In the first part of Matthew 24, verses 1 to 14, we found a general description of the events up to the end of the aeon. There we read that many false prophets will arise and lead many astray (:11). In this second part of the speech, this is explained in more detail.
23 Then if anyone says to you, “Here is the Christ,” or “Here,” do not believe it.
24 For false Christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
false Christs and prophets
It is striking that there is talk of false Christs and false prophets, in Greek: pseudo-Christs and pseudo-prophets, in the plural. We saw earlier that the rider on the white horse from Revelation 6 is a false copy of the Rider on the white horse, who is an image of Christ. He is therefore a false Christ. But apparently in this period several deceivers will pretend to be Christ and a prophet.
The rider on the white horse from Revelation surpasses these other ‘christs’ and is the only one who is described more precisely. In addition to this false Christ, we also know a false prophet in Scripture, who is described in more detail.
Revelation 13
11 And I saw another beast coming up out of the land; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon.
12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his sight, and causes the land and those who dwell therein to worship the first beast (…)
13 And he performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven on the earth in the sight of men.
Elijah?
The first beast from the sea will come up from the nations. The sea is a representation of that (Rev. 17:15). The other beast comes out of “the land”, from Israel. He will deceive the Jewish people into worshiping the beast from the sea. He will perform great signs, which are strongly reminiscent of the prophet Elijah. Will he claim to be Elijah? If this is so, a special situation arises, because in Jerusalem on the temple square during the 1260 days of the great tribulation two witnesses appear (Rev. 11:3-4), and their characteristics are mentioned that are strongly reminiscent of Moses and Elijah (Rev. 11:5-6).
This beast from the land is elsewhere called the false prophet (Rev. 19:20; 20:10). He will act as a religious leader and bring about terrible idolatry and lead the Jewish people astray. The people will be forced to worship the beast and whoever does not do so will be killed (Rev. 13:14-15).
25 See, I have told you before.
26 Therefore if they say to you, Behold, He is in the wilderness; do not go out; behold, in the storehouses; do not believe it.
don’t go out and don’t believe it
It is remarkable that when verse 26 says: “behold, He is in the wilderness”, it does not say: believe it not, as is said of the storehouses. It says: don’t go out. Would the Lord then be in the wilderness, namely that of Bozrah, with the part of Israel who have already fled there?
that they might feed her there
Revelation 12 talks about the woman (>Israel) who flees to the desert because the dragon (>Satan) targets her (:5-6). It is said of this: “that they may feed her there a thousand two hundred and sixty days.” The “they” in this verse is a plural and that seems strange, because the only logical explanation is that here the ’they’ refers to the male son (>the Christ). For it is the woman who is nourished and the dragon seeks to destroy the woman (:17). Then there is only one option left within this sign and that is the male son.
Christ and the Ecclesia
Knowing the letters of Paul, we will have no difficulty in seeing in the male son the company of Christ and His ecclesia. They will feed Israel in the wilderness. Perhaps literally with bread from heaven, like the manna in the desert. But also certainly with the word of God, the unsearchable riches of Christ (Eph.3:8). Then it is logical that the Head himself, Christ Jesus, will also be present there. For from the moment of the snatching away, the Head and body will be inseparable (1 Thess.4:17).
Later we will see that in Ezekiel 20 it says that the Lord will appear face to face to Israel in the wilderness of the nations, but that is at a later time.
why not go out?
Why they should not go out is not stated in Matthew 24:26. But from what we already read in verses 15-20 we can conclude that it is not possible to leave the land during the great tribulation. Perhaps those who do try will perish and that is why it is said: Do not go out.
Some interpreters say that the storerooms or inner rooms indicate rooms of the temple. Be that as it may, He is not there.