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| How to tell a False Prophet | |
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| Topic Started: May 15 2007, 11:48 PM (2,920 Views) | |
| Bodie | May 15 2007, 11:48 PM Post #1 |
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Not my work but given the nature of articles posted here maybe should be made a sticky. What Is a False Prophet? by David C. Grabbe Forerunner, "Prophecy Watch," September-October 2006 The book of Revelation foretells that at the time of the end, in the last few years of Satan's dominion over the earth, a religious personality will arise and deceive the whole world by means of miraculous signs. This individual is referred to as "another beast" (Revelation 13:11), as well as "the false prophet" (Revelation 16:13; 19:20; 20:10). The False Prophet is given supernatural power to do things like calling fire down from heaven (Revelation 13:13), and the signs he performs, combined with the demonic words he speaks (Revelation 16:13-14), will cause people to give their allegiance to—and even worship—the Beast (Revelation 13:14). This man will wield tremendous religious influence, and inspired by the Dragon, he will successfully convince most of the world to commit idolatry (Revelation 13:12). The Bible does not reveal the False Prophet's name or even the number of his name, as it does for the Beast. Instead, we will have to recognize him by his fruits—by what he says and does (Matthew 7:15-20). Yet, even this is a tricky proposition. For instance, the False Prophet will be able to call down fire from heaven, and yet Elijah, a true prophet of God, did the same (I Kings 18:36-38). If we see a man calling fire down from heaven, how do we know whether he is true or false? The end time is prophesied to be full of deceptions (Matthew 24:11), and the elect will not be totally immune to having the wool pulled over their eyes (Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22). It will take careful evaluation to see through the façade and to recognize Satan's servants for what they are, rather than what they appear to be (II Corinthians 11:14-15). The details given about the False Prophet are few. However, if we understand the patterns and motivations that the Bible reveals about the class of people called "false prophets," we will be better equipped to recognize the general mold that the end-time False Prophet will fit. Both Testaments describe false prophets, and Peter, John, and Jesus Christ specifically warn of false prophets that affect church members. Defining Prophet Because of the way "prophet" is commonly used, there is a misconception that its basic definition is "someone who foretells the future," but this definition is too narrow. Prophet is better defined as "one who speaks for another." A true prophet, then, is a person who speaks for God, delivering a message that God has ordained him to give. In Exodus 7:1, God tells Moses that Aaron, his brother, would be his (Moses') prophet, even as Moses was God's prophet. Because of Moses' unbelief in God's ability to speak through him, God would speak to Moses, who would tell Aaron what to say to others—Pharaoh in particular (verse 2). It is the function of speaking for another, rather than the miracles they performed or their foretelling of what would befall Egypt, which defined Moses and Aaron as prophets. Frequently, the words a prophet spoke on God's behalf were, in fact, foretelling what would happen later. However, the prophet's essential role was to speak for God, regardless of whether he did any predicting of the future. A prophet expresses the will of God in words, and sometimes he uses signs to back up what he says and to demonstrate God's power behind it. In a similar way, a false prophet also may not be in the business of foretelling the future. A false prophet is simply someone who speaks for another but falsely. False prophets either speak for the wrong god, or they claim to have heard from the true God but do not accurately represent Him or His words. At the very least, they speak out of their own human hearts, but more likely, the "god" they are speaking for is really a demon. It is true that, if a prophet foretells something that fails to come to pass, he is a false prophet (Deuteronomy 18:20-22), but foretelling the future correctly is not the determining factor when looking at false prophets. The real issue is whether one who claims to be representing God and speaking for Him, is doing so accurately or falsely. A prophet may accurately predict an event or demonstrate supernatural power, but if he is leading people away from the true worship of the true God, he is a false prophet. If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, "Let us go after other gods"—which you have not known—"and let us serve them," you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him. But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken in order to turn you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of bondage, to entice you from the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. So you shall put away the evil from your midst. (Deuteronomy 13:1-5) This passage begins with the assumption that the prophet does foretell the future accurately or perform some other, humanly impossible work. Nevertheless, if that prophet's central message is to follow after a different god or to take a spiritual path that the true God has not said to take, that person is a false prophet. God states unequivocally that misrepresenting Him incurs the death penalty, and Revelation 19:20 says that this is exactly what happens to the