and some do claim to be Jesus,or the Son of God.

But I believe it to be more number 1,for Jesus is addressing all the deception at that time,and those so called Christian Churches do more deceiving than someone that actually says,I am Christ,and their following,for I do not know anybody today that claims to actually be Christ,and has a great following.
[SUP]
[/SUP]

 

[MattforJesus]

[h=2]18th century[/h]

• Ann Lee (1736–1784), the founder and leader of the Shakers. Lee's followers referred to her as "Mother", believing that she was the female incarnation of Christ on Earth.[SUP][1][/SUP]

[h=2]19th century[/h]

Bahá'u'lláh

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad

• John Nichols Thom (1799–1838), a Cornish tax rebel who claimed to be the "saviour of the world" and the reincarnation of Jesus Christ in 1834. He was killed by British soldiers at the Battle of Bossenden Wood, on May 31, 1838 in Kent, England.[SUP][2][/SUP]
• Arnold Potter (1804–1872), Schismatic Latter Day Saint leader; he claimed the spirit of Jesus Christ entered into his body and he became "Potter Christ" Son of the living God. He died in an attempt to "ascend into heaven" by jumping off a cliff. His body was later retrieved and buried by his followers.[SUP][3][/SUP]
• Jones Very (1813–1880), American essayist, poet, literary scholar, and Greek tutor at Harvard who befriended several prominent American Transcendentalists and suffered a nervous breakdown in 1837 after which he claimed to have become the Second Coming of Jesus.
• Bahá'u'lláh (1817–1892), born Shiite, adopted Bábism later in 1844,[SUP][4][/SUP] he claimed to be the prophesied fulfillment and Promised One of three major religions. He founded the Bahá'í Faith in 1863.[SUP][5][/SUP] Followers of the Bahá'í Faith believe that the fulfillment of the prophecies of the second coming of Jesus, as well as the prophecies of the 5th Buddha Maitreya and many other religious prophecies, were begun by the Báb in 1844 and then by Bahá'u'lláh. They commonly compare the fulfillment of Christian prophecies to Jesus' fulfillment of Jewish prophecies, where in both cases people were expecting the literal fulfillment of apocalyptic statements.[SUP][6][/SUP]
• William W. Davies (1833–1906), leader of a Latter Day Saint schismatic group called the Kingdom of Heaven located in Walla Walla, Washington from 1867 to 1881. He taught his followers that he was the archangel Michael, who had previously lived as the biblical Adam, Abraham, and David. When his son Arthur was born on February 11, 1868, Davies declared that the infant was the reincarnated Jesus Christ.[SUP][7][/SUP][SUP][8][/SUP] When Davies's second son, David, was born in 1869, he was declared to be God the Father.[SUP][7][/SUP]
• Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, India (1835–1908), claimed to be the awaited Mahdi as well as (Second Coming) and likeness of Jesus the promised Messiah at the end of time. He claimed to be Jesus in the metaphorical sense; in character. He founded the Ahmadiyya Movement in 1889, envisioning it to be the rejuvenation of Islam, and claimed to be commissioned by God for the reformation of mankind.
• Lou de Palingboer (1898–1968), the founder and figurehead of a new religious movement in the Netherlands, who claimed to be "the resurrected body of Jesus Christ".

[h=2]20th century[/h]

• John Hugh Smyth-Pigott (1852–1927). Around 1890 Smyth-Pigott started leading meetings of the Agapenomite community and recruited 50 young female followers to supplement its aging population. He took Ruth Anne Preece as his second wife and she had three children named Glory, Power and Hallelujah.[SUP][9][/SUP] By 1902 his fame had spread as far as India, from where Mirza Ghulam Ahmad warned him of his false teachings and predicted his miserable end. The house which may have belonged to Smyth-Pigott in St John's Wood was visited by John Betjeman in his film Metro-land. It is built in the neo-gothic style. It is currently the home of the television presenter Vanessa Feltz and was previously the home of Charles Saatchi.[SUP][10][/SUP] Smyth-Pigott died in 1927 and the sect gradually declined until the last member, sister Ruth, died in 1956.[SUP][11][/SUP] Her funeral in 1956 was the only time when outsiders were admitted to the chapel.[SUP][12][/SUP]

Haile Selassie I

• Haile Selassie I (1892–1975) did not claim to be Jesus and disapproved of claims that he was Jesus, but the Rastafari movement, which emerged in Jamaica during the 1930s, believes he is the Second Coming. He embodied this when he became Emperor of Ethiopia in 1930, perceived as confirmation of the return of the Messiah in the prophetic Book of Revelation 5:5 in the New Testament, who is also expected to return a second time to initiate the apocalyptic day of judgment. He is also called Jah Ras Tafari, and is often considered to be alive by Rastafari movement members.[SUP][13][/SUP]
• Ernest Norman (1904–1971), an American electrical engineer who co-founded the Unarius Academy of Science in 1954, was allegedly Jesus in a past life and his earthly incarnation was as an archangel named Raphael.[SUP][14][/SUP] He claimed to be the reincarnation of other notable figures including Confucius, Mona Lisa, Benjamin Franklin, Socrates, Queen Elizabeth I, and Tsar Peter I the Great.[SUP][15][/SUP]

