BEWARE OF THOSE CLAIMING TO BE PROPHETS


In his famous Sermon on the Mount Jesus warned the disciples to “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matt. 7:15).  Moses had given the Israelites a similar warning nearly fifteen hundreds years earlier (Deut. 13:1-5).  Satan tries hard to destroy the work of God through counterfeits.  God gave the people true prophets like Moses but Satan fielded false prophets.

Heeding the devil’s spokesman always produces spiritually deadly results.  God warned the children of Israel not to be swayed by the miracles which a prophet could perform.  Any man or woman who taught the people to follow any god other than the God of heaven was a false prophet.  God worked powerfully through Moses and this was confirmation of the divine origin of his message.  The ten plagues in Egypt, parting the Red Sea, bringing forth water from the rock and other wonders all served to remind the Israelites that Moses was truly a spokesman for the Lord.

Since false prophets seemed to be able to do miracles in the days of Moses, God’s people needed a way to determine if a prophet was a servant of God or of the devil. Sometimes a false prophet would not do any sign, but would predict some future event.  If that event did not occur then clearly he was a false prophet. (Deut. 18:21, 22).

In the first century Paul said that miraculous spiritual gifts would fail, cease and vanish away (I Cor. 13:8).  Though he did not specify the date, he gave an event to mark the cessation of miracles.  He said, “For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away” (I Cor. 13:9, 10).  A careful consideration of this passage reveals that the perfect refers to the completed New Testament.  When God had completely revealed His message, then the admittedly temporary gifts would end.  We have God’s completed revelation.  Therefore, miracles ceased a long time ago.  If this is not true, let one claiming to possess miraculous powers raise the dead or empty a hospital of the sick and dying.  It will not
happen!  There are no living prophets today.  They vanished with the miracles (I Cor. 12:28-30).

Even as the First Century was coming to a close, the aged apostle John warned Christians, “Believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (I John 4:1).  Peter reminded his readers that even as there had been false prophets in the times of the Old Testament, so there would be false teachers trying to introduce their pernicious errors into the church (II Pet. 2:1). Although false prophets cannot do actual miracles, they can deceive some with sleight of hand that magicians employ.  Some do not even resort to signs and wonders.  They simply make vague predictions that are likely to happen.

Unfortunately, those claiming to be prophets often draw many followers.  Peter warned that “through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you” (2 Pet. 2:3).  Jesus said they are ravenous wolves.  Do not be deceived by the sheep suit!  Some think religion is merely a money-making scheme for their profit.  In cleansing the temple of the money changers Jesus cried, “Make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise” (John 2:16).  Here is a word to the wise from the word of God: “They that are such serve not our Lord Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and faith speech they beguile the hearts of the innocent.” (Romans 16:18; ASV).

—By Douglas Hoff
from the Carolina Messenger, June 2001