The Jews believed that at the prescribed time, God would send His Messiah as a Savior, with hosts of angels to help them. However, when He came, they refused to recognize that God walked among them. Not only that, but they then crucified His Son and refused His Holy Spirit. Yet they kept waiting for the Messiah, and wait even today, not realizing that he has already come. And He will soon come again with great power and glory, appearing like lightning in the heavens! We must stay awake, pay attention, and avoid the snares of the Antichrist, who will be a misleading impostor and frightful child of Satan. We accept no other lord but Jesus Christ who was raised from the dead, sits at the right hand of God, and who is coming soon on the clouds of heaven.
Knowing that his time is limited, and that the world is hurrying to its end, the devil sends his deceptive prophets, clever messengers, and convincing "christs" (actually antichrists) to deceive the nations (1 John 2:18). Since Christ's death on the cross, hundreds of false prophets and messengers of the wicked one have come claiming to be anointed by God as saviors of the world. Yet, they loved themselves and accepted worship. They allowed their blown-up images and statues to be set up in streets that the multitudes might glorify and worship them instead of glorifying and worshipping God. Hitler did this in Germany by demanding his people shout, "Salvation is by Hitler." This same arrogance was shown by Stalin in Russia when he replaced religious icons in homes with his portrait instead. Mao Tse Tung, considered by millions of Chinese as the shining sun from the east, also insisted that he be worshipped. The strange thing is that these leaders, who violently opposed religion, created their own religion of the personality and blended it with the oppressive power of the state. Despite their tremendous power, and abuse of it, they couldn't stop the Spirit of Christ who was gentle and humble, and led without the violence of the sword. He did not exterminate His enemies, but took away their sins, and overcame them by His holy love.
The real Christ is our crucified and rejected One. He is the one who changes hearts and reconciles us with God. He invites His followers to the kingdom of His love. The false christ does the reverse. He hardens hearts by making people defend their own righteousness and false goodness. He denies the divinity of Jesus Christ, substituting belief in the modern, humanistic superman. He invites his followers into a kingdom of sin and death. (1 John 2:22-25, 4:1-5).
Christ said three times, "Take heed of false christs." Deceivers will tell you to trust in yourselves. Yet the Lamb of God is the only one who forgives sins, and gives eternal life to those who believe in Him and adhere to Him. Be cautious, especially of the Antichrist who is the chief of impostors. He will unify the whole world and work towards harmonizing and unifying the religions together into one cleverly deceptive system. He will appear soon, for the world has been preparing to receive him in all systems of operation: economic, religious, technological, etc. Don't be discouraged - remember that the great impostor must come a little before the true Christ.