What is the biblical definition of a false prophet?

[Always in His Presence]

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.

 

[murjahel]

There are many definitions in the Bible for false prophets, some more complete than others. The most complete in one chapter anyhow, is in II Peter...

False prophets must be identified, and shunned. The last days are upon us, and we cannot afford to stray from the truth of God's Word.

Peter gives us some characteristics of false prophets, to help us of the last days identify the ones who the devil is using to lead us from the way God has planned for His people.


2 Peter 2:1-19 (KJV)
1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds)
9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.
12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;
14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.



Note that these false prophets are SUBTLE.

It says: "who privily", which is the word "pareisazousin" meaning "to introduce subtly, stealthily." It is in the future tense, which indicates the continuing action. So these false prophets will secretly introduce heresies that are damnable, destructive ideas and doctrines. They follow the soft-sell, subtle pitch. They follow the example of Satan in the garden to Eve. They quietly come and try to sell a doctrine, that if believed, will damn the soul.

The false prophets are SENSUAL.

The Bible calls this "PERNICIOUS WAYS". They pursue the lusts of the flesh. They have low moral standards. They have much love for selves, and for certain friends and family, but do not have the same love for the "down and outers," or for the wayward, rebellious, etc. Christians who follow, and support such false teachers do great harm to the cause of Christ. When these false prophets are caught in their lustful ways, the cause of Christ suffers reproach and shame. Peter says they are trapped in the "LUST OF UNCLEANNESS", and that they have "EYES FULL OF ADULTERY." Today we live in a time when some churches are considering changing their teachings on pre-marital sex, extra-marital sex, perversions, and sodomy. These standards that the Bible has taught have not changed or become outdated. The false prophets of today would have people to think that we have outdated old-fashioned morality of the commandments of God. Beware these teachings that attempt to cater to the lusts of the flesh.

The false prophets are marked by GREED.


The Bible says: "through covetousness", which comes from the word -"pleonexia". This means - "one eager to have more, especially of that which belongs to others." It also says that they will "MAKE MERCHANDISE OF YOU..." This is from the Greek - "emporeusontai." This means "to exploit, deceive for one's own advantage." False prophets will treat people as personal property, seeking to drain every bit of finance from them. Peter says that they will do such "WITH FEIGNED WORDS", (Greek, "plastois logois") These are false words, well-turned words, slick tongued words that cause people to part with their money believing that they are not serving Christ properly unless they give to this false prophet. Peter cites the example of Balaam in the Old Testament (Numbers 22-31), who had a strong desire for personal gain. He wanted money so much that he almost cursed God's people in order to get wealth.


These false prophets "DESPISE AUTHORITY."

This is the word - "katphroneo" - which means "to despise, to disregard. False prophets are the ones who disregard the true teachings. They can omit huge portions of Scripture, with all its teachings and commandments with ease. Beware any new teachings that replace sound Scriptural teachings.


The false prophets are described by Peter as "SELF WILLED."

This is the Greek word - "authades," which means self-pleasing. False teachers are self pleasers. They want their own will. They cannot pray as Christ, "NOT MY WILL, BUT THINE BE DONE..." They are willing to twist and reshape the Word of God, to get it to say what they want it to say. Test any new teaching by the Word of God.


Another trait of false prophets is their DARING.


They are "NOT AFRAID TO SPEAK EVIL OF DIGNITIES." False prophets will speak evil of many, and criticize many. They will despise those who teach the truth, and encourage others to also despise them. When names are mentioned in ridicule and criticism, be very careful to check out the Scriptures. Beware of ministers who can use God, and His ways, and His servants in stories of ridicule, and criticism.


The words of the false prophets are MEANINGLESS.

Peter says that the false prophets of the last days will "SPEAK GREAT SWELLING WORDS OF VANITY." He says that they are "SPRINGS WITHOUT WATER." Of what value is a spring without water? In the same way, the messages of false prophets are valueless. They may tell you how to get rich, get more money than you can spend, etc, but the Bible tells us that even if we had all the money of the world, and had not eternal life, we profit nothing. The Bible tells us not to be concerned with laying up treasures here on the earth, but to lay up treasures in heaven. So a sermon on how to serve God and give to the needy, sick, and troubled is worth many thousands of sermons on how to get, be rich, and prosper financially. We had better learn how to prosper spiritually in these last days.


