Paul: Deceived as Foretold By Christ

Question Presented [MP3 Version] -

Spanish Italian [in process]

Was Paul deceived by someone in the wilderness saying "I am

Jesus" -- coming in "Christ's name" -- implying He was the
Messiah-Jesus? Does Paul's experience fit Jesus' warning that
we should not believe those coming in the wilderness or
privately "in my name" saying "I am the Christ"? Jesus
explained that when He appears again on earth every eye from
every point "east and west" will see Him, so don't be fooled by
an imposter Jesus who appears to someone on earth in a
private way or in the wilderness. (Matt. 24 vv. 4-6, vv. 26-27.)
This was the criteria by which we would know the true Jesus
from an imposter Jesus: the true Jesus would next be truly
seen on earth only universally, but the imposter Jesus would
only be seen privately or in the wilderness. Jesus warned that
this imposter-Jesus would be so convincing that he could dupe
even the 12. Yet, to protect the true 12 Apostles, Jesus gave
them these criteria to identify an imposter Jesus: those seeing
the imposter could only say he came privately to them or in
the wildness; it would not be a univeral appearance from
eastern to western sky.
Do these criteria disqualify Paul as an apostle of the same
Jesus whom you and I love? Remember, Paul's epistles have
not a single unique quote from Jesus, so if we disqualify Paul,
we lose nothing from the words of Jesus.
Obviously, Paul talks alot about Jesus, and appears to be
following the same Jesus you and I wish to follow. But
because Paul never quotes Jesus other than the liturgy from
Luke's Gospel, are we judging correctly the weight to give
Paul's words? Remember Jesus taught us that "appearances"
can be deceiving: "Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge
correctly." (John 7:24.) As Proverbs 14:2 similarly teaches:
"There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads
to death."
Thus, are we on the path to life or death by trying to follow
Paul's words? His words are completely distinct from those of
Jesus. And Paul never claims to quote Jesus's words spoken to
himself as a guide from Christ to us as believers. Are we
therefore taking undue risk listening to Paul, especially in light
of Jesus's warnings such as in Matthew ch 24?
An Obvious Question That Is Routinely Overlooked
This is an obvious question about Paul's encounter, given the
clear import of the words of Jesus. Even commentators
summarize the clear meaning of Jesus in a way that one must
wonder how commentators' minds never questioned whether
Jesus' warning might apply to Paul. For example, Henry
Alford (1810-1871), D.D., Dean of Canterbury (see bio at
this link), in his The New Testament for English Readers (Rivingtons
1868) at page 162 commented on Matthew 24 verses 4-5:
[vv. 4-5] 'For many' ...This was the first danger awaiting
them: not of being drawn away from Christ, but
of imagining that these persons were Himself." [Emphasis
in original.]

Alford then explains the reference to "in my Name" means the

false Jesuses say they are Jesus as "the ground for their
pretences."
Alford did not address the clear import of what he was saying
as applying to Paul's encounter. It involved Paul claiming an
appearance of the risen Christ to himself, making himself a
witness to the Resurrection along with two men with Paul who
hear the voice saying "I am Jesus" (Acts 9:7). However, we
will look in that direction here.
Alford also discusses the warning in Matthew 24: 24-27 about
someone coming in the wilderness saying he is

Jesus. Alford explains that Jesus said

this to "guard them against the imposters who led people out
into the wilderness(see Acts 21:38) or invited them to consult
privately...." Id., at 168. More precisely, Jesus said the
appearance to be warned about was in the wilderness. Thus,
even though Alford did not address whether this "imposter"
scenario out in the wilderness applies to Paul's encounter in
the same book of Acts where Alford saw a parallel (i.e., an
Egyptian led people into the wilderness), we will examine the
Paul-parallel here.
Finally, Alford says the fact Jesus' next appearance on earth
would instead be seen like

"lightning" from east to west, and not

privately or in the wilderness, meant it "shall be a
plain unmistakeable fact, understood of all, ...sudden and all
pervading." Furthermore, because the lightning is from "both
ends of heaven at once," Alford says this is like Rev. 1:7 which says
at Christ's return "every eye will see him." Id., at page 168.
The stress is on the "universality" of this event as the
discriminating factor between an imposter Jesus and the true
Jesus.
So, again, likewise, we will apply this final criteria to the
experience of Paul where he sees a light and hears a voice
saying "I am Jesus" but this event is neither unmistakeable nor
universal, but instead is in the wilderness and private. We will
ask the question that no reputable commentator has asked even
though it appears painfully obvious.

Nature of Christ's Return Expected Prior To Paul's Experience

In Acts 1: 9-11, the resurrected Jesus was "taken up into the

sky while" the apostles were watching. An angel clearly
explained to the twelve "just as you saw him go, he will
return." Jesus had a physical departure. So the angel promised
a physical return. Jesus spoke of this return: "they shall see the
Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and
great glory." Matt. 24: 30. John refers to the same event as "every
eye will see him." John wrote of a vision of the return of
Christ: "Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye
will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples
of the earth will mourn because of him." Rev. 1: 7 (NIV.)
Jesus' Prophetic Warning

Jesus was asked about His Second Coming by his apostles. In

reply, He warned them that prior to His return an imposter or
imposters will come in His name saying "I am Jesus." Then
Jesus said if anyone comes claiming to be Himself in the
"wilderness" or a "private place," you know that this is not the
true Jesus because this is not universally seen:
5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ;
and shall deceive many. (Matt. 24: 5)
23
Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is the Christ,
or, Here; believe it not.
 24
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and
shall show great signs and wonders; so as to lead astray, if
possible, even the elect.
25
Behold, I have told you beforehand.
26
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.
27
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. (Matt. 24 : 23-27 ASV.)
Jesus is telling us that when He returns to earth it will be clear
and unmistakable to everyone. We are thus not to believe any
other accounts of people who claim to have seen the Christ-
Jesus prior to such a universally-visible event. Even if the
event is accompanied by signs and wonders. Thus, any private
appearances we know must represent an imposter Jesus.
Jesus elsewhere calls this imposter a "thief." This imposter
will try to steal the hearts of true Christians. As Jesus said
elsewhere, "the thief comes only to steal, and kill and destroy."
(John 10:10 ESV.) What better way to steal Christians than by
deceiving those who are attracted already by the figure of
Jesus by giving them a counterfeit version?
Hence, Jesus' warning in Matthew chapter 24 is the most
important defense to prevent us from becoming dupes of the
message from any imposter Jesus.

