Matthew 24:4-5 False Christs and all of it

In the "Olivet Discourse" , which spans Matthew chapters 24 and 25, Jesus tells about "all of it" (play on words) as in "Ol-i-vet".

Matthew 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? [kjv]

καθημενου δε αυτου επι του ορους των ελαιων προσηλθον αυτω οι μαθηται κατ ιδιαν λεγοντες ειπον ημιν ποτε ταυτα εσται και τι το σημειον της σης παρουσιας και συντελειας του αιωνος [gnt]

This verse, from the middle of the 1800's, has become the foundation of theology, books, etc., on the "End Times". Beliefs, sometimes fanatical, in the inerrancy of the Bible, became solidified from these beliefs.

More: Chosen falsehoods of inerrancy and infallibility

More: Matthew 24:3 All of it in the Olivet Discourse

Matthew 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. [kjv]

πολλοι γαρ ελευσονται επι τω ονοματι μου λεγοντες εγω ειμι ο χριστος και πολλους πλανησουσιν [gnt]

How does a "sheep" know if it has gone or is going "astray"? How "many" is "many"?
The ancient Greek word "πλάνη" ≈ "wandering, roaming" and, figuratively, "going astray" or "in error". as in wandering off-target. The English word "planet" comes from this Greek word as a shortened form of "wandering star" since planets were considered wandering stars. The modern Greek word "πλανήτης" (pla-NEE-tees) ≈ "planet".

Discuss: Consider the billions of people throughout the ages. Are the "many" a few insurrectionists from the first century or so who led a few thousand followers?

More: Planets as wandering stars

Matthew 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. [kjv]

24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. [kjv]

24:24 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. [kjv]

In Matthew 24, Jesus warns many times about "deception". The Greek is the word for "wander astray" and is the source of the English word "planet".

What does it mean to be "deceived"? A deception happens when what you perceive as reality is not actually a reality. Erroneous perceptions can cause us to think differently from what is actually true.

The ancient Greek word "πλάνη" ≈ "wandering, roaming" and, figuratively, "going astray" or "in error". as in wandering off-target. The English word "planet" comes from this Greek word as a shortened form of "wandering star" since planets were considered wandering stars.

More: Colossians 2:1-23 Philosophy and false reasoning through subtle sermons

Matthew 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. [kjv]

24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. [kjv]

Many appears to mean "many" as in "not just a few". Can you identify some candidates through out history that might fit the description? Mark is similar to Matthew. Luke has some differences.

Will they actually say that they are "Christ"? One might "fact check" that they are not actually "Christ".
Or might they, as teachers, preachers, etc., be their own version of "Christ", using selected parts of scripture, etc., and become as a "god", in their deception of others and themselves?

[False teachers, functional equivalence]

More: Imitator or impersonator of Christ

More: John 1:1-5 Four causes in a design and implementation model

Matthew 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. [kjv]

πολλοι γαρ ελευσονται επι τω ονοματι μου λεγοντες εγω ειμι ο χριστος και πολλους πλανησουσιν [gnt]

There are two usages of the same Greek word for (plural) "many" in this verse. How "many" is "many"?

"πολλοί" ≈ "many, a lot" (plural).
"πολυς" ≈ "many, a lot" (singular)

The "many" shall come in the "name" of Jesus saying they are "Christ".
The "many" shall be "deceived".

Might these be the same "many"? That is, the "many" shall deceive themselves as in self-deception.

Matthew 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. [kjv]

πολλοι γαρ ελευσονται επι τω ονοματι μου λεγοντες εγω ειμι ο χριστος και πολλους πλανησουσιν [gnt]

18:5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. [kjv]

και ος εαν δεξηται εν παιδιον τοιουτο επι τω ονοματι μου εμε δεχεται [gnt]

In Matthew 18:5, the Greek word translated as "receive" is that of "accept" which is a play on words with the "ten" "commandments".

The same words "upon the name of mine" are used by Jesus for true believers and of those who deceive. Thus, context must be used before making any deep theological points using just the words "upon the name of mine".