The false prophets of the last days are DISHONEST.

Peter says that "WHILE THEY PROMISE THEM LIBERTY, THEY THEMSELVES ARE SERVANTS OF CORRUPTION." False prophets promise real freedom, but they aren't free from sin and its bondage themselves. They promise what they can't deliver. They are servants of sin.

 

[SavedByGrace3]

Bottom line... False prophets are unbelievers who deny the Lord and want you to deny Him also.
They are wolves in sheep clothing...

wolves

There are many definitions in the Bible for false prophets, some more complete than others. The most complete in one chapter anyhow, is in II Peter...

False prophets must be identified, and shunned. The last days are upon us, and we cannot afford to stray from the truth of God's Word.

Peter gives us some characteristics of false prophets, to help us of the last days identify the ones who the devil is using to lead us from the way God has planned for His people.


2 Peter 2:1-19 (KJV)
1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds)
9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.
12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;
14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.



Note that these false prophets are SUBTLE.

It says: "who privily", which is the word "pareisazousin" meaning "to introduce subtly, stealthily." It is in the future tense, which indicates the continuing action. So these false prophets will secretly introduce heresies that are damnable, destructive ideas and doctrines. They follow the soft-sell, subtle pitch. They follow the example of Satan in the garden to Eve. They quietly come and try to sell a doctrine, that if believed, will damn the soul.

The false prophets are SENSUAL.

The Bible calls this "PERNICIOUS WAYS". They pursue the lusts of the flesh. They have low moral standards. They have much love for selves, and for certain friends and family, but do not have the same love for the "down and outers," or for the wayward, rebellious, etc. Christians who follow, and support such false teachers do great harm to the cause of Christ. When these false prophets are caught in their lustful ways, the cause of Christ suffers reproach and shame. Peter says they are trapped in the "LUST OF UNCLEANNESS", and that they have "EYES FULL OF ADULTERY." Today we live in a time when some churches are considering changing their teachings on pre-marital sex, extra-marital sex, perversions, and sodomy. These standards that the Bible has taught have not changed or become outdated. The false prophets of today would have people to think that we have outdated old-fashioned morality of the commandments of God. Beware these teachings that attempt to cater to the lusts of the flesh.

The false prophets are marked by GREED.


The Bible says: "through covetousness", which comes from the word -"pleonexia". This means - "one eager to have more, especially of that which belongs to others." It also says that they will "MAKE MERCHANDISE OF YOU..." This is from the Greek - "emporeusontai." This means "to exploit, deceive for one's own advantage." False prophets will treat people as personal property, seeking to drain every bit of finance from them. Peter says that they will do such "WITH FEIGNED WORDS", (Greek, "plastois logois") These are false words, well-turned words, slick tongued words that cause people to part with their money believing that they are not serving Christ properly unless they give to this false prophet. Peter cites the example of Balaam in the Old Testament (Numbers 22-31), who had a strong desire for personal gain. He wanted money so much that he almost cursed God's people in order to get wealth.


These false prophets "DESPISE AUTHORITY."

This is the word - "katphroneo" - which means "to despise, to disregard. False prophets are the ones who disregard the true teachings. They can omit huge portions of Scripture, with all its teachings and commandments with ease. Beware any new teachings that replace sound Scriptural teachings.


The false prophets are described by Peter as "SELF WILLED."

This is the Greek word - "authades," which means self-pleasing. False teachers are self pleasers. They want their own will. They cannot pray as Christ, "NOT MY WILL, BUT THINE BE DONE..." They are willing to twist and reshape the Word of God, to get it to say what they want it to say. Test any new teaching by the Word of God.


Another trait of false prophets is their DARING.


They are "NOT AFRAID TO SPEAK EVIL OF DIGNITIES." False prophets will speak evil of many, and criticize many. They will despise those who teach the truth, and encourage others to also despise them. When names are mentioned in ridicule and criticism, be very careful to check out the Scriptures. Beware of ministers who can use God, and His ways, and His servants in stories of ridicule, and criticism.


