July 25, 2023
Many Christians today believe that the most crucial test for a prophet, if not the only test, is whether their predictions come to pass. And every time a prophet predicts something, it must come to pass. If not, that person is not a prophet of God. Still others think that the real proof of the prophetic anointing of God is that they can perform signs, wonders, and heal others. While signs, wonders, and healing may be true of a real prophet, it is not the only test of a true prophet of God. There is another test that is even more important. When you consider the carnal state of the American Christian Church, it is understandable that people are more attracted to the form of godliness rather than the substance of godliness. This next verse is the more critical test that many self-proclaimed prophets of God would not pass, I suspect.
“If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder. And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not harken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and cleave to him. And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So that thou shalt put the evil away from the midst of thee.” Deuteronomy 13:1-5.
As you will recall, Moses performed signs and wonders before Pharaoh. Pharaoh’s magicians and sorcerers could perform a few of these signs themselves. Just because someone can do what appears to be miraculous, it doesn’t mean they are of God. Yet, how many of us are fooled by such things? In the passage above, it is clearly stated that “the sign or wonder cometh to pass.” This verse tells us that signs and wonders are not enough to demonstrate that the prophet and dreamer of dreams is of God. The only sure test is whether the prophet or dreamer of dreams is true to the word and commandments of God. If the prophet or dreamer leads you into sin and disobedience, know for sure that person is a false prophet. It matters not how many signs, wonders, or predictions they dazzle you with. Moses commanded that such a false prophet or dreamer of dreams shall be put to death. This commandment applied to the nation of Israel alone. Today, we should put false prophets “to death” by disassociating with them. In other words, please do not follow them or their teachings.
During the last presidential election of 2020, how many self-declared prophets or dreamers of dreams got it wrong about President Trump’s immediate re-election? Of those, how many confessed to their false prophetic pronouncement? I fear that many of them just made excuses for not getting it right and continued to lead others astray with their many dreams and many empty proclamations.
A true prophet of God confronts God’s people with their sins and the necessity of repentance. A false prophet may be able to heal people, perform signs and wonders, and even have predictions that come to pass. If the prophet, teacher or pastor does not confront his followers with their sins and the necessity of repentance they are not of God. The next quote will make that abundantly clear, for those that have eyes to see and ears to hear.
“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. Therefore, thus saith the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land. Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD. They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto everyone that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.” Jeremiah 23:14-17, emphasis added.
The false prophets in Jeremiah’s day were said to “strengthen also the hands of evildoers so that none doth return from his wickedness.” Way too much of the preaching, from the pulpits in America, is doing precisely this, “strengthening the hands of wicked ‘Christians’ so that they feel comfortable, continuing to sin”. Is that not an exact picture of what is going on in most of our churches today? Preachers, prophets, and theologians have devised theological doctrines that permit and promote all of this pollution. Can you name any doctrines today that “strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that the wicked are not turned from their wickedness”? These “prophets” of God speak a vision of their own heart and are not speaking for God, albeit they pretend that they are. The false prophets in Jeremiah’s day were more concerned about giving their followers a false comfort and a deceptive sense of security by telling them, “ye shall have peace” and “no evil shall come upon you.” Great evil came upon them, and they had no peace. They trusted in lies and died miserably as a result. What do you think awaits those who follow the same lies today?
“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 23:21-23, emphasis added.
God says, “I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran.” If these pastors, prophets, teachers, and theologians were true and if they had the counsel of God, they would have caused their congregations to hear the true Word of God. That word from God is “they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.” To the extent that these leaders do not turn their congregations “from their evil way and the evil of their doings,” they tell the world that they are false to the core. This is according to the prophet Jeremiah. These godless leaders may even be healers and proficient in signs and wonders. These are strong words from Jeremiah, who was a prophet of the one true God. Maybe we should listen to him.
“I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying I have dreamed, I have dreamed. How long shall this be in their heart, of the prophets that prophesy lies? Yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbor, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal.” Jeremiah 23:25-27
These false prophets declare “the deceit of their own heart.” Their false dreams cause the people of God to forget His name. When God’s name is forgotten, then the people turn to idols. When lies are told by those who supposedly speak for God, the people will inevitably turn to idols of some kind. We see this today, just like Jeremiah saw it in his day. When the dreamer of dreams misleads the people, they think that they can serve both Jehovah and Baal at the same time. It is no different today, except that our idol is not called Baal. Our idols have different names, such as self-gratification, fame, power, money, sex, amusement, and so on.
“Your prophets have seen for you false and foolish visions; And they have not exposed your iniquity so as to restore you from captivity, but they have seen for you false and misleading oracles” Lamentations 2:14
These false prophets “have not exposed your iniquity so as to restore you from captivity.” We have many churches today that make it their business to “not expose your iniquity”. Many of them never talk about the sins so prevalent today. False prophets are very willing to let “Christians” live in the captivity of sin and death, rather than deliver them from this deadly slavery. Again, this is how you know the true prophet from the false one.
“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. Ezekiel 13:22, emphasis added.
I love this verse from Ezekiel. False teachers, pastors, and prophets “have made the heart of the righteous sad” by their lies about the security of the sinning Christian. And at the same time, these false prophets have “strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way.” How has this been done so effectively? They lie and tell Christians that they are safe in their sins, “by promising him life.” It seems that the vast majority of Christians believe that they are eternally secure in their ongoing unrepentant sin. Many of today’s prophets, teachers, and pastors promise them life even if they should not return from their wicked way. I do not know how it gets any clearer than this passage from Ezekiel. I can hear some Christians say that this is all Old Testament stuff and things for Christians in the New Testament are different. Is that true?
“Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:20-23
In this passage, Jesus is saying that even those who have “prophesied in His name and in His name cast out devils and in His name, done many wonderful works” if they have not departed from iniquity, they will not enter the kingdom of God. He will say to them, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” False prophets, teachers, and pastors are included in this passage, but it applies to all of us who name the name of Christ. We can do many wonderful works in His name, but still not know Him and still not be saved. We shall know a tree by its fruit, not by its profession.
Closing comments
In addition to all these passages, we have the words from the Apostle Paul, which state categorically that the unrighteous will not, under any circumstances, inherit the kingdom of God or the kingdom of Christ. (See 1 Corinthians 6, Ephesians 5, and Galatians 5). Many professing Christians are unrighteous and never plan to be righteous except by fictional imputation. This is one of the false teachings (imputed obedience, Jesus obeys God for us!) that is leading many to damnation.
It amazes me, to a degree, that so many “Christians” call themselves prophets and apostles. It may attract many followers and may increase your popularity, but it will not please God if He has not called you to that office. And God will surely be displeased with anyone who is called to one of those roles but fails to do what that role requires. Moreover, do they not understand that they heap on their heads much greater accountability as a prophet, teacher, or apostle?
In the secular world, titles are sought after to impress others or assert power and authority over others. It ought not to be that way in God’s family. He who wants to be the greatest in God’s kingdom must be the servant of all. Lusting after titles and positions is a sure sign that a person is not walking in the light. Like the false prophets of old, they are spreading darkness and death wherever they go. God’s children are the light of the world. Be the light, God wants you to be.
The idea that a person can claim a prophetic role in God’s kingdom and not expose iniquity and turn the wicked from their wicked way is from the pit of hell and not from the glories of heaven.