More: Matthew 18:2-11 Great children ensnared in the middle

More: Giving attention to accepting the Ten Commandments

Matthew 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. [kjv]

24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. [kjv]

Approximately 600,000 died in the Bar Kokhba revolt which appears to have been a military revolt against Rome. Jesus appears to be talking about a more general deception involving a large number of people.

600,000 localized Bar Kokhba revolt
50,000,000 World War II casualties
7,000,000,000 Population today.
50,000,000,000 Population from the time of Christ (estimates vary)

Matthew 24:4

All

KJV: And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

Greek: και αποκριθεις ο ιησους ειπεν αυτοις βλεπετε μη τις υμας πλανηση

Latin: et respondens Iesus dixit eis videte ne quis vos seducat

Matthew 24:5

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KJV: For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Greek: πολλοι γαρ ελευσονται επι τω ονοματι μου λεγοντες εγω ειμι ο χριστος και πολλους πλανησουσιν

Matthew 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. [kjv]

πολλοι γαρ ελευσονται επι τω ονοματι μου λεγοντες εγω ειμι ο χριστος και πολλους πλανησουσιν [gnt]

The ancient Greek word "χριστός" ≈ "anointed one, Christ". The meaning of "Christ" in Greek is "anointed one" and is used to translate the Hebrew word for "Messiah".

What exactly are the requirements to say "I am the Christ"?
How is this different from someone saying "I am not the Christ"?
What exactly are the requirements to say "I am anointed" (by myself)?

It appears that "false Christs" or "fake Christs" or those who feign to be "Christ" may be self-anointed as a "knock-off" of the real "Christ".

[self-anointed, self-esteem]
[sharing glory, sharing opinion]

Let us look ahead to verses about false Christs. The word translated "here" is that of "in this way/manner". Let us assume that the false Christs in verses 4-5 are more general and less powerful false Christs than those in verses 22-25.

Matthew 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. [kjv]

τοτε εαν τις υμιν ειπη ιδου ωδε ο χριστος η ωδε μη πιστευσητε [gnt]

24:24 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. [kjv]

εγερθησονται γαρ ψευδοχριστοι και ψευδοπροφηται και δωσουσιν σημεια μεγαλα και τερατα ωστε πλανασθαι ει δυνατον και τους εκλεκτους [gnt]

More: Matthew 24:21-24 Short day cutoff

Mark 13:5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: [kjv]

ο δε ιησους ηρξατο λεγειν αυτοις βλεπετε μη τις υμας πλανηση [gnt]

13:6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. [kjv]

πολλοι ελευσονται επι τω ονοματι μου λεγοντες οτι εγω ειμι και πολλους πλανησουσιν [gnt]

Mark, Peter's gospel, essentially repeats what is in Matthew 24:4-5.

Mark 13:6

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KJV: For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Greek: πολλοι γαρ ελευσονται επι τω ονοματι μου λεγοντες οτι εγω ειμι και πολλους πλανησουσιν

Mark 13:5

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KJV: And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:

Greek: ο δε ιησους αποκριθεις αυτοις ηρξατο λεγειν αυτοις βλεπετε μη τις υμας πλανηση

Latin: et respondens Iesus coepit dicere illis videte ne quis vos seducat

Wessex: þa on-gan se haelend heom andsweriende to cweðen. warnieð þt eow nan man ne be-swice.

Wycliffe: And Jhesus answeride, and bigan to seie to hem, Loke ye, that no man disseyue you;

Tyndale: And Iesus answered the and bega to saye: take hede lest eny man deceave you.

Spanish: Y Jesús, respondiéndoles, comenzó a decir: Mirad que nadie os engañe;

Luke 21:8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. [kjv]

ο δε ειπεν βλεπετε μη πλανηθητε πολλοι γαρ ελευσονται επι τω ονοματι μου λεγοντες εγω ειμι και ο καιρος ηγγικεν μη πορευθητε οπισω αυτων [gnt]

Luke, as usual, takes a more literal (and less abstract) view of the same passage.