Krishna Venta

• Krishna Venta (1911–1958), born Francis Herman Pencovic in San Francisco, founded the WKFL (Wisdom, Knowledge, Faith and Love) Fountain of the World cult in Simi Valley, California in the late 1940s. In 1948 he stated that he was Christ, the new messiah and claimed to have led a convoy of rocket ships to Earth from the extinct planet Neophrates. He died on December 10, 1958 after being suicide bombed by two disgruntled former followers who accused Venta of mishandling cult funds and having been intimate with their wives.
• Ahn Sahng-Hong (1918–1985), a South Korean who founded the World Mission Society Church of God in 1964, who recognize him as the Second Coming of Jesus. The World Mission Society Church of God teach that Zahng Gil-jah is "God the Mother", who they explain is referred to in the Bible as the New Jerusalem Mother (Galatians 4:26), and that Ahn Sahng-Hong is God the Father.[SUP][16][/SUP]

Sun Myung Moon

• Sun Myung Moon (1920–2012), believed by members of the Unification Church to be the Messiah and the Second Coming of Christ, fulfilling Jesus' unfinished mission. Church members ("Unificationists") consider Sun Myung Moon and his wife, Hak Ja Han, to be the True Parents of humankind as the restored Adam and Eve.[SUP][17][/SUP][SUP][18][/SUP]

 

[MattforJesus]

• Jim Jones (1931–1978), founder of Peoples Temple, which started off as an offshoot of a mainstream Protestant sect before becoming a personality cult as time went on. He claimed to be the reincarnation of Jesus, Akhenaten, the Buddha, Vladimir Lenin, and Father Divine in the 1970s.[SUP][19][/SUP] He organized a mass murder suicide at Jonestown, Guyana on November 18, 1978.[SUP][20][/SUP] He shot himself after the murders were done.
• Marshall Applewhite (1931–1997), an American who posted a Usenet message declaring, "I, Jesus—Son of God—acknowledge on this date of September 25/26, 1995: ..."[SUP][21][/SUP] Applewhite and his Heaven's Gate cult committed mass suicide on March 26, 1997 to rendezvous with what they thought was a spaceship hiding behind the comet Hale–Bopp.[SUP][22][/SUP]
• Yahweh ben Yahweh (1935–2007), born as Hulon Mitchell, Jr., a black nationalist and separatist who created the Nation of Yahweh in 1979 in Liberty City, Florida. His self-proclaimed name means "God, Son of God". He could have only been deeming himself to be "son of God", not God, but many of his followers clearly deem him to be God Incarnate.[SUP][23][/SUP][SUP][24][/SUP] In 1992, he was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder and sentenced to 18 years in prison.[SUP][25][/SUP]
• Laszlo Toth (1938–2012), Hungarian-born Australian who claimed he was Jesus Christ as he vandalized Michelangelo's Pietà with a geologist's hammer in 1972.[SUP][26][/SUP][SUP][27][/SUP]
• Wayne Bent (1941–), also known as Michael Travesser of the Lord Our Righteousness Church. He claims: "I am the embodiment of God. I am divinity and humanity combined."[SUP][28][/SUP] He was convicted on December 15, 2008 of one count of criminal sexual contact of a minor and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor in 2008.[SUP][29][/SUP]
• Ariffin Mohammed (1943–2016), also known as "Ayah Pin", the founder of the banned Sky Kingdom in Malaysia in 1975. He claimed to have direct contact with the heavens and is believed by his followers to have been the incarnation of Jesus, as well as Shiva, and the Buddha, and Muhammad.[SUP][30][/SUP]
• Mitsuo Matayoshi (1944–), a conservative Japanese politician, who in 1997 established the World Economic Community Party based on his conviction that he is God and Christ, renaming himself Iesu Matayoshi. According to his program he will do the Last Judgment as Christ but within the current political system.[SUP][31][/SUP][SUP][32][/SUP]
• José Luis de Jesús Miranda (1946–2013), Puerto Rican founder, leader and organizer of Growing in Grace based in Miami, Florida, who claimed that the resurrected Christ "integrated himself within me" in 2007.[SUP][33][/SUP]
• Inri Cristo (1948–), a Brazilian who claims to be the second Jesus reincarnated in 1969,[SUP][34][/SUP] Brasília is considered by Inri Cristo and his disciples as the New Jerusalem of the Apocalypse.
• Thomas Harrison Provenzano[SUP][35][/SUP] (1949–2000), an American convicted murderer who was possibly mentally ill. He compared his execution with Jesus Christ's crucifixion.[SUP][36][/SUP]
• Shoko Asahara (1955–), founded the controversial Japanese religious group Aum Shinrikyo in 1984. He declared himself Christ, Japan's only fully enlightened master and the Lamb of God. His purported mission was to take upon himself the sins of the world. He outlined a doomsday prophecy, which included a Third World War, and described a final conflict culminating in a nuclear Armageddon, borrowing the term from the Book of Revelation 16:16.[SUP][37][/SUP] Humanity would end, except for the elite few who joined Aum.[SUP][37][/SUP] The group gained international notoriety on March 20, 1995, when it carried out the Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway. He has been sentenced to death, and is awaiting execution.
• David Koresh (1959–1993), born Vernon Wayne Howell, was the leader of a Branch Davidian religious sect in Waco, Texas, though never directly claiming to be Jesus himself, proclaimed that he was the final prophet and "the Son of God, the Lamb" in 1983. In 1993, a raid by the U.S. BATF, and the subsequent siege by the FBI ended with Branch Davidian ranch burning to the ground. Koresh, 54 adults and 21 children were found dead after the fire extinguished itself.[SUP][38][/SUP]
• Hogen Fukunaga (1945–) founded Ho No Hana Sanpogyo, often called the "foot reading cult", in Japan in 1987 after an alleged spiritual event where he claimed to have realized he was the reincarnation of Jesus Christ and Gautama Buddha.[SUP][39][/SUP]
• Marina Tsvigun (1960–), or Maria Devi Christos, is the leader of the Great White Brotherhood.[SUP][40][/SUP] In 1990 she met Yuri Krivonogov, the Great White Brotherhood founder, who recognized Marina as a new messiah and later married her, assuming in the sect the role of John the Baptist, subordinate to Tsvigun.
• Sergey Torop (1961–), a Russian who claims to be "reborn" as Vissarion, Jesus Christ returned, which makes him not "God" but the "word of God". He founded the Church of the Last Testament and the spiritual community Ecopolis Tiberkul in Southern Siberia in 1990.[SUP][41][/SUP]
• Maurice Clemmons (1972–2009) an American felon responsible for the 2009 murder of four police officers in Washington state, referred to himself in May 2009 as Jesus.[SUP][42][/SUP]

