Daily Devotions
Mark
And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying,... "Acts 2:40"
Day 283 – Mark 13
“And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, ‘Be saved from this perverse generation.” Acts 2:40
A PITCHED BATTLE
The tribulation period would be a time of great spiritual warfare. The Scriptures speak specifically of the fact that Satan has declared war on God’s elect (Cf. Revelation 12). The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, urged his readers to remember to don the spiritual armour that God had graciously provided.
HOW WOULD THE EVIL ONE ATTACK THE ELECT?
Jesus gave a solemn word of warning concerning the means by which the elect would be assailed.
“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’
or, ‘Look, He is there!’ do not believe it.
For false christs and false prophets will rise
and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
But take heed, see, I have told you all things beforehand.”
MARK 13:21-22
1. False christs
The word “christ” may also be translated as “anointed one”. These people may not actually dare to call themselves “Christ” but they will claim that they are “specially anointed” people. (The deception is subtle but deadly).
2. False prophets
Despite the strong words of warning in the Scriptures against false prophets (Cf. Deuteronomy 18, Jeremiah 23; Ezekiel 13), throughout history, many have claimed to be “prophets”. (Many have also been proven, through time, to be false prophets).
3. Signs and wonders
The “false christs and false prophets” in latter times would be even more deadly. They are actually going to be able to perform “signs and wonders”. Having this power, they are going to be harder to disprove!
4. Deception of the elect
These false christs and false prophets would go all out to attempt to deceive “the elect”- if that is possible! Is it possible for “the elect” to be deceived? Unfortunately, the answer is a sad “Yes!”
5. The best defence
We need to set up a good defence against these false christs and false prophets! Let us “take heed” of all that Jesus had spoken and recorded in the Gospels. Let us deal with the problem of spiritual ignorance or spiritual naïveté. Let us make every effort to grow in spiritual maturity!