| ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ( K ) FALSE PROPHETS � THEIR PROPHECIES COME TO PASS Now someone will say, but I know of present day prophets in the church who prophecy things which do in fact come to pass. What about those prophets ? Certainly they have to be of God don�t they ? Certainly the reality of present day prophecies coming to pass would be evidence that God has at least been restoring His prophets in the church. Actually no, this is not the truth of the matter. A prophet whose prophecies come to pass does not automatically designate that prophet to be a true prophet of the Lord and it is not evidence that God has been restoring that office to the present day church. If that is the case then how can we really distinguish between the true prophet of God and a false one ? The answer is sound doctrine. Let me first begin with Deuteronomy chapter 18; 18. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. 19. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him. 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. 21. And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken? 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. - Deut. 18:18-22 Now let us look at Deuteronomy chapter 13; 1. If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, and 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; 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. 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. - Deut. 13:1-4 Notice that God Himself speaks of a prophet and a dreamer who prophecy and dream a sign or wonder and the sign or wonder does come to pass. Yet God says not to hearken, ( to pay attention ), to the prophet and the prophecy nor the dreamer and the dream. So what is the deal ? In chapter 18 God helps clarify for the person as to know how to prove and discern whether or not a prophet is of God or else a false prophet, by stating that the thing prophesied must come to pass. What is going on in chapter 13 for God to say that we should not hearken to the words of a prophet when the prophecy comes to pass ? The key point which makes the difference is in verse 2 of chapter 13 and verses 18 and 20 of chapter 18. The key point is sound doctrine. What are the kinds of words coming out of the mouth of the prophet ? That is to say, what is the doctrine which he or she is speaking ? What is the spiritual teaching and instruction of the so-called " prophet " or " prophetess " ? Let us go back to the two verses in chapter 18; 18. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. 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. - Deut. 18:18 & 20 God speaks of raising up a Prophet. God says of this Prophet that He will put His words in the mouth of this Prophet and therefore this Prophet will speak all, every word that God gives Him. In contrast of verse 20, the false prophet speaks those words which God did not give or command to be spoken. With these things in mind let us now examine verses 2 and 3 of chapter 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; 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. - Deut. 13:2-3 Notice where God places the emphasis. The focus and attention is not on the sign or wonder or thing which comes to pass. Instead, God places specific focus on the words which were spoken. In this example of chapter 13, the false prophet will say " let us go after other gods whom we have not known and serve them rather than serving the true God whom we have known. " . What God is revealing through His Word is that the key to listen for is the manner of doctrine, the manner of spiritual teaching and instruction which a so-called prophet or prophetess embraces and speaks. For the people of God to go and serve other gods is in direct opposition to the sound doctrine and teaching of who the scriptures say the one true God is. The prophet Isaiah writes of God in this manner; 8. I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. - Isaiah 42:8 10. Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. 11. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour. 12. I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God. - Isaiah 43:10-12 6. Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. - Isaiah 44:6 ( see also Isaiah 44:8 / 45:5-6 , 14, 18, 21-22, ) So we see then that the word of the false prophet which wants to direct Gods� people to serve and worship other gods is to be rejected even though the prophecy, the sign or wonder which the false prophet prophecied comes to pass. The spiritual doctrine and teaching of the false prophet is thus false doctrine. This isn�t really surprising considering that other scriptures show the devil to be a master deceiver. He can effectively masqurade as an angel of light and his wicked servants can mask themselves to deceitfully appear as ministers of righteousness ( 2 Cor. 11: 13-15 ). In Christs� prophecy concerning the last days and the time surrounding His second return to earth, His words speak plain and clear of false Christs and false prophets who provide signs and wonders so effectively seductive that there is a possibility of deceiving Gods� own elect ( Matthew 24 / Mark 13 / Luke 21 ). Finally, in the book of Revelation, devilish, Satanic power again is able to sway the people of earth with miracles, signs and wonders. Thus, it is and should be no surprise that even Satans� false prophets can make prophecies which come to pass and yet deceptively appear to be Gods� prophets, His ministers of righteousness. The point is, is that doctrine, the manner of spiritual teaching ( along with the prophecy coming to pass, that is to say, being fulfilled ), was the key in Old Testament times to help Gods' people determine who was the prophet of God and who was the false prophet. Such is the situation in our present day and time of the Christian church because as has been shared from the