Dec 2, 2025
Beware!
Many saltless christs
unhallowed shadows guiding
their forlorn captives
along perdition's dire path
filling the streets of end time.
.
D W Eldred
seen from India
seen from China
seen from China
seen from Australia
seen from Ireland
seen from Indonesia
seen from Saudi Arabia
seen from China
seen from Uzbekistan
seen from Iraq
seen from Indonesia
seen from Indonesia
seen from Indonesia
seen from Russia
seen from Saudi Arabia
seen from Saudi Arabia
seen from Germany
seen from Russia
seen from Ireland
seen from Saudi Arabia
Beware!
Many saltless christs
unhallowed shadows guiding
their forlorn captives
along perdition's dire path
filling the streets of end time.
.
D W Eldred
False Christs and False Prophets
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. — Matthew 24:24 | King James Version (KJV) The King James Version Bible is in the public domain. Cross References: Deuteronomy 13:1; Isaiah 9:15; Matthew 7:15; Matthew 22:14; Matthew 24:5; Matthew 24:11; Matthew 24:22
HOMILY for the Last Sunday after Pentecost
Col 1:9-14; Matt 24:15-35
At the end of the liturgical year, the Liturgy gives us St Matthew’s vision of the final things: Christ foretells the desecration and the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, and the sacking of that Holy City by the Roman forces such that the disciples will have to flee to the mountains. To give you a sense of what this would have felt like for the apostles, imagine St Peter’s Basilica profaned and all the holy relics trampled underfoot, and then the whole of the city of Rome bombed, and all its inhabitants scattered and slaughtered. But although the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD might have seemed like a catastrophic end of all things for the first Christians, Christ reassures them, even as he reassures us in our time: “But for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.” (Mt 24:22b)
What this means is that, on account of the merits of the Saints, for the sake of the holy ones, God will put a limit to the destructive power of the Roman army in the first century, and indeed, of whatever force that threatens our world in every century. This statement, this assurance, is an important reminder that even as things seem to unravel in the world around us, even as the worst takes place, the truth is that God is always in control and in charge. Nothing happens which he doesn’t direct or at least permit, for his wise governance of time and of creation and of all things extends from beginning to end and at every moment in between. As such, all is held in his providence, and thus, particularly we Christians – we, who belong to him – are held in his Fatherly love. The Lord is not promising us that we will not suffer or will not have to endure much, but rather, he says that God will be merciful to us and save us. For, “if those days had not been shortened, no human being would be saved” says the Lord. (Mt 24:22a)
Therefore, the Liturgy urges us to remain steadfast in prayer, most especially when trials and tribulations befall us, as they surely will. Thus the Offertory repeats the cry of psalm 129: “Out of the depths have I cried to Thee, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice”, and this is also the verse at the ‘Alleluia’ today: Out of the depths have I cried to Thee, O Lord. For from the depths of our being, we cry to the One who is Being itself; from the depths of our dying and our mortality, we cry out for life and healing; from the depths of our sin, we cry out for forgiveness, and repentance, and conversion of life. So, in every age, and in every generation, the Gospel urges us today to remain steadfast in prayer and in faith, believing that God is in control, even if we human beings are losing it, and that Jesus Christ is our salvation, even as all our other safeguards fail.
But when we arrive at crisis moments, and we feel that things are going out of control, either in our personal lives, or in the social-political sphere, or in the institution of the Church, there is this tendency to grasp at salvation, to find it in signs and revelations, wonders and miracles. But the Lord Jesus in this Gospel is very clear. So, let us be attentive:
“If any one says to you, `Lo, here is the Christ!' or `There he is!' do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Lo, I have told you beforehand. So, if they say to you, `Lo, he is in the wilderness,' do not go out; if they say, `Lo, he is in the inner rooms,' do not believe it.” (Mt 24:23-26)
My friends, there is, at this moment, and thanks to the internet and private messenger groups, no shortage of fake news that purport to be able to interpret these present times as the end times, and there are all sorts of visions and revelations from Our Lady and the Saints which are being published. Some feel called to go out to the wilderness of Medjugorje or Garabandal, for example, to find guidance from God for these times. Others, will say that God has spoken to him or her directly, and has told us to build bunkers to hide in with our families. I do not have the authority personally, nor time right now, to debunk all these. Nor am I personally calling into question the authenticity of ongoing Marian messages in Bosnia-Herzegovina. But I do want to draw our attention to the infallible word of Sacred Scripture. “Lo, I have told you beforehand”, says the Lord. In other words, Jesus is giving us a warning, and telling us in advance for our own good: Do not believe in false prophecies, or false Christs, that is to say, fake messages of salvation and unsound private revelations. And, moreover, there is no need to go chasing after wondrous messages from afar: “Do not go out”, says the Lord. Nor should we be so credulous as to believe every so-called mystic and private revelation: “Do not believe it”, Jesus says. Indeed, if anyone thinks they know when the definitive end of the world is, then they claim to know more than the Lord Jesus. For Jesus says: “Of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” (Mt 24:36)
For the recurrent danger, which we have seen time and again in the history of the Church, is that, when we are bewildered by the world and the disasters that are taking place, we will grasp at whatever straw we can find to save us. The Lord foresees this kind of desperation, a certain human need to know the future, and to find security and to take control. But this is false salvation, he warns us – resist it!
Rather, salvation comes from the Lord alone and we are to find security in his promises, in his Word. As Jesus says in the Gospel: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” Therefore, in this time, and indeed, in every generation, we Catholics would do well to read and study and ponder and pray with the Scriptures. Let us be deeply rooted in Scripture as the Fathers of the Church and the Saints are, for the Word of God fills us with divine wisdom and knowledge of God’s ways. So, it is our defence against the fears and evils that would assail us. Thus St Paul says in the epistle: “be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding… lead a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” (Col 1:9-10) Hence, as I’ve said, in today’s Gospel the Lord Jesus wants us to know this: that God is in control at all times, and that we are held in God’s all-wise and loving providence. So, we are called to trust God at all times, and to keep praying that we will hold fast in faith right to the very end.
