False Christs

Jesus Warned Us That Many Would Call Themselves "Christ"

Sadly, because so many live in ignorance of God's word, they are susceptible to such false claims. And these claims are not rare. Jesus warned that the number of people who would arise and falsely claim to be "christ" would be "many".

His prophetic word has been fulfilled.

False Christs Among The Jews
36 years after the risen Savior, Jesus Christ (the true Messiah) ascended to Heaven (see Acts chapter 1) the Roman general Titus was sent by Caesar to quash a Jewish rebellion in Judea. He destroyed Jerusalem and leveled the Jewish Temple. Jews were largely dispersed throughout Europe, Asia and Africa.

However, a sizeable number remained or regathered and by 130 AD the smell of rebellion was in the air once again. That is when our first Jewish false Messiah of the Christian era arose. His "reign" didn't last long and by 135 AD this last major rebellion of Jews in Judea was put down by Rome. The Bar Kokhba rebellion, however, was the first incident in a long line of false Messiahs who were able to gain a large and/or influential following among non-Christian Jews.

The following is a list of the most notable false Messiahs among Jewry:

Simon Bar Kokhba (2nd Century AD)

Moses of Crete (5th Century AD)

David Alroy (12th Century AD)

Abraham Ben Samuel Abulafia (1240-1291)

David Reuveni (1490-1538)

Isaac Luria (1534-1572)

Hayyim Vital (1542-1620)

Shabbatai Zevi (1626-1676)

Jacob Frank (1726-1791)

Rebbe Menechem Mendel Schneerson (1902-1994)

False Christs In My Lifetime
I was born in 1969. The previous year, the regathered nation of Israel had regained control of Zion, the Holy city of Jerusalem. This marks a very important point in the fulfillment of Bible Prophecy. And since that time, the number of false Messiahs has grown exponentially with more messianic figures and new religions being started than during the previous 5,900 years of human history COMBINED.

The following is a partial list of false Messiahs among the gentiles since the revival of the nation of Israel in 1948.

Father Divine

Charles Manson

Maharaja Ji

Jim Jones (People's Temple)

Sun Myung Moon (Unification Church)

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (Transcendental Meditation)

The Dalai Lama

Lord Maitreya New Age Avitars

David Koresh (Branch Davidians/www.sevenseals.com)

Marshall Applewhite (Heaven's Gate/UFO Cult)

Anonymous/Hiding Messiah (God's Salvation Church)

The Number of False Christs and Their Casualties Grows
A man named Joseph Kibweteere headed a cult named the "Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God" in Uganda. He lead more than 500 followers to their death, taking police officers lives in the process.

A former Russian cop whose name was Sergei Torop now calls himself Vissarion Christ and claims thousands of followers. He claims to have received a revelation telling him that he is Christ on August 19 of 1989. He appears on horseback annually on that day to speak to his growing "flock", wearing red, flowing velvet robes.

Thousands suffer what is called the "Jerusalem Syndrome", many claiming to be Jesus while others become Elijah, Moses, John the Baptist, etc., whenever they visit the Holy Land. Most recover their senses (with much embarrassment) and go back to their homes without further incident. But many continue on in this state of confusion, even to the point of founding small religious sects in Israel or upon their return home.

The circumstances surrounding today's false Messiahs grow stranger by the day. And the number of such false Messiahs also grows daily.

Some time after the Rapture, another will come claiming to be the Messiah. He is the Beast, also known as Antichrist. He will be the last and most destructive false messiah of human history.

"Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time." 1 John 2:18 kjv

The Remnant: Special Edition

If you would like to know more about Jesus Christ and the Gospel message that explains how you can be eternally saved, click on the "View Newsletter" link and read our Special Edition of The Remnant Newsletter.

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