Paul's Encounter Outside Damascus

Several years after Jesus ascended, Saul of Tarsus -- also

known as Paul -- was walking with two companions on a road
outide Damascus. Just previously, Paul was involved in the
murder of Stephen, and was uttering "murderous threats" upon
Christians. (Acts 9: 1.) Paul confessed at that time he was a
"blasphemer and violent man." (1 Tim. 1:13.) Paul was thus a
lawless man as he walked to Damascus -- a man whom God
says He will not listen to his prayers absent repentance: "He
that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer
shall be an abomination." (Prov. 28:9, KJV.)
In this spiritual state, Paul then saw a great light and heard a
voice which said to him: "I am Jesus," "why are you
persecuting me?" Acts 9:3-7. However, those with Paul "saw no
one" although they "heard the voice." Acts 9:7. In another
version, his companions "saw the light" but did not "hear" (or
some say "understand") the voice. Acts 22:9. This certainly
appears to be an extra-mental experience of Paul, and not a
mere vision, as it was shared with 2 or more others. In fact, the
presence of at least the 2 other persons suggests Paul intended
to convey to us that a physical experience on earth was being
verified by at least 2 witnesses.
Paul elsewhere describes this as a physical appearance of Jesus to
himself in the same sense Jesus appeared to the twelve
apostles first: "He appeared to Cephas [i.e., Peter], then the
twelve...and he also appeared to me." (1 Cor. 15:5 & 8.) Paul was
not claiming he saw Jesus merely in a dream or vision. Paul
wanted us to understand Jesus was as physically present on the
Road outside Damascus as Jesus was present in the
resurrection encounters with the twelve where Jesus told
Thomas to feel the nail holes.
Hence, most certainly Paul claimed a true experience that
could be shared with others where Jesus post-Ascension
returned physically to earth to speak and appear to Paul. In
fact, Paul describes it as a presence of Jesus in that wilderness
in a resurrected state which made Paul a witness to a post-
Ascension return that showed Jesus in a true "resurrected"
state. This is how Paul counted himself among those who
could be a witness to the physical resurrection of Jesus rather
than claiming he had a vision of a deceased in heaven.

[Damascus at the time of Paul with surrounding wilderness. Philip Schaff & Miss E.
Rodgers, Damascus.]

Paulinists Concede Paul's Encounter Was

In The Wilderness
In Acts 9: 3, Luke relates that Paul was outside Damascus
when this event happened. The KJV says Paul "came near
Damascus" (KJV). The pertinent Greek word is engizein,
meaning "draw near." Thus, Paul was
unquestionably outside Damascus when he had his encounter
with the light and voice which said "I am Jesus." See Biblios
versions for Acts 9: 3. Yet, to repeat, the two companions "hearing
the voice, saw no one." Acts 9:7.
As a result of this event having taken place outside Damascus,
this area is thereby within a wilderness as that term is used in the
Bible.
Why is this important? Because Jesus specifically commanded
that we, his followers, were not to listen to anyone who
appeared in the wilderness who claimed to be Jesus. Our Lord
explained He will not appear on earth again until an event when every
eye sees Him from eastern to western sky. These criteria are how
we know today that the person who met Paul was not the true
Jesus. This was the litmus test Jesus gave his disciples: 'if
someone appears in the wilderness claiming to be me, you can
be sure it is not me,' in effect. See Matt. 24: 5 & 6; & 27-29.
While I do not doubt Paul believed he met the true Jesus, it
does not matter at this point. Rather, the facts described in
Acts clearly exclude the possibility that Paul had an encounter
with the true Jesus found in the gospels, as we will now
further elaborate upon.
Biblical Meaning of "Wilderness"

Satan was known to occupy wilderness areas. This is why

Jesus Himself went to the wilderness -- so he could be tested
by Satan. "Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be
tested by the devil." (Matt. 4:1.) Jesus identifies in verse 10
that His encounter was with "Satan" himself.
The word "wilderness" as used in the Bible means any area
outside a city. Gill in his Exposition of the Bible explains the
term "wilderness" as Paul used it in 2 Cor.11: 26. The term
"may be understood not strictly of desert places, but of
the country in distinction from the city."
Christian scholars Hengel & Schwemer refer to Paul's
experience as taking place in the "semi-wilderness of the great city
territory immediately bordering on the city of Damascus."
(Martin Hengel, Anna Maria Schwemer, Paul Between
Damascus and Antioch: The Unknown Years(1997) at 109.)
Next, besides "outside Damascus" as being equivalent to a
wilderness, there is one time in the Bible this very same area is
described as a "wilderness" -- in 1 Kings 19:15, as discussed
next.
Elijah Told To Take Wildnerness Road to Damascus