The words of the false prophets are MEANINGLESS.

Peter says that the false prophets of the last days will "SPEAK GREAT SWELLING WORDS OF VANITY." He says that they are "SPRINGS WITHOUT WATER." Of what value is a spring without water? In the same way, the messages of false prophets are valueless. They may tell you how to get rich, get more money than you can spend, etc, but the Bible tells us that even if we had all the money of the world, and had not eternal life, we profit nothing. The Bible tells us not to be concerned with laying up treasures here on the earth, but to lay up treasures in heaven. So a sermon on how to serve God and give to the needy, sick, and troubled is worth many thousands of sermons on how to get, be rich, and prosper financially. We had better learn how to prosper spiritually in these last days.


The false prophets of the last days are DISHONEST.

Peter says that "WHILE THEY PROMISE THEM LIBERTY, THEY THEMSELVES ARE SERVANTS OF CORRUPTION." False prophets promise real freedom, but they aren't free from sin and its bondage themselves. They promise what they can't deliver. They are servants of sin.

 

[murjahel]

In Jeremiah chapter 28, there is recorded a clash between Jeremiah and another prophet named Hananiah.

Hananiah said that Babylon would be defeated within two years. His sermon was delivered "in the house of God" and "in the presence of the priests and of all the people." (Jer. 28:1)
Hananiah spoke with the "Thus speaketh the Lord of Hosts" (28:2) that Jeremiah and the true prophets also used.
Even Jeremiah said "AMEN" to the message of Hananiah. Jeremiah also longed to see the nation, the city, the temple, and the people saved.

True prophets do not prophesy terrible events because they want them to happen. However, Jeremiah had prophesied that Babylon would prevail. So Jeremiah politely said that the events would show which prophet had truly heard from the Lord. Hananiah would not be satisfied with this politeness of Jeremiah.

In the sermon of Jeremiah in chapter 27, Jeremiah had put a wooden yoke about his neck to illustrate how Jerusalem and its people would be under the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon.

Hananiah now went up to Jeremiah, who was still wearing the yoke, and removed the yoke and broke it before all the people. The priests and the people probably cheered this illustrated sermon of Hananiah.

Jeremiah quietly walked away.

If you have been in ministry very long, you have found some confront what you feel the Lord has called you to do. Jealousy, wrong teachings, or just demonic attack through another person toward your work can be a great distress. Yet, if your calling is real, is Scriptural, is anointed by God, like Jeremiah you must go on.

It is not wise to publicly argue with false ones, at least not until directed by the Spirit of God. The tide of public sentiment was with Hananiah and Jeremiah needed to speak with the Lord. To speak at the time might make him utter things out of emotion or hurt. He had been publicly offended, attacked personally by a comrade, before his fellow priests, and in view and hearing of a people already angry at the prophecy he had spoken.


Somewhere Jeremiah found a place to commune with God, before he spoke.

There he learned what God wanted to have prophesied. He could have jumped the gun and spoke what the people wanted to hear, or what his friends had wanted to hear. But a true prophet will speak what God wants him to speak.

When Jeremiah returned, he spake a "Thus saith the Lord" to Hananiah.

In the announcement from God was the message that Hananiah was wrong, and for his false prophecy - he would die within the year. This would be a sign to the people that his message was false. Two months later, Hananiah died.

God does want prophets, and He wants all ministries to flourish, to do their part of the work of Jesus. He desires to share his messages, share His works, with those who will listen and bravely give out to the people. God has always wanted people who would listen to God's precious instructions and revelations. Sometimes God has searched for someone to stand in the "gap" to intercede and to encourage His people to repent.

Amos 3:7
"Surely the Lord Jehovah will do nothing, except He reveal His secret unto His servants the prophets."

Moses prayed that God would make all the servants of God to be prophets with the Holy Spirit of God upon them.

Jesus similarly prayed and told the disciples to pray for God to "send laborers for the harvest." We all have some prophetic message to give this world about Jesus’ soon return, but we all have other labors also. We all have the ‘great commission’ , and we each have a part, a method of doing that great commission. We, each of us, are to be part of the answer to the prayer Jesus commanded, to have ‘laborers for the harvest.’

