OMG - Jesus

Do you know Him?

God came to earth as a man, Jesus!
  • About OMG
  • Key Truths …in the Bible
  • Key Verses …in the Bible
You are here: Home / False Teachings / What false prophets are like

What false prophets are like

August 20, 2018 by Keith Swift Leave a Comment

Biblical texts about false prophets, false spirits, and their false teachings


The Bible warns us about the increasing danger of false teachings creeping into our churches, of false teachers among us.  Way back in Old Testament times this was a problem.  See here:

Deuteronomy 13:1-5  Amplified Bible (AMP)

13 “If a prophet arises among you, or a dreamer of dreams, and gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or the wonder which he spoke (foretold) to you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us follow after other gods (whom you have not known) and let us serve and worship them,’

3 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 mind and all your soul [your entire being].

4 You shall walk after the Lord your God and you shall fear [and worship] Him [with awe-filled reverence and profound respect], and you shall keep His commandments and you shall listen to His voice, and you shall serve Him, and cling to Him.

5 But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has counseled rebellion against the Lord your God who brought you from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, to draw you away from the way in which the Lord your God has commanded you to walk. So you shall remove the evil from among you.

You shall remove the evil from among you.  Of course, since now we are in the New Testament era, and have modern governments — we do not “put to death” a false prophet.  But the warning stands, and the point Deuteronomy makes here still applies (end of verse 5): “So you shall remove the evil from among you.”

If wrong-headed theology and doctrines or unbiblical practices are in your church, the biblical action to take is to “remove the evil from among you.” (v5)  Take him off your staff and out of your congregation. 

Wrong-headed practices continue in many churches because:

1) The elders are groomed and chosen by the head pastor, so there are no “checks and balances“; and

2) The false teacher has full authority to teach his false teachings – and quickly convinces the ruling elders.  And so the error continues, building error upon error, swiftly into heresy.

Ron Cantor, of http://messiahsmandate.org/, teaches very well.  Most false prophets come from amongst the believers.  They are unbelievers or  former believers. (Deuteronomy 13:verse 1). Ron says:

“Biblically, a false prophet is an unbeliever (or former believer!) using demonic inspiration to draw people away from God and faith in Yeshua. The Torah also makes it clear that the primary issue was prophets/teachers whose words would lead the people astray, to abandon their faith and follow after “other gods.”  [From: How to Spot a False Prophet or Teacher  8/14/2018 Ron Cantor]

The Bible is clear here in Deuteronomy 13:verse 1   “If a prophet arises among you….”  That “Among you” today would refer to among you believers in the church.  Believers and “the tares amongst the wheat”, can become false teachers.  That is why the warning: do not be deceived.  He is talking to believers, warning them to not be deceived and become caught-up in false practices and then start teaching those false beliefs.

Teaching “another gospel”.  False teachers are church leaders who reject the Bible or portions of the Bible – they reject the gospel preached by Paul and Jesus… and begin to teach “another gospel” which is not the one from Jesus.  These false teachers begin practicing unbiblical practices and lead astray their flocks into their own gospel.  These false prophets come from “within” Christian churches.

The Apostle Paul warns us to carefully test prophecies and church practices.  If it is good, then follow that.  But Paul implies that if the test shows it is not good – – then get rid of that prophecy, that false teaching, that false practice.  “Good” in this verse, means “biblical”.  If it is not “good” why on earth would we want it.

1 Thessalonians 5: verse 21   Amplified Bible (AMP)   “But test all things carefully [so you can recognize what is good]. Hold firmly to that which is good.”

1 Thessalonians 5:19-21   Amplified Bible (AMP)    19 Do not quench [subdue, or be unresponsive to the working and guidance of] the [Holy] Spirit. 20 Do not scorn or reject gifts of prophecy or prophecies [spoken revelations—words of instruction or exhortation or warning]. 21 But test [a]all things carefully [so you can recognize what is good]. Hold firmly to that which is good.

We must cooperate with God.  Many believers in Christ regularly “quench the Spirit” (v19).  Many are regularly “unresponsive to the working and guidance of] the [Holy] Spirit.” (v19)  Many “scorn or reject gifts of prophecy or prophecies”.  Don’t be lazy, but be spiritually proactive.

Being proactive with our listening.  The gifts of the Spirit should not be rejected.  Paul focuses his teaching on being proactive with our listening, warning us that “what is said” should be tested.

