The Bible talks a lot about false prophets. From this, we know that in the last day’s false prophets will become more and more common. People from all over the world will stand up falsely claiming to be used by God. Making large claims about coming events they say God revealed to them in various ways. In doing so they will lead many away from God. False prophecy has the potential to hurt the church but honestly, it can be a great blessing.
God has always and still does use people to reveal things to the church body. Whether it is messages of encouragement or of events that are soon to take place. Prophecy is real and a major foundation of our faith as well as the scripture. Not only that, but it is also an act God’s word promises will continue until the end of the age.
Acts 2:17–18 (ESV)
17 “ ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams;
18 even on my male servants and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
1 Corinthians 12:10 (ESV)
10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
However, a prophecy if left completely unchecked can be a very dangerous thing. People would be able to make huge promises and grand statements of things to come drawing large numbers of people to themselves only to eventually be wrong. But instead of admitting failure or losing the trust of those followers, they could simply string together a web of lies that excuse their false prophecy. Causing those who sincerely follow them, believing they are following the Lord, to become even more deceived.
Which is exactly why God gave us a definitive way to test prophecy in scripture. One that leaves no option for excuses or backpedaling. Making it clear that when someone prophesies something that does not take place they are nothing more than a false prophet. It is only when a prophet’s words come to pass that we can know God truly has sent them.
Deuteronomy 18:21–22 (ESV)
21 And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the Lord has not spoken?’— 22 when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.
Jeremiah 28:9 (ESV)
9 As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes to pass, then it will be known that the Lord has truly sent the prophet.”
It truly is that simple to decipher the difference between a false prophet and someone sent by God. Those who make claims that eventually fall flat are nothing more than false teachers. While those who’s words and predictions come to pass have been sent by God. God gives no excuses in His word for those who prophesy falsely. They should no longer be trusted or listened to as they have falsely claimed to speak for the Lord.
False prophecy is a blessing to the church because it saves us from being led astray. It acts as a wake-up call to the people of God. Exposing the false teachers among the body. While allowing us to see the sincere men and women of God who live among us. False prophecy gives the deceived a chance to open their eyes and see that they have been lead away from the Lord. So they can turn and start working their way back to a full relationship with Him.
As Christians, we should not roll our eyes at prophecy or believe that everyone who claims to speak for God is a false prophet. Doing so will only hurt the church and not better it. Instead, we need to follow the teaching of scripture by testing every prophecy to see if it holds true. It’s not bad to hear a prophecy and hope it comes to pass but if it doesn’t then we need to understand the one who gave it is not someone used by God. Making sure to no longer rely on their teaching.
1 Thessalonians 5:20–21 (ESV)
20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good.
1 John 4:1 (ESV)
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Don’t allow false prophecy to destroy your faith and don’t allow false prophets to explain away why their words didn’t come to pass. Instead, let false prophecy be what it was meant to be a blessing for the church. God’s way of exposing liars, cheats, and scoundrels who are leading His people astray. Yet another sign of His great mercy and desire to see souls saved. False prophets are only going to become more and more common as the last days approach. Thank God He has blessed us with a way to see them for what they really are.
Matthew 7:15 (ESV)
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
2 Peter 2:1–3 (ESV)
1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
So it’s true that false prophecy on the surface can seem bad for the church. Like something that does more to tear apart faith than build it up. But in reality, false prophecy protects us. Giving us a chance to be saved from those who are trying to deceive us.
False prophecy should cause one to question the one who gave it and not God. Really it should act to reinforce the truth that is in God’s word. Which said long ago these very things would happen and becoming more common as time moved forward. Which is just what we are seeing today. As false prophecy continues to come from every direction choose to see it as the blessing it is only leading the church closer to God and away from the wrong people.
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