[h=2]21st century[/h]

Alan John Miller (left)

David Shayler

• Apollo Quiboloy (1950–) is the founder and leader of a Philippines-based Restorationist church, the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name, Inc. He has made claims that he is the "Appointed Son of God".[SUP][43][/SUP]
• Alan John Miller (1962–), more commonly known as A.J. Miller, a former Jehovah's Witness elder and current leader of the Australia-based Divine Truth movement.[SUP][44][/SUP] Miller claims to be Jesus Christ reincarnated with others in the 20th century to spread messages that he calls the "Divine Truth". He delivers these messages in seminars and various forms of media along with his current partner Mary Suzanne Luck, who identifies herself as the returned Mary Magdalene.[SUP][45][/SUP]
• Kevin McLaughlin (1942-) Born in Lagos, Nigeria the preacher is currently based in Glasgow, United Kingdom. He has claimed to have performed several miracles.
• David Shayler (1965–) was a former MI5 agent and whistleblower who, in the summer of 2007, proclaimed himself to be the Messiah. He has released a series of videos on YouTube claiming to be Jesus, although he has not built up any noticeable following since his claims.[SUP][46][/SUP][SUP][47][/SUP][SUP][48][/SUP]
• Oscar Ramiro Ortega-Hernandez (1990–). In November 2011, he fired nine shots with an Romanian Cugir SA semi-automatic rifle at the White House in Washington D.C., believing himself to be Jesus Christ sent to kill U.S. President Barack Obama, whom he believed to be the antichrist.[SUP][49][/SUP][SUP][50][/SUP]

[SUP]

[/SUP]

 

[Grandpa]

Well that got weird fast.

 

[Ahwatukee]

Hello notmebuthim,

Consider verse 5. I have always interpreted it to mean that Jesus was saying that many would come and claim to be Christ, the Messiah. However, Dr. Lindstrom asserts that what Jesus actually meant was that many would come in His name and proclaim that He is indeed the Christ; only that they would use this truth to substantiate and promote their false doctrines. In other words, the phrase "I am the Christ" was not a claim of messiahship by someone else, but rather the declaration that Jesus is the Messiah. Again, this is according to Dr. Lindstrom.

