FALSE CHRISTS
For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
—Mark 13:22
1512 Over One Thousand “Christs”
There have been over 1,100 religious leaders in different parts of the world in the last fifty years who have claimed to be Christ and the Savior of the world. Most of these false christs have risen in Africa, in India or in the Orient and have spread into the West.
1513 Astronaut’s Step Created False Christ
A Christian leader in India informs me, “We have a man in India who claims that when the astronauts put their foot on the moon, the Lord Jesus Christ came into him and he became Christ. He advised his disciples that he is Christ and in him alone is safety. On hearing this, many people from Germany, Europe and the USA arrived over here and they are staying with him in huts somewhere at the tip of India in Tinnevelly District. Some of them have brought in thousands of gilders and gave it all to him.”
—Homer Duncan
1514 A Kenyan Crucifies Self
One afternoon in 1965, Daniel Waswa, a citizen of Kenya, struggled up a hill and was crucified by his wife at his own direction. As he hung on the cross, he told the gathered crowd, “I am dying for the sins of all Kenyans.”
After nailing her husband to the cross, the woman collapsed on the ground and died, apparently from shock.
Waswa’s neighbors knew this was no spur-of-the-moment act. He had talked about it for a year and had told them he had been called by God for this purpose.
They begged him to let them take him down. He refused all requests. Finally he was taken down still alive, but he soon died from the nail wounds which had become infected.
Superstitious people now make pilgrimages to the spot where Daniel Waswa died and pray for him to forgive their sins.
1515 Issuing Passports To Heaven
A woman called “Alice the Prophetess” issued “passports to heaven” to an estimated 100,000 Africans who joined her holy war of rebellion against the Rhodesian government.
The forty-five-year-old woman claimed she died, went to heaven, met the big black god, and came back to earth to preach the truth. Then she whipped her followers into a frenzy by standing with her “Twelve apostles” atop ant hills, playing records of the World War II speeches of Winston Churchill. “Churchill,” she said, “was the voice of God.”
Before her capture by government forces, the fanatical prophetess led bloody attacks that caused the deaths of hundreds of Africans.
1516 Lord Chesta In Jail
When northern California police arrested Chesta Arthur Mills, Jr., on charges of malicious mischief, he warned them: “I am to be addressed as Lord Chesta, for I am the second son of God and Lord over all churches.”
The prisoner also said he would destroy the Santa Rosa jail, where he was incarcerated, in an earthquake at 10:01 p. m. At 9:58 p. m. an earthquake, centered five miles north of the jail, rumbled through the area.
“Lord Chesta, I’m on your side, brother,” one inmate shouted as howls swept the jail. Although the jail (and the inmates) shook, the building wasn’t destroyed.
—Christianity Today
1517 The Boy Guru
In November of 1970, a twelve-year old boy made this pledge: “I declare I will establish peace in this world.” These were the words of Guru Maharaj Ji. In three short years he has formed a massive worldwide organization dedicated to removing war and suffering from the face of the earth.
On November 8th, 9th, and 10th at the Astrodome in Houston, Guru Maharaj Ji set forth his program for world peace. This gathering in Houston was more than just a large festival. It was supposedly a world assemblage to save humanity—the Dawn of the New Age. It was called Millennium ’73.
1518 Mysterious Box To Save World
In an English village in 1792, an illiterate domestic servant named Joanna Southcott became mentally unbalanced and announced that she had become the bride of Christ and was to be the mother of the second Messiah.
Shortly, Joanna was established in London where she became very popular and cultivated 100,000 ignorant and credulous followers called Southcottians, a small sect of which is still in existence.
The woman made a fortune from the sale of her prophecies, incoherent and written in rhyme, and from the sale of certificates guaranteeing salvation to the purchasers. After long evading the question, Joanna finally prophesied the date—October 19, 1814—when she would give birth to the promised Holy Babe, but nothing happened and she died of a brain disease ten weeks later.
She left to mankind a mysterious box with the request that it be left sealed until its contents were needed to solve the problems of a great world crisis. When opened in 1928, it was found to contain a dicebox, novel, puzzle, lottery ticket, a lady’s nightcap and horse pistol.
—Freling Foster
1519 “Get Out Of America” Fizzles
January has come and gone but the United States has not. Therein lies the need for some tall explaining by Moses David Berg, secluded founder of the controversial Children of God sect. Berg had ordered all his followers out of America, predicting the country would experience the judgment of God before the end of the month.
Leaders of the Children were quoted by newspapers in various countries as saying that Comet Kohoutek would explode and America with it.
—Christianity Today
1520 Waiting For John Frum
In a recent issue of National Geographic magazine I read a fascinating article entitled, “A Pacific Island Awaits Its Messiah.” The Christ referred to is not the Lord Jesus, but a legendary figure called John Frum. The author, Dr. Kal Muller, points out that the islanders think this person will be either a “beneficent spirit,” a “god come to earth,” or “king of America.” The third description has its origin in the fact that U. S. troops occupied the area during World War II, and their presence was accompanied by many material benefits. The people therefore concluded that John Frum had finally arrived.
Although they later experienced keen disappointment when the soldiers left, their hopes did not die. To this day they frequently march with bamboo “rifles” slung over their shoulders and the letters USA painted on their bodies. They are still looking for their messiah who they think will usher in “prosperous, work-free millennium of unlimited earthly goods.”
—Richard W. De Haan
1521 “Like Christ Ascending”
David Bowie, described as “the hottest freak rock superstar,” was in Toronto for a show. Here is part of the reporter’s description of what went on:
With his face bathed in green light and his clothes in purple, he climbed into a throne-like seat that rose up behind him. In his hand he held a white telephone which amplified his voice like a cannonshot over the crowd.
And suddenly, still sitting there, the throne began to move—out high above the audience. Carried by a massive boom, it dipped low—and the arms reached up for him. But Bowie only sat there singing, his face impassive, his eyeballs white in the light. Then slowly he stretched out his arms as the boom carried him up and back, into blackness, like Christ ascending.
The screams. The pulsing, pounding music. The wafting cloud of pot. The flashing, spinning lights. The crowd exploding. David felt right at home. It was perfect, precision-timed showmanship.
1522 Proving Self By Words
It is related of the famous artist, Paul Gustave Dore, that when he was traveling from one country to another in Europe he lost his passport, which was required to be shown by every traveler. He was anxious to cross the border that day, so he said to the police, “I am sorry, but I have lost my passport; I hope you will let me pass without it; all that I can say is that I am the artist, Dore.”
“Oh,” was the reply, “You cannot deceive us. Many persons try to pass, claiming to be some distinguished character.”
But Dore entreated, and so an officer finally said: “Well, we shall soon see whether you are Dore or not. Take this paper and pencil, and sketch that group of peasants standing there.” It took but a few minutes for the great artist to make the picture, and in such masterly manner was it done that the officer was at once convinced.
—Commonwealth
1523 Living In Luxury
Guru Maharaj Ji, the teenage leader of the Divine Light sect lost another disciple. Mahatma Vijayanand, who contended that the leader was luxury-loving, walked out in the middle of a flurry of press releases. He said the leader possessed fifteen cars, besides motorcycles, motorboats, hotel rooms and had sumptuous meals while the hungry millions in India are starving. Sour grapes, suggests the press spokesman of the guru, who pointed out that Mahatma was upset at being appointed to work in a Divine Light grocery store.
See also: Deceit ; False Cults ; Occultism ; Matt. 24:5, 24; Mark 13:6; Luke 21:8; I John 2:18.