False Prophets

This is a follow up of sorts on the previous blog about ignoring the Bible. Only, this time, I’m going to discuss false prophets who twist the Bible. I’ve heard preachers say that today’s modern day prophets are preachers who expound upon the Bible. In a way, this makes sense, as they are delivering God’s Word to the people, much like the prophets of old did. I do wonder, though, why there are not still prophets receiving God’s revelation and telling us what is on God’s mind.

We could interpret Revelation 22:18-19 to be God’s last words to us: “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

However, we could also interpret these verses as applying strictly to the prophesies in Revelation.

We can also look to Proverbs 30:5 – 6 for a possible answer: “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.”

But, the point of this blog is not to discuss why there aren’t modern day prophets. There are many websites out there claiming there are. You can read those at your own leisure.

And over the years, there have been those who have proclaimed themselves to be prophets of God. Mohammed, Joseph Smith, Mary Baker Eddy, and others have tried to rewrite the Bible to their own ends. More recently, people like Jim Jones (Guyana and spiked Koolaid) and Marshall Applewhite (Heaven’s Gate – mass suicide and the comet Hale-Bopp) have proclaimed themselves prophets of God. These are the obvious examples.

But what about the not so obvious?

I’m reading through the book of Ezekiel and in Ezekiel 13, God addresses false prophets.

God says to Ezekiel, “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Say to those who prophesy out of their own imagination: ‘Hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!” (Ezekiel 13:2-3)

He goes on to say, “Their visions are false and their divinations a lie. They say, ‘The LORD declares,’ when the LORD has not sent them; yet they expect their words to be fulfilled. Have you not seen false visions and uttered lying divinations when you say, ‘The LORD declares,’ though I have not spoken?” (Ezekiel 13:6-7)

Let’s assume that the only revelation of God we now receive is the Bible. Therefore, if anyone proclaims something is from God, but it does not agree with the Bible, they are a false prophet. Incorrect interpretation of the Bible, intentional or not, is false prophecy. And there are many, many so-called evangelists today that twist and misinterpret the Bible. There may be, for that matter, many many preachers in obscure or not so obscure churches doing the same thing.

So, what’s my point? Two key concepts.

First, we have a responsibility to read and know the Bible ourselves so that we can discern when someone else is preaching something that is not truly from God.

Back in the days shortly following Christ’s crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, the book of Acts records something we should all take to heart:

“Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” (Acts 17:11).

Consider what this is saying. The Bereans are listening to the Apostle Paul, the greatest evangelist ever. We know via the modern day Bible that Paul’s words were inspired by God, but God shows us that even when Paul preached, the Bereans checked the Old Testament to make sure what he said lined up with what God had said. Therefore, we cannot accept at face value every word that comes from the mouths of preachers. It doesn’t matter if it’s your local congregation preacher, Billy Graham or the Pope. They are human, and thus fallible. We need to know the Bible so that we can discern when the Word of God is being misapplied or misinterpreted.

Second point. For those of us who teach the Bible, we have a great responsibility to understand what the Bible says before we try to teach others. If we’re not sure, we’re better off saying we’re not sure. And when we put our own interpretation into something, we need to make sure our audience understands that it is our interpretation and that it could be wrong. We need to encourage our audience to read the Bible for themselves and to allow the Holy Spirit to lead them to understanding. We should never become so arrogant as to think we know all the answers and that our interpretation of the Bible is THE interpretation.

James 3:1 warns us “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.”

Teachers of God’s Word will be held to a higher standard.

And for those that willingly falsify God’s Word, attempting to lead others astray, there is a fate for them that I cringe every time I read about it.

2 Peter talks about such people and I believe that today there are many of these people masquerading as preachers of the truth (especially on television).

“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.” (2Peter 2:1-3).

For these people, a fate worse than hell awaits. 2Peter 2:17 says, “These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.”

Peter goes on to say that, “It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.” (2Peter 2:21).

Christians have two responsibilities. Know the Word of God so that we may discern the truth when other people are supposedly speaking God’s Word. And be sure when we speak God’s Word, that we speak it truthfully.

Bottom line. Read the Bible, know the Bible, and tell others about the Bible.