The word "prophet" comes from the Hebrew word "navi" which means "to speak." Anyone who speaks for God can be called a prophet. Abraham (Gen. 20:7), Moses (Deut. 34:10), Miriam (Ex. 15:20), Deborah (Judg. 4:4), were all called prophets.

The prophet was originally called a "seer". (I Samuel 9:9) This word is from the Hebrew, "roeh", which means a seer of visions.

Another word for seer was "chozeh" which refers to the spiritual discerning of what is transpiring.


These words are all used in I Chronicles 29:29:
"Now the acts of David, the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Samuel the seer (chozeh), and in the book of Nathan the prophet (navi), and in the book of Gad, the seer (roeh)."

This seems to describe several different types of prophets of God.

Some will receive visions, and perhaps not fully understand what the full meaning of the vision.

Others will receive the vision, and understand the spiritual significance of it.

They will also be able to discern what God is doing by watching the events that are transpiring.

The third group will receive the benefits of the other two groups and then speak forth an inspired message from God.

These ministries of God, that are given freely in our age to all who choose to accept the consequences that go along with the honor, are great in importance to God's plan. He is constantly seeking to send forth people into these ministries.

Jeremiah 7:25
"Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day, I have sent unto you all My servants, the prophets."

Since this is a very high calling, the sins of those who attain to this ministry are very serious, and are so judged.

So, to be a false prophet like Hananiah, is very serious.

Jeremiah 23:14
"I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies, they strengthen also the hands of evildoers: that none doth return from his wickedness, they are all of them unto Me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah."


Before God judges a nation, He judges His own. The prophets always come into judgment before the sinners. In the New Testament period, when we all have the calling of "prophet" we will see that "judgment (krima = damnation) must begin at the house of God." (I Peter 4:17-18)


Isaiah 29:15
"Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord, and their works are in the dark, and they say "Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?"


In every ministry, we find we speak the Lord’s will, His thoughts, His ways His plan. Whether we are evangelists, pastors, missionaries, exhorters, teachers, or whatever, we are speaking, showing, demonstrating the plan of God. Those who oppose us in our callings, those who oppose the Lord’s directions found in the Word, are sinful, and we are confronted by them while we minister.

Sin-corrupted ministries must be judged, including any who have prophesied falsely.

Should we rejoice as we see sinful prophets, and false prophets judged in these last days? Look at Jeremiah's reaction.
Jeremiah 23:9-10
"Mine heart within me is broken because of all the prophets, all my bones shake."

Though Jeremiah had been confronted, slapped, put in stocks, imprisoned, hated, and mocked by these false, sinful prophets, he still was grieved greatly by their doom and punishment. A true prophet is not marked by his personal anger, no... it is God's anger that a prophet speaks. The prophet, himself, longs to see repentance and forgiveness.

 

[lismore]

I like the example of Elijah on Mount Carmel who said to the people 'How long will you waver between two opinions, if baal is God then serve him, but if the Lord is God then serve Him'.

The true prophet brings you to that clear choice, there is no grey area, no doubt, no twilight or half-truth. You are either in one camp or the other. You are either serving God or serving baal. The true path is not difficult to see. Future predictions and words of knowledge are the sugar coating, but the core message is always to turn to God and follow him.

The false prophet's mantra is 'Did God really say?'. They try to make you doubt God, they muddy the water where the water is clear, try to make everything a shade of grey, bring the third way. Make simple things complicated. Keep you always from the clear choice.

God Bless

 

[Tobias]

I like the example of Elijah on Mount Carmel who said to the people 'How long will you waver between two opinions, if baal is God then serve him, but if the Lord is God then serve Him'.

The true prophet brings you to that clear choice, there is no grey area, no doubt, no twilight or half-truth. You are either in one camp or the other. You are either serving God or serving baal. The true path is not difficult to see. Future predictions and words of knowledge are the sugar coating, but the core message is always to turn to God and follow him.

The false prophet's mantra is 'Did God really say?'. They try to make you doubt God, they muddy the water where the water is clear, try to make everything a shade of grey, bring the third way. Make simple things complicated. Keep you always from the clear choice.

God Bless

Remember though...

