What is the biblical definition of a false prophet?

The definition of "false prophet" really means "a prophet who is a servant of a fallen angel." But I don't want to open that "can" here...

Let me give you an answer useful to anyone:

The role of "prophet" can be understood as a fivefold office gifting. All five offices apply to each man according to MEST (Matter-Energy-Space-Time), but he specialises in one by virtue of his birth.

MEST relates to the offices, and to the four living creatures which are "the four great divisions of animate creation." It is also found in science, making a marriage of "spirituality" and "science" which gives us the field of "spiritual science."

Think about it in secular terms: some people are "product evangelists" while others are "prophetic" in terms of their field of work (i.e Stephen Hawking). This indicates that the "office" is built into the human, and is not specifically "religious."

I would agree in part with the suggestion of the first conversant: there are more "prophets" than we give credit for. But this is also nullified by the fact that most will be truly false prophets (followers of fallen angels).

FaithOfSaints said:

The definition of "false prophet" really means "a prophet who is a servant of a fallen angel." But I don't want to open that "can" here...

Let me give you an answer useful to anyone:

The role of "prophet" can be understood as a fivefold office gifting. All five offices apply to each man according to MEST (Matter-Energy-Space-Time), but he specialises in one by virtue of his birth.

MEST relates to the offices, and to the four living creatures which are "the four great divisions of animate creation." It is also found in science, making a marriage of "spirituality" and "science" which gives us the field of "spiritual science."

Think about it in secular terms: some people are "product evangelists" while others are "prophetic" in terms of their field of work (i.e Stephen Hawking). This indicates that the "office" is built into the human, and is not specifically "religious."

I would agree in part with the suggestion of the first conversant: there are more "prophets" than we give credit for. But this is also nullified by the fact that most will be truly false prophets (followers of fallen angels).

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Do you have any biblical verses that support this opinion? It seems more worldly then biblical at first read.

ToBeBlessed said:

Do you have any biblical verses that support this opinion? It seems more worldly then biblical at first read.

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I was wondering if it was inspired by the "7 Mountains" teaching.


It doesn't sound particularly occultic, pagan, or New Agey to me. It's not a line of thinking that I've ever heard before! The closest I can associate it to is the 7 Mountains teaching from Dominionism. But also, it could be an entirely unique thought. IDK

Simply put, a false prophet is a prophet that is false.

Another kind of false prophet works with ‘familiar spirits’.

There are many kinds of evil spirits, that are the sly, subtle, hide their sins under a veil of religiousness kind of demon. They suggest evil, and encourage such, but do it in a way that makes the victim think they are being righteous. Some prophets can be seduced by them, and thereby be carrying on their work for them.

We call these demons by various names, ‘Religious demons’, ‘false doctrinal demons’, ‘miracle demons’, ‘Judas demons’, ‘Jezebel demons’, ‘Jannes and Jambres demons’, “lying and discord demons’, ‘jealousy and envy demons’ ‘witchcraft demons”, “betrayal demons”, and more.

The words ‘familiar spirits’ is from the Hebrew, “owb”. It refers to the mumble that comes from a water skin bottle, due to the sound of air escaping from it. When squeezed, to check if a bottle that looks full of water, a sound would emerge, from the emission of air trapped in the bottle. This terminology was used to refer to demon spirits, that were unseen from the outside, but when pressured, a sound would emerge, indicating their presence. We need to know how to deal with some false doctrines, false miracles (not the real ones), false leadings of the false prophets who are instigated in their work by evil spirits.

In the O.T., some of the demons worked through some called ‘mediums’, and some worked through some called false prophets. We find some in the N.T. age also involved with demons.

Leviticus 19:31
“Regard not them that have familiar spirits...”

Familiar spirits that work under a guise of being a prophet, are evil spirits, but often try to appear good, counterfeiting goodness, trying to be accepted. They will usually try to hide their presence, and the people they use, will often not even realize their presence. But when detected, when discerned, we are commanded to not even ‘regard’ them.

“Regard’ comes from the Hebrew word, ‘panah’ meaning ‘to face , to turn and look at directly.” We are not to want to be in the presence of such ones, that are being exploited of a familiar spirit.

Leviticus 20:6
“And the soul that turneth after such that have familiar spirits, and after wizards (male witches), to go a whoring after them, I will even set My face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.”

God sounds quite adamant about this, and yet, we find that Christianity today has come to tolerate false prophets, receiving their direction not from God, having powers not from God.. but acting in harmony with familiar spirits.

