Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 13:22
For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if [it were] possible, even the elect.
22. for false Christs and false prophets ] Josephus tells us that false prophets and impostors prevailed on multitudes to follow them into the desert, promising there to display signs and wonders (comp. Act 21:38); and even at the last, when the Temple was in flames, numbers of all ages flocked thither from the city upon the proclamation of a false prophet, and of six thousand assembled there on this occasion, not one escaped the fire or the sword. But such imposture is to be still more signally realized with “ signs and lying wonders ” before the final coming of Christ (2Th 2:1-10).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Mar 13:22
For false Christs.
False Christs
David George, e.g., who ultimately settled at Basle, where he died in 1556. He claimed, according to the account of Dr. Henry More, to be the true Christ, the dear Son of God, born not of the flesh, but of the Spirit. He was to restore the house of Israel, and re-erect the tabernacle of God, not by afflictions and death, as the other Messiah, but by that sweetness, love, and grace, which were given him of the Father. He had the power of the remission of sins; and had come to administer the last judgment. He averred that the Holy Scriptures: the sayings and testimonies of the prophets, of Christ, and of His apostles, do all point, if rightly understood, in their true mystery, to the glorious coming of David George, who is greater than the former Christ, as being born of the Spirit, and not of the flesh. This David George, says Dr. More, was a man of notable natural parts, of comely person, and a graceful presence. And he had many adherents, who believed in him. In our own day there are persons-out of asylums-who put forth corresponding claims. There is lying before the writer a Tract on the Second Advent fulfilled, in which it is said that the enrolling of the saints commenced on the anniversary of the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles of the year 1868, i.e., on the 9th of October, 1868. The following, it is added, is the declaration to be made and signed:-I believe Jesus of Nazareth to be the Messiah at His first coming, and the antitypical Paschal Lamb Who died for sin in allegory, and I believe John Cochran of Glasgow to be that Messiah at His second coming, and the antitypical High Priest who has taken away sin in reality.
False prophets
Lodowick Muggleton, e.g., who on the title page of his True Interpretation of the whole Book of the Revelation of St. John, describes himself as one of the two last commissioned witnesses and prophets of the only high, immortal, glorious God, Christ Jesus. Madame Antoinette Bourignon, before him, was a far nobler being, yet she declared to Christian de Cort, I am sent from God to bring light to the world, and to bear witness to the truth. He has sent me to tell that the last times are come; that the world is judged, and the sentence is irrevocable; that the plagues are begun, and will not cease till all evil be rooted out; and that Jesus Christ will come shortly to the earth to finish this, and then He will continue to reign with men of goodwill, who shall enjoy eternal peace. I am sent with a commission to declare all these things to men, to the end that peradventure some of them may be converted and repent, that they may reign with Jesus Christ in His glory. And again, she says, I am certainly sent from God to declare the truth of everything.
False prophets in Spain
There was great excitement in Madrid owing to the announcement that the world would come to an end on the 24th of June, 1886, that day being the conjunction of the festivals of St. John and of the Corpus Christi. The belief had taken such hold among the lower and superstitious classes of Madrid, that the fright was general, the prophecy having been printed and circulated in thousands. During the past two or three weeks many people have spent their days in fasting, prayer, and weeping, and yesterday the churches and confessionals were crowded with women. (Freeman.)
Danger from those coming in the name of Christ
In the frescoes of Signorelli we have The Teaching of Antichrist-no repulsive figure, but a grand personage in flowing robes, and with a noble countenance, which at a distance might easily be taken for the Saviour. To him the crowd are eagerly gathering and listening, and it is only when you draw close that you can discover in his harder and cynical expression, and from the evil spirit whispering in his ear, that it is not Christ. (Augustus J. C. Hare.)
Signs and Wonders.
