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[Staff Edit] Before I begin what I want to discuss let me say, if we are going to present some material. Instead of saying, "This is how this is going to happen." Let's say, "This is how I understand things will occur." Reality is, you can't be sure how the end times are going to play out. I know the Pentecostal and largely Charismatic view on the end times is a pretrib rapture one, so not much emphasis is placed on what happens during the Tribulation. Well I am NOT a pretribber as is well documented in this forum.
Here: http://www.christianforums.com/t7808185/ and here: http://www.christianforums.com/t7822608/ http://www.christianforums.com/t7822609/
Anyways, on to what I want to discuss.. What is false prophecy?
Now scripture gives us a few different definitions of what prophecy is.
But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. (1 Cor 14:3 NIV)
All believers can prophecy in this manner. We can all strengthen, encourage, and comfort each other by our words and actions. We do this by pointing others to Jesus. Jesus is the source of our strength (Phil 4:13). By looking to Him do we overcome (Hebrews 12:2). He knows our deepest hurts and understands the struggle we all face. He was tempted exactly as we are (Hebrews 4:15-16) and so He can comfort us and help us when we seek Him.
This is exactly the message the angel shared with John in Revelation 19:10, The spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus. All prophetic utterance points individuals to Jesus.
In this context, what is false prophecy?
Now in the Old Testament we know people like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Amos, Obadiah, etc were prophets of God. Their messages were inspired (2 Peter 1:20-21) by the Holy Spirit and fulfilled in their given time. Individuals then who were condemned as false prophets would give messages that would counter the ones given by these holy men of God.
For instance, Jeremiah dealt with false prophets at almost every turn. In Jeremiah 28 we read about one such dealing with the False Prophet Hananiah. I'll post portions of that chapter here to help illustrate what I'm trying to get at here.
Jeremiah 28:1-4 ESV
Hananiah the son of Azzur, the prophet from Gibeon, spoke to me in the house of the Lord, in the presence of the priests and all the people, saying, 2 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. 3 Within two years I will bring back to this place all the vessels of the Lord's house, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place and carried to Babylon. 4 I will also bring back to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and all the exiles from Judah who went to Babylon, declares the Lord, for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.”
Now Jeremiah had been prophesying that Judah would become slaves of Babylon if they did not repent and turn back to God. Hananiah stood in the presence of all the people and told everyone that instead God would powerfully break the yoke of Babylon off Judah's back within 2 years.
Jeremiah is seemingly impressed with this message and even says Amen to it. Then he counsels everyone present "As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes to pass, then it will be known that the Lord has truly sent the prophet."
He is reminding them that all true prophecy comes from God and will be fulfilled. Prophecy is not just a message that gives people false hope.
But Hananiah insists and even demonstrates his message:
Jeremiah 28:10-11 ESV
10 Then the prophet Hananiah took the yoke-bars from the neck of Jeremiah the prophet and broke them. 11 And Hananiah spoke in the presence of all the people, saying, “Thus says the Lord: Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all the nations within two years.”
So he is really stressing that God has told him the Babylonians will be dealt with within 2 years. But the Lord is never fooled by false prophecy. He reveals to Jeremiah that Hananiah is a fake and thus the prophet says these words:
Jeremiah 28:15-17 ESV
15 And Jeremiah the prophet said to the prophet Hananiah, “Listen, Hananiah, the Lord has not sent you, and you have made this people trust in a lie. 16 Therefore thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will remove you from the face of the earth. This year you shall die, because you have uttered rebellion against the Lord.’” 17 In that same year, in the seventh month, the prophet Hananiah died.
So you see from the 28th chapter of Jeremiah the basis for determining false prophecy. False prophecy, and by extension false prophets, are people who share a message contrary to the true word of God with the intention of leading people away from the Lord.
For instance I can say the sun is going to be late rising in the sky by 30 minutes. When that doesn't happen, it doesn't make me a false prophet, it makes me a foolish person sure, but not a false prophet.
Now, if I share a message with someone, for instance, "You will find a high paying job within a week and God will give you a car as well." When that message does not come to pass, I am tiptoeing on that fence. If that person falls away from the Lord because of my words I may well find myself as a false prophet. If they are able to forgive me of my foolishness and be reconciled to me and the Lord then I have just spoken out of turn.
A 100% hands down no doubt about it false prophet is someone who comes around and preaches a gospel contrary to the truth. That is they preach that Jesus is not the only way into Heaven. That we can earn our way into Heaven, or that Muhammad saves, etc.... False prophets share messages that lead to falling away and open rebellion against God.
It is a sobering reminder to always check our intentions before we just spout off with something we really want to say.
