Step still to come (one reading among others)
False christs and false prophets
? Not yet happened, no date
See the full entry: sources, objections, answersIn short
The announcement. Jesus, in the Gospel of Matthew, warns that many will come in his name saying “I am the Christ,” and that false prophets will lead many astray; during the great distress, they will even show great signs.
What happened. Soon after Jesus, between 44 and 70, the Jewish historian Josephus already describes leaders drawing crowds into the desert with promises of signs. Since then, there have been such figures in every age. Under way? Part of it seems already here, the rest is still awaited: you be the judge.
What is still debated. the presence of false prophets cannot date a stage on its own, since there have always been some; and the false prophet of Revelation, in the singular, is a different figure.
Main objection (in French for now)
Des imposteurs messianiques et des prédicateurs de fin du monde ont existé à toutes les époques depuis le Ier siècle (voir le dossier nt-false-messiahs-first-century) : leur présence ne permet pas, à elle seule, de dater une étape.
The text (World English Bible)
Jesus answered them, “Be careful that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will lead many astray.
Matt 24:4-5
Many false prophets will arise and will lead many astray.
Matt 24:11
“Then if any man tells you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘There!’ don’t believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones. “Behold, I have told you beforehand. “If therefore they tell you, ‘Behold, he is in the wilderness,’ don’t go out; or ‘Behold, he is in the inner rooms,’ don’t believe it.
Matt 24:23-26