In 1 Kings 19:15, God speaks to Elijah while Elijah is at

"Horeb, the mountain of God." (1 Kings 19:7.) God tells
Elijah to take the road to Damascus. God specifically calls this
the "wilderness."
This passage reads:
15 Then Yahweh said to him, “Go, return on your way to the
wilderness of Damascus. Go and anoint Hazael as king over Aram;
(1 Kings 19:15 Lexham.)
Some scholars suggest Paul thought this was significant. Paul
may have equated the call Paul received on that Wilderness
Road to Damascus to the call Elijah received at Horeb to take
that same Road to Damascus. See N.T. Wright, "PAUL,
ARABIA, AND ELIJAH (GALATIANS 1:17)," in Journal of
Biblical Literature vol. 115, 683–692 (available at this online link.)
However, Elijah received his call at Horeb at the Mountain of
God while Paul's encounter was itself on that wilderness Road
to Damascus. That is a difference that in God's planning can
be very significant.
Now the contention of Wright is important in a way he did not
intend. What he admitted proves that God placed in the Bible a clear
reference that Paul's encounter was in a location which the Bible called the
"wilderness of Damascus." This way, there would be no doubt in
anyone's mind once we recognized the issue from Matthew
chapter 24 that the same is true for Paul. Hence, this road to
Damascus where Paul heard "I am Jesus" from the voice and
light was indeed in the wilderness. God personally said so!
Paul's Non-Recognition of Jesus Proves Paul Could Be Duped

Some people do not believe Paul could be duped in this

experience. They reason that Paul was miraculously converted
prior to Jesus' appearance so Paul could discern it was the true
Jesus.
However, Paul was spiritually lost at the moment he met this
alleged Jesus. For if this were the true Christ, and Paul were
converted moments before, then Paul should have recognized
the voice as that of Jesus. For Jesus tells us in John 10:4 that the
sheep "know his voice." John 10:27 (NLT): "My sheep recognize my
voice...."
But Paul in Acts 9:5 admits he does not recognize the voice at all.
After the voice says "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting
me?", Luke records: "And he [Paul] said, `Who art thou, Lord?'"
The response was: "I am Jesus whom thou dost persecute;
hard for thee at the pricks to kick;'" (Acts 9:5, YLT)
Paul could thus not be a sheep of Jesus at the moment of the
appearance had it been the true Jesus. That means Paul was a
lost sheep, unable to know the difference between the voice of
the true versus false Jesus.
Moreover, Luke also tells us that just prior to this event Paul
was involved in the murder of Stephen, and was breathing
"murderous threats." (Acts 9:1.) Apostle John tells us no
murderer has eternal life. (1 John 3:15.)
Hence, at the very moment that counts, Paul was a lost man,
easily capable of being duped by a false Christ claiming to be
"Jesus."

Satan Can Even Dupe Prophets of God!

Even if Paul prior to encountering this "light" and "voice" had

the Holy Spirit already (which Luke does not imply), Paul
would not be immune from the wiles of Satan. David, who had such
Holy Spirit, was not above Satan planting ideas in his head:
Now Satan, designing evil against Israel, put into David's
mind the impulse to take the number of Israel. (1
Chron. 21:1.)
Furthermore, in 1 Kings 1:13-32, God tells us that a true
prophet duped another true but young prophet by lying to him about a
prophecy supposedly being from God. The true prophet lied
that God had said that the young prophet could go home by
another route. (See our article.) Thus, if even a true immature
prophet can be duped, so much more can a lost man as was
Paul.
Thus, Paul, whether you think he did or did not have the Holy
Spirit at his encounter, could be fooled.
Does The Blindness of Paul & Bright Light Constitute "Signs" & "Wonders" in The
Encounter Which Match Jesus' Warning?

Paul saw the light, and was soon thereafter blinded.

Otherwise, Paul solely heard an unfamiliar voice. Paul must have
regarded this blindness from the light as a sign from heaven.
This must have served as the 'proof' in Paul's mind that he
needed to believe this was the true Jesus. Paul himself later
would inflict blindness on Elymas (Acts 13:11). Paul called
his workings of such affliction "signs and wonders." Thus,
Paul must have viewed such blindness-afflicting powers by
the light he encountered as a 'sign and wonder' which verified
it as supposedly the true Jesus.
But was this a sign or wonder from God? And would the Lord
of life actually inflict blindness on someone supposedly
miraculously converted moments before? One must wonder.
Jesus said He came to "restore sight to the blind." (Luke 4:18-
19.) The true Jesus only restored sight to the blind, and never
inflicted blindness. See Matthew 9:27,28 , Mathew 20:29-34 ,
Mark10:46-52 , Luke 18: 35-43.
See http://www.enduringword.com/commentaries/4309.htm
In the Bible, God never inflicts blindness on regenerate
persons. God through the angels inflicts blindness in Genesis
19 on evil lost men to protect Lot from the men of Sodom
trying to enter his house. (Genesis 19:4-11.) This was clearly
inflicted on evil unregenerate men. God in Deuteronomy 28
promises to inflict blindness, and cause you to grope in mid
day, when you refuse to obey his law. Hence, any infliction of
blindness if it truly came from God, would have to only be
upon an unregenerate lost soul. It would be punishment.
There is no example of God inflicting blindness on a
regenerate man in the Bible. Some believe Samson proves
otherwise. However, Samson, a man of God, was blinded by
the Philistine, not by God. This happened only after Samson's
last link to the power of God was broken when Delilah cut his
hair, breaking the Nazirite vow (to which Samson was subject)
not to let his hair be cut. Prior to that time, Samson, an
Israelite, was spiritually blinded first that he had gone against
a Law (which was only applicable to Israelites) when he said a
"foreign woman" was "right for my eyes" (Judges 14:1.)
Hence, physical blindness in the Bible can come from evil
forces upon a spiritually blind person when God's power is no
longer present at all over that person's life. God never inflicts
blindness on the regenerate. See Chad Harstock, Sight &
Blindness in Luke-Acts(Brill: 2008) at 107.)
Wasn't the fact that Paul was "breathing murders" as Luke
depicts him (Acts (9:1) just before this experience prove Paul
was as spiritually blind as you could be? If God inflicted this
blindness, this alone would prove Paul was unregenerate and
lost. Wasn't Paul's self-professed being a "blasphemer and
violent man" (1 Tim. 1:13) just prior to this render Paul as
completely outside the power of God as Samson? Didn't this
also therefore subject Paul to the power of evil to blind him
just as Samson became?
Hence, if one thought God caused this blindness instead, we
know God wouldn't ever blind Paul unless Paul was a
completely lost soul like the men whom the angels blinded
in Genesis 19:4-11. So either way, Paul was unregenerate at
the moment of this appearance of someone coming in
Jesus' name.
In sum, signs and wonders must have been the means by
which the voice convinced Paul this was the real Jesus. But
tragically Paul did not ask himself whether the one who came
to "restore sight to the blind" would actually inflict blindness
on someone who Paul believes converted him miraculously
prior to blinding him.
And even if Paul did not know blindness is never a work of
God except on the lost, didn't Jesus prophesy warnings to his
true apostles to not rely upon all such "signs and wonders"
anyway if someone thinks they saw Jesus on a wilderness
way, such as the "way" to Damascus (Acts 9:3, NIV)?
The answer is 'yes,' as we demonstrate next.
Jesus's Prophecies About An Imposter-Jesus

