Jesus warned that counterfeit Christs would arise in the last days, masquerading as the Messiah and claiming to be the savior of the world. It’s in the Bible, Matthew 24:4-5, NIV. “Jesus answered: ‘Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, “I am the Christ,” and will deceive many.’”

Don't listen to or seek after reports of christs - the miracles and great signs they perform might deceive you. It's in the Bible, Matthew 24:23-25, NKJV. "Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand."

How do we know that reports of sightings of Jesus are false? His appearing will be universally known - witnessed by the whole world. It's in the Bible, Matthew 24:27, NKJV. "For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be."

Paul, likewise, warned Christians concerning false apostles who would preach about a Jesus who is not the real Jesus of the Bible. It’s in the Bible, 2 Corinthians 11:3-4, NKJV. “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!"

Satan is behind those who come in the last days as false Christs. It’s in the Bible, 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 NIV. “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.”

Just prior to Jesus’ second coming, a notable counterfeit Christ—a “man of lawlessness”—will appear visibly on earth. It’s in the Bible, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, NKJV. “ Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God."

What will happen to this false Christ? It’s in the Bible, 2 Thessalonians 2:8, NKJV. “And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming."

Why will so many be deceived? They refused to love the truth. It's in the Bible, 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10, NIV. "The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved."

How can I not be deceived? It's in the Bible, Isaiah 8:20, NKJV. "To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word it is because there is no light in them."  

Search the Scriptures to compare the teachings. It's in the Bible, Acts 17:11, NKJV. "These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so."

For more information see:

• Antichrist
• How can one recognize a false Christ?
• Prophets
• Second Coming