By Bob Barney-The Plain Truth
In Matthew 24 Jesus spoke specifically to His disciples about the very warnings that will point to His second coming. This amazing event of His return will be the end of the age of man and will be the establishment of His Kingdom on earth. He said to them: “Do you see all these buildings? Truly I say to you, they will be so completely demolished that not one stone will be left on top of another!” As He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” Jesus answered them, “Be careful that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will lead many astray.” (Mathew 24: 3-5 in The Plain Truth Red Letter “Original Order” Bible by Bob Barney.)
When Jesus said this, He was speaking as prophet knowing all of what the future would hold. He understood that not only false messiahs would appear on the world stage but false religions as well; a good example of this is Islam. Jesus was speaking of a time when many would come to use His name proclaiming that, "Jesus is the Christ", and still manage to deceive many. He also spoke of 'false Christianity' (not to be confused with false pagan religions), when He said they will come in His name. Unfortunately, most Christians mistakenly assume that Jesus was predicting the arrival of impostors claiming to be Him but really posing as the Antichrist, however, that IS NOT the correct warning here! He was warning us and His disciples about FALSE CHRISTIANITY masquerading as the real thing!
Matthew 24 is one of the longest single prophecies in the Bible and is the most important prophecy that Christ ever did make while on Earth. It is about the birth of a new age after an eruption of world crises' that in fact will end the age of man. The seven seals represent the unfolding of such events and here they are in order: false prophets, war, famine, pestilence, tribulation, heavenly signs, and the seven trumpets that will lead directly to Christ’s return; these events are to happen in rapid succession!