How do you recognize false prophets in our time?

There are many Christians, who call themselves prophets and have appointed themselves in the office as prophet. However, not all of these prophets are appointed by God. Not all of them are true prophets, who listen to God and speak the words of God but many of them are false prophets, who speak their own words and speak lying divinitions. There have always been false prophets and there will always be false prophets. Jesus and the apostles warned us about false prophets. But how do you recognize false prophets in our time? What does the Bible say about false prophets? What are the characteristics of a false prophet?

The prophets in the Old Testament

I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in My counsel, and had caused My people to hear My words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings (Jeremiah 23:21-22)

A prophet of God is not always popular, because a prophet often speaks corrective words for the edification and protection of the congregation (the people of God). When we look at the prophets in the Old Testament, they often had a difficult task to fulfill, and therefore they were not always loved and popular with the people. The prophets were only popular and beloved, when the people were in trouble, oppressed, and needed advice or salvation. When they needed help, they went to the prophets and inquired the prophets and asked them for counsel.

the two great commandments, If you love Me keep My commandments

Not all the prophets of God were learned men. But they were always men and women, who lived after the will of God.

They had not chosen themselves to become a prophet. Instead, God had chosen them to speak in His name to His people. Amos and Elisha, for example, were farmers (1 Kings 19:19, Amos 7:14).

God was not looking for learned, skilled, strong, and handsome men, nor was He looking for charismatic speakers. But God was looking for those, who were completely devoted to God. God didn’t look at the (outward) appearance, but He looked at the heart of a person.

God looked for devoted people with devoted hearts in whom He could show Himself strong. The only thing that they had to do, was to open themselves to the Word of God, listen to Him, and obey Him by speaking His words to His people.

The false prophets

There were, and still are, many false prophets, who don’t prophesy out of God and don’t speak the words of God. Many times, false prophets enter the church or pop up on social media and use ‘the Name of the Lord’ to prophecy, while in reality, they prophesy according to their own visions, insights, knowledge, thoughts, and what is in their hearts.

They speak words, that don’t derive from God but derive from themselves and are inspired by lying spirits. Many prophets try to please and win people for themselves to get a large following.

Even in the Old Testament, there were false prophets, who tried to win the people for themselves. These false prophets used charismatic words and made wonderful promises to the people. This way, they tried to gain the acceptance of the people. But because of these false prophecies, which were lies, they fooled the people and give them false hope and caused the people to enter wicked ways, which caused a separation between God and His people.

False prophecies

In 1 Kings 22 and 2 Chronicles 18 for example, there were approximately 400 prophets, who all prophesied lies to the king. They prophesied, what the king wanted to hear. They were not totally devoted to God and therefore a lying spirit could operate in them.

Ahab, the king of Israel, wanted to take Ramoth in Gilead, out of the hand of Aram, the king of Syria. He asked Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, to battle with him to Ramoth.

as the Lord lives, what the Lord says that will I speak

But Jehoshaphat wanted to inquire the Lord first. Jehoshaphat wanted to hear what the Lord had to say about this matter.

Therefore king Ahab gathered the prophets of Israel, about 400 men, and asked them if he should go against Ramoth to battle or not.

All the prophets answered that king Ahab should go up and that the Lord would deliver it into the hand of the king.

But Jehoshaphat was not satisfied with their answer. Therefore Jehoshaphat asked the king if there wasn’t another prophet to enquire. King Ahab answered Jehoshaphat that there was one other prophet, who they could enquire, namely Micaiah. But king Ahab hated Micaiah, because Micaiah never prophesied good concerning king Ahab, only evil. Jehoshaphat answered: “let not the king say so.”

And at these words, king Ahab called an officer to bring Micaiah to them. While both kings were seated on their thrones, and the prophets prophesied before them, the messenger, who brought Micaiah, asked Micaiah to speak good to the king, and say what the other prophets had said to the king. But Micaiah answered, “ As the Lord lives, what the Lord says unto me, that will I speak.”

