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This squares with the Lord's words in Matt. 24: 21. The temporal adverb tote,
"then, at that time", occurs here and many times in this chapter and the next one. It
occurs seven times in chapter 24: and seven times in the 25th chapter, and is the
answer to the disciples' query "when?". The terrible persecution of the great whole
dictator of the end time will make immediate flight necessary. It must be done with all
speed (24: 20), which winter traveling and Sabbath regulations might hinder.
The time is so dangerous that, unless the Lord intervenes, it would result in universal
annihilation (22). Man at last has discovered how to exterminate not only himself but the
human race, and the Lord reveals that this is what will happen unless he is prevented
from doing so. God will shorten this terrible time to 3½ years, the second half of
Daniel's last years of seven, and end it by the sudden coming of the Lord Jesus in great
glory and power which brings Satan's great dictator to his end (II Thess. 2: 8-10).
In the verses that follow, the Lord Jesus again warns against deception by false
Messiahs:
"At that time if anyone says to you, `look, here is Christ!' or `there He is!' do not
believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and
miracles to deceive even the elect--if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of
time" (24: 23-25, N.I.V.).
Satan, the great deceiver of mankind, will see to it that these spurious Christs and
prophets are able to perform spectacular miracles. The word tote (at that time) again ties
the events of verse 23 with those that have gone before in the previous verses. Satan
knows only too well that when anything that appears to be miraculous occurs, the average
person ascribes it to God. But the Bible reveals that Satan and the forces of darkness
under his control can work miracles and this is one of his most dangerous weapons. The
book of Revelation and II Thessalonians make this clear:
"Then I saw another beast . . . . . and he performed great and miraculous signs, even
causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of man. Because of the
signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of
the earth" (Rev. 13: 11-17, N.I.V.).
". . . . . the coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan
displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and every sort of evil
that deceives those who are perishing" (II Thess. 2: 9, 10, N.I.V.).
If the elect scarcely are saved from deception, it is obvious that the unregenerate will
be completely deceived by these miracles. This is Satan's counterfeit of the true miracles
that confirmed the ministry of the Lord Jesus:
"This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those
who heard Him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts
of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will" (Heb. 2: 3, 4, N.I.V.).
The fact that Christ was able to perform miracles did not prove that He came from the
Father. Rather it was that He performed the specific miracles that the O.T. had predicted