🏳️‍🌈✝️🔻 False Prophets

by Chris Moen

 

Throughout history people have claimed to be prophets sent with divine messages.

 Which of these claims are true? How can you recognize false prophets?

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Various religions and cultures—including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, ancient Greece, the Vikings and others—have had prophets.

In the Bible, the word prophet comes from the Hebrew word nabi, meaning spokesperson. Another Hebrew word, ro’eh, literally means one who sees—a seer. In Greek, the word is profetes, meaning one who “speaks forth” (Vine’s Expository Dictionary of the Old and New Testament Words, 1985).

A prophet is thus someone who speaks for another, foresees the future or proclaims a message.

An important function of a true prophet is found in a statement from God to the ancient Israelites through Moses: “I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him” (Deuteronomy 18:18-19). God was foretelling that, like Moses, Jesus Christ would come as a true prophet and God would speak through Him.

The Bible explains that, in addition to true prophets, there would also be false ones. Anyone who falsely claims to speak God’s words or who teaches errors in His name is not a true prophet.

Why are there false prophets?

Satan the devil, a fallen angel, is the father of lies and has deceived the whole world (John 8:44; Revelation 12:9). His goal has been to twist and falsify the truth of God and to discourage humanity from following the path to true happiness and eternal life. To assist him in this effort, he influences people to become counterfeit prophets.

Another reason given in the Bible is that some people speak from their own imagination. God says, “Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!” (Ezekiel 13:3-4). Throughout the centuries, numerous false prophets have arisen because of their own desires and Satan’s influence.

Four tests to prove whether a prophet is true

We need to carefully consider God’s Word—the Bible—in order to discern between false and true prophets. The Bible provides four tests to determine the genuineness of a prophet.

1.      Does the conduct of the prophet reflect godly character?

Jesus and the apostles warned many times about deceptive prophets. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said, “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” (Matthew 7:15-17).

These prophets can be identified by their “fruits”—a term used metaphorically by Jesus to describe one’s actions and character. The law of God is the only standard we have to determine whether someone’s fruits are good or bad. True prophets will live in accordance with God’s law.

2. Do the predictions of the prophet come true?

Moses instructed ancient Israel: “When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him” (Deuteronomy 18:22).

The Bible gives a few exceptions. It shows that God has the prerogative to change His mind, as was the case with Jonah’s prophecies about Nineveh (Jonah 3:10). Also, this does not mean that God’s true servants couldn’t be wrong about timing, as Paul was in assuming he would be alive at Christ’s return (1 Thessalonians 4:15).

Except in circumstances like these, if a prophet’s predictions do not come to pass, then he or she is not a true prophet.

3. Are the words of the prophet consistent with Scripture?

God explained to those who foolishly seek knowledge from mediums and wizards, “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” (Isaiah 8:19-20).

Peter declared that the apostles could truthfully attest to many fulfilled Bible prophecies concerning the life and deeds of Jesus Christ. “For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. ... And we have the prophetic word made more sure” (2 Peter 1:16, 19, Revised Standard Version).

Peter also stated that true prophets do not speak their own words. As Peter wrote, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:20, emphasis added).

4. Do the people benefit spiritually from the prophet’s ministry?

God’s desire was that ancient Israel would serve as a model nation and represent Him to the nations around them. Israel would be blessed as it fulfilled God’s expectation.

With this background, God warned His people, “‘Behold, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,’ says the LORD, ‘and tell them, and cause My people to err by their lies and by their recklessness. Yet I did not send them or command them; therefore they shall not profit this people at all,’ says the LORD” (Jeremiah 23:32; also read verses 13-14).

The results of a prophet’s ministry can also indicate whether this person is a false or true prophet.

God explains why some people love to listen to lies and fables

God exposed prophets who spoke lies as “an astonishing and horrible thing” and noted that “the prophets prophesy falsely … and My people love to have it so” (Jeremiah 5:30-31). Why would people listen to them?

Before the apostle Paul’s death, he predicted that some brethren would be easily led astray by false teachers. “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

God’s warning to false prophets

So harmful were false prophets to the nation of Israel that God warned through Moses, “But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die” (Deuteronomy 18:20).

Peter explained that false prophets had come in the past and that false teachers would continue to come with harmful messages filled with lies. “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” (2 Peter 2:1).

A warning for the generation just before Christ’s return

During His earthly ministry Christ described conditions in the last days just before His return to earth in glory to set up His Kingdom. He said false prophets would have power to show great counterfeit miracles that would almost deceive even the faithful. “For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand” (Matthew 24:24-25).

A test from God

It is important to note one additional point regarding people who claim to be a prophet. God said that even if a prophet’s predictions were to come true, people were not to follow this person if he or she advocated the worship of another God.

“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” (Deuteronomy 13:1-3).

This same test could occur in our day. The apostle John warned, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God” (1 John 4:1-2).

God is merciful and kind to reveal the future in advance through His true prophets. Use the information above to make sure you are not deceived by false ones.