A lying spirit

When Micaiah stood in front of the king and was asked if they would go up against Ramoth to battle or forbear, Micaiah answered and said, “Go, and prosper: for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king.” The king said, “How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the Lord?”

Then Micaiah said, “I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the Lord said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace”

King Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?”

Micaiah continued and said, “Hear thou, therefore, the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left. And the Lord said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner. And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will persuade him. And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so. Now therefore, behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken evil concerning thee”

But Zedekiah, the son of Chenaanah, was offended by the words of Micaiah. He approached Micaiah, smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, “Which way went the Spirit of the Lord from me to speak unto thee?” Micaiah answered him: “Behold, thou shalt see in that day, when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself”

The prophet Micaiah was put in prison

After Micaiah’s words, the king instructed his servants to put Micaiah in prison and to give him bread and water of affliction, until the king would return in peace.

King Ahab listened to the 400 false prophets and went to battle. But before he went into battle, he disguised himself, so that he would be unrecognizable. He thought he could fool God. But God’s words shall always come to pass. What God had spoken through the mouth of Micaiah came to pass. A certain man drew a bow at a venture and smote Ahab between the joints of his harness. That evening Ahab died and his blood ran out of his wound, into the midst of the chariot.

The next day the king was brought to Samaria, where they buried him. When the chariot was washed in the pool of Samaria, the dogs licked up his blood; and they washed his armor; according to the word of the Lord, which He spoke through the mouth of the prophet Elijah (1 Kings 19).

Micaiah didn’t speak positive motivational words to gain the king’s approval and to please king Ahab. Micaiah didn’t fear king Ahab, but Micaiah feared God.

Micaiah did what the Lord commanded him to speak. He didn’t turn away from God’s words, not even a little bit. Not even, when he was taken captive and put in prison. Micaiah stayed loyal to God and to His Word and spoke what the Lord had commanded him to speak.

God revealed the false prophets,
who taught rebellion to the people

In Jeremiah 28 and 29, Lamentations 2, and Ezekiel 22:28 (among others), God revealed the false prophets. The false prophets caused the people to become rebellious against the Word of God, instead of correcting the people and making them aware of their iniquities and causing them to walk in the truth on the narrow path, which leads to eternal life.

Hananiah, the prophet, spoke wonderful, promising, uplifting, encouraging prophetic words to the people of God and to Jeremiah. It all sounded so real, that even Jeremiah was under the assumption, that these encouraging words derived from God. Therefore Jeremiah confirmed his words by saying to Hananiah, that the words of the Lord, which he had spoken would indeed come to pass.

But when Jeremiah went his way, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah.

Man shall not live by bread alone, purpose of the Bible

The Lord told Jeremiah that He didn’t send Hananiah at all and that he made the people trust in a lie. Because of the fact that Hananiah taught the people rebellion against God, the Lord said, that within a year, Hananiah would be cast from off the face of the earth. The words of the Lord came to pass and Hananiah died in the seventh month of that same year.

In Jeremiah 29, the Lord warned Jeremiah about the prophets, diviners, and those who dreamt dreams, to not be deceived by them. They prophesied in ‘the Name of Lord’, while the Lord had not sent them at all.

God revealed the sins of the prophets. They committed adultery, spoke lies in ‘the Name of the Lord’, and preached rebellion to the people of God. The Lord spoke through the mouth of Jeremiah:

Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, of Ahab the son of Kolaiah, and of Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, which prophesy a lie unto you in my name; Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall slay them before your eyes; And of them shall be taken up a curse by all the captivity of Judah which are in Babylon, saying, The Lord make thee like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire; Because they have committed villany in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbours ‘wives, and have spoken lying words in My Name, which I have not commanded them; even I know, and am a witness, saith the Lord (Jeremiah 29:21-23)

Then came the word of the Lord unto Jeremiah, saying, Send to all them of the captivity, saying, Thus saith the Lord concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite; Because that Shemaiah hath prophesied unto you, and I sent him not, and he caused you to trust in a lie: Therefore thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite, and his seed: he shall not have a man to dwell among this people; neither shall he behold the good that I will do for My people, saith the Lord; because he hath taught rebellion against the Lord (Jeremiah 29:30-32)

Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment (Lamentations 2:14)

And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord God, when the Lord hath not spoken (Ezekiel 22:28)

Jesus warned the believers of false prophets

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them (Matthew 7:15-20)

Jesus says in Matthew 7:21-23, that only those, who do the will of the Father, will enter the Kingdom of heaven.

