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False Prophets
Josephus historical
literature shows that false prophet did indeed appear
early in Church history.Why should people adhere to new prophets when
Christ had already come? Because they never believed their Messiah come in the first place (John 2:22). Many false
prophets appeared on the scene about that time. promising deliverance to
the people so that they would not give in to the pressures of Rome. But
for these men to actually appear as Messiahs, it was necessary they
demonstrate their authority by different signs and wonders. Jesus had
prophesied that all of this would come about. Then if anyone shall say unto you 'Look,
here is the Christ!' or There!' do not believe it. "For false Christ's and
false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if
possible, even the elect. "See, I have told you beforehand. (Matthew 24:23-25) It
was only natural that in those days leading up to the final dissolution of
the Jewish world there would appear false prophets and Christ's who would
attempt to deceive the people into following them in the hope of their
finding release from the bondage of the Roman government's power over
them. After all God had always freed Israel, from the bondage of their
enemies before.
Book 8, Chapter 8,
Section 6 (Entire)
One false Egyptian
prophet advised a multitude of people to go along with him to the Mount of
Olives.
These words, that were done
by the robbers, filled the city with all sorts of impiety. And now these
impostors and deceivers persuaded the multitude to follow them into the
wilderness. (168) and pretended that they would exhibit manifest wonders
and signs, that should be performed by the providence of God. And many
that were prevailed on by them suffered the punishments of their folly;
for Felix brought them back, and then punished them. (169) Moreover, there
came out of Egypt about this time to Jerusalem. one that said he was a
prophet, and advised the multitude of the common people to go along with
him to the Mount of Olives, as it was called, which lay over against the
city, and at the distance of five furlongs. (170) He said farther, that he
would show them from hence, how at his command, the walls of Jerusalem
would fall down; and he promised that he would procure them an entrance
into the city through those walls, when they were fallen down. (171) Now
when Felix was informed of these things, he ordered his soldiers to take
their weapons, and came against them with a great number of horsemen and
footmen, from Jerusalem, and attacked the Egyptian and the people that
were with him. He also slew four hundred of them, and took two hundred
alive. (172) But the Egyptian himself escaped out of the fight, but did
not appear any more, And again the robbers stirred up the people to make
war with the Romans, and said they ought not to obay them at all; and when
any persons would not comply with them, they set fire to their villages,
and plundered them.
Book 2 Chapter 13 Section
5 (Entire)
Then there was a Egyptian
false prophet who did more to the Jews then the first.
But there was an Egyptian
false prophet that did the Jews more mischief than the former; for he was
a cheat, and pretended to be a prophet also and got together thirty
thousand men that were deluded by him; (262) these he led round about from
the wilderness to the mount which was called the Mount of Olives, and was
ready to break into Jerusalem by force from that place; and if he could
but once conquer the Roman garrison and the people, he intended to
domineer over them by the assistance of those guards of his that were to
break into the city with him, (263) but Felix prevented his attempt, and
met him with his Roman soldiers, while all the people assisted him in his
attack upon them, insomuch that, when it came to a battle, the Egyptian
ran away, with a few others, while the greatest part of those that were
with him were either destroyed of taken alive; but the rest of the
multitude were dispersed every one to their own homes and there concealed
themselves.
Book 6 Chapter 5 Section
2 and 3
Other false prophets
promised deliverance.
(285) A false prophet was
the occasion of these people's destruction, who had made a public
proclamation in the city that very day, that God commanded them to get
upon the temple, and that there they should receive miraculous signs of
their deliverance. (286) Now, there was then a great number of false
prophets suborned by the tyrants to impose upon the people, who denounced
this to them, that they should wait for deliverance from God: and this was
in order to keep them from deserting, and that they might be buoyed up
above fear and care by such hope. (287) Now, a man that is in adversity
does easily comply with such promises; for when a such a seducer makes him
believe that he shall be delivered from those miseries which oppress him,
then it is that the patient is full of hopes of such deliverance. (288)
Thus were the miserable people persuaded by these deceivers, and such as
belied God himself; while they did not attend, nor give credit, to the
signs that were so evident and did so plainly foretell their future
desolation; but, like men infatuated, without either eyes to see, or minds
to consider, did not regard the denunciations that God made to them.
Comments
This declaration by Josephus,
is a wonderful introduction to the History of the false prophets that lead
up to the Destruction of Jerusalem, as he makes himself clear that the
events which transpired were the fulfillment of the words of the prophets.
The waiting disciples remembered the words of Jesus and refused to be
deceived by these false leaders. They instead were waiting for Christ to
manifest Himself in power in His kingdom as He promised.
Matthew 16:27-27 "For the
Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then
He will reward each according to his works. " Assuredly, I say to you,
there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the
Son of Man coming in His kingdom."
Mark 8:3; 9:1 "For whoever
is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of
him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His
Father with the holy angels." And He said to them, "Assuredly, I say to
you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they
see the kingdom of God present with power.
Luke 9:26-27 "For whoever
is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Somme of Man will be ashamed
when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's and of the holy
angels. "But I tell you truly there are some standing here who shall not
taste death till they see the kingdom of God."
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