scriptures, there is no evidence ( no doctrine nor spiritual teaching ) that apostles and prophets ( including prophetesses ) ever needed restoration in the last days of the Christian church nor even at any other time. Furthermore Gods' Word has made very clear that it would be false prophets and false apostles who would be around in the last days. When we as Christians have this spiritual understanding in mind then it should be clear that any person claiming to hold the office of apostle or prophet / prophetess are in reality, people who are false prophets / prophetesses and apostles and therefore not of God. Such people speak with words which are directly in opposition to what Gods' Word teaches. God has not commanded those presumptuous people to speak in His name, ( Deuteronomy 18:20 ). Now let us go back and look at Christ, the Prophet of God. The book of Deuteronomy writes of Gods� Prophet; 18. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. - Deut. 18:18 19. And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: - Luke 24:19 Jesus Christ, Gods� Prophet will receive all the words of God the Father and will only speak those things. Jesus Christ, the Prophet of God and consequently all of the true prophets of God, will not speak contrary or opposing words. They will speak all what God gives and commands them to speak. Notice the words of Jesus, the Prophet of God, in the gospel of John; 26. I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. 27. They understood not that he spake to them of the Father. 28. Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. 29. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. - John 8:26-29 37. I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. 38. I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. - John 8:37-38 49. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 50. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. - John 12:49-50 10. Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. - John 14:10 14. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. - John 17:14 17. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. - John 17:17 6. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. - John 14:6 Jesus Christ, the Prophet whom God sent into the earth, spoke only those words which God gave Him. Jesus, the Prophet of God, spoke only those commandments that He received from God to speak to the people. In doing this, Jesus Christ shows Himself a true Prophet for His manner of speech, His doctrine, reproof, instruction and teaching came directly from God; 16. Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. 17. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. 18. He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. - John 7:16-18 Jesus Christ as Gods� Prophet on earth faithfully and completely met the criteria of Deuteronomy 18:18. The false prophet however, even though his or her prophecies do and can in fact come to pass, can never truthfully speak the words which God commands. Now, this is not to say that a false prophet can�t quote scripture. True enough and to be certain, Satan can do the same. But the intent is perverse, it is duplicitous. Quoting scripture really does not prove a thing. Anyone can do that. However, somewhere along the way, the false prophet and even the false teacher or false apostle will speak what they really intend and what they really believe ( John 8:44 ). Thus, the doctrine and spiritual teaching of such false words by persons who claim a title of prophet or apostle of the Lord can and should be examined in light of Gods' righteous Word so that they can be revealed for the corruption and falsehood that they are. Without doubt and without question, even if such persons can quote scripture, the words of doctrine and teaching with which they preach and instruct simply will not match what Gods� Word really teaches. Somewhere along the way false doctrine and false teaching will surface from the person whom God did not send in His name. For those of us who have been or are supposed to have been maturing in Christ, it is inexcusable to be ignorant first, of Gods' Word with the doctrine and spiritual teaching it sufficiently provides and second, of the seductive devices of Satan and the deceptive words of his servants; 11. Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 12. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. - Heb. 5:11-14 11. Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. - 2 Cor. 2:11 13. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. - 2 Cor. 11:13-15 There is no justified reason to embrace the ungodly mindset which believes that God has been restoring His apostles and prophets to His church. By the way, signs and wonders were never meant for Christians of our present time to be the focus of our attention. Gods� Word clearly shows that the devil can effectively and will effectively mimic Godly power, signs, miracles and wonders. Therefore, any prophecy which comes to pass just because some alleged " prophet / prophetess " spoke it should not by any means be the deciding and determining factor as to test whether or not some prophet or prophetess is truly of God. Doctrine, spiritual instruction is the key. Jesus commanded His apostles and us as well with these words; 15. And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod. - Mark 8:15 1. In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2. For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. - Luke 12:1-2 ( see also Matthew 16:6-12 ) The leaven of course of which Jesus warns against is false doctrine. All of this to say that even though there are people in or even outside the present day church, making prophecies which come to pass is simply not sufficient evidence that God has been restoring His prophets to the Christian church. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- |