Instead of "deceive", Luke adds to "not go after them" which would appear to mean "do not follow them".

Luke 21:8

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KJV: And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.

Greek: ο δε ειπεν βλεπετε μη πλανηθητε πολλοι γαρ ελευσονται επι τω ονοματι μου λεγοντες οτι εγω ειμι και ο καιρος ηγγικεν μη ουν πορευθητε οπισω αυτων

Might "IN GOD WE TRUST" on a United States dollar bill be a counterfeit statement? Discuss.
A "fake" requires "trust".

Trust in someone else, as in a "false" Christ or a "fake" Christ.
Trust in oneself - usually via ignorance (do not know) and/or apathy (do not care)

More: In God we hope: All others pay cash

Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye can not serve God and mammon. [kjv]

ουδεις δυναται δυσιν κυριοις δουλευειν η γαρ τον ενα μισησει και τον ετερον αγαπησει η ενος ανθεξεται και του ετερου καταφρονησει ου δυνασθε θεω δουλευειν και μαμωνα [gnt]

Jesus points out, in context, two mutually exclusive choices: God vs. "mammon".

true Father God, rock.
false Mother (harlot) god (mammon), sand.

The historical usage of "mammon" in Hebrew is that of a confidence in one's own ability to do things (independent of God). That is a central idea of humanism. The modern Hebrew definition is that of "wealth".

More: Sets: Mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive

More: Matthew 6:24 A wealth of logical ideas on mammon

We are to imitate (Greek word "mimic") Christ but not impersonate Christ.

Matthew 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. [kjv]

πολλοι γαρ ελευσονται επι τω ονοματι μου λεγοντες εγω ειμι ο χριστος και πολλους πλανησουσιν [gnt]

Is the impersonation of the real Christ what Jesus is talking about? If so, how might we identify such false or fake Christs?

More: Imitator or impersonator of Christ

Matthew 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen. [kjv]

πολλοι γαρ εισιν κλητοι ολιγοι δε εκλεκτοι [gnt]

The Greek word is "many" and not "few". English words: polynomial (many names), polymorphic (many forms), polymer.

The English prefix "poly" as "many" comes from the ancient Greek word "πολύς" ≈ "many" and the ancient Greek prefix "πολύ" ≈ "many" is used often.

How many were not saved through the flood? How few were saved? (as if by baptism)
How many were not saved at Sodom and Gomorrah? How few were saved? (As if by fire)

Is it good or not good to be "chosen" as an "elect"?

More: More or less about adding or dropping letters

More: Matthew 22:1-14 Parable of the wedding feast

More: Matthew 22:14 Election callings of the chosen elect

The Greek word is "many" and not "few". There must be a lot of fake Christs. How might one identify such a fake?

It is somewhat like the puzzle book called "Where's Waldo Now?", popular in the 1990's and after.

Finding Waldo is difficult when there is only one Waldo among many people in the scene. Finding Christ can be difficult too.

There is a saying that something is so difficult to find it is like "finding a needle in a haystack". The computer science take in this is that it is like "finding a needle in a haystack of needles".

Finding the real Waldo in a page of fake Waldo's is very difficult, as in the book "Where's Waldo? The Land of Waldos".

How might someone find "Christ" in a world with many saying "I am Christ"? Would someone actually say that?

Matthew 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. [kjv]

πολλοι γαρ ελευσονται επι τω ονοματι μου λεγοντες εγω ειμι ο χριστος και πολλους πλανησουσιν [gnt]

Consider the following employer-employee relationships.

If the boss tells you to do something, you do it, or risk losing your job (or salvation).
Someone says, "I am the boss, do this!".,Would you do it? You would ignore it if you know the authentic boss.
Someone says, "The boss says to do this!". Would you do it? How would you know if the directive is from the boss?
Someone says, "The boss signed this order!". What about an auto-pen? What about the translators of the Bible?