Of course, Jesus warned repeatedly about false prophets to

come in His name who would "have signs and wonders" so
that they could deceive even the elect. Matthew 7:15-23;
24:11,24; Mark 13:22-23. See Study Notes below.
But Jesus did more than that. In Matthew 24:4-5, Jesus gives a
series of warnings of events that must precede the end. The
very first one in church history--and chronologically far earlier
than events that would take a long time, such as wars, etc,
Jesus says this will happen:
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no
man lead you astray.
5
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ; and
shall lead many astray. (NIV)
In Luke, Jesus warns this one coming in "my name" says "I
am He...." (Luke 21:8.)
In Matthew 24:24-27, Jesus warns about just such an earthly
encounter one may have with one coming in His Name (Jesus)
claiming to be He (Jesus) but you know it is not Him because
when Jesus returns, every eye will see Him. Jesus said:
24
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and
shall show great signs and wonders; so as to lead astray, if
possible, even the elect.
25
Behold, I have told you beforehand.
26
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.
27
For as the lightning [Greek, astraphe] cometh forth from
the east, and is seen even unto the west; so shall be the
coming [parousia = presence] of the Son of man.
Jesus is recorded similarly in Luke 17:24 (ESV): "For as the
lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the
other, so will the Son of Man be in his day."
Apostle John in Revelation foresees this same event, and
similarly speaks of it: "Look, he is coming with the clouds,
and every eye will see him...." (Rev. 1:7.) Jesus identifies what
the true coming (parousia) event looks like in the immediately
following verses 28-30, especially v. 30 in Matthew 24. It
is identical to Revelation 1:7:
“Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And
then all the peoples of the earth[c] will mourn when they see
the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power
and great glory.[d] (Matt 24:30 NIV.)
Hence, Jesus says in the context of Matthew 24's prophecy
against wilderness encounters that you know it is not Jesus
because His coming on the "clouds" of glory will be "from
eastern to western sky." Apostle John in Rev. 1:7 says of this
same "coming with the clouds" that it is an event which "every
eye will see him." (Modern television coverage makes such an
event possible even without God using the miraculous to do
so.)
Clearly, the discerning quality of whether an encounter like
Paul's was valid is whether every one on earth simultaneously
saw Jesus on the clouds of glory before He arrived on earth.
That did not happen in Paul's earthly encounter. Paul's two
companions in Acts 9 hear the voice but see no one.
Also further confirming the universality of seeing Jesus as
necessary, be aware "east" and "west" in Matthew 24:27 is
plural in the Greek, implying a world-wide event. That is, the
lightning must flash from every point east or west on the earth
so that every eye on earth will see it. Origen in the 200s noted
these plurals of east and west signified a world-wide event.
Scholars concur that this language "from east to west"
bespeaks the "universaility" of the event. (Allan J.
McNicol, Jesus' Directions for the Future (Mercer Press,
1996) at page 87.)
Thus the Matthean passage clearly implies to beware someone
in a wilderness or private room who will claim not only to be
Messiah / Christ, but also to be Jesus. For Jesus says you
know it is not Himself by the very obscurity of the location it
takes place. "Every eye" will see Jesus on clouds of brilliant
glory-light which will extend from one end of heaven to the
other over the entire earth when He returns to communicate
directly with men on earth. This being's claim to be both
Messiah and Jesus appearing in a wilderness or private
encounter is false if only one of three men see Him, our Lord
implicitly says.

Why Paul Did Not Realize His Error

Paul never realized that he met the wrong Jesus. Why?