We need to make sure we do not ‘regard’ false prophets who have them.

Deuteronomy 18:10-12
“There shall not be found among you, any one that is a charmer, a consulter of familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer, For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord...”

There are many kinds or divisions of familiar spirits that work in and with false prophets....

False doctrinal spirits...

These spirits try to hide themselves within, or obsessing upon, false prophets, to bring false doctrines into the faith. We are warned that in the last days this will be more prevalent.

I Timothy 4:1
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times, some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils, speaking lies in hypocrisy, ... Conscience seared with a hot iron... Forbidding to marry... Commanding to abstain from meats...”

False doctrines often have their origin from demon spirits, working through what we call 'false prophets'. False teachings are often inspired by demons, with the twisting of Scriptures, providing dreams and visions, and imitation prophetic words given in moments of pretend inspiration.

I John 4:1-6
“Beloved, believe not every spirit (speaking of spiritual utterance) but try the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets are gone into the world...”

We must try and test all visions, of ourselves, or of others. Many have visions, but not all visions are from God. They may seem spiritual, may seem religious, but all visions must be tested. All prophetic words, esp. in these last days, must be tested and verified by the Word of God, and the witness of the Spirit.


Miracle spirits sometimes work through false prophets.

These familiar spirits will give miracles to some, to get people to believe that the one sporting the miracles if from God.

Rev. 16:14
“For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles...”

II Thessalonians 2:8-12
“...whose coming is after the working of satan with all power, and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness.”

Sometimes miracles are given to people preaching false doctrines. Surely, God does send miracles to true prophets and saints, but, we must test miracles to determine their origin. God does many miracles, but not all miracles are of God. The magicians of Egypt, did miracles. They did some of the same miracles as shown by Moses, their rods turned to serpents also.

So, the fact of their miracles did not make them true prophets, they were still false. In the last days, the devil will seek to deceive even the elect, if possible. We must discern when miracle spirits are at work. The doctrines of the person being used and given miracles, need to be examined with the Word of God. The Holy Spirit needs to be spoken with, and we need to listen for verification, or rejection of the miracles by the Spirit of God.

So some false prophets are 'prophets' who have themselves been deceived, and now are being used by evil spirits.

Tobias said:

I was wondering if it was inspired by the "7 Mountains" teaching.


It doesn't sound particularly occultic, pagan, or New Agey to me. It's not a line of thinking that I've ever heard before! The closest I can associate it to is the 7 Mountains teaching from Dominionism. But also, it could be an entirely unique thought. IDK

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I don't know hopefully he will come back and let us know.

I think most Christians fall into the same problem that the Pharisees encountered, at least to some degree or another. The Pharisees believed that they knew the scriptures, and thought they had a very accurate knowledge of what God would and wouldn't do. But when they encountered Jesus operating in the power of the Holy Spirit, they couldn't believe it was "of God" so they accused Jesus of working with the power of the Beelzebub.


I think this is probably the main reason why we hear so much about the "Spirit of Kundalini", and see so many cautionary warnings about how difficult it is to tell the difference between the Holy Spirit and a fake. Because often times the "fake" really is the Holy Spirit!! People simply cannot accept Him, even though their spirits recognize Him as their Lord. Their theology gets in the way, so they reject Him; and then proceed to try to justify their actions by teaching others how to do the same.

Sometimes the reason why a "False Spirit" looks so much like the Holy Spirit, is because it really is Him! There's nothing false about it!

And... I bet right now some of you are questioning in your mind if I'm a wolf in sheep's clothing, because I'm telling you not to be so cautious... right?

Well, then check your Bible. This is was a huge problem in scripture! This problem was so huge in fact, that it was the reason the religious leaders but Jesus Christ to death! They were "cautious", and trusted their theology over the leading of the Holy Spirit!

The Apostles oth, trusted the words of Jesus and the confirmation of the Holy Spirit; and then much much later figured out that the scriptures did indeed say the same thing!


We all do this from time to time though I'm afraid. We discern things wrong, and reject the Holy Spirit thinking He's a fake. Thankfully God is patient, and usually gives us another try. Faith is to trust in Him, and learn to follow His leading. We can't afford to listen to those who have failed, and give a bad report saying how it's impossible to know the difference between God and Satan. I for one, put my foot down and say that's not true! It is possible to know His voice and not follow the voice of a stranger. And even when I have failed and given up hope, like a Good Shepherd He came and rescued me.