The problem with Dr. Lindstrom's interpretation is found below:

"At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it.For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.See, I have told you ahead of time." - Matt.24:23-25

The scripture above, which is in reference to the Lord's return to the earth to end the age, would support that fact that in the very last days many will come claiming to be the Messiah. This would also be supported by the fact that the antichrist, which means "in opposition to or in place of" will be proclaiming to be the Messiah/God.

The first part of what Dr. Lindstrom claims is not correct in that, these false Messiah's will not be coming to proclaim that Jesus is the Messiah, but they will be proclaiming that they themselves are the Messiah. The second part of what Dr. Lindstrom said regarding " they would use this truth to substantiate and promote their false doctrines" is very true. The very fact that they will/are proclaiming to be the Messiah is proof of their false doctrines, because only Yeshua is the true Messiah.

 

[birdie]

So my question is: Is my interpretation of that verse true? Is Dr. Lindstrom's view of it true? Or are both views true?

Matthew 24 is a chapter which discusses the fall of the congregations of the church age away from the true gospel. Jesus talks about the stones of the the temple all being thrown down. People who read the Bible as a surface text think that this is talking about a physical temple, but this is talking about the people of the congregations in their relation to Christ. The temple is Christ's body and the stones are the people. Remember how true believers, members of Christ's body, are called lively stones in the Bible and Christ himself is the stone which the builders rejected. When the congregations of the church age have rejected the true gospel of the true believers, and Satan has spiritual reign in the congregations, the congregations of the church age will have fallen spiritually speaking. Many will come saying that they are the ones who are annointed by God with the truth but don't go after them. The Bible uses the term prophet to describe any true believer and the sharing of the gospel is referred to as prophesying. But many who are claiming to be in Christ are not coming with the true gospel and so they are called false prophets or false annointed ones.

Each true believer is a little Christ in a sense, having Christ's annointing. That is why Jesus refers to the true believers as himself (When did you see me [Matthew 25:37-40]). However, those who are not in Christ but who claim to be are false Christs, false prophets.

 

[Ahwatukee]

People who read the Bible as a surface text think that this is talking about a physical temple, but this is talking about the people of the congregations in their relation to Christ.

I'm sorry, but Jesus was talking about the physical destruction of the temple which was fulfilled in 70 AD. Just as He said, "not one stone will be left upon another." This was fulfilled when the gold within the temple liquefied and seeped into the cracks of the stones and the Roman armies pulled up the stones to get to the gold.

Another reason that we know that Jesus was speaking of the literal temple being destroyed is because His as they were walking away from the temple, his disciples "came up to him to call his attention to its buildings." The Lord's response was, "Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

There is therefore no way to misinterpret the temple as being figurative representing the church as being the temple. For the rest of the context demonstrates that the physical temple and its buildings are in view.

 

[KJV1611]

Hello notmebuthim,

The problem with Dr. Lindstrom's interpretation is found below:

"At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it.For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.See, I have told you ahead of time." - Matt.24:23-25

The scripture above, which is in reference to the Lord's return to the earth to end the age, would support that fact that in the very last days many will come claiming to be the Messiah. This would also be supported by the fact that the antichrist, which means "in opposition to or in place of" will be proclaiming to be the Messiah/God.

The first part of what Dr. Lindstrom claims is not correct in that, these false Messiah's will not be coming to proclaim that Jesus is the Messiah, but they will be proclaiming that they themselves are the Messiah. The second part of what Dr. Lindstrom said regarding " they would use this truth to substantiate and promote their false doctrines" is very true. The very fact that they will/are proclaiming to be the Messiah is proof of their false doctrines, because only Yeshua is the true Messiah.

I think the two text are talking about two different things, many come in the name of Christ and deliver a false gospel AND there will be many claiming to be Christ also.

 

[KJV1611]

Matthew 24 is a chapter which discusses the fall of the congregations of the church age away from the true gospel. Jesus talks about the stones of the the temple all being thrown down. People who read the Bible as a surface text think that this is talking about a physical temple, but this is talking about the people of the congregations in their relation to Christ. The temple is Christ's body and the stones are the people. Remember how true believers, members of Christ's body, are called lively stones in the Bible and Christ himself is the stone which the builders rejected. When the congregations of the church age have rejected the true gospel of the true believers, and Satan has spiritual reign in the congregations, the congregations of the church age will have fallen spiritually speaking. Many will come saying that they are the ones who are annointed by God with the truth but don't go after them. The Bible uses the term prophet to describe any true believer and the sharing of the gospel is referred to as prophesying. But many who are claiming to be in Christ are not coming with the true gospel and so they are called false prophets or false annointed ones.

Each true believer is a little Christ in a sense, having Christ's annointing. That is why Jesus refers to the true believers as himself (When did you see me [Matthew 25:37-40]). However, those who are not in Christ but who claim to be are false Christs, false prophets.

Fake believers are not lively stones and true believers are never thrown down.