The SIN of FALSE PROPHECY

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Sin of False Prophecy Index
Introduction
#1. WHAT IS PROPHECY?
#1.1 THE MEANING OF THE WORDS FOR A PROPHET
#1.2 PROPHECY IS GOD SPEAKING THROUGH A PERSON
#2. WHY SHOULD WE JUDGE PROPHECY?
#2.1 BECAUSE WE ARE TOLD TO JUDGE IT
#2.2 BECAUSE FALSE PROPHETS WILL BE PUNISHED
#2.3 BECAUSE THOSE WHO FOLLOW FALSE PROPHETS WILL BE PUNISHED
#3. HOW TO JUDGE PROPHECY AND PROPHETS
#3.1 YOU SHALL KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUITS
#3.2 JUDGE ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF GOD
#3.3 JUDGE ACCORDING TO WHAT HAS BEEN SAID BY OTHER TRUE PROPHETS
#3.4 JUDGE ACCORDING TO WHETHER THEIR PREDICTIONS COME TRUE OR NOT
#3.5 JUDGE ACCORDING TO WHETHER THEY WILL CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST 'IS COME' IN THE FLESH OR NOT
#4. A COMPARISON OF TRUE PROPHETS AND FALSE PROPHETS
#4.1 RUE PROPHETS ARE THEY CHOSEN BY GOD
#4.2 HOW DO TRUE PROPHETS PROPHESY?
#4.21 True prophets prophesy by the Holy Spirit
#4.22 True prophets prophesy by dreams and visions
#4.22 xTrue prophets prophesy by words of angels
#4.24 True prophets prophesy according to faith
#4.25 True prophets do not change their words
#4.26 Can a true prophet refuse to prophesy?
#4.3 WHAT DO TRUE PROPHETS PROPHESY?
#4.31 True Prophets confront sin and pronounce judgment
#4.32 True prophets call sinners to repentance
#4.33 True prophets promise forgiveness and reconciliation after repentance
#4.34 True prophets speak the truth
#4.35 True prophets warn people of future events
#4.36 True prophets give commands and instructions to people
#4.37 True prophets confront false prophets
#5. THE FRUITS OF TRUE PROPHECY
#5.1 SINNERS WILL REPENT AND BE TURNED AWAY FROM SIN
#5.2 TRUE PROPHETS WILL BE PERSECUTED
#5.3 TRUE PROPHETS CAUSE THOSE WHO BELIEVE THEM TO PROSPER
#5.4 TRUE PROPHETS EDIFY THE CHURCH
#5.5 TRUE PROPHETS LEAD TO FREEDOM NOT BONDAGE

Introduction

One reason why false prophecy is so common in churches today, is because prophecy is one of the spiritual gifts that is easy for people to fake. Anybody can stand up and say, "Thus says the LORD" followed by what they think God might say at that time, and make out that they are a true prophet. They may not deceive everybody, but it seems that they nearly always deceive a good many. Why do they do it? There are many reasons. Some may do it because they wish to gain the respect and admiration of people, and they get that when people believe that God speaks through them. In the Old Testament false prophets used to get a seat at the queen's table (1 Kings 18:19), which was a very high place, and some were promised very high positions (Numbers 22:17). Some may do it because it becomes financially prosperous (Micah 3:11). Balaam was an example of this (Numbers 22:7), and other prophets were offered great rewards, although true prophets refused them (Genesis 14:23; 1 Kings 13:7; 2 Kings 5:15; Daniel 2:6). Some may do it because they are genuinely deceived and think that God is speaking through them, but whatever the reason, false prophesy is a sin which causes great harm to those who believe it. This bible study is meant to help those who do not wish to be deceived, and need some basic guidelines on how to judge prophecy. It contains some basic scriptural principles on how to recognize a true and a false prophet, and examples are quoted of prophesies that have actually been made, "In the name of the LORD", which were false. These were all recorded on tape, and have been carefully transcribed, so they are not just guesses at what was actually said. Jesus said, "Take heed that no man deceives you."(Matthew 24:4; Mark 13:5), and when the modern churches start to do this, they can rid themselves of false prophets, and press on to perfection.

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