Z1. Believing End-Time False Prophets & Messiahs. [Make a Comment]
We are not to be beguiled by end-time false prophets & Messiahs.
This precept is derived from His Word (blessed be He):
Key Scripture
Matthew 24:23-27
At that time [of tribulation], if someone says to you, 'Look!
Here's the Messiah!' or, 'There he is!' don't
believe him. For there will appear false Messiahs and false prophets
performing great miracles - amazing things! - so as to fool even the chosen,
if possible. There! I have told you in advance! So if people say to you,
'Listen! He's out in the desert!' don't go; or,
'Look! He's hidden away in a secret room!' don't
believe it. For when the Son of Man does come, it will be like lightning
that flashes out of the east and fills the sky to the western horizon.
Supportive Scriptures
Matthew 15:7
Beware of the false prophets! They come to you wearing sheep's
clothing, but underneath they are hungry wolves!
Matthew 24:4-5
Yeshua replied: "Watch out! Don't let anyone fool you! For many will
come in my name, saying, 'I am the Messiah!' and they will lead
many astray."
Matthew 24:10-11
At that time many will be trapped into betraying and hating each other, many
false prophets will appear and fool many people
Mark 13:5-6
Yeshua began speaking to them: "Watch out! Don't let anyone fool you!
Many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he!' and they will fool
many people."
Mark 13:21-22
At that time, if anyone says to you, 'Look! Here's the
Messiah!' or, 'See, there he is!' - don't believe him!
There will appear false Messiahs and false prophets performing signs and
wonders for the purpose, if possible, of misleading the chosen.
2 Peter 2:1-2
But among the people there were also false prophets, just as there will be
false teachers among you. Under false pretenses they will introduce
destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, and thus
bring on themselves swift destruction. Many will follow their debaucheries;
and because of them, the true Way will be maligned.
1 John 4:1
Dear friends, don't trust every spirit. On the contrary, test the
spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have
gone out into the world.
Revelation 16:13
And I saw three unclean spirits that looked like frogs; they came from the
mouth of the dragon, from the mouth of the beast and from the mouth of the
false prophet.
Revelation 20:10
The Adversary who had deceived them was hurled into the lake of fire and
sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet were; and they will be
tormented day and night forever and ever.
Commentary
We were warned against false prophets from times of antiquity, but false Messiahs are a phenomenon of the New Covenant. Since the First Century, Judaism has experienced a number of persons (mostly obscure) who either claimed Messiahship or were regarded as Messiah by others. Three stand out as prominent, however; they are Simon bar Kokhba of the 2nd Century, Sabbatai Zevi of the 17th Century, and Menachem Mendel Schneerson of the 20th Century. According to Scripture there are more to come, and Yeshua was emphatic in his warning against them. How do we know a false Messiah from the genuine? Simple! He is not Yeshua. How do we know a false end-time prophet from the genuine? Simple! He leads us away from Yeshua and the truths of Scripture.
Classical Commentators
This Mitzvah is not addressed by any of the Jewish classical commentators.
NCLA: JMm JFm KMm KFm GMm GFm