There was a huge difference between the Elisha while he was operating as a Prophet and by the power of God called down fire from heaven, and...

The exact same person two days later, who was running scared from Jezebel and doubting his own relevance and usefulness.



Prophets are people too! How many Israelis would have felt inspired, had they been there to talk to Elisha while he was feeling down? Would that add too the awesome prophetic "Word of the Lord" given two days earlier, or taken away from it?


I think we are inspired, because we realize that prophets face the same doubts and worries as the rest of us. They may see their visions, and speak out boldly for the Lord, but at the end of the day they still have to stand in faith just like anybody else. So while their ministry produces a boldness and a confidence in the rest of us, knowing one personally shows you the other side of the coin.

 

[geetrue]

Remember though...

There was a huge difference between the Elisha while he was operating as a Prophet and by the power of God called down fire from heaven, and...

The exact same person two days later, who was running scared from Jezebel and doubting his own relevance and usefulness.



Prophets are people too! How many Israelis would have felt inspired, had they been there to talk to Elisha while he was feeling down? Would that add too the awesome prophetic "Word of the Lord" given two days earlier, or taken away from it?

I think your mean Elijah, due to Elisha was Elijah's replacement so to speak.

What about the prophets of the old testament? I don't think anyone liked some of them ... Jeremiah was not well thought of and he spoke angry words for the Lord to the people.

2 Ch 36:11–12 kjv

Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God, and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the mouth of the LORD.

Even good prophets have a hard time being accepted ...

 

[cyberlizard]

there's an old testament definition of a false prophet but not a new testament definition so we either do not have false prophets now or the standard for identifying them has been significantly watered down for fear of being labelled judgemental or legalistic.


Steve

 

[Faulty]

Ezekiel 13:6-9 - False prophets declare lying words and false visions declaring them to be from the Lord

They have seen false visions and lying divinations. They say, ‘Declares the Lord,’ when the Lord has not sent them, and yet they expect him to fulfill their word. Have you not seen a false vision and uttered a lying divination, whenever you have said, ‘Declares the Lord,’ although I have not spoken?”

Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Because you have uttered falsehood and seen lying visions, therefore behold, I am against you, declares the Lord God. My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and who give lying divinations.​

Jeremiah 23:16 - False prophets come and speak their own words in the name of the Lord.

Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord... I did not send the prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied.​

Deuteronomy 18:20 - A false prophet speaks words as if they are from the Lord that are not from the Lord

But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.​

In short, a false prophet comes to you and says, "The Lord told me..." or "The Lord revealed to me that...", and then proceeds to speak lies in His name. I don't know about any of you, but that sounds really familiar to me.

 

[Tobias]

Typical Christian definitions:

False Prophet -- Anyone who has the nerve to stand up and say: "Thus sayeth the Lord" and then proceeds to speak a message that sounds like it is word for word spoken by God. No matter how you slice it, there is always something the critics can find wrong with it. There seems to be a very strong sentiment that all modern day prophets are false!


NOT a False Prophet -- Everyone who stands up and presumes to speak for God, but simply claims to "preach the Word" rather than claiming status as a Prophet. By not claiming to be a prophet, and by not wording their message in the first person (as though God Himself is speaking), they believe they are absolved from all responsibility for claiming "This is what God has to say about..."

But if you follow the bread crumbs, often after humbly claiming to simply be a "Teacher of the Bible", they then claim that their doctrine is pure and that the Bible is the Word of God. Which IMO puts them back in exactly the same position as a Prophet; because often in the Church today a Bible scholar is the new "Mouthpiece of God".

 

[ToBeBlessed]

there's an old testament definition of a false prophet but not a new testament definition so we either do not have false prophets now or the standard for identifying them has been significantly watered down for fear of being labelled judgemental or legalistic.


Steve

That's not true.

Jesus Himself in the gospels talked about false prophets, as did Paul.

There were false prophets and false teachers in the time of Paul. He had to keep reminding the new churches of the original gospel of grace that he had taught them, because other false teachers tried to gain control of the new churches.

 

[cyberlizard]

That's not true.

Jesus Himself in the gospels talked about false prophets, as did Paul.