If what they claim to be of God is not good, THEN reject them.  Every time someone gives a “spoken revelation”— those “words of instruction or exhortation or warning” (v20) need to be tested.  Don’t just accept willynilly whatever some member of the church says.  (This is true of teachings, exhortation, warning, word of faith, etc.)

The false prophets warned against – can be one of your own, someone you love and respect. But they must be discovered and declared as false.  The Old Testament standard is very harsh, but biblical:

Deuteronomy 18:9-22  Read verses 20-22:
20 But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he speaks in the name of other gods—that prophet shall die.’
21 If you say in your heart, ‘How will we know and recognize the word which the Lord has not spoken?’ 22 When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord and the thing does not happen or come true, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.
It is a huge responsibility – speaking forth for God, speaking for the Lord in a prophecy, in a word of wisdom, or in some teaching.  It is not to be taken lightly.  It behooves those in the pew and those in leadership alike – to “test [a]all things carefully” (1 Thessalonians 5: verse 21)
That sheep looks good, but is a wolf.  Here (below) is what is said about those “dressed as sheep [appearing gentle and innocent], but inwardly are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7: verse 15).

Biblical texts about false prophets and false spirits, false teachings:

Matthew 7:15-20   Amplified Bible (AMP)
15 “Beware of the false prophets, [teachers] who come to you dressed as sheep [appearing gentle and innocent], but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

16 By their fruit you will recognize them [that is, by their contrived doctrine and self-focus]. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the unhealthy tree bears bad fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore, by their fruit you will recognize them [as false prophets].

1 John 4:2-3   Amplified Bible (AMP)
2 By this you know and recognize the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges and confesses [the fact] that Jesus Christ has [actually] come in the flesh [as a man] is from God [God is its source]; 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus [acknowledging that He has come in the flesh, but would deny any of the Son’s true nature] is not of God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and is now already in the world.

1 Corinthians 12:3   Amplified Bible (AMP)
3 Therefore I want you to know that no one speaking by the [power and influence of the] Spirit of God can say, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is [my] Lord,” except by [the power and influence of] the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:25   Amplified Bible (AMP)
25 so that there would be no division or discord in the body [that is, lack of adaptation of the parts to each other], but that the parts may have the same concern for one another.

2 Corinthians 11:3-4   Amplified Bible (AMP)
3 But I am afraid that, even as the serpent beguiled Eve by his cunning, your minds may be corrupted and led away from the simplicity of [your sincere and] pure devotion to Christ. 4 For [you seem willing to allow it] if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted. You tolerate all this beautifully [welcoming the deception].

2 Corinthians 11:13-14   Amplified Bible (AMP)
13 For such men are counterfeit apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, since Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 So it is no great surprise if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness, but their end will correspond with their deeds.

Matthew 24:3-6   Amplified Bible (AMP)
“…what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end (completion, consummation) of the age?”

4 Jesus answered, “Be careful that no one misleads you [deceiving you and leading you into error]. 5 For many will come in My name [misusing it, and appropriating the strength of the name which belongs to Me], saying, ‘I am the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed),’ and they will mislead many. 6 You will continually hear of wars and rumors of wars.

Matthew 24:11-13   Amplified Bible (AMP)
11 Many false prophets will appear and mislead many. 12 Because lawlessness is increased, the love of most people will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures and bears up [under suffering] to the end will be saved.

Matthew 24:23-26   Amplified Bible (AMP)
23 Then if anyone says to you [during the great tribulation], ‘Look! Here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe it. 24 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and they will provide great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect (God’s chosen ones). 25 Listen carefully, I have told you in advance. 26 So if they say to you, ‘Look! He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out there, or, ‘Look! He is in the inner rooms [of a house],’ do not believe it.

2 Peter 1:20-21; 2:1   Amplified Bible (AMP)

1:20 But understand this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of or comes from one’s own [personal or special] interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

2:1 But [in those days] false prophets arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will subtly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction on themselves.

Read all of 2 Peter 2.
1 But [in those days] false prophets arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will subtly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction on themselves.…

22 The thing spoken of in the true proverb has happened to them, “The dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “A sow is washed only to wallow [again] in the mire.”

Deuteronomy 13:1-5  Amplified Bible (AMP)

13 “If a prophet arises among you, or a dreamer of dreams, and gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or the wonder which he spoke (foretold) to you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us follow after other gods (whom you have not known) and let us serve and worship them,’

3 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 mind and all your soul [your entire being].