All true Spirit inspired prophecy will lead people to Jesus.
All false prophecy will lead people away from Jesus.
No matter what form this takes, verbal or physical, if me or my message leads people away from the cross I will be found to be a false prophet and stand in danger of judgment.
Here: http://www.christianforums.com/t7808185/ and here: http://www.christianforums.com/t7822608/ http://www.christianforums.com/t7822609/
Anyways, on to what I want to discuss.. What is false prophecy?
Now scripture gives us a few different definitions of what prophecy is.
But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. (1 Cor 14:3 NIV)
All believers can prophecy in this manner. We can all strengthen, encourage, and comfort each other by our words and actions. We do this by pointing others to Jesus. Jesus is the source of our strength (Phil 4:13). By looking to Him do we overcome (Hebrews 12:2). He knows our deepest hurts and understands the struggle we all face. He was tempted exactly as we are (Hebrews 4:15-16) and so He can comfort us and help us when we seek Him.
This is exactly the message the angel shared with John in Revelation 19:10, The spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus. All prophetic utterance points individuals to Jesus.
In this context, what is false prophecy?
Now in the Old Testament we know people like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Amos, Obadiah, etc were prophets of God. Their messages were inspired (2 Peter 1:20-21) by the Holy Spirit and fulfilled in their given time. Individuals then who were condemned as false prophets would give messages that would counter the ones given by these holy men of God.
For instance, Jeremiah dealt with false prophets at almost every turn. In Jeremiah 28 we read about one such dealing with the False Prophet Hananiah. I'll post portions of that chapter here to help illustrate what I'm trying to get at here.
Jeremiah 28:1-4 ESV
Hananiah the son of Azzur, the prophet from Gibeon, spoke to me in the house of the Lord, in the presence of the priests and all the people, saying, 2 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. 3 Within two years I will bring back to this place all the vessels of the Lord's house, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place and carried to Babylon. 4 I will also bring back to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and all the exiles from Judah who went to Babylon, declares the Lord, for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.”
Now Jeremiah had been prophesying that Judah would become slaves of Babylon if they did not repent and turn back to God. Hananiah stood in the presence of all the people and told everyone that instead God would powerfully break the yoke of Babylon off Judah's back within 2 years.
Jeremiah is seemingly impressed with this message and even says Amen to it. Then he counsels everyone present "As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes to pass, then it will be known that the Lord has truly sent the prophet."
He is reminding them that all true prophecy comes from God and will be fulfilled. Prophecy is not just a message that gives people false hope.
But Hananiah insists and even demonstrates his message:
Jeremiah 28:10-11 ESV
10 Then the prophet Hananiah took the yoke-bars from the neck of Jeremiah the prophet and broke them. 11 And Hananiah spoke in the presence of all the people, saying, “Thus says the Lord: Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all the nations within two years.”
So he is really stressing that God has told him the Babylonians will be dealt with within 2 years. But the Lord is never fooled by false prophecy. He reveals to Jeremiah that Hananiah is a fake and thus the prophet says these words:
Jeremiah 28:15-17 ESV
15 And Jeremiah the prophet said to the prophet Hananiah, “Listen, Hananiah, the Lord has not sent you, and you have made this people trust in a lie. 16 Therefore thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will remove you from the face of the earth. This year you shall die, because you have uttered rebellion against the Lord.’” 17 In that same year, in the seventh month, the prophet Hananiah died.
So you see from the 28th chapter of Jeremiah the basis for determining false prophecy. False prophecy, and by extension false prophets, are people who share a message contrary to the true word of God with the intention of leading people away from the Lord.
For instance I can say the sun is going to be late rising in the sky by 30 minutes. When that doesn't happen, it doesn't make me a false prophet, it makes me a foolish person sure, but not a false prophet.
Now, if I share a message with someone, for instance, "You will find a high paying job within a week and God will give you a car as well." When that message does not come to pass, I am tiptoeing on that fence. If that person falls away from the Lord because of my words I may well find myself as a false prophet. If they are able to forgive me of my foolishness and be reconciled to me and the Lord then I have just spoken out of turn.
A 100% hands down no doubt about it false prophet is someone who comes around and preaches a gospel contrary to the truth. That is they preach that Jesus is not the only way into Heaven. That we can earn our way into Heaven, or that Muhammad saves, etc.... False prophets share messages that lead to falling away and open rebellion against God.
It is a sobering reminder to always check our intentions before we just spout off with something we really want to say.
All true Spirit inspired prophecy will lead people to Jesus.
All false prophecy will lead people away from Jesus.
No matter what form this takes, verbal or physical, if me or my message leads people away from the cross I will be found to be a false prophet and stand in danger of judgment.
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