Tobias said:

I think most Christians fall into the same problem that the Pharisees encountered, at least to some degree or another. The Pharisees believed that they knew the scriptures, and thought they had a very accurate knowledge of what God would and wouldn't do. But when they encountered Jesus operating in the power of the Holy Spirit, they couldn't believe it was "of God" so they accused Jesus of working with the power of the Beelzebub.

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You bring up an interesting point about the Pharisees ... because Jesus said that: "unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven"


Matthew 5:17–20 (NKJV)

17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.
18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

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I have always wondered what this scripture means ... does it mean I have to be even tougher than they were on discerning who to listen to on the Christian airwaves of TV and radio?

Should I question the authority of the Christian using God's name?

I use to think it just means to use the blood of Jesus for our righteousness ... now I am not so sure.

I am more mellow than most people and tend to let things slide, but I like to believe there is good in everyone, but as I get older I see many of the unnamed men and women of the cross that I use to listen to have not prophesied correctly not only about the future, but about wealth and health.

Is this the wrong place to bring up St Matthew 5:20? or does it fit in asking questions about false prophets?

unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

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Simply Put said:

It's a valid discussion.

Don't refer to anyone here. It's not about us.

A person makes a prophetic statement. And it doesn't come to past. Is he mistaken or does it make the person a false prophet?

Is the role of a New Testament prophet only foretelling? Is there something else they should be doing.

Opinions are ok, but let's call them what they are - opinions.

So, what is the biblical definition or example of a false prophet?

No names, just definitions.

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I recall reading a book by Wayne Grudem about prophecy and it outlined the differences between Old Testament Prophets and New Testament Prophets . i think the main difference is that the proclamation of the law and prophets (luke 16:16) is over and the age of prophecy that is based on the testimony of Jesus (rev 19:10) is well under way .

a false prophet under that paradigm would be one who speaks from the scripture .. but makes it about their theology .. but not so much about Jesus . or providing a way to become more like Jesus . then it would be false .. as opposed to a "truth" that sets free .

Michael Collum said:

I recall reading a book by Wayne Grudem about prophecy and it outlined the differences between Old Testament Prophets and New Testament Prophets . i think the main difference is that the proclamation of the law and prophets (luke 16:16) is over and the age of prophecy that is based on the testimony of Jesus (rev 19:10) is well under way .

a false prophet under that paradigm would be one who speaks from the scripture .. but makes it about their theology .. but not so much about Jesus . or providing a way to become more like Jesus . then it would be false .. as opposed to a "truth" that sets free .

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Correct. The New Testament prophetic is, as with all NT ministries, about the ministry of reconciliation. The Old Testament Prophetic was about the ministry of condemnation. Some prophets are ministering under the wrong testament....

didaskalos said:

Correct. The New Testament prophetic is, as with all NT ministries, about the ministry of reconciliation. The Old Testament Prophetic was about the ministry of condemnation. Some prophets are ministering under the wrong testament....

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Well, the prophetic ministry, by definition of the word, is when a person of God, speaks for God a message that God wants spoken to people who are not hearing Him personally. Has the message changed from O.T. to N.T., yes, a bit. God still calls sin to be sin... some today need reminded of that. Yet, the salvation of the O.T., the blood of bulls and goats, is done away, and we now have the blood of Jesus so graciously offered, so easily accepted.

Prophecy, the prophetic call of God to a sinful world, can turn people away from sin, and the prophetic word can be a curse, and cause destruction, if one does not receive it.

Prophets, like was Jesus, are sent by God in times of crisis. They encourage repentance before comes the judgment. They admonish, reprove, console, and comfort the righteous and repentant. They are like watchmen, shouting out warnings to those in danger of the enemies. They may foretell future events, but are mainly used to bring people closer to the Lord, Who is waiting to be their help in the crisis. Before, it took a sacrifice of a lamb, to atone for sin... now, the sacrifice is done, and that is the good news (gospel) message.

Jesus was prophesied by Moses to come as a prophet ‘like unto’ Moses.

Moses came as God’s chosen prophet to reveal the law, and the covenant offered by God for that age.
Jesus came to fulfill that covenant and reveal and teach the new covenant, the gospel of grace.
Moses was a counselor, a guide to the promised land.
Jesus is the counselor, and guide to the glory land.

Most prophets are given visions and dreams. With Moses, God spoke ‘face to face.’ Jesus came and spoke forth a message with divine authority, by Himself speaking to God, face to face.

