False prophets
How does Jesus warn us about false prophets?
Matthew 24:11 – And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
What will the false prophets do to deceive their adherents?
Matthew 24:24 – For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Mark 13:22 – For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
How can false prophets be recognized?
Matthew 7:15-20 – Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Deuteronomy 18:21-22 – And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.
Isaiah 8:20 – To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
Remark: The fruits of a prophet – their actions and lifestyle – are a critical indicator of whether they are truly from God. Additionally, it is essential to verify whether the prophet’s predictions have come to pass. Most importantly, their teachings must not contradict the established truths already revealed in the Bible.
Does the existence of false prophets negate the possibility of true prophets arising?
Matthew 10:40-41 – He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.
Remark: The existence of false prophets implies the presence of their opposite – true, God-sent prophets.
Are we called to check the prophets, or should we just be careful and reject all of them?
1 Thessalonians 5:19-21 – Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
1 John 4:1 – Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1 Corinthians 14:29-31 – Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
True prophets
What was predicted to happen in the “last days”?
Acts 2:16-18 – But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy …
Remark: See Joel 2:28-29 (or in some Bibles 3:1-2) for the original passage that Peter quoted.
John 16:13 – Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
What does the Bible say about Jesus being a prophet?
Acts 3:20, 22 – And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you … / [22] For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
Mark 6:4 – But Jesus, said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.
Remark: Jesus was not only the Messiah but also a prophet.
Was John the Baptist a prophet?
Matthew 11:9-11 – But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Luke 1:67 – And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying …
Remark: Both John the Baptist and his father, Zechariah, were given the gift of prophecy.
Who else can be counted as prophet in the New Testament?
Revelation 22:8-9 – And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
Acts 11:27-28 – And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
Acts 13:1-2 – Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
Remark: Jesus, John the Baptist, and some of the apostles were all prophets. In Acts 2:16-18, Peter suggests that he and those with him were acting as prophets. See also Acts 15:32 and James 5:10. While the term “prophet” is sometimes used interchangeably with “preacher,” it also specifically refers to those who correctly predict the future, as we will see further below.
Is the gift of prophecy still relevant for the New Testament believers?
Ephesians 4:11-12 – And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ …
1 Corinthians 14:1, 3-4 – Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. / [3] But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 28-29 – For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues … / [28] And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
Remark: The gift of prophecy is given for the benefit of the church – the community of true believers.
Can there be female prophets?
Luke 2:36-38 – And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
Acts 21:8-11 – And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. And when he was come unto us, he took Paul’s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
Remark: Yes, Anna, the prophetess, is described positively in the passage above, as she spoke about Jesus to many in Jerusalem, preparing the way for His messianic mission. Philip, one of the deacons mentioned in Acts 6:5, also had four daughters who were prophetesses. See also Acts 2:16-18, where female prophets are mentioned, as well as Exodus 15:20-21, Judges 4:4-5, 2 Kings 22:14, 2 Chronicles 34:22, and Isaiah 8:3 for additional examples from the Old Testament.
Testimony of Jesus
What does the Bible say that true believers will have?
Revelation 12:17 – And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. *
Revelation 1:2 – Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
Remark: Both Revelation 12:17 and 1:2 identify two key characteristics of God’s people: (1) they keep the commandments of God, reflecting a commitment to reading and studying His word, the Bible; (2) they have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
What is “the testimony of Jesus Christ”?
Revelation 19:10 – And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
What is “the spirit of prophecy”?
Revelation 1:1-2, 9 – The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. / [9] I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Revelation 22:8-9 – And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
Remark: The above verses indicate that John possessed the testimony of Jesus Christ – the spirit of prophecy – and was a prophet who revealed “things which must shortly come to pass” through the revelation of Jesus. Further evidence comes from comparing Revelation 22:8-9 with 19:10, which shows that the “brethren,” identified as prophets, also have the testimony of Jesus, confirming that the spirit of prophecy is the gift of predicting the future.
Doesn’t all of this mean that the believers in the last days will also have prophets among them?
Amos 3:7 – Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
Isaiah 44:7-8 – And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them. Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.
Remark: Yes! God reveals future events to His prophets, who serve as His witnesses. This will also occur in the last days. See again Acts 2:16-18 and Revelation 12:17; 19:10. True Christians not only follow the Bible but also have the spirit of prophecy, which provokes Satan’s anger (Revelation 12:17).
Footnotes
* In the Jewish mindset, the term “the commandments” or “the law” primarily refers to the Torah – the five books of Moses – but it can also encompass the entire Hebrew Bible. This broader understanding is reflected in passages like Matthew 7:12; 22:40; Luke 16:16, 29, 31; 24:27, 44; John 1:45; Acts 26:22; and 28:23. The extensive study of the whole Hebrew Bible is further demonstrated by the presence of scrolls like that of Isaiah, which Jesus read in the synagogue (see Luke 4:17).