How to Identify False Prophets
Then and now, the identifying marks of a false prophet remain the same. The Bible tells us that they are deluded, inaccurate and opportunistic plagiarists.
1. ?False prophets are DELUDED. While some prophets have deliberately lied to the people, I believe there are those who remain sincere but with such wild imaginations they really think they are God’s prophets. But no matter how sincere they are, they still lie to us.
“Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Say to those who prophesy OUT OF THEIR OWN IMAGINATIONS: ‘Hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing! Your prophets, O Israel, are like jackals among ruins. Ezk. 13:2-4
But I said, “Ah, Sovereign LORD, the prophets keep telling them, ‘You will not see the sword or suffer famine. Indeed, I will give you lasting peace in this place.’ “Then the LORD said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the DELUSIONS OF THEIR OWN MINDS. Jer. 14:13-14
This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you;
they fill you with false hopes. They SPEAK VISIONS FROM THEIR OWN MINDS not from the mouth of the LORD… How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the DELUSION OF THEIR OWN MINDS? Jer. 23:16, 26
2. False prophets give false hopes.? False hope is a dangerous lie. When Judah fell to Babylon and many of the children of Israel were already exiled, Hananaiah prophesied falsely implying if they fight back they will win against mighty Nebuchadnezzar (Jer. 28). They tried but reaped the fury of Nebuchadnezzar instead who then besieged their city in years, destroyed their beloved Temple, and exiled the remaining residents. They were given false security.?In Jer. 36:9, King Jehoiakim defied Jeremiah’s warnings and even declared a national fast, he was later killed by Nebuchadnezzar for fighting back (2Ki 24:1). Recall the failed Jubilee of Jubilees and New Dispensation prophecies that were followed by calamities that struck the Philippines.
Therefore, this is what the LORD says about the prophets who are prophesying in my name: I DID NOT SEND THEM, yet they are saying, ‘No sword or famine will touch this land.’ Those same prophets will perish by sword and famine.? And the people they are prophesying to will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and sword. There will be no one to bury them or their wives, their sons or their daughters. I WILL POUR OUT ON THEM THE CALAMITY THEY DESERVE. Jer. 14:15-16
This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you;
they fill you with FALSE HOPES. They speak visions from their own minds not from the mouth of the LORD. Jer. 23:16
3. False prophets are plagiarists. Plagiarism is the unauthorized use of another person’s thoughts or ideas, usually in literature. When you don’t cite or give credit to the author where you borrow the ideas from and the words you use resemble his thoughts, you are plagiarizing his work. False prophets are plagiarizing too. You will hear them today quoting Bible verses as if they’re fresh revelation intended directly to you, to your church, or to your nation.? They borrow words from ancient prophets. Sure they cite Scripture references but they get the credit of being a prophet for repackaging them.
“Therefore,” declares the LORD , “I am against the PROPHETS WHO STEAL FROM ONE ANOTHER WORDS supposedly from me.? Yes,” declares the LORD , “I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, ‘The LORD declares.’? Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,” declares the LORD. “They tell them and LEAD MY PEOPLE ASTRAY with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least,” declares the LORD. ?Jer. 23:30-32
Eagle Christian online (last accessed March 21, 2012) says, “Prophets Sadhu Sundar Selvaraj, Vincent Selkvakumar, Neville Johnson and Robert Misst released similar and complementary prophetic words.” They must have been exchanging notes.
4. False prophets are opportunists. They take advantage of the people’s vulnerabilities and take from them materially. I don’t really know how much freebies they get but in conferences they always ask you to fast (they called the people to fast like Nineveh and then asked them to fast for Yom Kippur, now they are asking people to fast like Daniel) but when you look at them they look like fattened calves. Micah 3:5 says false prophets in Israel flatter those whom they can benefit from.? It’s like a host-parasite symbiosis: the people simply can’t wait to hear from them again. They are being led astray, yet they love it. Recall Pentecostal Penance, an example of error that directly undermines the Gospel.
This is what the LORD says: “As for the prophets who lead my people astray, IF ONE FEEDS THEM, THEY PROCLAIM ‘PEACE’; if he does not, they prepare to wage war against him. Mic. 3:5
For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say WHAT THEIR ITCHING EARS WANT TO HEAR. 2Tim. 4:3
The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and MY PEOPLE LOVE IT THIS WAY. But what will you do in the end? Jer. 5:31
5. False prophets are inaccurate. I believe true prophets have 100% accuracy in their predictions. Phonies on the other hand, will get it once or twice to get you hooked. They know you will be giving them them the benefit the doubt when they fail in their succeeding predictions. MacArthur in “Charismatic Chaos” shared some of their rationalization, “I figure, if I hit two-thirds of it, I’m doing pretty good.” They seem to be happy with their guess work. It bears resemblance to divination or Manghuhula, many of them thrive in Quiapo.
But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded him to say, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, must be put to death. You may say to yourselves, “HOW CAN WE KNOW WHEN A MESSAGE HAS NOT BEEN SPOKEN BY THE LORD?”? If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does NOT TAKE PLACE OR COME TRUE, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him. Deut. 18:20-22
I don’t think it can be any clearer than that. If what he proclaims does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. Recall the failed New Dispensation prophecies yet despite its failures, the people behind Eagle Christian online (last accessed March 21, 2012) continue to believe they are now living in it.
The Lord commanded the children Israel “Do not listen to them” (Jer. 23:16). The mood here is imperative therefore listening to false prophets is a sin.
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