‘When Jesus Christ foretold the major trends that would precede His return to earth, the first sign He mentioned was religious impostors who would come in His name. Do you take that warning seriously?
Sergey Anatolyevitch Toro is the latest to the list of impostors. He claims he returned to Earth to work as a soldier in the Red Army and then as a traffic policeman in Russia, but now he claims to be Jesus Christ. Sporting wispy hair, a white cloak and sandals over his socks, the bearded 56-year-old says he was ‘reborn’ in 1991 and is the founder of the Church of the Last Testament.
Sergey Anatolyevitch is the spiritual leader of at least 5,000 devoted followers who all live in the small isolated village of Petropavlovka – more than 2,000 miles from Moscow.
Unfortunately, many have been deceived into following this counterfeit Jesus.
Sergey Anatolyevitch Toro believers, who have given up their lives to follow him, are strict vegans and are banned from smoking and drinking or handling money. Many thousands more have made their homes in the small villages that surround Petropavlovka and survive the vicious Siberian winters so that they can be close to their Messiah.
On a mountain close by their village a large bell rings three times a day so the followers know when they should break to kneel and pray.
One of his followers told the BBC: ‘We have a school of noble maidens here. We’re preparing girls to become future wives, future brides for worthy men.
‘They will be taught to understand not to rise above the man, not to be proud of their independence but to be shy, inconspicuous and weak…?
This cult is very ‘scary. They’re apparently teaching Vissarion’s ten-volume sequel to The Bible.’
Critics in Russia have accused him of fleecing his loyal community of followers for personal gain. In recent years he has travelled to France, Italy and Holland to ‘convert’ new followers although he claims that his visits were sponsored by his hosts and that his Church makes no money.
Who is behind these false christs?
It is none other than Satan himself. Paul wrote, “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. Remember, most of those who claim to represent Jesus actually don’t. Moreover, as time goes on, ever more pretenders will arise, however sincere they may be. And finally, bear in mind that the greatest period of deception ever is just ahead of us.
Tragically, those who are deceived in the last days by these false Christs will sincerely regard themselves to be genuine believers, actively doing the work of Christ. They will cast out demons in the name of Jesus, and work miracles in His name. But they are serving a false Christ – not the real Jesus.
But here, Perugino, poses her differently. She strikes a sacred gesture of kneeling in prayer as she looks upward with an expression of love and complete devotion.