Because the imposter Jesus told him that when the true Jesus
returns, not every eye will actually see Jesus. Paul tells us --
in obvious reliance upon the imposter -- that instead only the
spiritually discerning will realize Christ returned and 'see'
Christ in a spiritual sense. These verses from Paul that negate
the visual-universality of Jesus's appearance on the clouds of
glory are credulously explained by Herbert Lockyer in All the
Parables of the Bible Explained (Zondervan: 1988) at
page 255:
"'Every eye shall see Him.' His return for His church,
however, as indicated by Paul will likewise be sudden but not
universally discerned. He will appear for those who look for
Him, and who love such an appearing." [Alluding to 2 Tim.
4: 8, love appearing; 1 Thess. 4:17, 5:23, rapture into the
clouds; 1 Thess. 2:9 even says we are with Jesus at His
parousia, thus preceding the event, precluding us from first
seeing Jesus' presence on earth. See also 1 Thess. 3:13]
At the same time, Paul said he declined to listen to the twelve
apostles, preferring instead his direct revelations from the
Lord Jesus whom he met during that first experience.
In Galatians 1:12, Paul explained: "I did not receive it from
any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation
from Jesus Christ." In Galatians 2:6, talking of the twelve
apostles, Paul says:
But from those who were reputed to be somewhat
(whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God
accepteth not man's person)-- they, I say, who were of
repute imparted nothing to me: (Galatians 2:6 ASV.)
Paul thus was helpless against the Jesus of his revelation. Paul
did not have the criteria of the true Jesus' words on how to test
the encounter which Paul had with the "Jesus" of the
wilderness. Paul thereby mistakenly accepted an imposter
Jesus whom the true Jesus intended Paul to reject. Sadly, it is
Paul's own fault for he boasted that the those in repute -- the
true twelve -- "imparted nothing to me" -- Paul preferring the
"revelation from Jesus Christ" -- the Jesus of that very first
encounter -- the clear Imposter.
John's Experience in Heaven Differs From Paul's Encounter Outside Damascus
Jesus's warning does not extend to the experience John
described in Revelation. John says that he was taken up into
heaven where he saw Christ seated at the right hand of the
Father whereas Jesus' warning to His apostles was fixed firmly
to an appearance by Him on earth. See Rev. 4:1; Rev. 21:1-27;
cf. 1:10-18. This can be compared with Elijah who was caught
up into heaven, taken up in a whirlwind; and who never tasted
death, per 2 Kings 2:1-12. John's vision of Jesus in Rev. 1
prior to that time was relayed through an angel (Rev. 1:1), and
was not intended to convey Jesus was physically present on
earth. In chapter one, Jesus was seen in a fantastic vision with
a sword in His mouth. Thus, the first time John sees Jesus
physically is only after John is taken into heaven in chapter 4
of Revelation, and then sees Jesus as He actually is - seated at
the right hand of the Father.

Jesus' Warning Was Aimed To Prevent An Imposter-Jesus

Christian commentators -- unaware how this operates to

invalidate Paul -- admit that Jesus in Matthew chapter 24
intended to protect us from a counterfeit Jesus:
The reason He constantly talks about returning in the clouds
is because He wants us to look up into Heaven in anticipation
of His return, so keep your eyes on Him. He told us to be
ready, to watch for His return! This also prevents us from
believing in those who claim to be Jesus Christ, since we are
told that He will come in the clouds and every eye will see
Him when He comes back. (Frank Gonzalez, Jesus Tells
John to Write (2009)(PDF) at 11.)
Hence, Gonzalez concedes Jesus admonished us in chapter 24
not to accept anyone who says he is Jesus Christ in an
encounter on earth unless every eye sees the same event.
Otherwise, it is not the true Jesus. It is an imposter.
 The Delayed But Impactful Consequence Of Paul's Error

Had Paul heeded that warning, world history would look very
different. While Paul's doctrines laid dormant for 1500 years,
Luther revived them in the Reformation of 1517. (See
Renan, St. Paul (1875) at 327, excerpted at this link.) While
Carlstadt, the co-founder of the Reformation in 1517 with
Luther, tried in 1520 to repress Paul and give Jesus' doctrine
superiority, Luther retaliated by expelling and then crushing
Carlstadt in 1522. (See our link.) This has led to the rise of
modern Pauline Christianity. The consequences have been
devastating.
As Bonhoeffer bemoaned, we now have a "Christianity
without Christ." (Bonhoeffer, Cost of Discipleship (1936)
at 39.) Of the resulting dominant Protestantism, Kierkegaard, a
true theologian of merit, wrote in the 1850s:
"[Pauline] Protestantism is altogether untenable. It is a revolution
brought on by proclaiming 'the Apostle Paul' at the expense of the Master
(Christ)." (Kierkegaard, Papers and Journals (1996) at 629 --
books.google link to original).)
Jesus clearly foresaw something just like this would precede
his Second Coming. Jesus implied by the time of His return
few would be left who still hold to the true faith:
But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find
on the earth who have faith?" (Luke 18:8. NLT.)
Review of the Proofs: This Was A Prophecy About Paul

Then, let's ask: does the foregoing prove Jesus was warning us
away from whatever person spoke to Paul saying "I am Jesus,
the one you persecute"?
The proof above shows indeed Jesus did so warn us. There are
several important reasons.
First, what Paul experienced fits someone coming in the name of
Jesus. Paul records the voice said: "I am Jesus." Jesus said
many false Christs would come "in my name." (Matt 24:5-7.)
Second, we should remember that Jesus was a common name
at this time. -- in fact, the third most popular name used
among males. The 'voice' distinguished itself from any other
Jesus, and claimed to be Jesus the Messiah / Christ with the
words that he was "the one you persecute." This fit Jesus'
warning that those coming "in my name" (Jesus) would also
claim to be the Christ. Also, Paul repeatedly claims the Jesus
he follows is "Jesus Christ." Gal. 1:12.
Third, Jesus says in Matthew 24:24-27 that some will try to
deceive us while confirming that "Jesus is the Christ" in
scenarios such as in the wilderness and private rooms. As
already stated, it is in the wilderness that Paul had his
experience. Jesus obviously used such a term of "wilderness"
as a means to more readily help the true flock identify the
falsity of the Jesus whom Paul met.
Fourth, the false Jesus would be accompanied by "signs and
wonders" (Matt 24:24), but do not let our judgment be clouded
by such experience. It is a false Jesus. Paul obviously
understood his blindness as a sign that this was the true Jesus,
even though God never imposes blindness on someone who
supposedly has been converted already.
Thus, Paul's experience precisely fits Matthew 24:5-7, 24-27's
warning not to believe someone coming in His name claiming
to be Christ in such a setting when the only validation comes
from signs and wonders.
But Didn't Paul Cast Out Demons in Jesus' Name?