There were false prophets and false teachers in the time of Paul. He had to keep reminding the new churches of the original gospel of grace that he had taught them, because other false teachers tried to gain control of the new churches.

so what are the criteria for labelling someone a false prophet according to your theology.


Steve

 

[SavedByGrace3]

The difference between the NT prophetic and OT prophetic is clear when we consider the relative missions of each covenant.

The OT was God revealing to men their fallen natures and their need for a new birth. It was the "word of condemnation". Hence OT prophets spoke words of condemnation all the time in accordance with that mission and covenant.

The NT is the covenant of the new birth and reconciliation. It is the covenant of faith. Hence ALL NT prophecies will speak words of faith and reconciliation. How do you judge these prophesies? You judge them by determining if they edify, comfort, or exhort us to better things.

If you have a prophet that goes around stuck in the OT prophetic and all he does is speak words of condemnation... then you judge according to that guideline.

"Prediction" (sic) is a totally other gift. It is the manifestation of the Word of Wisdom in that it reveals something that cannot be known by natural means.. including the future.

 

[contango]

It's a valid discussion.

It is. For the purposes of my reply I'm going to use silly examples, just to make sure the focus stays on the topic and not on the specifics of the examples.

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?

For me it would depend on how the person presents their statement.

If they say "I think God might be saying if we paint the church walls blue we'll see a revival", people accept the word and paint the church walls blue and there is no revival, the person made a mistake. But the mistake can easily be in the "I think God might be saying", i.e. either God got it wrong or God wasn't saying it. But either way there's easy scope for the person to have got it wrong. (Just to throw in another element, if the church walls are painted blue and there is a revival it doesn't necessarily mean the person is a prophet - it's possible there would have been a revival regardless of the colour of the walls)

If they say "This is the word of the Sovereign LORD: Paint your walls blue and I will fill this church to capacity", it's presented as if there's no doubt that God has spoken. The words are attributed to God, rather than the person delivering the words.

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

They should be speaking the words they feel led to speak by God, whether that involves correction, encouragement, teaching, speaking things into existence, whatever God tells them to do. Of course they should also be testing their words to make sure they align with Scripture.

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

I like the verses from Deut 13 and 18:

Deu 13:1-5 NKJV "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,' ([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; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him. ([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.

Deu 18:17-22 NKJV "And the LORD said to me: 'What they have spoken is good. ([18]) I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. ([19]) And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him. ([20]) But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.' ([21]) And if you say in your heart, 'How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?'— ([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.


So even though we don't execute people for getting it wrong today (although some people appear to speak as if they are prophets in the OT sense), a false prophet is someone who speaks on God's behalf but whose predictions do not come to pass, or someone who encourages people to follow other gods.

As to where we draw the line between accepting someone got it wrong and calling them a false prophet, I think a lot would depend on how they present themselves and their words. The person who presents their thoughts humbly and with a sense of "I think God might be saying..." is very different to the person who insists that they speak the very words of God. So, to use the example of the walls being painted blue, the humble approach would be to say what we thought God was saying and encourage others to prayerfully consider and test the word. The less humble approach would be to openly berate the church leadership because they haven't yet gone to buy the blue paint.

 

[murjahel]

The Holy Spirit is still working today, and He is still empowering some to work in the prophetic office. Prophets of God need to speak God’s message, and to encourage saints. The Spirit does empower and give gifts, the same today, as He has since Pentecost.

There is a difference, a bit, with N.T. prophets. In the O.T., the Holy Spirit temporarily came upon prophets, and they spake prophetic words, wrote books for the Bible, under an inspiration came upon them.

In the N.T., the Holy Spirit is given at the baptism of the Spirit, and is indwelling and empowering in a much more special and powerful way. So, any Spirit filled person could be given a 'prophetic word', a 'word of wisdom', a 'word of knowledge', a 'discernment of spirits', all of which were sometimes imparted in the O.T. to those we call prophets.

False prophets them, were ones who claimed God was speaking through them, claiming authority to author books saying God was telling them what to write.
False prophets today may imitate those false prophets, or claim use of a spiritual gift from the infilling of the Holy Spirit, and not truly have it. We are told to test the prophetic words, to try the spirits, to beware of those who claim gifts, but are imposters, or deceived.