Wonder-working impostors
Lying wonders (2Th 2:9) no doubt-wonders that serve a purpose of imposition, partly, it may be, on the wonder workers themselves, and partly on those whom they wish to attach to themselves. There are wonderful idiosyncrasies among men, that give scope for the performance of such wonders. In some natures-as in Valentine Greatrakes and Gassner (see Howitts History of the Supernatural), singular therapeutic energies instinctively well up and flow over. In others there is a singular power of something like second sight, or clairvoyance, turning fitfully its penetrative eye, now upon objects distant in space, and now upon objects distant in time-though in a way far removed from infallibility. This clairvoyant eye often takes cognizance of only frivolous realities, and seems blind to things of moment. Still its peculiarity is fitted-when once a willing and shadow fanaticism tries its hand at understanding it-to be a lying wonder. There are other remarkable endowments and instincts, which crop up at times in exceptional idiosyncrasies, and may give occasion either to self-delusion, or to deliberate artifice, or to a minglement of the two perversities. (J. Morison, D. D.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
For false Christs and false prophets shall rise,…. As there did, both before and after the destruction of Jerusalem:
and shall show signs and wonders; as they pretended to do, and did, at least to the appearance of people:
to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect; who were chosen in Christ, unto eternal life; in consequence of which they truly believed in him, and were constant followers of him; but this was not possible: though such was the force of their deception, that there was apparent danger of it, were it not for the power and grace of God; [See comments on Mt 24:24].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
That they may lead astray ( ). With a view to leading off ( and the infinitive). Mt 24:24 has , so as to lead off.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Shall shew [] . Lit., shall give. A few editors, however, read poihsousin, shall make or do.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “For false Christs and false prophets shall rise,” (egerthesontai de peseudochristoi kai pseuclopriphetai) “Then both false prophets and false Christs will be raised up,” or will arise, empowered by Satan or demon spirits, Mat 24:24.
2) “And shall shew signs and wonders,” (kai poieoousin semeia kai terata) “And they will do signs and wonders,” of deceptive, demonstrative, miraculous nature, Mat 24:24.
3) “To seduce, if it were possible,” (pros to apoplanan ei dunaton) “For to lead astray(to seduce) if they are able,” 2Co 11:13-15.
4) “Even the elect. ” (tous eklektous) “Even the chosen,” or elect of God, (the church) after and during the dispersion of Israel, Luk 21:23-24. God now deals with “the church” as His called, chosen, or elect lady, Joh 15:16; Joh 15:27; Joh 20:21; 2Jn 1:1-2.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
Mar 13:22 . , , false Christs, and false prophets; again, as in Mar 13:6 , here as there without, not within, the Church; political Messiahs, in Mar 13:6 spoken of as the prime cause of all the calamities, here as at the last hour promising deliverance therefrom. , with a view to mislead; the compound verb occurs again in 1Ti 6:10 , in passive.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
prophets, &c. Quoted from Deu 13:1.
Shew = give. But T and A read ‘work”, not Syriac.
to. Greek. pros. App-104.
if, &c, Quite a hypothetical condition; so much so that no verb is expressed. App-118. Not the same word as in Mar 13:21.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Mar 13:22. , to seduce) by error [, wandering] from the right path.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
if it: Mar 13:6, Mat 24:24, Joh 10:27, Joh 10:28, 2Th 2:8-14, 2Ti 2:19, 1Jo 2:19, 1Jo 2:26, Rev 13:8, Rev 13:13, Rev 13:14, Rev 17:8
Reciprocal: Pro 11:9 – through Jer 29:8 – Let Eze 13:6 – made Eze 13:23 – for I Mat 7:15 – false Mat 24:4 – Take Mat 24:11 – General Mat 26:39 – if Mar 13:27 – his elect Eph 5:6 – no Eph 6:11 – the wiles Col 2:4 – lest Col 3:12 – as 2Th 2:9 – and signs 1Pe 1:2 – Elect 2Pe 2:1 – even 2Pe 2:2 – many 2Pe 2:14 – beguiling 2Pe 3:17 – being 1Jo 2:18 – ye have Rev 16:14 – working
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2
Signs and wonders would be in the form of some kind of trickery, and even the elect (verse 20) would be deceived were they not warned beforehand.