How can we discern false claims of Christ's return in Luke 17:23? Setting the Scene • Jesus is speaking to His disciples about the coming of the Son of Man. • Luke 17:23: “People will tell you, ‘Look, there He is!’ or ‘Look, here He is!’ Do not go out or chase after them.” Understanding Luke 17:23 • The warning is clear: sensational reports about the Messiah’s return will circulate. • “Do not go out” calls for restraint; “do not chase after them” calls for discernment. • Jesus emphasizes that genuine faith waits on His timing rather than human hype. Why False Alarms Occur • Desire for immediate rescue in difficult times (2 Timothy 4:3-4). • Misinterpretation of prophetic Scripture for personal gain (2 Peter 2:1-3). • Spiritual deception energized by the enemy (2 Corinthians 11:13-15). Biblical Markers of the True Return • Universality: “For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other, so will the Son of Man be in His day” (Luke 17:24). No secret rendezvous. • Visibility: “Every eye will see Him” (Revelation 1:7). • Cosmic accompaniment: “The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). • No advance location hints: “If they tell you, ‘There He is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it” (Matthew 24:26). Practical Discernment Steps Today • Stay rooted in Scripture—know the full counsel of prophetic passages. • Test every claim: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits” (1 John 4:1). • Evaluate the messenger’s fruit and doctrine (Matthew 7:15-20). • Remain in fellowship with grounded believers; collective wisdom protects (Hebrews 10:24-25). • Watch world events through a biblical lens, not sensational headlines (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3). Living Ready, Not Gullible • Holiness and obedience keep hearts expectant (1 John 3:2-3). • Gospel proclamation continues until He appears (Matthew 24:14). • Patience honors the Lord’s sovereign timeline (James 5:7-8). Christ’s return will be unmistakable, undeniable, and on His terms—never on ours. |
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