False Prophets Abound

Deuteronomy 18:18-22 NASB
“ I will raise up for them a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them everything that I command him.  And it shall come about that whoever does not listen to My words which he speaks in My name, I Myself will require it of him. But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in My name, a word which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.’  And if you say in your heart, ‘How will we recognize the word which the Lord has not spoken?’  When the prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, and the thing does not happen or come true, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you are not to be afraid of him.” Emphasis is mine.

One would think that anyone who seriously studies God’s Holy Word and desires to be able to recognize the word which the Lord has not spoken, would be able to discern the criteria by which this discernment of righteous judgement is to be made. This is the test or standard by which true prophets of God are determined, as opposed to those who are not true prophets of God. God’s Holy Word tells us to test ALL things (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22). False prophecies or prophecies that do not happen or come true is the red flag by which we are to discern a true prophet from a false prophet.  False prophecy equates to a false prophet. 

And what does God’s Holy Word give us as a description of a false prophet? Jeremiah 14:14 NASB addresses that description requirement as follows:
“Then the Lord said to me, “The prophets are prophesying falsehood in My name. I have neither sent them nor commanded them, nor spoken to them; they are prophesying to you a false vision, divination, futility, and the deception of their own minds.” 

These are not isolated singular Scriptures, there are many more, Jeremiah 23:25-32  , Ezekiel 13:1-7 and 2 Peter 2:1-3, to name but a few.

Yet today, receiving a  prophetic “word from the Lord”, being given a vision from on high or being taken to heaven, seems to be as common place as going to MacDonalds and ordering a cheeseburger (voice your expectation and it is delivered). And many sheep are drawn to these false prophets, without even a second thought being given to checking their background history, academic or training credentials  or whether there are confirmed instances of failed prophecies.  To be a self declared prophet today, all you need to do is just hang out your shingle, declare that you have been commissioned by heaven and you’re good to go.  And please note that I haven’t even remotely addressed the absolute necessity of determining if what is spoken, declared or decreed, by these self declared prophets, is in agreement with or not contrary to the preached Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul clarified and declared this requirement (see Galatians 1:8).  And one does have to wonder, why?

Under the Law of the Old Testament the standard for being recognized as a prophet of the Most High God was pretty high, 100 percent accuracy. And accordingly the designated punishment for falling short of this standard was also pretty severe, death (see Deuteronomy 18:20). Evidently, according to today’s self declared prophets, they conveniently aren’t required to maintain that standard, which partially may explain why we have so many of them.  And no, just in case someone might think otherwise, I am NOT advocating that false prophets should be put to death. Think New Covenant.

While the punishment under the Old Testament Law no longer stands for numerous reasons in today’s society, including the New Covenant that Jesus gave us from God the Father, the standard of accuracy for prophets speaking on behalf of God has not changed. Getting two or three out of five correct doesn’t meet the standard. It didn’t then and it doesn’t now. And yes, that standard still matters and it is there for a reason.

False prophets abound these days.

Recognize them for who they are and for Whom they do NOT speak. Jesus did NOT say to accept false prophets, He said to BEWARE of false prophets. Jesus also rejected their “signs and wonders” works as being attributed to, or the fruit of  “lawlessness”. That is where God’s thoughts and ways are changed or replaced  with their own (Matthew 7:22-24). Notice Jesus said we were to ACT on His words of warning, NOT ignore them. When we ignore the warnings that Jesus gave us, we do so at our own peril.  And yes, this warning was directed to His sheep.

Matthew 7:15-20 NASB
“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the 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.  So then, you will know them by their fruits.“Emphasis is mine.

Worthy is the Lamb! Blessings!