Effectively, saying "The boss says to do this!" appears to be very similar if not the same as "I am the boss, do this!". That is, acting as an authorized agent of the boss.

[black box]

Matthew 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. [kjv]

πολλοι γαρ ελευσονται επι τω ονοματι μου λεγοντες εγω ειμι ο χριστος και πολλους πλανησουσιν [gnt]

Which appears to be the greater sin? What is a sin?

Saying "I am Christ" and leading others astray.
Saying "Christ says to do this" and leading others astray.

Discuss: How might someone write a fake letter, as in a letter from Paul, to convince a church about certain ideas that benefit the leaders of that church?

How "many" is "many"?
Half a truth is often a great lie. Benjamin Franklin (American scientist, inventor, philosopher, statesman)

More: Benjamin Franklin

[fact check fallacy, converse error, strawman]

Matthew 22:10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. [kjv]

22:11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: [kjv]

22:12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. [kjv]

22:13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. [kjv]

Who are the "many"? How were they "called"?
Who are the "few"? How many "few" are in these verses?
What happened to the "few" who were "chosen" or "elected"?
Why bind him "hand" and "foot"?
Who were those already "destroyed"?

[cherry picked verses]

More: Selective evidence fallacy: Cherry picking

More: Matthew 22:1-14 Parable of the wedding feast

Matthew 22:10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. [kjv]

και εξελθοντες οι δουλοι εκεινοι εις τας οδους συνηγαγον παντας ους ευρον πονηρους τε και αγαθους και επλησθη ο νυμφων ανακειμενων [gnt]

22:11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: [kjv]

εισελθων δε ο βασιλευς θεασασθαι τους ανακειμενους ειδεν εκει ανθρωπον ουκ ενδεδυμενον ενδυμα γαμου [gnt]

[compiler theory and practice]

More: Matthew 22:1-14 Parable of the wedding feast

Matthew 22:12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. [kjv]

και λεγει αυτω εταιρε πως εισηλθες ωδε μη εχων ενδυμα γαμου ο δε εφιμωθη [gnt]

22:13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. [kjv]

τοτε ο βασιλευς ειπεν τοις διακονοις δησαντες αυτου ποδας και χειρας εκβαλετε αυτον εις το σκοτος το εξωτερον εκει εσται ο κλαυθμος και ο βρυγμος των οδοντων [gnt]

22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen. [kjv]

πολλοι γαρ εισιν κλητοι ολιγοι δε εκλεκτοι [gnt]

More: Matthew 22:1-14 Parable of the wedding feast

Matthew 22:13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. [kjv]

22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen. [kjv]

πολλοι γαρ εισιν κλητοι ολιγοι δε εκλεκτοι [gnt]

"ὀλίγοι" ≈ "little in size, value, duration, etc." (plural).
"ὦ" ≈ "oh (joy or pain)".
"λυκοί" ≈ "wolves" (could be a type of "bird").

What does Jesus mean when he says that "few" are "chosen" or "elected"? This verse is the only verse where Jesus makes this distinction of "many", "called", "few" and "chosen".

Should the Biblical context, as recorded by Matthew, be used in determining the meaning of these words? Here are examples of multiple lists?

Santa: "naughty" and "nice".
Dean: "Dean's List" and "Dean's Other List".

What list or lists (sometimes called a book) does God have?

More: Matthew 22:1-14 Parable of the wedding feast

Matthew 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. [kjv]

πολλοι γαρ ελευσονται επι τω ονοματι μου λεγοντες εγω ειμι ο χριστος και πολλους πλανησουσιν [gnt]

The field of combinatorics has to do with arranging objects - combination, permutations, etc.

Pigeonhole principle: Pigeons are to be placed in pigeonholes. If there are more pigeons than there are pigeonholes, then at least one pigeonhole will have more than one pigeon.
By the pigeonhole principle, if there are more than half of those who claim to follow "Christ" who are a false "Christs", then at least one person needs to be self-deceived. As the number grows to all those in the domain, the number of self-deceived approaches everyone in the domain (structural induction). That would be "many". Does Jesus ever talk of people being "deceived" or self "deceived" about what he says?

