How to tell, if someone is a false prophet

By John Chopores

 

Supernatural signs are not enough to prove the genuine this of a prophecy  

De 13:1 ¶ "If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder,

 2 "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,' [Just because a prophecy comes true: does not (in itself) prove that one who gave if is a real prophet of God!]

 3 "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.

 4 "You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice, and you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him. [A prophet who is truly sent of God; will preach holiness.]

 5 "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.

At the time that this was written; the Old Testament and the civil law in Israel, were the same. There are very few countries in the world today: where a prophet is put to death for prophesying lies.     

 

A false prophecy is worthless to the child of God. Any prophesy that you are not sure about; you should check with the Bible and mature brothers.   Cf. Zec 10:2 For the idols speak delusion; The diviners envision lies, And tell false dreams; They comfort in vain. Therefore the people wend their way like sheep; They are in trouble because there is no shepherd.

In a church meeting; other prophets should judge the prophecy given. Cf. 1Co 14:29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.

 

A true prophecy from God:  will come to pass.

De 18:22 "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. 

 

Any prophecy given in the name of any God other than the true God: is not to be accepted

Jer 2:8 The priests did not say, 'Where is the LORD?' And those who handle the law did not know Me; The rulers also transgressed against Me; The prophets prophesied by Baal, And walked after things that do not profit.  [A prophet that teaches people to not have faith in God:  is a false prophet.]     

However, a prophecy given in the name of the real God: still may not be from Him!

Cf. Jer 14:14 And the LORD said to me, "The prophets prophesy lies in My name. I have not sent them, commanded them, nor spoken to them; they prophesy to you a false vision, divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart. [God knows their hearts. Cf. Ps 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties;

However: we are not to despise the true prophecy of God. Cf. 1Th 5:20 Do not despise prophecies.   

 

You must ask God for help in knowing which prophets are real: and which are false; for many false prophets look real on the outside!

Cf. Mt 7:15 ¶ `But, take heed of the false prophets, who come unto you in sheep's clothing, and inwardly are ravening wolves.

 

Since God knows which prophets are real; He is the One that we should go to for help in knowing true from false prophets

Cf. 2Ti 2:19 ¶ Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity."

 

Every true Prophet will confess Jesus Christ!

Cf. 1Jo 4:1 ¶ 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.

 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,

 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

 

 

As the end of the age approaches: more false prophets will rise

Cf. Mr 13:22 "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

 

Being born-again and following God: is the best way for a person to know true from false prophets

Cf. Re 17:8 "The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

 

It seems that a true born-again Christian: cannot be lead astray by false prophets

Cf. Mr 13:22 "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

Mt 24:24 "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

Joh 10:27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

2Th 2:8 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,

 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,

 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

 13 ¶ But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth,

If we hold fast!

Cf. 2Th 2:14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.

 

 

 

[All Bible test: unless stated otherwise: is from the NKJV.].