We have the same Holy Spirit operating today as the prophets had in O.T. times, who infills today, who can choose any Christian therefore to give a prophetic word, or tongues with interpretation... So, all of us have a possibility to be used with prophetic gifts, and a few have a calling to the 'office of prophet.

We are all still members of the One body, able to be used by that Spirit of God.

I Corinthians 12:13,27
"...HAVE ALL BEEN MADE TO DRINK INTO ONE SPIRIT... NOW YE ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST, AND MEMBERS IN PARTICULAR..."

The Spirit of God sends and operates through the saints by giving offices of work, a calling of purpose to saints.

I Corinthians 12:28
"GOD HATH SET SOME IN THE CHURCH, FIRST APOSTLES, SECONDARILY PROPHETS..."

Ephesians 4:8, 11, 12
"WHEN HE ASCENDED UP ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVITY CAPTIVE AND GAVE GIFTS UNTO MEN... FOR THE PERFECTING OF THE SAINTS, FOR THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY, FOR THE EDIFYING OF THE BODY OF CHRIST, TILL WE ALL COME INTO THE UNITY OF THE FAITH..."

He gives gifts of miraculous power to help the saints do the work of the Lord.

The OFFICES of the Spirit are the plan of the Lord for the administration of the local churches. The Spirit's plan for the rule, guiding, feeding, and guarding of the church include these offices.
Christ is the Head (Eph. 1:22, Col.1:18)
Elders (I Tim. 3:1-7)
Deacons (I Tim. 3:8-13)
Priests (I Pet.2:5,9)
"YE ALSO, AS LIVELY STONES, ARE BUILT UP A SPIRITUAL HOUSE, AN HOLY PRIESTHOOD."

The GIFTS of the Spirit are divine endowments of special power for service in the body of Christ. These are God-given abilities, strengths, and divine endowments. They are not natural talents. Natural talents are given of God through genetics. Talents are received at birth. Talents should be dedicated to God for His use. However, the gifts of the Spirit are given of God, independent of the parents. They are received at conversion, or later. They are to be used as God directs. There are several ways to classify the gifts of the Spirit. Here we will divide them into five classifications.
1. Those that impart the power to know:
word of wisdom
word of knowledge
discernment of spirits
2. Those that impart the power to act supernaturally:
faith
miracles
healings
3. Those that impart the power to speak supernaturally:
prophecy
tongues
interpretation of tongues
4. Those that aid one's own ministry:
pastor-teacher
evangelism
apostleship
exhortation
teaching
5. Those that give help to the ministry of others:
shewing mercy
administration
giving
helps
intercession

These gifts are spoken of in many places within the Bible (Romans 12:6-8, Ephesians 4:11, I Peter 4:11, I Corinthians 12:6-10, 28-30).

Every believer may have one or all, as he covets them and seeks God. (I Cor. 12:8-31, 1:5-7, Romans. 1:11, 12:3-8, John 14:12, Mark. 16:15-20, 9:23) These gifts are distributed to every individual believer.

So, if one is called to the office of pastor, he has available all these gifts to empower him to do that work. So, this age is one in which the power of God is available as needed. This is by far a greater age than when the O.T. prophets walked the earth.

Ephesian 4:7
"BUT TO EACH ONE OF US GRACE WAS GIVEN ACCORDING TO THE MEASURE OF CHRIST'S GIFT."

False prophets try to imitate the gifts, some use verbal deception, some use quija boards, crystal balls, holy? water, horoscopes, etc and yet all of the one pretending to do miraculous things but not operating by the gifts of the Holy Spirit are false prophets...

 

[geetrue]

Todays false prophet could include mental illness as in order to hear God the person or persons claiming to be a prophet would have to hear a voice.

In order to hear God the inner ear would have to decide if the voice was of God and from God or if it was a deceiving spirit sent to confuse and miss lead the people that the false prophet has gained the trust of.

In the case of a false prophet today he or she may not even know that they are a false prophet and total believe everything they hear is from God.

The standard test is for the prophecy to come to pass, right? Be it a warning or as dids said,

"Prediction" (sic) is a totally other gift. It is the manifestation of the Word of Wisdom in that it reveals something that cannot be known by natural means.. including the future."

