for false christs and false prophets will arise, and will provide signs and wonders, in order to mislead, if possible, the elect.
Parallel translations
- WEB For there will arise false christs and false prophets, and will show signs and wonders, that they may lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.
- KJV For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
- BSB For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible.
- NKJV For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
- NLT For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
False christs and false prophets will perform signs to deceive, even targeting God's chosen. Counterfeit miracles cannot prevail against the elect.
Overview
Deceivers may display genuine-looking wonders, so signs alone are no proof of truth (Deuteronomy 13:1-3). Their aim is to mislead even believers, yet the implied promise is that the elect cannot finally be deceived, for God preserves his own. This calls Christians to discernment grounded in Scripture rather than wonder at spectacular displays.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Matt 24:24For there will arise false christs, and false prophets, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.
- 2 Th 2:8–14Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will kill with the breath of his mouth, and destroy by the manifestation of his coming;
- Mark 13:6For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and will lead many astray.
- 1 Jn 2:26These things I have written to you concerning those who would lead you astray.
- Matt 7:15“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.
- John 10:27–28My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
- Rev 17:8The beast that you saw was, and is not; and is about to come up out of the abyss and to go into destruction. Those who dwell on the earth and whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see that the beast was, and is not, and shall be present.
- Rev 13:13–14He performs great signs, even making fire come down out of the sky to the earth in the sight of people.
- John 4:48Jesus therefore said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders, you will in no way believe.”
- 1 Jn 2:19They went out from us, but they didn’t belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have continued with us. But they left, that they might be revealed that none of them belong to us.
- Rev 13:8All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been killed.
- 2 Tim 2:19However God’s firm foundation stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness.”
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Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 13:22 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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