When Jesus was talking with His disciples about the end times and the sign of His coming, Jesus said in Matthew 24:24, may magsisilitaw na mga bulaang Cristo at mga bulaang propeta at mangagpapakita ng mga dakilang tanda at mga kababalaghan, sa gayon, if it were possible they shall deceive the very elect. Ano ang ibig sabihin ni Hesus? What will these false Christs and false prophets and their deceiving signs and wonders look like? What does the Bible say about false Christs and false prophets?
False prophets in the Old Testament
Not only in the New Testament do we read about false prophets. But also in the Old Testament, we read about false prophets, who were not sent by God.
Ang iyong mga propeta ay nakakita ng walang kabuluhan at mga hangal na bagay para sa iyo: at hindi nila natuklasan ang iyong kasamaan, upang talikuran ang iyong pagkabihag; ngunit nakakita para sa iyo ng mga huwad na pasanin at mga dahilan ng pagpapalayas (Panaghoy 2:14)
Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the Lord; Ganito ang sabi ng Panginoong Diyos; Sa aba ng mga mangmang na propeta, na sumusunod sa kanilang sariling espiritu, at wala akong nakita! Israel, ang iyong mga propeta ay parang mga fox sa ilang. Hindi ka pa umahon sa mga puwang, ni gumawa ng bakod para sa sambahayan ni Israel upang tumayo sa pakikipaglaban sa araw ng Panginoon. Nakakita sila ng walang kabuluhan at sinungaling na panghuhula, kasabihan, Ang sabi ng Panginoon: at hindi sila sinugo ng Panginoon: at pinaasa nila ang iba na pagtitibayin nila ang salita. Hindi ba kayo nakakita ng walang kabuluhang pangitain, at hindi ba kayo nagsalita ng sinungaling na panghuhula, samantalang sinasabi mo, Sinabi ito ng Panginoon; kahit hindi ako nagsalita?
Kaya't ganito ang sabi ng Panginoong Diyos; Sapagka't kayo'y nagsalita ng walang kabuluhan, at nakakita ng kasinungalingan, samakatuwid, masdan, Ako ay laban sa iyo, sabi ng Panginoong Diyos. At ang aking kamay ay sasa mga propeta na nakakakita ng walang kabuluhan, at ang banal na kasinungalingan: hindi sila mapapasa kapisanan ng aking bayan, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, ni hindi sila papasok sa lupain ng Israel; at inyong malalaman na ako ang Panginoong Diyos (Ezekiel 13:2-9)
Her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, nakakakita ng walang kabuluhan, at ang panghuhula ay nagsisinungaling sa kanila, kasabihan, Ganito ang sabi ng Panginoong Diyos, kapag hindi nagsalita ang Panginoon (Ezekiel 22:28)
False prophets in the New Testament
In the New Testament there are many warnings about false prophets and false teachers. Paul, John, Peter, Jude (and others) wrote about them. They warned the saints to be cautious
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, na palihim na magdadala ng mga masasamang pananampalataya, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction (2 Peter 2:1)
Minamahal, huwag paniwalaan ang bawat espiritu, ngunit subukin ang mga espiritu kung sila ay sa Diyos: sapagkat maraming bulaang propeta ang lumabas sa mundo (1 John 4:1)
Jesus warned us about false prophets
Sapagkat may lilitaw na mga huwad na Kristo, at mga huwad na propeta, at magpapakita ng mga dakilang tanda at mga kababalaghan; sa gayon, kung ito ay maaari, kanilang dadayain ang mismong mga hinirang. Masdan, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Masdan, he is in the desert; go not forth: masdan, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together (Mateo 24:24-28)
Mag-ingat sa mga huwad na propeta, na dumarating sa iyo na nakadamit tupa, ngunit sa kaloob-looban sila ay mga manunukob na lobo (Mateo 7:15)
And many false prophets shall rise, at malilinlang ang marami (Mateo 24:11)
Jesus warned us of false prophets, and told us, how we can recognize false prophets. We can recognize them by the fruit they bear.
False Christs and prophets do great signs and wonders. Therefore we cannot rely upon their teachings, mga doktrina, mga himala, palatandaan, at mga kababalaghan.
Jesus told us that we should look at their lives, and what fruit they bear in their lives. Do they walk according to the Word of God, and walk in His commandments? Do they bear ang bunga ng Espiritu or the fruit of the flesh?
Halimbawa, when a charismatic prophet or preacher, preaches wonderful encouraging sermons from the pulpit. And when (s)he does many signs and wonders, but in private, (s)he lives like the world.
When the person experiences depression, commits adultery, watches porn, goes to clubs/bars, leaves his/her spouse and gets a divorce, or is habitually living in sin, and do those things which go against the Word of God, you know that the person is not rooted and seated in Jesus Chris. The person is carnal and walks after the flesh, sa halip na pagkatapos ng Espiritu.
When you look at the fruit, which a person produces, you will know if you’re dealing with a true shepherd or a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
How do you recognize false Christs and false prophets?
We have accepted too much garbage and false doctrines in the church. And because many Christians don’t examine the Bible by themselves and are led by the flesh instead of being led by the Holy Spirit, there is hardly any discernment anymore. Many Christians follow their pastors, (well-known) mga mangangaral, mga propeta, and evangelists, without studying the Bible for themselves. They accept and believe their words, even if they contradict the Word of God (Basahin din: Paano pinapatay ng mga doktrina ng mga demonyo ang simbahan? at Mga maling doktrina na isang insulto sa Diyos.
Let us be serious and watchful and look at the fruit of the person; are the fruits they produce, fruits of the Spirit or fruits of the flesh.
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, pakikiapid, karumihan, lasciviousness, Idolatry, pangkukulam, poot, variance, mga emulasyon, galit, alitan, seditions, maling pananampalataya, Envyings, mga pagpatay, kalasingan, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, kagalakan, kapayapaan, mahabang pagtitiis, kahinahunan, kabutihan, pananampalataya, Meekness, pagtitimpi: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts(Mga taga-Galacia 5:21-24)
sabi ni Hesus, that this is the only way, that we can recognize and discern true and false prophets and Christs.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 24:24, that these false Christs and prophets could even deceive the very elect, if Jesus didn’t warn us about them. Imagine that! These prophets seem so real, and so devoted to God, pero ang totoo, that they aren’t sent from God. Therefore be and stay watchful!
How do you recognize real from counterfeit?
The more you study the Bible; ang Salita ng Diyos, the more you will get to know the real Jesus Christ. Kung you renew your mind kasama ang Salita ng Diyos, the easier you will discern, what is real (genuine) and what is false (a counterfeit). Ngunit muli….sabi ni Hesus, the only way you will discern false Christs and prophets, is to look at their lives and the fruit they bear.
Jesus continued and said, that if these false Christs and prophets say, that the Son of man is in the desert, you should not go there, or in the secret chambers, you should not believe it. You do not have to search for Jesus in places. You shouldn’t be led by supernatural manifestations, which could also be a counterfeit of the devil.
When Jesus returns, everyone will see Jesus, not just one person, or a few persons. He shall return at an unexpected moment. Jesus gave us the example of lightening to compare to His return. Jesus will return like a thief in the night, therefore we should always stay watchful and be prepared to meet Him at His return.
‘Maging asin ng lupa’
