Prophecy and fortune telling

[meredithgood]

Hey all,

The other day a friend of mine (not a christian, she's a tarot reader) bought up and interesting question, what is the difference between prophecy and fortune telling? While prophecy is a gift of the spirit fortune telling is always seen as bad, but isn't prophecy kind of like telling someone's fortune and giving them spiritual guidance? Kind of like tarot readers use the cards for guidance? I'm not supporting tarot reading/fortune telling anything but going from that wouldn't God be able to talk to us through tarot?

I just thought it was an interesting point and would love to hear your opinions

Cheers

Meredith

 

[RC1970]

Well, since God considers fortune telling to be an abomination they could not possibly be the same thing. See Deuteronomy 18:10-13

 

[Faithfulandtrue]

Prophecy is a gift given by God while fortune telling is given by demons and Satan. There is a huge difference and like Christus Dicipulus said above fortune telling is an abomination. Stay away from people who tap into the demonic realm with physic (which is witch craft) because they have a demon telling them these things.

 

[Jaxxi]

I can see where it can be confusing because tarot cards dont come across as evil and they can seem fairly accurate regarding given situations but they are not of God therefore are not for Christians to use. Any answers other than those of Gods are not Holy.

 

[FlyingTurtle]

Prophecy is when God gives a message to the church or a particular member of it. It's one of the gifts that God gives. When we receive a prophecy, it comes from God's Spirit to our spirit, so that we receive the prophecy within ourselves (as the Holy Spirit lives within us) not from outside. And prophecy is to edify, exhort, and comfort. Though sometimes it is to warn of what's in store in the future (which could be considered a form of exhortation I guess).

Prophecy can reveal the future or new things, but that is not the purpose of prophecy. Its purpose is for God to communicate with us. It can involve revealing the future, but it doesn't by any means require it.

The difference between prophecy and fortune telling is where they come from. All power comes from spirit. There are two sources of spiritual power, the Holy Spirit or demonic spirits. If something doesn't come from the Holy Spirit, it comes from demonic ones. Divination and fortune telling and sorcery are then demonic because they don't come from God.

 

[tturt]

Agree - it depends on the source of the information and its purpose.

 

[SergeiReborn!]

spirits provide the power of both, however unclean/demonic spirits allow fortune tellers to tell peoples fortunes, however the Holy Spirit gives the power to a member of a church to prophecy for the church, and not in selfish ways.

 

[TheNorwegian]

I also believe it has to do with the source of information: Is it from God or from some other spiritual entity. I would add one thing: True prophecy is always submitted to the Bible, and should be tested by the church/God's people.

 

[tturt]

Those are excellent points TheNorwegian.

"Despise not prophesyings." "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." I Thess 5:20-21.

We prove all things by - Foremost we have The Holy Spirit and Holy Scripture, hearing God's voice, spiritual discernment, and confirmation (Acts 9;9-19 especially v 10-12; II Cor 13:1)