Will there be false christs and false prophets before the end?
Yes, Scripture is clear that before the end, false christs and false prophets will arise, showing great signs and wonders in an attempt to deceive even the elect of God.
The Bible plainly teaches that false christs and false prophets will rise in the last days. Jesus warned in Matthew 24 that many false prophets shall rise and shall deceive many, and that false Christs and false prophets will show great signs and wonders, insomuch that, if it were possible, they would deceive the very elect. This is not a small or occasional problem but a marked feature of the time just before the end, tied together with wars, famines, earthquakes, betrayal among believers, and iniquity abounding while the love of many grows cold.
These false prophets often come in sheep's clothing, appearing as ministers and leaders within the household of faith, yet inwardly they are ravening wolves. Jesus taught that they are identified not by their signs, wonders, or even the words they preach, but by their fruits: a good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, and a corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit. Some of these prophets will even perform signs and wonders that truly come to pass, yet their words direct hearers away from the truth and toward disobedience, for the Lord allows this to test whether His people will remain steadfast in loving Him with all their heart.
Paul likewise warned the church not to be shaken by any spirit, word, or letter claiming the day of the Lord is at hand, for that day will not come until there is a falling away first and the man of sin, the son of perdition, is revealed. This antichrist figure will exalt and magnify himself above every god, opposing and exalting himself above all that is called God, even sitting in the temple of God and showing himself to be God. Daniel likewise describes a king of fierce countenance who will destroy wonderfully, prosper through deceit, and magnify himself in his heart, though he will ultimately be broken.
Despite the danger of deception, the elect of God are assured that they cannot ultimately be deceived, because they know the voice of the true Shepherd and will flee from the voice of strangers. The safeguard given to believers is to try every spirit and every word against the written Word of God, holding fast to what is already revealed rather than being moved by any sign, wonder, or prophecy that leads away from righteousness.
The scriptures
Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
From the books
This answer is drawn from these passages in the Mary Banks Faith Library.