For more study on the prophets of the Bible, see the articles in this section “Prophets.” 

More from Life, Hope & Truth, here

 

🏳️‍🌈✝️🔻 Seek the Lord with your whole being to discover His greatness and love towards you {including His LGBTQI+ Children}

Rainbow Pastor David

08/31/2018 

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Seek Me with your whole being. I desire to be found by you, and I orchestrate the events of your life with that purpose in mind.  When things go well and you are blessed, you can feel Me smiling on you.  When you encounter rough patches along your life journey, trust that My Light is still shining upon you.

My reasons for allowing these adversities may be shrouded in mystery, but My continual Presence with you is an absolute promise.  Seek Me in good times; seek Me in hard times. You will find Me watching over you all the time.

But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.  Deuteronomy 4:29

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  Hebrews 10:23

The Lord watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. Psalm 145:20

 

🏳️‍🌈✝️🔻 The Horse and His Rider

Calvary Outreach Ministries 

08/31/2018

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  I went to bed a few nights ago hearing the words of Moses repeated over and over in my spirit. “…the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea …the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.” Exodus 15:1.

   When God delivered the children of Israel from Pharaoh’s bondage, they quickly gathered possessions and headed out of Egypt. Pharaoh soon changed his mind about letting the children of Israel go, and gathered his army to bring them back to Egypt. The scripture says, “But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea.” Exodus 4:9. When the children of Israel “lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; …they were sore afraid:” Exodus 14:10. Although they had been delivered, they feared Pharaoh and the power he had to take them back into captivity.

   Moses said unto the people, “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.” Exodus 14:13. What an astounding statement this was. All the might of Egypt was gathered against these former slaves to take them back into captivity, yet Moses told them to “take a look, for this is the last time you will ever see Pharaoh and his army.”

   We all know the events that followed, how God parted the Red sea and the children of Israel passed through it as on dry ground. When the army of Pharaoh attempted to follow them through the parted sea, the wheels fell off their chariots and the waters returned upon them in such force that not a single one escaped. Exodus 14:28. All that was left was broken chariots and carcasses washing up upon the sea shore. It was upon beholding this sight that Moses and the children began to sing, “…the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.”

   As I heard those words over and over in my spirit, I began to understand what the Lord was speaking to me in the gospel. He was reminding me of our deliverance from both sin and Satan. Just as Pharaoh’s army was destroyed in the Red sea, for the child of God, sin and Satan were destroyed in the shed blood of Christ. There are two simple passages of scripture that, if believed for what they say, will completely transform your walk with God. Both of these passages tell us in clear terms what Jesus Christ destroyed for us upon the cross.

   1. “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” Romans 6:6.  Your hands are not your body. Neither are your feet. These things are certainly members of your body, but the term “body” speaks of all the members together. Even so, the “body of sin” is not an individual sin. It is the entirety of sin. That is what Christ destroyed for you upon the cross. If half of Pharaoh’s army made it through the Red sea, the children of Israel would have been brought back into slavery, but not a single Egyptian warrior who entered the sea survived. Pharaoh’s army was destroyed, and he was absolutely powerless to do anything to the children of Israel. Israel would never serve Pharaoh again. When you see the truth that the entire “body of sin is destroyed” by Christ upon the cross you will never again serve sin. Christ did not destroy half your sin. He destroyed it all!

   2. “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Hebrews 2:14-15. For the children of God to continue to fear the devil is as needless as for the children of Israel to continue to fear Pharaoh. Of course had they been foolish enough to cross back over the Red sea, Pharaoh could have made slaves of them again, but he had no power at all to cross the Red sea and bring them back into bondage. His army and might was destroyed! Even so, Satan can do nothing to enslave those who simply abide in Christ. There is no devil in the kingdom of God at all. Satan cannot cross over into our abiding place. He can only rule in a land of darkness. If you dwell in Satan’s kingdom, you can be “taken captive by him at his will” II Timothy 2:26, but if you are one of those who have been “delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of God’s dear Son” Colossians 1:13, you have no need to fear Satan at all. For you he has been destroyed!

   Many teachers seek to disannul these scriptures by claiming the word “destroy” only means to become “idle.” They teach that sin still dwells in God’s people, it has just become “idle.” Such teaching is a perversion of the truth of God’s word. The carcasses washing upon the sea shore and the broken chariots floating in the Red sea were “idle” …because they were destroyed! The body of sin does not remain in God’s people. It was destroyed upon the cross of Christ and it “idly” rots in the tomb where Christ left it when he raised us up in newness of life!

   Satan rode into power on the back of sin, which entered the world through Adam’s transgression. Romans 5:12. He only has power where sin is present to give him dominion. SIN is the HORSE and SATAN is the RIDER. Thanks be to God because “THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER HATH HE THROWN INTO THE SEA.”

 “…That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.” Luke 1:68-75.

More from Calvary Outreach Ministries, here