False Prophet: He is thrown into the Lake of Fire. Dodging Moral Teaching The message of the false prophet is contrasted in Deuteronomy 13:3-4 with loving the true God with all of our heart and soul (life), walking after Him, fearing Him, keeping His commandments, obeying His voice, serving Him, and holding fast to Him. These elements indicate what God wants His people to be focused on, helping to define whether a man claiming to speak for God is truly doing so or not. Verse 4 mentions obeying God's voice and keeping His commandments. This is a regular theme with God's true prophets: They always have God's law undergirding their messages. When the Old Testament prophets were sent to warn or inform Israel and Judah, they always pointed out the grievous ways in which the people had transgressed God's law. False prophets, on the other hand, will not hold the moral line that God requires. Lamentations 2:14 says that the false prophets "have not uncovered your iniquity, to bring back your captives, but have envisioned for you false prophecies and delusions." False prophets will not connect the dots between the sinfulness of a nation and national calamity. They instead focus on something other than God's standard of righteousness. This same principle appears in Isaiah 8:19-20. Both houses of Israel were guilty of seeking out mediums and wizards for spiritual guidance, and God's response is very telling: And when they say to you, "Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter," should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. God gives us a standard by which to measure the words of a prophet: the law and testimony—His Word. If the prophet's message contradicts what is already established as God's Word, it is evidence that he lacks spiritual understanding. If his words do not line up with God's law and testimony, he is not speaking the truth. In summary, the hallmark of a true prophet is his upholding of the law of God, while false prophets dodge moral teaching and instead preach a message that appeals to the masses. God's truth is abhorrent to the natural mind (Romans 8:7), and thus it is quite common for God's prophets to be killed, while the false prophets enjoy widespread popularity and support. The current trend of outcome-based churches serves as a good example. Their leaders preach a widely popular message, and thousands of people follow them. Yet, Jesus says in Luke 6:26, "Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets." Popularity is not a good measurement of God's pleasure with a leader! Jesus Christ, the most perfect Spokesman for God who has ever lived, only had about 120 true followers when His ministry ended (Acts 1:15). This was not due to failure on His part, but because His Father's message could be wholeheartedly believed only by those whose minds God had already prepared to accept it. "Purpose-Driven" church leaders will not preach the unadulterated Word of God because they know it is divisive. It would also thwart their goals of a large following and a large income. Thus, their messages do not involve repentance, sound doctrine, or God's law, except where it may serve to further whatever purpose is driving them. Their messages do not remind people of their moral responsibilities to God and brother, and thus if they claim to speak for God or say that God sent them, we can know from biblical patterns that they are, in fact, false prophets. Their large churches, as amazing as they might seem, are not accurate indicators of God's involvement or blessing. Fruits of False Prophets The apostle Peter, in warning against false prophets, illuminates their characteristics. The entirety of II Peter 2 is about false prophets and false teachers. What sort of message would these men preach? What would be one's impression of God—whom they allegedly spoke for—after watching and listening to such men? » "But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction" (II Peter 2:1). The King James Version calls their heresies damnable, implying that their words—their messages—are destructive to one's faith and relationship with God. "Denying the Lord" does not mean they deny that He lived or died or that He is God, but that their words and conduct are opposed to His fundamental nature. Their lives deny any close contact with Him. » "By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber" (II Peter 2:3). False prophets use human nature's proclivity toward covetousness to make inroads to a person's heart. » ". . . and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord" (II Peter 2:10-11). False prophets "walk according to the flesh"; their minds are primarily on physical things rather than the true things of God. God is not in all their thoughts (Psalm 10:4). They also despise authority—other than their own—and apparently think themselves superior even to God's angels. They are presumptuous and self-willed, acting out of the dictates of their own hearts (or the influence of a demon) rather than following God with humility and trusting Him to bring His will to pass. » ". . . having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness . . ." (II Peter 2:14-15). The apostle says false prophets have "eyes full of adultery." While this may apply literally, it can also more generally describe unfaithfulness—a willingness to abandon an agreement if they feel it is in their interest to do so. They also worry little about resisting sin. Their hearts are especially trained in covetousness, and like Balaam, they are willing to do just about anything for personal gain. » "While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage" (II