4 You shall walk after the Lord your God and you shall fear [and worship] Him [with awe-filled reverence and profound respect], and you shall keep His commandments and you shall listen to His voice, and you shall serve Him, and cling to Him.

5 But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has counseled rebellion against the Lord your God who brought you from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, to draw you away from the way in which the Lord your God has commanded you to walk. So you shall remove the evil from among you.

Does any of this ring a bell with you – about your church leaders?

FOR MORE:
About False Teachings of today
Religious leaders of Jesus’ day
An unguarded life
Archives on “Christian Science” at Equip.org

More Passages on False Teachers:
John 14:1-6; Matthew 23:10; Matthew 16:15; John 1:1, 14; John 20:28; Matt. 20:28; Matt. 26:28; Hebrews 9:27; Acts 16:31; Isa. 55:8; Isaiah 55:9; Jude 1:13.

Post Views: 12

Filed Under: False Teachings, Interpreting, Prophets and Prophecy Tagged With: 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21, 2 Peter 2, another gospel, Deuteronomy 13:1-5, false prophets, false teachers, Matthew 24

About Keith Swift

Created by God, born to die, born again, now living forever with Creator God - soon to be in His Home. Forgiven forever, still learning to live in Christ.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

About OMG    Facebook OMGjesus
IN FOCUS:  Lost I Came To Him - This is salvation in Christ - Titus on: What the Word of God Teaches - Making God - I Look Oh My God - One Human Race - Puny Humans - Following - What Jesus stands for - Which Jesus do you serve? - Is Jesus’ worldview your worldview? - Getting Born Again - Saving Knowledge - Losing My Soul - My best day here


About the End Times (a series) - About False Teachings of today (a series) - First Apostasy, then Antichrist, then the Rapture 

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” - Luke 10:27

Most Recent Posts

  • Thief On The Cross April 12, 2021
  • Every believer’s new life in Christ [Part One] April 10, 2021
  • Growing into our natural new life in Christ April 9, 2021
  • Abortion is not biblical March 28, 2021
  • You are all wrong, Jesus said March 26, 2021
  • Warnings by Paul to Timothy about falling away March 16, 2021
  • Jesus is all man, and all God, for all time March 16, 2021
  • I stomped the mud puddle March 12, 2021
  • About Praying March 10, 2021
  • We know what Jesus believes. Do you agree with Him? March 9, 2021
  • Jesus is Creator God February 27, 2021
  • What a privilege God gives us February 21, 2021
  • Bought with a price—the blood of Jesus February 18, 2021
  • Make Self Talk… God Talk. It goes on and on and on February 18, 2021
  • Up and out of the miry clay February 18, 2021
  • Jesus can save your soul for all eternity February 14, 2021
  • Approach God with a true and sincere heart February 13, 2021
  • Mark them which cause divisions …and avoid them February 5, 2021
  • Words used by false teachers January 31, 2021
  • The Feelings, Whispers & Omens of Sean Feucht January 31, 2021
  • What decides and settles your burning questions? January 29, 2021
  • King Solomon’s Fool January 29, 2021
  • Scientific visualization proofs for an Intelligent Designer – God January 28, 2021
  • About Time January 27, 2021
  • Time as it really is January 27, 2021

Categories

  • Angels
  • Bible Studies
  • Bible-lite
  • Bible: New Testament
  • Bible: The Bible Says
  • Biblical Inerrancy
  • Christian Life
  • Christianity
  • Counseling and Exhorting
  • Creation
  • Cults
  • Damnation
  • Death
  • Devotionals
  • Divorce
  • DVD-movies
  • Early Church
  • Education
  • Evidence
  • Faith
  • False Teachings
  • Forgiveness
  • God
  • Heaven
  • Hell
  • Hermeneutics
  • Holy Spirit
  • Interpreting
  • Investigate
  • Islam
  • Jesus the Christ
  • Key Truths …in the Bible
  • Key Verses …in the Bible
  • Leadership
  • Marriage
  • Muslim
  • Parenting
  • Poetry, Sayings, and Words
  • Popular Culture
  • Prayer
  • Prophets and Prophecy
  • Repentance
  • Research
  • Salvation
  • Science
  • Series
  • Sin
  • Spiritual Warfare

Random Post:

Search This Site

Utilize the Search capability of this website (upper right corner of this site) to find specific topics…