Could just be a word of knowledge.

I do not have enough smarts to decide if a person is mentally ill, but I do have the gift of discernment also referred to as the discerning of spirits. It is not a pleasant gift as I have learned to let a lot of things go by the wayside in order to keep my priorities in order.

Famous leaders with mental illness: Famous Leaders with Mental Illness | Famous Things, People and Events

Mental illness is defined as any characteristics of impairment of an individual’s normal behavioral, emotional, or cognitive functioning. Mental illnesses include one or more of various disorders, such as anxiety disorder, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, antisocial, borderline, histrionic, or narcissistic personality disorder, and many others. According to WHO, about one third of the human population meets the mental illness diagnosis criteria, at one or the other stage of life.

 

[murjahel]

Todays false prophet could include mental illness
'''

Mental illness is defined as any characteristics of impairment of an individual’s normal behavioral, emotional, or cognitive functioning. Mental illnesses include one or more of various disorders, such as anxiety disorder, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, antisocial, borderline, histrionic, or narcissistic personality disorder, and many others. According to WHO, about one third of the human population meets the mental illness diagnosis criteria, at one or the other stage of life.''''
l]

Extreme anger can be defined as 'mental illness' on a temporary basis... so the Bible says 'be angry and sin not'... we have to avoid the sin that 'anger' could drive one towards...

jealousy can be a mental illness... pride can be...

legally, there is a distinction between these minor mental strains, temporary lack of judgments, from psychosis, or insanity... To be legally not susceptible to punishment legally, one has to prove insanity, which none of the aforementioned are.

So, yes.. most false prophets have some sin, some upset in their mind, that makes them 'mentally ill', but they are still sinning, still to be judged for their error and sins... One could say I was 'angry' when I killed that person, but that is not the kind of illness that makes them not punishable. A false prophet may be one 'angry at the pastor' and give a prophetic word that God says the pastor should resign... that is a sin, a false prophecy due to the personal anger making the false prophet susceptible to deception of the devil, or deception of his own carnal thinking...

Are most false prophets mentally ill? Yes... some have 'reprobate' minds due to sin... sin not only kills one's body eventually, it slowly corrupts the brain too.

 

[geetrue]

Also found this while researching "modern day false prophets".


Famous Doomsday Prophecies That Failed | Famous Things, People and Events

 

[Tobias]

One interesting turn that Western society is taking, is the realization that we have marginalized our prophets and anyone else who uses spiritual abilities to hear from God. Prophets hear from God with their spiritual ears; Bible Scholars use their intellect and years and years of study to determine what God has to say. As a society, we decided centuries ago to trust only those who discern the Will of God using natural means that are available to us in the physical world around us.

A lot of the harsh judgment we see towards prophets is simply an extension of this cultural struggle. Prophets are held to an impossible standard, simply because many people consider their method of hearing from God suspect. They don't trust anyone who uses spiritual means to hear God, but place their blind faith in those who use natural and intellectual means instead. Where people in Bible times used to place the Prophet as their trusted leader, who supposedly knew God better than the general population and had the inside scoop on how to hear from Him personally, today many Bible teachers occupy that exact same role.


I would think that a False Prophet is someone who states "I am your mediator between God and Man. You cannot possibly know God for yourself as well as I do. Therefore, you must listen to what I say; because I speak for God."

We are far more likely to place a Bible "scholar" in this position in our lives today. Someone who has schooling, and often makes statements and passes judgments on "what the Bible has to say" with authority and the expectation that *he* is right and the rest of us peons are typically wrong.

Prophets can act like this too, but because of their place in society, almost nobody lets them do it anymore. But I see no reason why a genuine Prophet couldn't speak with authority concerning the word of God, while remaining humble and acting as a servant to his/her fellow Christians rather than trying to become their Master. Many Bible teachers do this as well, and simply teach from their vast knowledge of the scriptures, rather than lording it over their "flock" expecting us to hang on their every word!

 

[Messy]

Too often I hear people accusing someone wrongly of giving a false prophecy or even being a false prophet.
Prophecy is conditional, God said to Moses that he would go into the promised land. Very good book from Bill Hamon:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPaYyWNwKME