False Christs

For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Matthew 24:5

For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Mark 13:6

And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.

Luke 21:8

So, when will the false Christs come? Was it before 70 A.D. or will it be at the end of time just before the true Christ returns? 

My answer is, yes, and more.

It is clear that there were some people that fit this description recorded in scripture during the first century. Gamaliel mentions two of them in Acts 5. 

It is also clear that a false christ is strikingly similar to the white horse in Revelation, Chapter 6. Whether you date Revelation with an early date or later date, this image looks like Christ but is not the true One. 

And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

Revelation 6:2

The white horse rider has a bow, not a sword. He has a single crown, not many crowns, etc. These show that a false christ looks similar to the True Christ but can be identified as false upon deeper inspection.

So, I think that there were false Christs before the destruction of Jerusalem. I think there will be false Christs just before the return of Jesus, possibly a very prominent single one (2nd Thessalonians 2:1-4). But I also think Jesus is teaching that this will be a regular part of the world’s situation until Christ’s true return.

Satan does not change. He has always been the father of lies and deception. He has been and will continue to promote false Christs, false prophets, and false doctrines until Jesus returns.

There is nothing in this verse that would limit this to just 70 A.D. Neither does it limit this to a singular future event. It just states that there will be some false christs who would attempt to deceive the children of God. 

Our best defense against these liars is to study the true King and His message.

This is one element that cannot be clearly said to be either time solely. And I do not believe it does any danger to the rest of the prophecy to look at it this way.

Jesus is warning us to be aware of false Christs, false prophets, and heresies but at the same time He is telling us that these are not going to prevail. The fact that they exist does not mean they will win. In fact, it points toward the fact that Satan will use everything he can to attack us until Jesus returns.