Peter 2:19). They promise liberty—freedom, perhaps, from keeping God's law or from persecution or tribulation—but they are themselves enslaved to sin. Not every false prophet will have each of these characteristics, but as generalities, they describe men who are much more concerned about their own situation, well-being, reputation, autonomy, and position than about accurately representing God. We will know these men to be false by the overall fruits they produce, even as they speak clever words that may even contain a degree of truth. This is seen in Jesus' warning in Matthew 7:15-20: Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. (emphasis ours) Jesus does not spell out what "fruits" to look for, although in the Olivet Prophecy, He does link the deceptions of false prophets with the lawlessness and lack of love that abounds at the end time (Matthew 24:11-13). However, the rest of the Bible elucidates God's character and nature, so we already have the tools to evaluate whether a message allegedly coming from God fits with what His Word reveals about Him. God is not double-minded; He will not contradict Himself. "By Their Words . . ." A false prophet, then, can be anyone who claims to be speaking for God, but whose message is contrary to God. False prophets will not convict people of sin, for they themselves do not feel convicted. While true prophets speak according to God's law and testimony, false prophets speak soft, easy things to make them more popular. They will tell people what they want to hear. A true prophet expresses the will of God with words. Sometimes signs, wonders, and foretelling are involved to add additional weight, but the most important part is the message. A true prophet points people to God and shows people their sins. False prophets point people to almost anything else. If they do try to point people to a god, it will be a different god from the God of the Bible. Whoever they point to, they do it for their own benefit. Many false prophets simply point people to themselves. Their covetousness manifests itself in a desire for power, influence, control, prestige, or importance—the antithesis of being poor in spirit, meek, pure in heart, and Mourning over their ungodly weaknesses. The true prophet does not draw attention to himself but to God. If a prophet or teacher spends a great deal of time talking about himself, it is a good indication just who his god is! John the Baptist, the last Old Testament prophet, serves as a positive contrast. He undoubtedly knew what the angel Gabriel told his father, Zacharias (Luke 1:13-17), but there is no record of John promoting this remarkable story. His focus was not on proclaiming who he was, but on doing the work that God had given him to do. The fruit of his life and teaching reveals that he fulfilled the role of Elijah, which Jesus confirms. A false prophet, though, with his covetousness, presumption, and self-will, is more likely to end up spending a good deal of time talking about himself. Other false prophets, like Balaam, are essentially in it only for the money, and so they will do what is necessary to ensure that the gold rolls in. The False Prophet in Revelation points the whole world to another man—the Beast. A true prophet would never suggest that a man be worshipped, with the exception of John the Baptist pointing the people to God's Son, Jesus Christ. John pointed people to a Man who was also God, and thus worthy of worship. Prophets are false when they fail to express God's will accurately, and they fail because they are not in contact with the true God. The fruits of their lives and the meaning behind their words will indicate the source of their teaching. To paraphrase Jesus Christ, by their words they will be justified, or by their words they will be condemned (Matthew 12:37). If the words of a prophet are contrary to Scripture, contrary to God's law, the prophet is false, and worthy of condemnation for leading people astray. End My words now. If a prophet or anyone claiming to speak for God says' I have more words from God but he's telling me not to say what they are." That is from the self. Gods words all through the bible are very clear and precise without holding back. I am in the process of confirming this through several pastors I know so I may have to apologise later. This article needs to be read very carefully and applied to the prophecies here. You will find that a lot of so called prophecies are indeed from the self. |
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| Final Call | May 16 2007, 05:01 AM Post #2 |
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Very well said. Telling you what you want to hear..you HEAR only what you WANT to hear..and then..know ONLY what you heard. And yes..I DO have things to say..and I never said God told me NOT to say them at ALL..just..not YET. Sometimes there is a timing in things.. Besides..I dont think of myself as a prophget..never asked to be one..or be called one. Very grave responsbility to even THINK of taking on the title...and only God can grant a tilte like that. I dare not claim to be anything... My only job..just to warn people to get ready..and yes..SEEK ONLY GOD>>ONLY JESUS>>EVER JESUS..no one else..and nothing else. All along I have done nothing but point people AWAY from people..and to GOD alone...the GOD of the Bible..Jesus christ of Nazareth. Nothing false in doing that I can assure you. |
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| Shershalom | May 16 2007, 08:51 AM Post #3 |
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Thank you Bodie for posting this article. Excellent teaching for us all. I especially appreciate that the author consistently referred back to the Scriptures for reference over and over again. I already copied article for my permanent notes. God bless! Sherry |
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SherShalom "Blessed is HE that comes in the NAME of the LORD." MATTHEW 23:39 | |
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| Wil | May 17 2007, 12:56 AM Post #4 |
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Yes, good article, though I also agree that sometimes the Lord will hold a prophecy back til its proper time. |
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| justasinnersavedbygrace | May 17 2007, 04:20 AM Post #5 |
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Copied over from a post I made yesterday under Kim Clements. Hi Steve, I myself woke this morning with the thought to examine Scripture today to see exactly what it had to say about prophets,false prophets, and prophecy. The Word tells us to see if the prophet is directing us towards other gods or speaking in the name of another god,if so, the prophecy is not from Him; also,if it doesn't come to pass when they claim it will, it's not from Him either (although some prophecies don't happen in the prophets lifetime). Deut 13:1 If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, Deut 13:2 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; Deu 13:3 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. Deu 13:4 Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. Deu 13:5 And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn [you] away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee. Deut 18:20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall DIE. The word translated as die here is muwth which Strongs Concordance defines as : 1) to die, kill, have one executed a) (Qal) 1) to die 2) to die (as penalty), be put to death 3) to die, perish (of a nation) 4) to die prematurely (by neglect of wise moral conduct) b ) (Polel) to kill, put to death, dispatch c) (Hiphil) to kill, put to death d) (Hophal) 1) to be killed, be put to death a) to die prematurely Looks to me like a false prophet is to die. Pretty serious stuff there. Deu 18:22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that [is] the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, [but] the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him. ***It appears God DOESN"T TAKE IT LIGHTLY when prophets say they are speaking for Him when they are not.***At the same time, we are not to be fearful of any threats the false prophet may make. ***It appears they a prophet can prophecy of gloom and doom or of peace.*** Jer 28:5 Then the prophet Jeremiah said unto the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests, and in the presence of all the people that stood in the house of the LORD, Jer 28:6 Even the prophet Jeremiah said, Amen: the LORD do so: the LORD perform thy words which thou hast prophesied, to bring again the vessels of the LORD'S house, and all that is carried away captive, from Babylon into this place. Jer 28:7 Nevertheless hear thou now this word that I speak in thine ears, and in the ears of all the people; Jer 28:8 The prophets that have been before me and before thee of old prophesied both against many countries, and against great kingdoms, of war, and of evil, and of pestilence. Jer 28:9 The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, [then] shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent him. ***There will be false prophets in our days and some may be selling things.*** (hmm..how many end-times prophecy books are out there now?) 2 Pe 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 Pe 2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 2Pe 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. ***God said in the OT he would blot false prophets names from the land of Israel and from Israels record books.** Eze 13:1 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Eze 13:2 Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Eze 13:3 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!Eze 13:4 O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts. Eze 13:5 Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD. Eze 13:6 They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made [others] to hope that they would confirm the word. Eze 13:7 Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The LORD saith [it]; albeit I have not spoken? Eze 13:8 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I [am] against you, saith the Lord GOD. Eze 13:9 And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I [am] the Lord GOD. Were prophets actually executed? In 1 Kings 22 and 2 Chron 18 we read the story of Jehoshaphat, Ahab and Micaiah and how at first the prophet Micaiah lied to Ahab (as had all of Ahabs prophets) and told him he would be successful in battle. When confronted to tell the truth, he did, and he told Ahab he would be unsuccessful and he was sent to prison. I am not sure why he was, if it was for lying in the first place or for then telling the truth and prophesying that which Ahab did not want to hear. ***It appears that some true prophets of God were imprisoned, some were set free and some were executed. In Jeremiah 26 we read how under the reign of Jehoiakim they were calling to kill the prophet Jeremiah because they didn't like his prophecy that the Temple and Jerusalem would be destroyed. He admonished them that if he was executed his blood would be on their hands as he was delivering a message from God and he reminded them of a similar prophecy Micah had made years before and for which Micah had not been killed. It's possible he was not executed because he did not meet the criteria for being a false prophet. He wasn't making a prophecy that encouraged people to turn to another god, nor was he speaking for another god, and because there was no time frame or date given by him, they couldn't say his prophecy was false because it could still happen in the future. But at the same time the poor prophet Urijah made the same prophecy and King Jehoiakim wanted him killed but he escaped to Egypt, was captured and executed by the sword. Both claimed to be given a word from the Lord. My suggestion to anyone claiming to have a message from God would be to NOT give a date/time when it is to happen by in the event they misunderstood and it doesn't come to pass by then and they are labeled by God's Word as a false prophet. Also, we are shown in several places an important principal: that our heavenly Father is preparedand will hold back or soften if His people respond to His messages and turn from their evil ways. Thank-you God! His blessings always. |
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Let us fix our eyes on Jesus,the author and perfecter of our faith,who for the joy set before Him ( US) endured the cross,scorning its shame,and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb 12.2 BY FAITH...Abel,Enoch,Noah,Abraham,Sara,Isaac,Jacob,oseph,Moses,the walls of Jericho fell,Rahab perished not...by FAITH. | |
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| Lon Owen | May 22 2007, 09:26 AM Post #6 |
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I believe that perhaps the most important admonition for would-be prophets is from 1st Cor 14, where we are told, basically, that words need to be submitted to the body for discernment. I can think of a few personal experiences where this couldn't be applied, or at least not easily, on the spur of the moment. Rather, I should say I didn't think about that rule until it was too late to be appropriate to submit it the believers at hand. I was more focused on giving it the person the Lord told to give it to. I should also like to say that a friend of mine, who operates in the prophetic, wholly concurs with the idea of the moral imperative being necessary. We saw the movie "Mothman Prophecies" together, and he pointed out how different that demonic spirit was from a prophet of the Lord. Most, if not all, the prophecies in the scriptures are linked to moral behaviour. The Mothman and his ilk, including Nostradamus, simply claim to predict the future, which in their view is unalterable. They offer no moral imperative, and thus all their so-called prophecies do is engender fear. We know who walks about as a roaring lion doing that. That's not to say that a demonic spirit can't emulate a moral imperative. I know of one, from the Course of Miracles, that says, "Love is letting go of fear." The New Agers say this is the same as "Perfect love casts out all fear." But if you look at what's being said, it's not the same at all. What the demonic spirit is saying is "To have love, you must first let go of fear." That's a works-based process. But what the Holy Spirit is saying is "To get rid of fear, you must first have love." That's a grace-based process. Anyways, I hope I've contributed. |
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Fellowship, fun, teaching, testimony, history, Him. http://z4.invisionfree.com/House_of_Mercy | |
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| sonchild | May 22 2007, 11:49 AM Post #7 |
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Right, when the prophet holds the office of prophet in that church, it is to submitted to that church body. However, when Words of Wisdom and/or Words of Knowledge are given privately to a person, all we have to do is to ask the Lord to confirm that Word or words if they are from him. Course, always holding those words up to the Light of the written Word. I have had individual words given to me that would mean nothing to anyone but the Lord and me, and given thru another believer, not necessarily a person in the office of a Prophet. We can all have the various gifts and not maintain position of the Office within the church. I once was waiting on a confirmation from the Lord , generally it is from the scripture or some other way so that I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it ws God giving me some kind of direction,etc. and even the person the Word was flowing thru wouldn't have any idea what they were talking about....just delivering. Anyway, once I had waited months for a confirmation and I complained to God about it and He said nothing. Then a few months later, I (in my lightning fast mind ), I realized there would be no confirmation as the Word was not from God , at least parat of it wasn't and it confused me.....well, there's the answer right there. No confirmation, then it wasn't all from Him. A part of it was, but she got the words somewhat confused as she delivered them to me. I don't think she realized it and was new in the delivery business. |
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| Lazarusty | May 23 2007, 09:28 PM Post #8 |
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Once someone predicts a date, that pretty much dooms them as a true prophet there and then. Not one date prediction has come true yet. |
| Check out my Wild Speculations thread! | |
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| looking4truth | Jun 20 2007, 02:20 PM Post #9 |