Many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many (Matthew 24:11)

For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect (Matthew 24:24)

False prophets prophesy out of their flesh

Even in our time, there are many false prophets, who prophesy out of their flesh. They prophesy by what they see and prophesy after their senses, own insights, emotions, feelings, etc. instead of after the Spirit. They are carnal and walk after the flesh and therefore they also prophesy after the flesh. They are led by their flesh; their senses, emotions, feelings, and thoughts, instead of being led by the Spirit.

There are many prophets, who speak wonderful, uplifting, promising, and encouraging words over the lives of many believers, while the Lord has never spoken these words. They prophesy deception and lies and because of that, they kill many souls, who should have been saved:

Jeremiah 23:22 If they had stood in My counsel and hear My words

Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts. Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord. They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The Lord saith: and the Lord hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word.

Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The Lord saith it; albeit I have not spoken?

Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord God. And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord God.

Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered morter: Say unto them which daub it with untempered morter, that it shall fall:there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it. Lo, when the wall is fallen, shall it not be said unto you, Where is the daubing wherewith ye have daubed it? Therefore thus saith the Lord God; I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in my fury to consume it. So will I break down the wall that ye have daubed with untempered morter, and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall be discovered, and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed in the midst thereof: and ye shall know that I am the Lord. Thus will I accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them that have daubed it with untempered morter, and will say unto you, The wall is no more, neither they that daubed it; To wit, the prophets of Israel which prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and which see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace, saith the Lord God (Ezekiel 13:3-16)

Likewise, thou son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people, which prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy thou against them, And say, Thus saith the Lord God; Woe to the women that sew pillows to all armholes, and make kerchiefs upon the head of every stature to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of my people, and will ye save the souls alive that come unto you? And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear your lies? Wherefore thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against your pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls to make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms, and will let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt to make them fly. Your kerchiefs also will I tear, and deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall be no more in your hand to be hunted; and ye shall know that I am the Lord. Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life: Therefore ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand: and ye shall know that I am the Lord (Ezekiel 13:17-23)

False prophecies lead the people of God astray

These false prophets had seen vanity and spoke lying divinations. They followed their own spirit and prophesied after their own insights. They spoke peace, while there was no peace at all, and they caused the people of God to be led astray. They let them walk in iniquities and caused the people to become rebellious against the Word of God, and do those things which were against His will.

Due to the fact, that the people considered the prophets as sent ones from the Lord. They were under the assumption that they spoke the words of the Lord, and that they walked according to God’s will. They thought, that by being obedient to these false prophets, they would walk upon the right path of life. But that wasn’t the case. The false prophets, who were ‘so-called’ sent by the Lord, led the people of God in lies and deception.

The false prophets let the people of God go their way, instead of correcting them. And so, they strengthened the hands of the wicked, instead of turning them away from their wicked ways. The prophets prophesied what the people wanted to hear, instead of saying what the Lord had to say. They said that everything was ok; they prophesied peace, while there was no peace at all.

People want to hear promising and encouraging prophecies

The same thing is still going on in our time. The believers want to hear uplifting, promising, and encouraging prophecies about their lives, instead of negative or correcting prophecies. They don’t want to receive prophets, who could reveal their sins. No, they will invite well-known prophets, who are like-minded and speak motivational words.

false prophets, believe not every spirit

They don’t look at the fruit of the lives of these prophets. They don’t look if they bare the fruit of the Spirit or the fruit of the flesh; of the world (envy, disloyalty, adultery, fornication, sexual uncleanness, divorce, greed, selfishness, love for money, emulations, wrath, strife, heresies, hatred, witchcraft, idolatry, reveling, drunkenness, etc).