Some have written me saying it is impossible that Paul did not

know the true Christ because Paul cast out demons in Jesus'
name.
It is true Paul did so. In Acts 16:18, we read:
"And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved,
turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of
Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same
hour."
However, Matthew 7:21-23 informs us this does not prove
Paul knew the true Jesus.
There Jesus teaches us about those who "prophesy by the name [of
Jesus]," and who can "cast out demons by the name [of Jesus],"
but whom Jesus will say "I never knew you."
Why? Because they are workers of ANOMIA. This word
ANOMIA is a Greek word that can mean either "lawlessness"
or "negation of the Mosaic Law." (Torah is NOMOS in Greek;
the prefix "A" means negation, like 'anti' in English.) Jesus
says in Matthew 7:21-23:
21
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter
into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my
Father who is in heaven.
22
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not
prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy
name do many mighty works?
23
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from
me, ye that workANOMIA -- either "iniquity" or "negation of the
Law of Moses."
Can Paul be said to "do iniquity"? Or did Paul "negate the
Mosaic law"?
On multiple scores, both meanings of ANOMIA are satisfied.
First, Paul repeatedly contradicts the Law in letter and spirit.
For example, Paul goes so far as to claim that meat sacrificed
to idols is ok to eat. But Jesus reasserts the Law's prohibition
three times on such meat in the Book of Revelation. Another
example is that Paul teaches us to not be charitable to all
widows as a class, and instead Paul arbitrarily prohibited
charity to widows under sixty. This contradicts God's Law to
aid widows without any age-restriction. (See our articlePaul's
Command Not To Help Widows.)
Paul works also against the clarifications of the Law Jesus
gave us. For example, Paul tells his followers to regard
himself as their "spiritual father" when Jesus said this was
wrong. Jesus meant it was idolatrous to revere someone as a
spiritual father -- like Jews were then revering "Father
Abraham" -- instead of God - the true spiritual Father of all.
On this, and many other contradictions of Jesus, see our
article Paul's Contradictions of Jesus.
Second, Paul also teaches that the Law given Moses has been
done away with when Jesus said that it would not end until the
"heaven and earth pass away." (See Chapter Five of JWO.) It
is hard to imagine any greater working of iniquity than for
someone to declare God's Law is terminated before its
appointed time when the "heaven and earth pass away."
Alternatively, Paul's ANOMIA exists also in his behavior. For
example, Paul numerous times utters blasphemies. Blasphemy
is a sin even if one lacked the intention to insult God. The
Pharisees did not mean to insult God when Jesus told them
that their ascribing His miracles to Satan was an insult upon
God - an unpardonable one at that. (Matt 12: 31-32.) Thus, an
unwitting insult still has eternal consequences.
These insults on God by Paul include Paul's claims: 1. that
only through God's Law did Paul learn to sin -- its prohibitions
arousing in him the desire to sin which otherwise did not exist
(Romans 7:7); 2. that God will send a "delusion" on all people to
believe a lie so they are damned (2 Thess. 2:10-13); 3. that Jesus's
brightness at His coming will be "according to the working of
Satan," with "all power, signs and delusions" (2 Thess 2:8-9) -- to
accomplish the delusions God will bring which are spoken
about in the next verses 10-13 identified in #2 above; 4.
that God does not live in temples made of human hands,
implying inadvertently that the God in the Temple at
Jerusalem which still stood at that time was as invalid a god as
a pagan god (Acts 17:24); and on and on it goes. See our
article Paul & Blasphemy for a long list.
Hence, when people cite that Paul cast out demons in Jesus'
name, Jesus already told us in Matt. 7:21-23 that this is not sufficient proof
Paul ever met Jesus. Instead, Jesus said to test them -- do they
work ANOMIA? Do they work the negation of the Law given
Moses? Do they teach contrary to the Law, leading others into
law-breaking? Or do they sin in violation of the Law? If so,
then they "never knew" the true Jesus.
Paul qualifies on either score to be said by Jesus that "I never
knew you." To those who respond in wonderment how then
did Paul cast out demons in Jesus' name, Jesus said it can
happen. (Matt 7:21-23.) Jesus' name is powerful. Jesus can
even answer the prayer of a man who does not know Him. A
lost soul can effectively call upon Jesus' powerful name. For
Jesus elsewhere explains Satan cannot cast out Satan, for that
would represent a house divided. (Matt .12:26.) Thus, only
Jesus is casting out a demon at the request of someone to
whom Jesus says "I do not know you." Who says so? Jesus!
Paul Contradicts Jesus On This Very Issue On How To Test The Encounter

Paul speaks differently. But then contradicting the teachings of

Jesus -- the one whom Paul claims to follow and speak for --
further explains why Paul did not properly test the encounter's
characteristics.
Paul contradicts Matthew 7:21-23 by Paul's claims in 2 Cor.
12:12 and Romans 15:19 that his doing signs and wonders in
Jesus' name proves Paul did meet Jesus, and was commissioned as
an apostle. But Jesus emphatically says NO in Matthew 7:21-23 as
well as in Matthew 24:24-27, as we just proved above.
Here are Paul's two contradictions of Jesus where Paul says
such signs are proof Paul not only knew Jesus but was
commissioned as an apostle:
First, Paul expressly said his validity turned on "signs and
wonders." (2 Cor. 12:12.) He said:
"The things that mark an apostle—signs, wonders and
miracles—were done among you with great perseverance." Id.
Lastly, Paul in Romans 15:19 likewise said:
"Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the
Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto
Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ."
The Greek roots for 'signs and wonders' in Paul's two
statements were "semeion" and "teraton."
In a similar passage to Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus told us to be on
guard about those who could lead us astray. Jesus said they
would use 'semeion' and 'teraton' -- signs and wonders --- the
very same roots of the Greek words as Paul used (Matthew 24:24) -- to
seduce us to follow them.
These passages of Matthew 7:21-23 and 24:24 prove clearly
that signs and wonders are no proof that one coming in His
name was from God.