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Is that so? And just where does it say that in Scripture? The closest thing you can get to it is "Let two or three prophets speak and let the others judge." And just where does that leave Jeremiah? Or Ezekiel? The 'body' didn't believe them at all. And don't try that "he was an Old testament Prophet and New Testament Prophets are different" thing because that is not supported by Scripture either. The Prophet operates within the Church, yes. And he/she is accountable for his right walk as much as the rest of the Body, yes. A prophet in unrepentant sin cannot claim to speak for God. But the WORDS the prophet speaks, IF THEY ARE A TRUE PROPHET, ARE not SUBMITTED to the Body. They are PRESENTED to the Body. Then they are discerned as of God or not. No one person or group gets to decide what is heard or not, the WHOLE BODY DISCERNS. Try to get that policy into ANY church and see how far you get. But think about it. Let the false prophet get shot down publicly in the service once or twice and no one will give them ear anymore. The Body will be free of their poison. The gifts - i.e. word of wisdom, word of knowledge, prophecy, etc. are just that - GIFTS, that come AS THE HOLY SPIRIT WILLS. ANYONE, and I do mean ANYONE in the Body of Christ can exercise ANY of the gifts AS THE HOLY SPIRIT WILLS. A 'prophet' is a whole other thing. That is to be a 'spokesman / foreteller' for God. The test is simple. For specific events - Either it happens or it doesn't. If it doesn't, it wasn't God. For ALL things 'prophetic' - Either God said it or He didn't. It will line up with God's Word or it is not from God. And the HOLY SPIRIT WILL WITNESS TO THE WORD OF GOD. Show me a person who has blown it - clearly - and been called on it and has refused to repent and retract the 'WORD' and I will show you a false prophet. Show me a person whose visions and words always have 'the Lord' glorifying the one having them and I will show you a false prophet. Show me a person who thinks they have to push everyone to accept them or their words as a prophet / prophetic and I will show you a false prophet. Show me a person who makes a good living off their 'words' and I will show you a false prophet. Show me a person who is famous and beloved by the masses for their 'gift' and I will show you a false prophet. Show me a person who uses 'words' to threaten anyone who doesn't accept / agree with them and I will show you a false prophet. Show me a person who claims to be 'accountable' to the Body, but in reality have their selected people they are 'accountable to' and will listen to no one else, and I will show you a false prophet. Show me anyone who claims that being a prophet (or anything else for that matter) gives them a rank in the Body of Christ to rule over others and I will show you a false prophet. And, with a possible RARE exception, show me a prophet that is on TBN and I will show you a false prophet. And, with a another possible RARE exception, show me anyone who uses Apostle or Prophet as a title and I will show you a false prophet. That eliminates 99% of them. The true prophet speaks from God. A false prophet speaks from themselves or evil spirits. Period. What the Body does with the words of either one is the issue. The Body is to discern and the Body is responsible for whatever they do. It would behoove more people to realize that to pass around false prophecy makes them guilty of deceiving the Body. God does not look kindly on that. They will be accountable. This isn't a game people. The end times are here. Getting this wrong will get you dead and worse. In the Fear of the Lord, Kat |
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| Randall | Jul 2 2007, 01:16 AM Post #10 |
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here are my personal observations of "How to tell a false Prophet" 1. If he whines about claiming to have made a prophecy first. Or Whines about making sure he gets credit for something said. 2. If he manipulates the listener to believe him. For example, he might say... if you dont believe me then you are not a real Christian.... if you voice a disagreement against me, or question me they you are a wolf. and probably God is going to kill you 3. if he says that nuclear bombs are going to go off on the whitehouse on july 4th because God is angry with rich and prideful americans but then the bombs don't go off. 4. if he says things that do not line up with God's word, such as God is going to "force" you to respect Him. or God is fed up with all Christians 5. if he tells you that today is the final warning, but he is still warning you 6 months later and counting 6. if he does not have his own life in order. family, finances, good reptutaion, lifestyle, etc. 7. thinks that his "prophecies" carry more weight than the actual written word of God. ie, not that he has spoken we are really going to be judge for not living right... as if we wont be judged for what Jesus Himself has already spoken 8. if he makes excuses for himself under a discussion topic of how to tell a false prophet 9. if he watches fox news or cnn or surfs the net more than he prays or reads God's word 10. if he whines about being persecuted for his so called prophecies |
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| Wil | Jul 2 2007, 08:30 AM Post #11 |
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I think many of your comments can also fall under the category of immature prophet instead of definitely false one Randall. |
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| Issachar | Jul 2 2007, 09:42 AM Post #12 |
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An excellent statement, Will |
