Matthew 24:23-28
23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together."
A recent interview on Israeli radio featured prominent rabbis explaining that the Messiah is just about to reveal himself. Rabbi Yaakov Zisholtz told religious broadcaster Radio 2000 that Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky (who passed away earlier this year) had told him that he (Kanievsky) was already in direct contact with the Messiah. (Israel Today - https://www.israeltoday.co.il/)
Alert the Media! The Messiah is coming soon!
It's bad enough when false prophets from evangelical churches here in America claim to have face to face encounters with Jesus, and predict His second coming. Now, prominent Jewish rabbis are claiming to have personal meetings with the Messiah, and will reveal Himself soon.
Is there something going on that we need to pay attention to here? Only if you believe what Scriptures really say about the Lord's coming. If my recollection and understanding of Scriptures are correct, didn't Jesus warn us that these days of false christs and false prophets would rise up on the scene and predict the coming of the Messiah?
Did He not also say that we are not to believe it when they say things like this? Jesus reveals Himself alright - through the words of Scripture. He revealed Himself to the world in His first coming. He revealed Himself at the cross and after the resurrection, and at the ascension when He was lifted up to heaven. He revealed Himself to Paul, then Saul, to be appointed as an Apostle to the Gentiles.
But since those days, many have claimed to have had an encounter with the risen Lord, and have been given the secrets of God, like the rapture or second coming. Or have visited heaven through some mystical portal. Some claim to visit heaven several times a day. Paul visited the third heaven but was unable to speak of the things he heard and saw.
The Book Revelation, the Apostle John gave us a glimpse of the end times and a view of heaven from the perspective of giving us - the Church - something to look forward to as a final revealing of Christ to a lost and dying world, and a hope that He is going to make all things new when it's all said and done.
So, how can we know for certain that men like this rabbi have been holding "meetings" with the Messiah? If He, the Messiah, truly revealed Himself, and these Jewish men who are esteemed scholars meet with Him, then wouldn't they have to realize Jesus is the Messiah, thereby refuting the Jewish tradition that Jesus was not the Messiah in the first place?
To know for certain, or better yet, to gain a better understanding, you must look to the word of God - not in part - but in whole. That is study what God says about the Messiah. He is all over the Scriptures.
It is for certain Jesus is coming back. First to take His bride - the Church - out of this world, and then set foot on earth again to deal with Satan once and for all. Then to judge the living and the dead with eternal judgment of heaven or hell. The question is 'when'? That's up to God. Only He knows.
We just have to be ready and not fall for every "revelation" or "prophetic utterance" unless you carefully discern it and measure it against the Scriptures. The word of God is your best defense against all heresy, falsehood and deception. Read it. Study it. Believe it. Live it!
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