Matthew 24:23-24 speaks of the times during the Great
Tribulation. [see the context of the passages]
Mt 24:21 "For
then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since
the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall
be. 22 "And unless those days were shortened, no
flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be
shortened.
23 "Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!'
or 'There!' do not believe it.
24 "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great
signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the
elect.
25 "See, I have told you beforehand.
26 "Therefore if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the desert!' do
not go out; or 'Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe
it.
27 "For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the
west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be."
This speaks of a time before the second coming of the Lord Jesus
Christ, the Great Tribulation [Revelations 6-19]. During that time
many false Christ will come out and decieve many. In fact, during
that time, the AntiChrist will temporarily succced in convincing
Israelites.
This texts does not apply to Paul.
Paul prophesied concerning that time of Tribulation as Johnn have
in REvelation:
2Th 2:3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day[ will not
come unless the falling away comes first, and the and the
man of
sin [AntiChrist] is revealed, the son of
perdition,
4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or
that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God,
showing himself that he is God.
5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you
these things?
6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in
his own time.
7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who
now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.
8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will
consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the
brightness of His coming.
9 The coming of
the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all
power, signs, and lying wonders,