Bentley – News on Todd Bentley

NOTE: This article shows how unbiblical much of the charismatic movement is today.  We are to discern and examine…. Read what Andrew Strom and others say, and see more at http://www.revivalschool.com.  Church leaders participating in these unbiblical experiences are: Bill Johnson, pastor of Bethel Church in Redding; Rick Joyner, founder of MorningStar Ministries in Charlotte, […]

False Prophets

False Prophets: A Study in the Scriptures “You may be asking yourselves, “How can we tell if a prophet’s message really comes from the Lord?” ” –Deuteronomy 18:21 CEV Contemporary English Version From the book: The Holy Spirit: Gifts & Ministries by Diane S. Dew, © copyright 1976, 1998. For more by Dew, see: http://dianedew.com/index.shtml […]

No Faith In Heaven

I think faith will not be necessary in heaven. ¨…Now we see in a glass darkly…¨ (1 Corinthians 13:12)  but not later, when we will then be able to see ¨face to face¨.    Scripture says that ¨now¨these three abide (faith, hope, love…1 Corinthians 13:13), but it implies in the context that later (being in […]

Christian Answers Regarding Islam

Christian Answers Regarding Islam 1. The Koran purports it does not contradict the Bible but supports it. The Koran declares that it was written to confirm the previous revelations and not to replace the Bible according to Sura 5:48 which says, “And We have sent down to you the Scripture with truth, authenticating what is […]

Biblical Homosexuality

…a Christian´s Perspective on Homosexuality Quoted from: http://www.indegayforum.org/news/show/31489.html   Donny | April 18, 2008, 11:33am | # I’m up to the challenge of gay theology questions: In-hospitality towards others and “haughtiness” were the sins of Sodom. But Ezekiel is quite explicit about sexual sins being front and center as well. “Haughtiness” and the word “Gay” […]

Inexplicable Joy

One of the main things that describes being in heaven is JOY. The word “joy” has a much deeper meaning than just happiness. To be happy can change so quickly. It can come and go in a moment. But joy is different. It is a deep seated contentment. Everything is right! No sorrow or grief. […]

Letter to Danny

January 22, 2008 A Letter to Danny: The mortgage guys sure messed-up our economy through their greed and dishonesty by arranging inappropriate loans for under-financed home-wanters.  Now many are hurting with this economic downturn. Being unemployed, or under-employed, or loosing your house or an investment – is VERY tough to deal with.  Been there, done […]

Children’s Bible in a Nutshell

A quick overview of the Bible (tongue-in-cheek) -Author Unknown Too good to miss! Subject: Judas Asparagus (also read story here: https://darrellcreswell.wordpress.com)    A child was told to write a book report on the entire Bible.  The Children’s Bible in a Nutshell:  In the beginning, which occurred near the start, there was nothing but God, darkness, […]

About Biblical Inerrancy

…would God give us erroneous documents and call them “His”? Get real! Is God really going to give us the ‘truth’ …that isn’t!? The fact that Jesus “the Christ” fulfilled over 360 Scriptural prophecies – convinces me of the veracity of Scripture. Look at the evidences. Forget the critics! What about you?   Are you […]

More Random Posts

  • Jesus is Creator God
  • What a privilege God gives us
  • Bought with a price—the blood of Jesus
  • Make Self Talk… God Talk. It goes on and on and on

Tags

antichrist believe bible born again choice choose Christ creation death end times Ephesians evidence evidences examine FAITH false teachers follow following forgiven forgiveness God grace heaven hell Holy Spirit hope Jesus justice love peace practice pray prayer Rapture repent repentance Salvation Satan sin sincerity truth voting Wisdom WORKS worldview

Featured Post

Lost I Came To Him Oh the wonder of that love of our fathomless Creator, to save me in spite of my self-centered soul. Lost and rebellious, He chose me. Pursued and wooed, what mystery – grace. I said yes to Creator God. To know… 10.21.2015
Time as it really is Since Heaven is not regulated by time, the passage of time on earth is a separate event. *We will all step out of time together – into God’s presence, with no “time lag”,…The time it takes to go from earth to God's presence - is instant. There is no waiting around in the next dimension for earth time to finish, no midway point of gathering, no Purgatory. It will be an instantaneous experience for all mankind that ever lived. At the moment of death, our soul instantly leaves....  1.27.2021

No Tolerance for Error
God is not sloppy nor wishy-washy.... There is no room at all – for error – when it comes to being right with God. You are either all in, or you are all out. Are you sure you’re in? 8.4.2017

Simple View of Life  a simple view of everything. God of Everything that is – created everything. We are very fortunate that He is loving and kind, and really, really wants us  12.9.2016
Ashamed of Yourself?
ever done something you are ashamed of?  Come on now, you’re sitting there by yourself – ‘fess-up.  Nobody listenin’ to your brain confess.  So... Yes?  Scenario: “You have? What!? 12.31.2017 
Being Christian What’s it like to be Christian? Really...Christian.3.18.2011
Tomorrow
Tomorrow is the fool’s day. Tomorrow may never come. I may not get older. This may be it. 3.18.2017
Vortex of Good & Evil As mere humans, we are engulfed in the vortex of battle between good and evil. We must remember – it is God who created us, not we ourselves.  1.25.2017

What God has going on with us here on this planet. God downloaded to earth ...inserted Himself into our history.  Jesus came to earth in order to satisfy the Courts of Heaven for our freedom. 3.23.2016

Cognitive Dissonance
...that extreme feeling of discomfort some folks get when their core belief is challenged or contradicted. What they think (“cognitive”) is rattled (dissonance) by what other evidences purport to be true – in direct conflict with what they hold to be “true”.  8.14.2018

Actually Try To Do The Deed Actually Try To Do The Deed  “It’s not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done better." 3.23.2016

  What God Did for Man
…The Simple Gospel of Jesus Christ. God walked the earth as a man. Have you ever wondered how it all got started – the universe, the earth, nature, animals, you and your “like”, mankind? 2.19.2018  
The Bible is “able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation”   Do you honestly want to know how to get right with God?  Jesus promised He would save us for an eternity of only good, nothing bad. 9.31.2020

Most Viewed Posts

  • Vile To Jesus (7,975)
  • Ashamed of Yourself? (2,839)
  • Befuddled and Besmirched (1,031)
  • That Day of Judgement (931)
  • That Moment In Time (840)
  • Getting Born Again (831)
  • Following (733)
  • My Heinous Heinous Ways (730)
  • Me, When I Die, still in sin (631)
  • Jesus Knows Your Thoughts (628)
  • Me, When I Die, forgiven (617)
  • The confuscating John Pavlovitz (593)
  • Brand New Creature (590)
  • Why Believe Such Stupididiotic Things?! (556)
  • Practicing Sin, Not Following Christ (552)
  • God’s System of Justice (551)
  • God Damned “Believers” (547)
  • Windows Into Heaven (543)
  • Context, Context, Context! (542)
  • Oh My God – Jesus (522)
  • The Christ, Jesus (521)
  • Being Who We Are (520)
  • How to Study the Bible: Study Guide (506)
  • Salvation Is A God Thing (506)
  • What The Devil Does (500)

Most Recent Posts

  • Thief On The Cross
  • Every believer’s new life in Christ [Part One]
  • Growing into our natural new life in Christ
  • Abortion is not biblical
  • You are all wrong, Jesus said
  • Warnings by Paul to Timothy about falling away
  • Jesus is all man, and all God, for all time
  • I stomped the mud puddle
  • About Praying
  • We know what Jesus believes. Do you agree with Him?

Categories

Archives

Thief On The Cross

Thief On The Cross. Nothing religious was done by the thief. He merely (1) confessed his sinfulness, and (2) acknowledged Jesus as “the Christ”.

Every believer’s new life in Christ [Part One]

Because God is extreme to the nth degree – God requires an extreme type of relationship from us. Once we get born again, we will continue growing deeply, naturally, into further maturity in Christ.

Growing into our natural new life in Christ

Growing is what should be happening after we are “born again”, Paul says. The natural response to Christ is to grab hold of the good soil – and flourish.  Ephesians 1 is about flourishing, germinating naturally, sprouting strong and stable.

Abortion is not biblical

Numbers 5:27 The New American Standard Bible translates this: “her thigh will [b collapse] shrivel” Psalm 39:13 Amplified Bible “For You formed my innermost parts; You knit me [together] in my mother’s womb.“ In WORLD Magazine and WORLD Digital, Leah Hickman [Twitter @leahmhickman] writes (WNG Post Date: March 24, 2021) “Translation abuse”  https://world.wng.org/2021/03/translation_abuse “Some abortion […]

Copyright © 2021 · News Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in