Many people struggle with a
seemingly simple question: If Jesus warned not to believe anyone claiming to
have seen Him before His return in the last days, how can Paul’s conversion on
the road to Damascus be considered legitimate? Why Paul? And if Jesus doesn’t
appear until the end, how could anyone, let alone Paul, have seen Him?
The confusion is understandable. But
like much in Scripture, clarity comes when one recognizes how God
communicates—and how the Bible must be interpreted not merely as text, but as
Spirit-breathed revelation.
The
Bible: A Spiritual Codebook
Scripture appears complex only
because people lack the Spirit to interpret it. Like any language, the Bible
operates as a code—not to conceal truth, but to invite seekers to
discover it. And just as one must learn a language to grasp its meaning, the
same applies to the Scriptures: the Word must be spiritually discerned.
“These things God has revealed to us
through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of
God.”
(1 Corinthians 2:10)
It is not intellectual brilliance
that unlocks the truth of God’s Word, but a relationship with the risen Lord
Jesus Christ and the indwelling of His Spirit. Without this, the Bible
becomes a closed book—misunderstood, misused, or twisted by human imagination.
Jesus
on the Road to Emmaus—and to Damascus?
After His resurrection, Jesus walked
with two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13–35). He interpreted to
them everything in the Scriptures concerning Himself. They saw Him, spoke with
Him, and even invited Him to eat. Yet they did not recognize Him until He broke
bread.
Was this a hallucination? A vision?
A lie?
The same question could be asked
about Paul’s encounter on the road to Damascus. A bright light. A voice
from heaven. And a direct commissioning:
“I am Jesus whom you are
persecuting... I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a
servant and witness.”
(Acts 26:15–16)
Did Jesus appear to Paul in
contradiction to His own warning in Matthew 24? Not at all. What Jesus warned
against was something very different.
Distinguishing
Visions from False Christs
In Matthew 24:23–24, Jesus
cautioned:
“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look,
here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and
false prophets will arise…”
This is a warning against
deception, not against divine revelation. Jesus is telling His disciples: Do
not believe anyone who says I have returned physically to reign on Earth before
the appointed time.
This prophecy has been fulfilled
repeatedly—through cults, politicians, impostors, and self-proclaimed messiahs.
But Paul never claimed Jesus had returned to Earth physically to reign. Nor did
Ananias. Nor have any of the countless faithful believers throughout history
who have encountered the Lord in visions.
Paul's encounter was a vision
from heaven—just as Peter, Cornelius, John, and many others experienced
divine visitations throughout the New Testament.
“In the last days, it shall be, God
declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh... your young men shall
see visions…”
(Acts 2:17)
God, through His Spirit, has promised
to reveal Himself in visions and dreams, especially in the last days.
And make no mistake—we are living in
the last days. If “a day is as a thousand years” to the Lord, then the last
2,000 years have been the latter days of human history. Jesus was crucified
in AD 31; everything since has been end-time preparation.
Jesus
Does Appear—But Not to Reign Yet
The difference between a vision
of Christ and His second coming is not one of imagination versus reality.
It is the difference between personal revelation and cosmic return.
The Lord still appears to His people—just not to set up His physical kingdom
until the appointed time.
Consider:
- Paul saw Jesus in a vision (Acts 9).
- Ananias received a vision instructing him to meet Paul
(Acts 9:10).
- Peter had a vision preparing him to receive Gentiles (Acts
10).
- John saw the glorified Christ in Revelation—not in
flesh, but in heavenly majesty.
To this day, many
believers—including the author of this article—have had encounters with the
risen Lord Jesus Christ, not with “another Christ,” but with the very same
Lord who conquered death and ascended into heaven. These are not deceptions.
These are visions of the glorified Son of God.
The
Test of Authenticity
The test of a true vision is not
whether someone says “I saw Jesus,” but whether the vision aligns with:
- Scripture
– Is the message consistent with God’s revealed Word?
- Spirit
– Does it glorify Jesus and lead to repentance?
- Fruit
– Does it produce humility, faith, and godliness?
Paul’s vision passes all three.
He didn’t start a cult. He didn’t
declare himself Christ. He didn’t claim Jesus had returned to Earth to rule. He
bowed in submission, became a servant, and was persecuted for preaching Christ
crucified, risen, and returning.
“Wherefore, O King Agrippa, I was
not disobedient to the heavenly vision.”
(Acts 26:19)
False
Christs vs. the Living Christ
We are warned not to trust any
person who claims, “The Messiah is in the desert” or “He is in the inner
rooms.” Those who make such claims are frauds—pretenders to the throne.
But those who receive genuine
visions, dreams, or revelations from the Spirit of God are not proclaiming a
new Christ. They are pointing to the ever-living, soon-returning Lord Jesus
who is seated at the right hand of the Father.
Until He returns visibly in glory,
the Spirit continues to reveal Him to hearts that seek truth.
The
Real Question: Do You Know Him?
The deeper issue is not whether Paul
saw Jesus. The real question is: Have you?
Not with your eyes—but with your
heart.
Not through mysticism—but through revelation.
Not by presumption—but by faith, repentance, and the indwelling Holy Spirit.
“But we see Jesus…” (Hebrews 2:9)
Yes, we do. Not physically on Earth—but by the Spirit, through the Word, and in power.
Knowing The Truth Is Not Difficult When The Formula Is Understood
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