Although Pentecostals and Charismatics are very prevalent in Christianity, the signs and wonders that they believe in are false. The true signs and wonders ceased upon completion of the New Testament. However, true signs and wonders provided important purposes. They validated the ministries of Jesus Christ and those in the Apostolic Church. Also, the signs were a method to send the gospel to the whole world. And, they contained important symbolic meanings. For example, speaking in other tongues not only helped spread the Gospel to those of other languages, but they were also symbolic of all Christians who sign the new song of God’s word. Also, healings not only validated Christ and the apostles, but they were also symbolic of salvation and sanctification. The Bible teaches clearly that signs and wonders belonged to the apostles (2 Cor 12:12, Heb 2:3-4, etc.) and that the Word of God is complete (Rev 22:18-19, Pro 30:6, etc.). The apostles performed a specific mission to bring forth the Word of God (New Testament). Upon completion of the New Testament, the ministry of an apostle was completed and therefore, there are no ‘apostles’ today. Any signs and wonders purported to be true today are really false signs and wonders. False signs and wonders will become very prevalent during the Great Tribulation.
Signs Validated Jesus was the Christ
Signs and Wonders – Opposite of Faith
Apostles Given Power Over Unclean Spirits
Apostolic Gifts included Casting out Demons
Jesus Christ Appeared to all the Apostles
Uniqueness of the Apostolic Office
Symbols in the Bible of Spiritual Truth
Old Testament Prophets Validated by Signs and Wonders
False Signs and Wonders – Great Tribulation
False Christs and False Prophets
Signs Validated Jesus was the Christ
- Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: (Act 2:22)
- But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. (Joh 5:36)
- The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. (Joh 3:2)
- When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight. Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. (Luk 7:20-23)
- If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. (Joh 15:24)
- Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. (Joh 14:10-11)
- And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done? (Joh 7:31)
- This he said, signifying what death he should die. (Joh 12:33)
- That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die. (Joh 18:32)
- And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book (Joh 20:30)
- Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know (Act 2:22)
- This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him. (Joh 2:11)
- Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. (Joh 2:23)
- The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. (Joh 3:2)
- And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. (Joh 6:2)
- Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. (Joh 6:26)
- And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done? (Joh 7:31)
- Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. (Joh 9:16)
- Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. (Joh 11:47)
- But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him (Joh 2:37)
Signs and Wonders – Opposite of Faith
- They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? (Joh 6:30)
- But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: (Joh 12:37)
- If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. (Joh 15:24)
- Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: (Mat 11:20)
- And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. (Luk 16:31)
- Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. (Joh 20:29-31)
- (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) (2Co 5:7)
- Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Heb 11:1)
- While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2Co 4:18)
- For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. (Rom 8:24-25)
- I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Gal 2:20)
- That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (Heb 6:12)
- By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. (Heb 11:7)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Signs and wonders are a key feature of the false prophet’s work during the Great Tribulation. This results in a fire from heaven (God’s judgment). In Revelation 13, we find that the false prophet is like a lamb with 2 horns, but speaks like a dragon. In Rev 13:13, we find that the false prophet, does great signs (wonders, miracles) that results in fire from heaven. Please view the video below or refer to the detailed study to below to discover why the false prophets false signs and wonders results in fire from heaven.
What is an Apostle?