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| Randall | Jul 2 2007, 01:39 PM Post #13 |
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not being mature should be a disqualification from the office. Bishops are not allowed to be a novice due to the fact that they would fall into satan's hands. i think that is the problem with many prophecy types today. they want to have a few dreams, get a few feelings, read some websites and then be a prophet. Not willing to be proven or tested first. but regardless if a person prophesies falsely regardless of the reason... its still false. |
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| Lazarusty | Jul 2 2007, 06:56 PM Post #14 |
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People need years in the wilderness being sorted out first before they are truly ready. Many have fallen from "grace" becasue their lives hadn't been sorted out first. When did Moses finally lead the Isrealites out of Egypt? When he was 80! How many years was John on the Island of Patmos before he got "Revelation"? Fifteen! It's all part of the "we want it and we want it now" generation. I would rather never enter ministry than make a fool of the gospel through presumption. |
| Check out my Wild Speculations thread! | |
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| Lazarusty | Jul 2 2007, 07:32 PM Post #15 |
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Another way to tell a false prophet: When the event doesn't happen, they claim it happened "in the spirit". They even claim they got this by going to their Father in Heaven and thereby imply that we simply don't have the discernment or closeness to God that they do to see it. The Hofstee brothers were notorious for this concerning a supposed earthquake a few years ago. See http://thedaysofthunder.com/ |
| Check out my Wild Speculations thread! | |
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| sojournertruth | Jul 6 2007, 02:41 PM Post #16 |
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Right Lazarusty! Presumptious is a better word than 'immature' for sure. And false is false regardless of the maturity level, IMHO. I, personally, have had it 'UP TO HERE' with the 'immaturity' excuse. You wo'nt let a five-year-old drive. Why? Because he's immature. If a supposed prophet is 'immature' he should just shut up and let the 'mature' do the driving! |
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| Randall | Jul 6 2007, 03:23 PM Post #17 |
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true.... i am not sure if you do, but i know some of these guys personally... that are false prophets, their personal lives do not lend to a position of prophet. funny they can see nuclear bombs devastating big citys but they never see the things that tear their own families and lives apart. the maturity excuse is so very lame. like i said earlier.... if maturity really were an issue, then God would not allow them to speak on His behalf. After all it is a requirement for a bishop/elder/pastor not to be a novice. |
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| sojournertruth | Jul 9 2007, 01:58 PM Post #18 |
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I've met my share of false prophets. Saddest thing is, some were truly called, but refused to wait on God. They got a little notoriety and ran with it. It went to their heads and now they are just another false no-profit. If you get your ego all wrapped up in being a 'prophet', you are in trouble. |
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| Shershalom | Oct 24 2007, 11:21 AM Post #19 |
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BUMP. Might be a good time for folks to review this entire thread. I pray for all of us to have much wisdom and discernment in these times. Amen. Sherry "For God so Loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever BELIEVES in HIM, should NOT perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through HIM might be SAVED. He (or she) who BELIEVES in HIM is NOT condemned ..." John 3:16-18 |
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SherShalom "Blessed is HE that comes in the NAME of the LORD." MATTHEW 23:39 | |
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| GoingUp! | Dec 17 2007, 04:48 PM Post #20 |
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To ALL There is nothing hard about telling if someone is a FALSE PROPHET. Here's the Scripture God made it easy to use and foolproof! 1 John 4:1-4 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. If someone cannot say to you word for word: "I CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS COME IN THE FLESH" THEN THEY ARE A FALSE PROPHET. Who is a prophet? Each and every Christian who knows Jesus Christ as thier Lord and Saviour is a Prophet. What is Prophecy? Revelation 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. I have used this Scripture on Jehovah Witnesses and all they can say in response to it is:"Yes I can" and I tell them:"That is not a confession" My wife has even done it. I can tell you this, the J.W.'s wished that Scripture would just go away! God Bless You All. Start making it happen today Can you confess word for word: "I confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh" Our Heavenly Father gave us a complete Book in His Word. Let's start exposing false prophets for what they are! |
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1 John 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: KNOW YOUR ENEMY! IF THEY CAN'T CONFESS: "I CONFESS JESUS CHRIST IS COME IN THE FLESH" YOU "KNOW" THEY ARE THE ENEMY | |
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