Now, with the crucifixion having caused the ‘veil’ to be rent, we can boldly enter into the holy of holies, and stand before God, and hear His Word, so we may continue the work of Jesus, and do the ‘Father’s business.’

Jesus came to Nicodemus, and doing the ‘Father’s business’, He showed Nicodemus, the plan of salvation. Nicodemus called Jesus to be ‘a Teacher come from God.’

The woman at the well met Jesus. As Jesus spoke to her, He prophesied to her of her 5 previous husbands, and that the man with whom she was currently dwelling, was not her husband. She then realized He was ‘THAT PROPHET’ foretold by Moses.

False prophets come, and are too often accepted in this world, due to the fact that some object to the kind of prophet that Moses spoke concerning, and that Jesus showed Himself to be.

Some people do not understand how ‘prophecy’ can flow from someone, coming from the omniscient mind of God, to a Person, in that case Jesus, and in our day and age, from those with a gift of prophecy.

We are to be 'Christ-like' and therefore, the words that come from our mouths should be sent from God, i.e. rhema words, and spoken as God wants to speak to this world. Jesus’ words were prophetic rhema. Today, a prophet can also be about the ‘Father’s business’, and speak rhema words given by God.

False prophets speak words that are not authored by God, but rather by their own human mind, or from an evil spirit.

The first recorded sermon of Jesus, is found in Luke 4:7-19. He took His text from Isaiah 61, and explained His prophetic ministry, the work He was going to do for the Father, in this way:

First, He said the Holy Spirit was upon Him.
Luke 4:18
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, for He has anointed Me...”

An anointing by the Spirit of God is a prime necessity in doing a prophetic work. False prophets are not Spirit anointed. The ministry does not come from ‘talent’ or training, but from anointing. Jesus was anointed, and yet, He was well educated in Scriptures, as shown when He talked to the doctors of the law when He was 12. He still needed an anointing of power from the Spirit, to come upon His human body and soul.

Second, He had learned the ‘good news.’
Luke 4:18
“He hath anointed Me to preach good news to the poor...”

Without the ‘good news’, the world is ‘poor’, bewildered, bored, miserable, and ignorant. To proclaim the gospel is ‘good news.’ Jesus had learned what the good news was, and this is done by study and prayer. He had devoured the Scriptures, studied, and now could be anointed to preach, empowered to share what He had learned. He did not want to proclaim ‘bad news’, and though the gospel does tell of ‘hell’ and punishment, judgment, and wrath. Still there is good news to go along with that, for Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s plan of salvation from the ‘wages of sin.’


Third, Jesus came to miraculously release some from the bondage, and blindness of sin.
Luke 4:18
“To proclaim release to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind.’

Freedom and enlightenment are promised to flow out of the prophet’s words, that He speaks from the Holy Spirit. Some are bound by sin and ignorance. Some are blinded to truth by misconceptions. Some are locked into bondage by grudges and hate. Some blindly grope for help, but do not know where to turn. Some come to church, sing, recite, pray, but never ‘learn’ what church truly is. The prophets of God, like did Jesus, come to proclaim liberty and sight, and the ‘words’ that are spoken by them can be the rhema of God, and that rhema has power. False prophets do not have the proclamation of release, nor can they offer true sight spiritually.

Fourth, Jesus came to set people free from the oppression of the devils. Devils cannot possess just anyone, but they do ‘oppress’ all saints, as they find opportunity. The oppression can be broken by the words of the Lord, by the words of the Holy Spirit spoken by Jesus, and now by we His beneficiaries.
Luke 4:18
“... to set at liberty, those that are oppressed.’

The devils like to oppress people. The false prophets do too. The devil likes o create depression, hopelessness, heavy burdens, bitterness, and despair. Sometimes, unforgiveness, or similar sin, creates an opening for the devil to do this work. The true prophet can come and identify the sin that gave the opening, and then lead the person to correcting that sin in repentance. The prophet then can speak to the demons that have oppressed, and proclaim liberty to the victim of their oppression. The false prophet come to steal, and is more interested in the baskets of money collected, than the souls needing sight, freedom, liberty from the bondage of sins.