- Apostle – Greek: apostolos – literally a sent one (81 occurrences)
- Derived From Greek word, apostello (‘send off’ as on a mission) – 133 occurrences
- All Christians – sent to share the Gospel
- Apostles – ‘sent ones’ to complete the Bible – see below
Jesus Christ Appeared / Heard of all the Apostles
- Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection. And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. (Act 1:21-23)
- Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord? (1Co 9:1)
- How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (Heb 2:3)
- Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. (1Co 15:1-10, especially verse 7)
Uniqueness of the Apostolic Office
- And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone (Eph 2:20)
- And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. (1Co 12:28)
- Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter … (Mat 10:2)
- Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit (Eph 3:5)
- Jesus seen of James and all the apostles (1 Cor 15:7) – see next slide
Apostles Wrote New Testament
- And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. (Mat 16:17)
- Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute (Luk 11:49)
- Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: (Act 1:2-3)
- That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. (Act 1:25)
- And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. (Act 2:42-43)
- And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. (Act 4:33)
- And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, (Act 8:18)
- Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Rom 1:1)
- Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, (Rom 16:25)
- Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord? (1Co 9:1)
- And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. (1Co 12:28)
- After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. (1Co 15:7)
- It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. (2Co 12:1)
- And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. (2Co 12:7)
- Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) … But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. (Gal 1:1, 11-12)
- How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words (Eph 3:3)
- Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit (Eph 3:5)
- And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone (Eph 2:20)
- Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit (Eph 3:5)
- Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness (Tit 1:1)
- That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour (2Pe 3:2)
- But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ (Jud 1:17)
- The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: (Rev 1:1)
- Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her. (Rev 18:20)
- And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. (Rev 21:12-14)
Symbols in the Bible of Spiritual Truth
- The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John (Rev 1:1)
- And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. (Rev 15:1)
- And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: (Rev 12:1)
- And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. (Rev 12:3)
Apostolic Signs
- And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues (Mar 16:17)
- And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. (Mar 16:20)
- This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. (Joh 21:19)
- And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. (Act 2:43)
- By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. (Act 4:30)
- And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch. (Act 5:12)
- Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. (Act 8:13)
- And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. (Act 11:28)
- Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands. (Act 14:3)
- Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. (1Co 14:22)
- Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. (2Co 12:12)
- God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? (Heb 2:4)
- And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. (Act 6:8)
- And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. (Act 8:6)
- Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. (Act 15:12)
Part of the Gospel
Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. (Rom 15:19)
The Miracles of the Apostles
- Peter walked on water (Mat 14:28-31).
- All believers spoke in foreign languages (Acts 2:4).
- Manysigns and wonders performed (Acts 2:43; 5:12).
- Peter & John healed the lame man (Acts 3:1-11; 3:16).
- Peter’s shadow fell on the sick, healing them (Acts 5:15-16).
- Stephen performed amazing miracles and signs (Acts 6:8).
- Philip cast out demons and healed the lame (Acts 8:7; 8:13).
- Peter & John laid hands on believers who then received the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14-17).
- Peter heals lame Aeneas in Lydda (Acts 9:32-35).
- Peter raised Tabitha, aka Dorcas, from the dead (Acts 9:36-43).
- Paul cursed and blinded the blasphemous Elymas the sorcerer (Acts 13:11-12).
- Paul & Barnabas performed signs and wonders in Iconium (Acts 14:3).
- Paul & Barnabas healed the crippled man who had faith (Acts 14:8-10).
- Paul & Silas cast a demon out of a fortune telling slave girl (Acts 16:16-18).
- Paul given extreme power for many unusual miracles. People touched him with aprons and handkerchiefs and laid the cloths on the sick and demon-possessed, who were then healed (Acts 19:11-12).
- Paul raised Eutychus from the dead after a terrible accident (Acts 20:9-12).
- Paul unharmed by poisonous snake bite in Malta (Acts 28:3-6).
- Paul healed Publius’ father of fever and dysentery (Acts 28:7-8).
- Paul healed all sick people on the island of Malta (Acts 28:9-10).
Apostolic signs and wonders – Mk 16:20, 2 Cor 12:12, Heb 2:4, Heb 6:5, Ro 15:19, Acts 2:19, Acts 2:22, Acts 2:43, Acts 4:30, Acts 5:12, Acts 6:8, Acts 7:36, Acts 14:3, Acts 15:12, Dan 4:2, Dan 6:27, 1 Cor 12:10 gifts - Signs and wonders were a method to preach the Gospel – Ro 15:19 – Word of God complete now
Apostles Given Power Over Unclean Spirits
- And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. (Mat 10:1)
- And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits…(Mark 6:7)
- And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. (Mark 16:17-18)
- And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. (Luke 10:17-20)
Apostolic Gifts included Casting out Demons
- How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? (Heb 2:3-4)
- Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. (2 Cor 12:12)
- And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. (Mark 16:17-18)
- So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. (Mark 16:19-20)
- Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands. (Acts 14:3)
- And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them. (Acts 19:11-12)
- For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. Rom 15:18-19)
Old Testament Prophets Validated by Signs and Wonders
Man of God (a prophet)
- And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense. And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men’s bones shall be burnt upon thee. And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the LORD hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out. And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, which had cried against the altar in Bethel, that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him. The altar also was rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the LORD. (1Ki 13:1-5)
- He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the LORD, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him. (1Ki 13:18)
Moses and Aaron
And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand: That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee. And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow. And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh. And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign. And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land.
(Exo 4:3-9)
And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.