Paul Closed His Mind About Who Was This Blinding Light

In the three versions of the vision account recorded in Acts,

the blinding light goes from a "light" (Acts 9:1-9), to a "great
light" (Acts 22:3-11) to a "light brighter than the Sun."
(Acts 26:9-20.) This light blinded Paul. The question arises:
what could be the source of this light? After all, the Bible says
Lucifer is an angel of light. (See this link for more
discussion.) Could it be Lucifer then?
Based upon Paul's writings, we find that this obvious
association did not ever cross Paul's mind. Paul asks the voice
who it is. The voice said in version 1 in Acts 9 and in version
3 in Acts 26: "I am Jesus whom you persecute." Beyond that,
Luke gives us no other reason to prove this is Jesus. Should
Paul be taking a blinding light's word for anything? Some
commentators suggest not:
"Apparently all it took to convince Paul that he was hearing
the voice of Jesus was for the voice to say so." (Delos B.
McKown, Behold the Antichrist: Bentham on
Religion (Amherst, N.Y.: Prometheus, 2004) at page 122.)
McKown comments that "taken at face value, this reveals
credulity (or gullibility) of a high order." Id. at 122.
Paul is aware that Satan can disguise himself as an angel of
light. See 2 Cor. 11:14. Yet Paul did not choose to apply this
knowledge of this fact to his experience. Luke gives us no sign
of any effort by Paul to verify the light and voice was truly
from Jesus.

Conclusion: Analogy To The Mormon "Jesus" As An

Imposter
We have long been trying to take the speck out of Mormons'
eyes without looking at the beam in our own eye. (Matt 7:3.)
For remarkably, the same fault we can find in Mormonism for
teaching a Jesus Christ who appeared in a wilderness that not
everyone had seen is the same fault afflicting Pauline
Christianity.
Like Pauline Christians, Mormons claim to follow a Jesus
Christ who their hero (i.e., Joseph Smith) first learned about
through "a pillar of light" that came down from heaven. (See
our page on Joseph Smith's First Vision.)
Like Pauline Christians, Mormons follow a Jesus who their
hero (i.e., Smith) saw in his very first vision in the "woods"
and "wilderness." Those are Joseph Smith's terms. (See our
page on Joseph Smith's First Vision.)
Like Pauline Christians, Mormons follow a Jesus who
identifies himself with the Jesus of Galilee. "Jesus" from the
pillar of light tells Smith in the wilderness that he was the
"crucified one." (See our page on Joseph Smith's First Vision.)
(Mormonism has no crucifixion happening to their "Jesus" in
America so Smith's Jesus claims to be the Galilean Jesus.)
Like Pauline Christians, Mormons follow a hero (i.e., Joseph
Smith) whose followers insisted that he used Christ's name to
cast out demons. (Diedrich Willers Letter (1830) at 1.)

Incidentally, Willers, a good Christian who knew scripture,

said that Smith's ability to cast out demons did not prove
Smith knew Christ, citing Matthew 7:21-23. Id.
Finally, like Pauline Christians, Mormons do away with the
Gospel-Jesus. They are like Pauline Christians who teach that
Paul in 2 Cor. 5:16 tells us to no longer follow the gospel
message of Jesus given in the flesh. Paul supposedly tells us
that is a superceded message. Now we must allegedly follow
only the Jesus whom Paul experienced. (See Bultmann on
Paul). Mormons similarly believe God in Smith's first vision
tells Smith to listen to only this Jesus of the vision. The "God"
of this vision tells Smith that all Christian sects are wrong,
implying our gospels accounts of Jesus are all wrong. The
plates delivered later by the Angel Moroni which Smith
translated into the Book of Mormon clearly imply our gospels
are all altered and entirely untrustworthy (1 Nephi 13:26).
(See our page on Joseph Smith's First Vision.)
Did you know that? Did you know there is virtually no distinction
between what Paul experienced and what Smith experienced? With the same
consequence? Both times, the intention is we abandon the Jesus of the Gospels!
Why did the vision of Smith's experience get recorded in such
a way that any Christian familiar with Matthew 24:4-5 and 26-
27 could not get duped? That passage so obviously applies to
Joseph Smith -- just as it obviously applies to Paul!
The reason?
Just as God restricted what Satan could do with Job (Job
1:12), God obviously restricted the false "Jesus." This
counterfeit could appear only in a wilderness. The false Jesus
had to say "I am Jesus" or an equivalent. By these restrictions,
all accounts of the false Jesuses (whether Mormon or Pauline)
reveal details by which we can know to apply Matthew 24:4-5,
26-27. The accounts are not permitted to omit details that they
saw Jesus in the wilderness -- and that Jesus was not seen
universally. This way God can put us to the test: will we be duped or
not? Are we listening intently to Jesus or not?
Thus, making such a test about whom spoke to Smith in the
wilderness is not unkind. It is Biblical to make such a test. It is
obedient to Christ! It is thus likewise equally obedient to
Christ to test Paul by the same criteria.
But to this, a foul is called. Wasn't Paul miraculously
converted? Luke does not say that. That is an assumption we
erroneously have made.
Instead, Luke tells us just before the vision that Paul was a
notorious unrepentant sinner. Surely, such a person would be
unable to discern the spiritual invalidity of this exciting
experience.
Just prior to the encounter, Paul was a "blasphemer and
violent man," as Paul confesses. (1 Tim. 1:13). Luke depicts
Paul in the prior verse to the encounter as uttering "murderous
threats." (Acts 9:1.) In this horrific spiritual state, Paul easily
became a dupe of the imposter voice-and-light Jesus who
revealed himself on the Road to Damascus. All those who
follow a Pauline Jesus are equally sincere and zealous, as was
Paul, but all are dupes of a cunning fraud perpetrated upon Paul.
For Jesus specifically prophesied that persons will come in His
name -- the name of Jesus -- and claim to be Jesus the
Messiah. These false Jesus-es will lead many astray. (Matt.
24:4-5.) These figures will use "signs and wonders" to lead
astray even the elect, if that were possible. (Matt. 24:24.)
How great is our Lord to leave us prophecies for those who
have 'ears to hear' which would protect His flock who closely
listen to Him, our sole Teacher. And this proves the truth of
the following statement:
"Whatever the devil cannot be or do as it relates to God in
Jesus Christ, he will either counterfeit or wipe out." Gary
Flannigan, 111: The Media War (2008) at 131.
Thus, with the same vigor that we as Christians reject
Mormonism, we must come to reject Pauline Christianity.
They both equally reflect imposter versions of Jesus. We need
to restore Christianity to its founder: the true Jesus. We need
to return to the Jesus we read about in the four gospels, in
particular the gospels of Matthew, Luke and John.
Once we repent of Paulinism, then (but only then) can we
credibly find fault with Mormonism's claim that Joseph
Smith's appointment of 12 more apostles is invalid under Acts
1:21-22. The apostles ruled that Judas' replacement had to be
one from the beginning of Jesus' Galilean ministry. Until we
abandon Paul, we are hamstrung by our allegiance to Paul to
criticize Mormonism for the same blatant flaw from which
Mormonism suffers. For Mormon's mock Christians who try
to invalidate the Mormon "Apostles of Jesus Christ" by this
Acts 1:21-22 test because then we would have to give up Paul.
Mormon apologists note in Must All Apostles Literally See
Christ:
 Many of our Christian brothers and sisters use this
supposed requirement to eliminate the LDS apostles as real
apostles, and they attempt to use the Bible as the basis for
their rejection. How do we respond? Let us take a look at
what the Bible says regarding the matter. Most of the
critics will use Acts 1:21-26 [i.e., replacement of Judas had
to be disciple from beginning until Ascension.]