Moreover, the Lord in today’s Gospel reminds us in striking ways that we should not think that salvation can come from human powers, nor from supernatural and celestial forces, as “the powers of the heavens will be shaken”. (Mt 24:29c) But, as we see even now, when people are afraid and feel powerless, they might turn to demagogues and politics and corporations for salvation, or they might rely on astrology, or occult practices to help guide them. But the Lord affirms in this Gospel, and the Church wants us to know in this final Sunday of the liturgical year: the Lord will come to save us, and his coming will not be hidden or in secret but will be visible and known to all peoples.
Hence the Gospel says: “as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of man.” (Mt 24:27) In other words, it will be visible and seen by all. And “then will appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory”. (Mt 24:30) This means that Man’s salvation shall come from God alone, from heaven, and not from any earthly or created thing. Thus “all the tribes of the earth will mourn” because all who have put their faith in earthly things; all who have hoped that money, or politics, or science, or status, or material goods will buy them happiness and safety will be deeply disappointed.
For anybody who has turned from God, and placed their trust ultimately in false gods, in idols, and worldly illusions, therefore, the second coming of the Lord is indeed the “day of wrath and doom impending”, as one translation of the Dies Iræ calls it. But for us Christians, the day of the Lord’s return is something we long for. Because, as St Paul says in the epistle, “the Father… has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” This is the enduring promise of God’s word to us who have believed, and hoped, and trusted in Christ as our one and only Saviour. Therefore, with the first Christians we can cry out from the depths of our being: Marana-tha, an Aramaic phrase which means, “Come, Lord”! (cf 1 Cor 16:22, Apoc 22:20) These are the final words of the final book of the Bible: “Come, Lord Jesus!” So, in these final days, let these words, at the end, be our deepest prayer too.
Perilous Times
15 “Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place—let the reader understand— 16 then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. 17 Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get things out of his house. 18 And whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. 19 But woe to those women who are pregnant, and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 Moreover, pray that when you flee, it will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will again. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘He is over here,’ do not believe him. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and will provide great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. 25 Behold, I have told you in advance. 26 So if they say to you, ‘Behold, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Behold, He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe them. 27 For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. — Matthew 24:15-28 | New American Standard Bible (NASB) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. Cross References: Deuteronomy 13:1; 1 Samuel 9:25; 2 Samuel 11:2; Job 39:30; Isaiah 9:15; Jeremiah 44:29; Ezekiel 1:14; Ezekiel 5:9; Ezekiel 39:17; Daniel 1:6; Daniel 12:1; Joel 2:2; Matthew 2:1; Matthew 8:20; Matthew 10:16; Matthew 21:16; Matthew 22:14; Luke 17:23; Luke 17:31; Luke 18:7; Luke 23:29; Acts 21:38; Acts 27:11; 2 Corinthians 13:2; 1 Peter 1:1
1 And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!
2 And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,
4 Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?
5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:
6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
7 And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.
8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.
9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.
10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations.
11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.
12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.
13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. — Mark 13:1-13 | King James Version (KJV) The King James Version Bible is in the public domain. Cross References: Exodus 4:12; Isaiah 29:6; Daniel 9:26; Daniel 12:6; Matthew 2:3; Matthew 5:22; Matthew 10:17; Matthew 10:19; Matthew 10:21-22; Matthew 12:41; Matthew 17:1; Matthew 21:1; Matthew 24:1; Matthew 24:4; Matthew 24:6; Matthew 24:8; Matthew 24:14; Luke 19:44; Luke 21:5; John 8:24; John 8:28; John 15:21
21 For at that time there will be great tribulation, such as has not occurred from the beginning of the world until now, nor shall by any means ever occur.
22 And unless those days had been cut short, no flesh would be saved; but on account of the chosen, those days will be cut short.
23 At that time if anyone says to you, Behold, here is the Christ! or, Here! do not believe it.
24 For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen.
25 Behold, I have told you beforehand.
26 Therefore if they say to you, Behold, He is in the wilderness, do not go forth; Behold, He is in the inner rooms, do not believe it.
27 For just as the lightning comes forth from the east and shines to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
28 Wherever the corpse is, there will the vultures be gathered together.
29 And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
30 And at that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the land will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. — Matthew 24:21-30 | Recovery Version (REC) The Recovery Version of the Holy Bible © 2009 Living Stream Ministry. All rights reserved. Cross References: Deuteronomy 13:1; Ecclesiastes 12:2; Job 39:30; Isaiah 9:15; Isaiah 13:10; Ezekiel 1:14; Ezekiel 5:9; Ezekiel 39:17; Daniel 7:13; Daniel 12:1; Zechariah 12:11; Matthew 8:20; Matthew 10:16; Matthew 22:14; Matthew 24:31; Luke 17:23; Acts 21:38; Acts 27:11; 2 Corinthians 13:2; Revelation 1:7; Revelation 12:1
For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. - Matthew 24:24 | New King James Version (NKJV) The Holy Bible; New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
MATTHEW 7:20 LITMUS TEST: WHAT KIND OF TREE ARE YOU? -- a Bill's Bible Basics article
MATTHEW 7:20 LITMUS TEST: WHAT KIND OF TREE ARE YOU? -- a Bill's Bible Basics article #Matthew720 #LitmusTest #TrueProphet #FalseProphet #FruitfulTree This Bill’s Bible Basics 1-part article can be read at: https://www.billkochman.com/Articles/matthew-7-20-litmus-test.html