Fifth, Jesus came to proclaim that the prophetic message is unfolding, and being fulfilled. Jesus came to fulfill the first part in that first coming, and He proclaimed details of the coming second part of the prophecy.
Luke 4:19
“... to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”


The Lord stopped in the midst of that verse, in the midst of the prophecy given through Isaiah, for the next part of the verse is yet to be fulfilled. Jesus did not come to fulfill that later passage, not yet. He came to fulfill the first part of Isaiah 61, but the last part of Isaiah’s message is to be fulfilled at the second coming time. Jesus came to do the first part, and proclaim prophetically about the second part.

True Prophets today, that are carrying on the work of the Lord, come to do, and to proclaim. False prophets have a different message.
True Prophets have a ministry of being anointed to preach the good news, set at liberty those that are bound, give enlightenment to those in darkness and blindness, and to break the oppression of the devil.
False prophets do not have that message. Sinners hearing the false prophets do not recognize their sin, do not confess their sins, stay bound in the sin, and lie saying they have no sin. That is what the Bible describes as a false prophet's message.

Yet, there is still a further prophetic message we proclaim. We still are awaiting the coming of Jesus to do the further things He is going to do, and prophets still proclaim in prophetic words, concerning that great event.

Jesus did not come at that time for the ‘vengeance’ part of His work. We do not proclaim condemnation upon people, we proclaim the liberty available for those under condemnation for their sins.

Jesus will someday come back and the hearers of prophets today will be judged for their decision, and Jesus will take the throne of this world by force.

True Prophets are here now, as was He, to proclaim though, the mercy part, the freedom part, the forgiveness, healing, blessing, rapture to safety part.

True prophets proclaim the good news of salvation and victory. False prophets proclaim that there in no need to repent, no need to break the bondage of sin... and people miss the victory that is in the good news of the message from true prophets.

Fear is not to be our motivating force, now, any more than it was then. We do pronounce coming judgment, but we offer present help to avoid such.

Prophets proclaim a ‘fear is now’, and show why fear is not necessary, for Jesus came to fulfill the first part, of good news, liberty, sight, victory over oppression. Fear is defeated in the love of the Lord.

True prophets do not create fear, that is already in sinners. The Holy Spirit has already pricked their hearts. True prophets proclaim that those fears have a cure in Jesus. False prophets preach the other message, of 'no need to fear', but until salvation that message is a lie.

For three years, Jesus proclaimed and prophesied. He told of a kingdom, He foretold His crucifixion, He told of a resurrection and a home in heaven. Yet, people would not listen. The pharisees, who were the hypocrites of that day, received many a ‘woe’ from the Lord. For many reject the prophetic messages of Jesus, and of His prophets today.

Finally, during the week of the crucifixion, Jesus said:
Matthew 23:37-38
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered thy children together... and ye would not.”

Jesus wept, and said to them, ‘Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.”

The Lord wanted to ‘gather’ them, to proclaim to them, to do for them the things that the anointing of the Spirit enabled Him to do. The Lord was proclaiming a prophetic message of hope in being gathered under the wings, but many interpreted that as 'condemnation', for the reasons they used to not accept that gathering.

didaskalos said:

Correct. The New Testament prophetic is, as with all NT ministries, about the ministry of reconciliation. The Old Testament Prophetic was about the ministry of condemnation. Some prophets are ministering under the wrong testament....

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It almost sounds like you are saying, that unless we have the correct doctrine, a prophet could easily find him/herself speaking for the wrong spirit.

I disagree. In principle, at least. I believe that the prophetic giftings operate off of relationship rather than doctrinal understanding. That a True Prophet is someone who knows God, and willingly speaks anything God asks him/her to speak; rather than someone who knows the scriptures inside and out. A Prophet doesn't have the ability to adjust the message on the fly, at least not very much. They are either speaking for God, or they are not! If they are, then the message is what it is, and God says what He says.

Acts 16:16 Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” 18 And this she did for many days.

But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour.

Notice that there was nothing wrong with her doctrine! What she said was completely true. But when the spirit behind her words was spiritually discerned, it was seen for the false spirit that it was.

Prophets have to discern the spirits, and KNOW when it is God speaking and when it is not. This comes as an overflow of their relationship with God, not from diligent Bible study. We can use the scriptures to judge prophecies, but then again, the results are often skewed by our faulty doctrine. God is God, and He says what He wants. Many times I have had to adjust my doctrine to accommodate what God has said to me.

think of a prophetic ministry as more listening than speaking . then you'll know the difference between a false and true prophet . if people just speak and speak and when you're speaking .. are just waiting to let another gust of wind out of their mouth .. so to speak .. that comes from the carnal . not from God . love is patient . love is kind . love does not seek their own .