The problem here is Acts 1 does not lay down this criterion
for all future apostles. Paul, of course, would not meet this requirement, yet
I’ve never met a Christian that didn’t view Paul as an apostle. ****

Most LDS critics will admit that Paul was an exception.

And while doing so, declare the requirements stated in Acts 1 null and
void for future apostles. Paul did not accompany the original
apostles from the baptism by John to the day He ascended
into heaven....For some reason, however, the critics claim that
this is the lone exception and thus, the Lord would not
allow any others. Certainly, one is free to make such a
claim, but the Bible contains no foundation for it.

Because we make an unfounded exception for Paul, Mormons

persist in teaching their Jesus can add a whole set of numerous
more apostles.

Thus, with Paul esconced in our camp, we become the blind

trying to lead the blind. We are crippled in any effort to
correct Mormons. They point out that we will not apply the
same test to Paul because it would disqualify him. Hence, they
don't have to listen to our critique of what are the
qualifications of a true apostle in Acts 1 (been with Jesus from
the beginning until the Ascension). In this way, we lose the
decisive points that would end the claims of Mormonism. Our
failure is due to our affection and adherence to Paul. Because we
will not relent, another heresy worse than the first (Paulinism) now afflicts the name of
Jesus.We do nothing to defend Jesus on the strongest grounds
because to do so will damage Paul.
What is at stake for our beligerant defiance of Jesus' words?
The loss of Jesus' gospel by a completely different gospel --
Paulinism, Mormonism, and whatever ism that will claim a
non-gospel Jesus is its inspiration.
What do you think Jesus thinks about all this? That we let the
Mormon deception run rampant for to properly expose it will
also expose Paul as equally unable to pass the very tests which
destroy Mormonism? Our silence was deliberate: we let
Mormonism continue for otherwise we will expose Paul as
invalid. Our silence is deafening and damning at the same
time. It proves we are protecting Paul even when it means we
are letting the true Jesus be thrown under the bus. Our Lord's
final judgment for this behavior is obvious.
I will let Anthony Buzzard, a reputable pastor, have the last
word. In his article "The Amazing Shift Away from Jesus in
the Popular Gospel," he analyzes the Paulinism of Luther who
taught it proper to ignore the Jesus of Matthew, Mark and
Luke to find the Gospel of Jesus primarily in Paul's writings.
The consequence of focusing on Paul's teachings to define the
gospel, Buzzard says, has had the effect of giving us a
counterfeit Christ -- which is what I say is actually what happened on
the road to Damascus. The fact the consequence of focusing
upon Paul can be recognized by Pastor Buzzard as providing a
counterfeit Christ can best be explained by realizing finally
that Satan indeed provided a counterfeit on the Road to
Damascus. Thus, Pastor Buzzard unwittingly proves our point
when he writes:
It seems to me clear that Satan could well play on the
weakness of the religious spirit of man by presenting a Jesus who
is only vaguely and superficially the Jesus of the Bible. Thecounterfeit could,
however, be most subtle. Satanic strategy would work hard
 to separate Jesus from His own teachings (laid out in their
clearest form in Matthew, Mark and Luke). “Jesus” might
then be only a religious symbol offered as a spiritual
panacea for the world’s and individuals’ ills. The Jewish,
apocalyptic Jesus, preacher of a coming just society on earth —
the Kingdom of God — might then fall into disrepute and obscurity.
His reappearance in preaching would probably appear
strange and unwanted even to churchgoers who have been
fed a diet missing the New Testament Hebrew ingredients.
The End.