(Exo 7:10)
False prophet signs and wonders
If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. (Deu 13:1-3)
Hezekiah asks a sign from Isaiah
And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the LORD the third day? And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees? And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees. And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the LORD: and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz. (2Ki 20:8-11)
And this shall be a sign unto thee from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing that he hath spoken; Behold, I will bring again the shadow of the degrees, which is gone down in the sun dial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward. So the sun returned ten degrees, by which degrees it was gone down. (Isa 38:7-8)
For Isaiah had said, Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaister upon the boil, and he shall recover. Hezekiah also had said, What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the LORD? (Isa 38:21-22)
Isaiah and Ahaz
Moreover the LORD spake again unto Ahaz, saying, Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD. And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Isa 7:10-14)
Jeremiah’s Message to Exiles in Egypt
And this shall be a sign unto you, saith the LORD, that I will punish you in this place, that ye may know that my words shall surely stand against you for evil: (Jer 44:29)
Sign of the Prophet Jonah
Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. (Mat 12:38)
A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed. (Mat 16:4)
And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet. For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation. The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. (Luk 11:29-32)
False Signs and Wonders – Great Tribulation
- For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 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. (Mat 24:21-24)
- And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. (Mark 13:21-22)
- And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Th 2:8-12)
- And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. (Rev 13:11-14)
- And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. (Rev 16:13-14)
- And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. (Rev 19:20)
False Christs and False Prophets
As we understand from Mat 24:24 and Mk 13:22, false christs and false prophets will show great sings and wonders:
- For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 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. (Mat 24:21-24)
- And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. (Mark 13:21-22)
Therefore, it is very important to be able to recognize what false christs and false prophets are. To understand what a ‘false christ’ is, one must understand what ‘Christ’ means. Once the term ‘Christ’ is understood, then the meaning of a ‘false christ’ (also known as an ‘antichrist’). Jesus taught that whoever was not for Him, was against Him (Mat 12:30, Lk 11:23). A false Christ is one who is against the truth that Jesus is the Prophet, the Priest and the King. This threefold office of Christ (Messiah) reflects these three important truths about Jesus Christ:
- Prophet – the absolute truth about God is found in the Word of God, which is the Bible. Jesus Christ is the Word of God. One must be a disciple of Jesus Christ through the Bible.
- Priest – Jesus Christ is the High Priest and by His sacrifice of Himself is the only way to salvation. There is no salvation outside of Jesus Christ.
- King – Jesus Christ is the sovereign King. A true Christian will have an on-going desire to be obedient and submissive to Jesus Christ as the Word of God.
It is essential that one believe that Jesus is the Christ. It is imperative to our salvation. One cannot be saved if they do not believe in the Christ. The word Christ (Messiah) means to be anointed or rubbed with oil. In the Bible, there are three primary officers who were anointed: Prophet, Priest and King. Jesus is the fulfillment of these three offices. Jesus is the Prophet in that He is the Word of God (the Bible). The Spirit of Jesus Christ wrote the Bible through men. Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of the High Priest in that He offered His blood once forever for His people. He is the only way to salvation. Jesus Christ is also the King in that He must be followed and obeyed. If one does not believe that 1) Jesus Christ is, in essence, the Bible, 2) Jesus Christ is the Priest, which is the only way to salvation, and 3) that Jesus Christ must be obeyed, then that person is not saved. All three offices of Jesus Christ must be believed. An antichrist is a person that does not believe that Jesus is the Christ (i.e., the Prophet, Priest and King). In other words, the three most basic believes to be saved is that Jesus is found in the entire Bible and the Bible speaks of Him and He inspired it. Also, they must believe that He is the only way to salvation and finally that He is the LORD of Lords, and KING of Kings.
In order to understand what a ‘false prophet’ is, one must understand what a prophet is. The Greek word for ‘prophet’ literally means to speak of things that will come. This word and its cognates occur about 200 times in the New Testament. The following Scriptures emphasize that a prophet faithfully suffer in the bringing of God’s word involving future events:
- God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets (Heb 1:1)
- Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. (Jas 5:10)
- That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: (2Pe 3:2)
- Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; (Eph 3:5)
A ‘false prophet’ is one that does not bring forth the truth of the Word of God. A false prophet will teach and proclaim falsely about future events such as the nature of salvation, the second coming of Christ, the millennium, the order of end time events, the nature of eternity, etc.