"The Christ Is Now Here"

It stood Out boldly, a full-page advertisement in most British newspapers on 24th April, 1982: "The Christ is now here". The advertisement stated that a similar statement was appearing simultaneously in major cities of the world.

"How will we recognize him?" the advertisement asked. Then it supplied the answer: "Look for a man concerned with modern problems - political, economic, social". It claimed that since 1977 this "Christ" has been emerging as a spokesman for a group in a modern country. He is not a religious leader, but an educator, pointing the way out of the present world crisis. The world having had enough of hunger, injustice and war, this person is responding to humanity's call for help. He is featured as "World Teacher for all humanity". He has not come to judge, but to aid and inspire.

Then followed the heading, "Who is the Christ?" He is said to be one who stands at the centre of a "spiritual hierarchy", a group of enlightened men, "masters of wisdom". This World Teacher is said to be known by Christians as the Christ; and as Christians await the second coming of Christ, so the Jews await the Messiah, the Buddhists the fifth Buddha, the Muslims the Imam Mahdi and the Hindus await Krishna. "These are all names for one individual. His presence in the world guarantees there will be no third World War," the advert confidently affirmed.

How does all this appear under the searchlight of Bible truth? It stands exposed as unmistakably characteristic of false spiritual leadership. For here is a man claiming to be "The Christ", in fulfilment of the believer's hope that the Lord Jesus will come again. Yet he has been hidden away for some years, now to emerge, it seems, to wider recognition. The Lord has given us clear warning against claims of this kind, as for example in Matt. 24:26-27:

If therefore they shall say unto you, Behold, He is in the wilderness; go not forth: Behold, He is in the inner chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh forth from the east, and is seen even unto the west, so shall be the coming of the Son of Man. The Lord evidently anticipated the type of claim to Messiahship which this widely publicized World Teacher is now making! The Scripture quoted from Matt. 24 refers, of course, to the coming to earth of the Son of Man, following the Great Tribulation. God's word regarding the coming of Christ to the air for His Church, which we believe will precede the Great Tribulation, is equally clear: "The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God" (1 Thess. 4:16). So whichever phase of the second coming of Christ is in mind, it will be quite different from the type of manifestation now being claimed.

Equally clear is the stamp of falsehood that the Christ of Scripture, the fifth Buddha, the Imam Mahdi and Krishna are all names for one individual. God has uniquely exalted the Lord Jesus Christ, and given Him the Name which is above every name (Phil. 2:9). In none other name is there salvation (Acts 4:12). Renowned leaders of other major world religions are not to be equated with the Son of God. They were but men, whereas Jesus Christ was God manifest in flesh: and God has been pleased in all things to give His beloved Son the preeminence (Col. 1:18).

Then the presence on earth of the "World Teacher" who is claiming to be "The Christ" is stated to guarantee there will be no third world war. He is saying that he will show people "how to live together peacefully as brothers", and he claims that this is simpler than they imagine. It requires only "the acceptance of sharing". "Without sharing", he tells us, "there can be no justice; without justice there can be no peace; without peace there can be no future". Such subtle allusions to the universal longing for peace and security are bound to attract the interest of millions in this precarious nuclear age.

Sadly, however, the new World Teacher's prescription for peace is doomed to failure because of the sinful selfishness of the human heart. For God's word reveals that in the last days grievous times shall come, when men "shall be lovers of self, lovers of money ... fierce, no lovers of good" (2 Tim. 3:1-3). All the indications today confirm the development of Paul's prophetic warning. Moral persuasion by a self-styled "educator" can never change the world's basic attitudes. Only the intervention of Jesus Christ in irresistible power and glory will be adequate to establish an order of righteousness, peace and joy.

Scripture therefore leaves us in no doubt that the claims of this supposed "Christ" are not genuine. "Even now have there arisen many antichrists," wrote John in his first epistle (2:18). The world is still today being offered pretensions which breathe out the spirit of antichrist!

unknown | 8209 1982
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