They look at their name and/or titles, fame, success, signs, and wonders, instead of looking at their daily walk.

How many lies are being spoken over the lives of believers, by prophets who have a name, and fame, and cause many believers to be led astray? Many people are led astray by these false prophecies.

Instead of being saved from the abyss, they are led to the abyss.

They lead a life, which is not according to the will of the Lord and is not in agreement with the Word. But because these well-known famous prophets approve of their lifestyle and their sins, even when the Lord says the opposite in His Word, they believe these men above God’s Word and are deceived and led astray from the truth. And because they are turned away from the truth, they will not fulfill the plan, which God originally has for their lives.

Many people are being ripped out of the hand of God by these lies, deceptions, false teachings and doctrines, promises, etc.

Christians need to try the spirits whether they are of God

In these days, it is so important (and I can’t emphasize this enough) to have discernment of spirits! John wrote about it and said:

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God:and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world (1 John 4:1-3)

When someone believes and confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh then that person shall love Him with all of his heart and keep His commandments and walk in His commandments.

They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God: he that knows God hears us; he that is not of God hears not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error (1 John 4:5-6)

When prophets are being honored and received by the world, without repentance, then there is something not quite right. You should earnestly ask yourself if this prophet is indeed a born again Christian; a son of God, or not.

Because Jesus says, that if you follow Him, that the world will hate you because you are no longer of this world.

The Holy Spirit, Who lives in a born again believer; a son of God, convicts the world of their sin (John 15:18, John 22-24, John 16:8, John 17:14). Because of that, the people, who are of the world, don’t appreciate they are being confronted with their sins, and therefore they don’t want to hang out with born again believers (unless they hate their lives and their sins and are looking for the Truth and a way out).

How can you recognize false prophets?

How can you recognize false prophets? Can you recognize the false prophets by their signs and wonders? No! Because Jesus says very clearly, that before His return and the end of the world, many false prophets will arise, and do many signs and wonders, which will deceive many, and if it were possible even the elect. Signs and wonders don’t prove if someone operates out of the Holy Spirit or out of the flesh.

The only two indicators we have received from Jesus, to determine a false prophet are:

  • The fruit they produce in their life
    By their fruit, you will know who they really are. Do they walk like the world, love the world, and therefore bear the same fruit as the world, which is the fruit of the flesh (envy, disloyalty, adultery, fornication, sexual uncleanness, divorce, greed, selfishness, love for money, emulations, wrath, strife, heresies, hatred, witchcraft, idolatry, revelings, drunkenness, etc)? If they produce the fruit of the flesh, instead of the fruit of the Spirit, then they are of the world and not of God.
  • Do they live according to God’s Word; after the will of the Father?
    When they don’t live like the Word of God; after the will of the Father, then they are not of God. If prophets approve things, that go against the will of the Father and contradict the Word of God, then you are dealing with a false prophet. Many prophets use the words ‘love’ and ‘grace’ in a wrong manner and use these words to approve living in sins. Just like the false prophets in the Old Testaments proclaimed ‘peace, peace’, while according to the Lord, there was no peace at all. The only difference between then and now is, that nowadays they don’t use the word ‘peace’, but they use the ‘grace of God’ and the so-called ‘love of God’. They say: “it is all the grace of God, it doesn’t matter what you do. God is love.” These deceptive words, which are lies, cause the people of God to be led astray from the Truth.

Jesus is very clear about it and we must listen to Jesus (the Word), instead of listening and believing the words of people, who teach rebellion against God’s Word, and only want to be heard and seen for their own gain.

Watch therefore, just like Jesus has commanded to be watchful. So that you will be able to discern and uncover the wolves in sheep’s clothing (Read also: ‘The wolves in sheep’s clothing who wreak havoc‘).

‘Be the salt of the earth’

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