Excerpt from The King and the Kingdom: A Study of the Four Gospels For many shall come in my name, saying, I am be and, The time is at hand; go ye not after them.' We have not, nor do we need, any historical corroboration with respect to this prediction. Alford says Of such persons, before the destruction of J erusalem, we have no distinct record; doubtless there were such: but I believe the prophecy and warning to have a further reference to the latter times, 111 which its complete fulfilment must be looked for. The persons usually cited as fulfilling this (theudas, Simon Magus, Barehochab, &c.) are all too early or too late, and not correspondent to the condition, 777 my 77ame, with my name as the ground of their pre tenoes.' The expression 'in my name' occurs in several other passages. Whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.' 'where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.' 'there is no man which shall do a mighty work in my name, and be able quickly to speak evil of me.' Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do.' In every instance the words in my name denote a recognition of Jesus and an action having reference to him. The deceivers of whom Jesus spoke would so acknowledge him and profess their adherence to him. Many shall come in my name: ' this must be taken as explaining and modifying the following words, saying, I am the Christ.' As representatives of J esus they would claim his Christhood or anointing, holding themselves out as dispensers of his salvation. Only Matthew introduces the words, 'the Christ.' In Mark and Luke the translators have supplied the word 'he.' Omitting it, Many shall come in my name, saying I am, ' is clear enough from its very vagueness I am - whatever one coming in Christ's name can claim to be, clothed with his authority, ministering his gifts, in a sense, myself the Christ, ' at least to this extent, that without me you cannot have him. Jesus foretold not a few, but many such; and we must needs believe that self-deception on their part is antecedent to their leading many astray.' Every perversion of the true gospel of Christ is pointed at in this prophecy, and evely unwarranted assumption of priestly and sacramental poxver. Take heed that no man lead you astrayz' that counsel is even more needful for us than for the apostles. Misconceptions abound, and we can only be delivered fromthem by reverting to the pure and simple. Gospel of J esus: that, apart from all that men have added to it and taken from it, should be all our salvation and all our desire. For eighteen centuries the 'gospel has been proclaimed, with such a multitude of acc'retions and disfigurements, and with such an absence of the essential and primary requirements imposed by J csus on his 'disciples, ' that it is no wonder honest preachers have to wring their hands over the result, with the heartrending admission: 'we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants oi' the world fallen (or, been The cry of our spiritual guides has ever been, 'the time is at hand: ' but what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ signifies, mankind has still to learn: assuredly it has not yet dawned upon the nations. They stand always armed to the teeth and ready for war, every people. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com