Note that a "dove" (from a Germanic word) and a "pigeon" (from a Latin word) are two names the same "bird".

More: Permutation: Introduction

More: Flipping the pigeon bird as reality or perception

Matthew 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. [kjv]

πολλοι γαρ ελευσονται επι τω ονοματι μου λεγοντες εγω ειμι ο χριστος και πολλους πλανησουσιν [gnt]

The Greek word "in" in "in" my "name" is that of "on" and is translated in two verses (twice) as "against" as in "against" my "name". Those "deceiving" may be adding more "on" that "name". How "many" is "many"? When Jesus uses the word "many", he refers to a large percentage of what he is talking about (Wedding Feast, etc.).

There are "many" false "Christs" or self "anointed ones".
There are "many" "deceived" by the false "Christs" or self "anointed ones".

Let the domain of application be those who claim to follow "Christ". Assume that to be a false "Christ" one needs to "deceive" at least one other person. By the pigeonhole principle, if there are more than half of those who claim to follow "Christ" who are a false "Christs", then at least one person needs to be self-deceived. As the number grows to all those in the domain, the number of self-deceived approaches everyone in the domain (structural induction). That would be "many". Does Jesus ever talk of people being "deceived" or self "deceived" about what he says?

Matthew 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. [kjv]

11:6 And blessed is he, who soever shall not be offended in me. [kjv]

blind	look up
lame	walk
lepers	cleansed
deaf	hear
dead	woken up
poor	gospel preached

Having discovered a deeper meaning to Matthew 11:5, how might someone "misinterpret" what Jesus has said?

What should the church be doing?
What should believers be doing?

Discuss: Do churches or believers ever get "ensnared" or "misinterpret" in helping the poor, the blind, those without clothes, in prison, etc., and lose sight of the real purpose of Jesus? Many of those words used by Jesus have double meanings.

How many are like those picked by Gideon?

More: Matthew 11:1-6: Trapped by an offensive misinterpretation of Jesus

The organizational shape or hierarchy of Jesus is very short. There is no intermediate between you and Jesus.

The organizational shape or hierarchy of man can become very tall. There can be many intermediates between you and Jesus.

Any one of them can act to impersonate the boss, deceive by omitting facts, cherry-picking verses, filtering the massage, creating new messages, etc.

More: Some shallow and deep ideas about tree structures

More: Exodus 18: Hierarchy as a man-made tree structure

Why is it important, as a teacher, to present a balanced (not unbiased) view so that listeners are aware of options and viewpoints - even those to which you might not agree?

The classic communication scenario has A sending a message to B. Usually, A is chosen as Alice who is sending a message to B who is chosen as Bob.
The primary security issues that can arise include the following.

eavesdropping
man in the middle attack
spoofing

More: Communication security and authentication

Considering the above communication attacks. Which might a false Christ use?

Man in the middle: change the message between source (Christ and the Bible) and destination (sheep)
Impersonation or spoofing: make up one's own messages

A false Christ can be compared and contrasted with an "antichrist" in the general (and not specific) sense.

The "antichrist" in the Bible is both a general term for those who put themselves "in place of Christ" and the "Antichrist" or "beast" (or many other names in the Bible) as a unique being in the end times of the Bible.

More: The one Antichrist and many antichrists

Matthew 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. [kjv]

24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. [kjv]

This brings us back to the original verses that motivated this content. Discussion questions:

Provide your definition of a "false Christ".
Have you encountered any such "false Christs"? How did you know?
Using your definition, could anything you have done qualify you as a "false Christ"?

Personally I'm always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught. Winston Churchill (British statesman)

More: Winston Churchill

It is not enough to understand. One needs to be able to teach or show someone else what you know or have learned.

Use Daniel in the Bible (or someone else) as an example. How would you convincingly demonstrate to someone else, such as a superior, that they are being deceived?

Details are left as a future topic.