Matthew 24:23-27, a short exposition.

Essentially, this post will try to give a modern interpretation of Jesus' warning. Which our bible accurately refers to as "false Christs". However to get at the meat and potatoes we have to logically disect the word Christ. What is it to be Christ?
Christ is the Greek for Messiah, which means anointed one. It essentially refers to Jesus as a man blessed by God (Jehovah). The title doesn't specifically deal with the nature of Jesus as the Son of God (Which obviously he is). But more of what Jesus as Messiah would do here on Earth.
The Jews/Hebrews believed that Jesus would DELIVER them from their enemies, save them from their earthly oppressors. That is part of the reason that people were unwilling to accept him as the Messiah and saw him more as a prophet (Matthew 16:14, 21:46) than the actual saviour of humanity.
So when we understand how they perceived him, as a man, and a prophet (akin to Elijah and Jeremiah) its easy to see how Messiah is an earthly title with earthly connotations. Whilst Jesus truly was the Son of God, up until his resurrection, his signs and wonders were the only thing convincing people of his true nature, his words were taken as those of a prophet, because his nature as Messiah could not be understood, as the eyes and ears of the multitudes could not see or hear the truth. It is only through knowing the nature of Christ, in truth without blinkers, that one can be saved, it is not through a quick prayer, but through God himself allowing us to know, and through God changing our nature [i am not preaching calvinism here, but the act of salvation through belief in God, from the changing of ones mind from worldly beliefs to true belief in Jesus as saviour, which God allows through the Holy Spirit]
So how does this correspond with Jesus warning?
Our bibles present his warning something like this:

23 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 shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.25 Behold, I have told you before.26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
This is definitely the word of God. However we may struggle to get accurate context in our modern times, so I am going to exposit this myself to bring out what I believe to be a possible interpretation:

23 "If at that time any one should say to you, `See, here is the deliverer!"  or `there!' give no credence to it. 24 For there will rise up false deliverers and false divine-speakers, displaying powerful proofs of authority  and miracles, so as to deceive, were it possible, even God's own People. 25 Remember, I have forewarned you. 26 If therefore they should say to you, `Look in the Desert! (for salvation)'  do not go out there: or `Look inside (yourself)' do not believe it.
27 For when Christ returns EVERYONE SHALL SEE HIM

Make of it what you will, remember how this refers to the "end of the age", I am only looking at this interpretively not literally, but I believe that the modern messiahs in the New Age are those who say that salvation is within could be those Jesus described. How would the inner rooms be interpreted? That "Christ" would be in a someone's house, lets go to him? Who would believe that? Or that he is waiting for us in the desert? Or that by going into the desert we can attain salvation (Sedona..) and that if we look within we can attain Christ consciousness. Thats why it says
Desert = do not go there
Secret Chambers = do not believe them.
Would Jesus not say "do not go there" for both, unless one is physical and the other spiritual/mental.
This would indicate further the demonic aspects of the New Age, the signs and wonders..the miracles and proofs of authority as I interpreted it..actually mean these people prove their abilities, and claim divine (not from our God, but from higher beings) power and authority.
I hope this helps someone..or at least provide a base of research.

Edit: There is also the possibility that secret chambers refers to the secret societies of mystery babylon, as freemasons often refer to themselves as Christians when in fact they're luciferians - definitely something to look into in my opinion

Comments

Popular Posts