Beware of False Prophets (In The Last Days They Increase Drastically)

[Mark H. Stevens, Th.D]

The book of Revelation foretells that at the time of the end, in the last few years of Satan's dominion over the earth, a religious personality will arise and deceive the whole world by means of miraculous signs. This individual is referred to as "another beast" (Revelation 13:11), as well as "the false prophet" (Revelation 16:13; 19:20; 20:10). The False Prophet is given supernatural power to do things like calling fire down from heaven (Revelation 13:13), and the signs he performs, combined with the demonic words he speaks (Revelation 16:13-14), will cause people to give their allegiance to—and even worship—the Beast (Revelation 13:14). This man will wield tremendous religious influence, and inspired by the Dragon, he will successfully convince most of the world to commit idolatry (Revelation 13:12). The Bible does not reveal the False Prophet's name or even the number of his name, as it does for the Beast. Instead, we will have to recognize him by his fruits—by what he says and does (Matthew 7:15-20). Yet, even this is a tricky proposition. For instance, the False Prophet will be able to call down fire from heaven, and yet Elijah, a true prophet of God, did the same (I Kings 18:36-38). If we see a man calling fire down from heaven, how do we know whether he is true or false?
The end time is prophesied to be full of deceptions (Matthew 24:11), and the elect will not be totally immune to having the wool pulled over their eyes (Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22). It will take careful evaluation to see through the façade and to recognize Satan's servants for what they are, rather than what they appear to be (II Corinthians 11:14-15).
The details given about the False Prophet are few. However, if we understand the patterns and motivations that the Bible reveals about the class of people called "false prophets," we will be better equipped to recognize the general mold that the end-time False Prophet will fit. Both Testaments describe false prophets, and Peter, John, and Jesus Christ specifically warn of false prophets that affect church members.
Defining Prophet
Because of the way "prophet" is commonly used, there is a misconception that its basic definition is "someone who foretells the future," but this definition is too narrow. Prophet is better defined as "one who speaks for another." A true prophet, then, is a person who speaks for God, delivering a message that God has ordained him to give. In Exodus 7:1, God tells Moses that Aaron, his brother, would be his (Moses') prophet, even as Moses was God's prophet. Because of Moses' unbelief in God's ability to speak through him, God would speak to Moses, who would tell Aaron what to say to others—Pharaoh in particular (verse 2). It is the function of speaking for another, rather than the miracles they performed or their foretelling of what would befall Egypt, which defined Moses and Aaron as prophets.
Frequently, the words a prophet spoke on God's behalf were, in fact, foretelling what would happen later. However, the prophet's essential role was to speak for God, regardless of whether he did any predicting of the future. A prophet expresses the will of God in words, and sometimes he uses signs to back up what he says and to demonstrate God's power behind it.
In a similar way, a false prophet also may not be in the business of foretelling the future. A false prophet is simply someone who speaks for another but falsely. False prophets either speak for the wrong god, or they claim to have heard from the true God but do not accurately represent Him or His words. At the very least, they speak out of their own human hearts, but more likely, the "god" they are speaking for is really a demon.
It is true that, if a prophet foretells something that fails to come to pass, he is a false prophet (Deuteronomy 18:20-22), but foretelling the future correctly is not the determining factor when looking at false prophets. The real issue is whether one who claims to be representing God and speaking for Him, is doing so accurately or falsely. A prophet may accurately predict an event or demonstrate supernatural power, but if he is leading people away from the true worship of the true God, he is a false prophet.
If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, "Let us go after other gods"—which you have not known—"and let us serve them," you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God is testing 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; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him. But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken in order to turn you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of bondage, to entice you from the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. So you shall put away the evil from your midst. (Deuteronomy 13:1-5)

[Micah RaSun-Vann]

You are so on time once again. As the prophets are becoming more vocal and recognized in the Body of Christ it is with great caution that their words be weighed. The enemy is characterized by his subtility. The words he speaks can sound like God but soon after having eaten them the spirit of those very same words penetrates and captivates your very soul and spirit. Now you're in BONDAGE. Satan knows our deepest need is "as a deer panteth for the water so our souls panteth after God" and he is right there to meet that need. But do you know enough of the character of true the God to then run those very same words through the sieve of God's character and holy oracles. The words, the signs, the wonders are manisfestations of God and we thank God for them but don't be mesmerized or allow signs to be your measure or determine TRUTH. God made it clear that "magicians and witchcraft worker" work the same kinds of miracles. So then its not the manifestations. Where do those words and manifestations leave you? Are you free in the spirit? Is your relationship with God personal or is it determined by another? Is your praise and worship confined to a building? Is there a preoccupation/concern around giving money to the church? Do you have love and especially for the lost sheep of Israel? Do you feel controlled in any way, mentally, physically, spiritually? to name a few. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty. If the God you have now been led to has now usurped your spiritual liberty -- Wrong God, Wrong Words and False Prophet. Amen and Amen!!

There is also a rise of the "Reactionary Prophets", reacting to every criticism, fear, judgement, accusation, words, both written and spoken -STOP and calm down! Call to remembrance these examples Samuel, Nathan, Moses, John The Baptist. The Spirit of God moved these men. They responded to the Voice of God and moved out did what he told them to do, said what he told them to say and they SAT DOWN!!! They didn't spend their prophetic wheels reacting to naysayers - Know who you are-- for to be sure the devil does and he will drive you mad with his emotional attacks.

[Afaq Alam Masih]

Have a Good Day Sir!
Praise the Lord Who is the Provider!
Greeting in the precious Name of God,
I have red your comments about The book of Revelation foretells that at the time of the end.
I really appreciate you because you did great job regarding Revelation foretells.
May God Blessed you in you life.

Afaq Alam
From Pakistan, Lahore.
God