The “Future-telling”
Prophets of today
and their false
“new revelations”
Dealing with today’s prophets, their words, “new revelations”, “future-telling”, and their ultimate authority in the church.
Are you adding to the book?
Revelation 22:18-19 warns against adding.
Are you aware of this?
Disobedience can defraud you of salvation (Mark 7:7)!
‘They worship Me in vain
[their worship is
meaningless and worthless,
a pretense],
Teaching the precepts of men
as doctrines
[giving their traditions
equal weight
with the Scriptures].’
– Mark 7:7
More and more, churches are establishing their own traditions which contradict the Old Testament and misinterpret the Gospel of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Paul. Many are accepting the words of their own prophets and apostles as having “equal weight” to the Bible.
What what WHAT? This is heresy. They are apostate. And they are growing.
What we know – what we have seen
In the early church days, Jesus, a prophet Himself and the One establishing the Church (Hebrews 1:1-2), established His rule for prophets, saying:
9 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be possible?” 10 Jesus replied, “You are the [great and well-known] teacher of Israel, and yet you do not know nor understand these things [from Scripture]?
11 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, we speak only of what we [absolutely] know and testify about what we have [actually] seen [as eyewitnesses]; and [still] you [reject our evidence and] do not accept our testimony. – John 3:9-11
In the past, during the Old Testament era, it was mainly through prophets that God spoke His words to us. Without error, they accurately foretold future events and gave us God’s instructions and principles to follow.
We have those (Old Testament) writings to guide us today, still (2 Peter 3:1-4, 2 Timothy 3:16; Luke 24:27; 2 Peter 1:20).
“…I am stirring up your untainted mind to remind you, 2 that you should remember the words spoken in the past [about the future] by the holy prophets ….” – 2 Peter 3:1-4
16 All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]. – 2 Timothy 3:16
Those “old words” are still God’s words for us today. Those words of God have not changed (contrary to what false teachers would have us believe: 2 Peter 3:16).
“…whatever was written
in earlier times
was written for our instruction”
– Romans 15:4
Those ancient prophecies are still instructing us with God’s declarations for us today (2 Timothy 3:16).
See: | “I am against you”, God says |
“…God condemned them long ago and their destruction is on the way.”
*Read all of 2 Peter 2 TLB
| The Controversy of God speaking to you directly |
| Why God is against me IF I claim my words are God’s own |
| Pretending their word is God’s word |
First by prophets, then by Christ
God spoke to the Jews and to the early (Christian) church through prophets. God did this “at many times and in various ways” until shortly after The New Covenant in Jesus.
“God, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds. ”
– Hebrews 1:1-2
With Christ’s birth (and life ministry, death, resurrection and ascension back to Heaven) God chose to speak to us “by His Son“. The awesome witness of prophets speaking for God established the veracity of Jesus’ message, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Gifts of knowledge and tongues were given to show us He was the real deal.
1 Corinthians 2:10-16 AMP
10 For God has unveiled them and revealed them to us through the [Holy] Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things [diligently], even [sounding and measuring] the [profound] depths of God [the divine counsels and things far beyond human understanding]. 11 For what person knows the thoughts and motives of a man except the man’s spirit within him? So also no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the [Holy] Spirit who is from God, so that we may know and understand the [wonderful] things freely given to us by God. 13 We also speak of these things, not in words taught or supplied by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual thoughts with spiritual words [for those being guided by the Holy Spirit].
Continuationists and Cessationists
The following, about Continuationists and Cessationists, is from The Gift of Prophecy | An Essay By Richard Blaylock:
“The NT clearly expects the gift of prophecy to be done away with at some point in time. However, Christians disagree as to when prophecy should be expected to cease.
Continuationists
Continuationists argue that the gift of prophecy will continue to be provided to the church until Christ returns. Most of those who adopt this position do so on the basis of 1 Corinthians 13:8–13, where Paul states that “when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away” (NASB).
Continuationists understand “the perfect” to refer to the second coming of Christ; therefore, they argue that only when Christ returns will prophecy (which is included in “the partial”) be done away with.
Cessationists
While this is certainly a possible reading, cessationists are not convinced that the passage specifically addresses the temporal duration of prophecy.
A look at the text reveals that it does not specify that everything “partial” will be done away with simultaneously. That is to say, 1 Corinthians 13 leaves open the possibility that some of these “partial” gifts will expire before others.
Therefore, these verses do not necessarily teach that the gift of prophecy will itself be done away with at Christ’s return. Moreover, cessationists argue that Ephesians 2:19–20 is more relevant to the question at hand than 1 Corinthians 13.
Ephesians 2:19–20
In the former passage [Eph. 2:19–20], Paul asserts that the prophets and the apostles played a foundational role in the establishment of God’s church. Since the church has in fact already been established and since the apostolic office has been done away with, cessationists would argue that the gift of prophecy is also no longer operational in the life of the church.”
– Source: The Gift of Prophecy | An Essay By Richard Blaylock
As we read 1 Corinthians 13:8-19, we see that certain gifts would end.
8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of [c]prophecy, they will be done away with; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away with. 9 For we know in part and prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away with.
When your prophet is wrong
A true “prophet” of God never made a mistake with predictions. Prophets were stoned to death if wrong!
See: Deuteronomy 13:1-5, Jeremiah 28:9
Deuteronomy 18:20-22, 1 Samuel 3:18–21.
Prophecies in the Bible: A Perfect Track Record
How Postmodern Pseudo-Prophecy Dishonors God
December 20, 2020 | by Joe Carter | The Gospel Coalition.org
We know immediately that a so-called “prophet” is a false prophet – when he/she is wrong. That is the proof. No apology is acceptable. As Jesus Himself declared in Matthew 7:21-23 they are proven to be acting “wickedly [disregarding My commands]“. They have disregarded Old Testament commands.
All we need to know has been given
Prophets do not bring us new revelations now, as was needed in the past.
God has no need to use prophets now (giving new revelations) because all we need to know has been given to us, as Paul said in 2 Peter. Giving a prophetic word, a new “revelation from God”, is bogus nowadays.
all we need to know
has been given to us
For His divine power has bestowed on us [absolutely] everything necessary for [a dynamic spiritual] life and godliness, through [a]true and personal knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
– 2 Peter 1:3 Amplified Bible
In the early church no longer
We are in the period after the early church period. I believe these three “charismatic gifts” – 1)prophetic prophesies (giving us new revelations; predicting the future) 2)tongues and the 3)word of knowledge or “word of faith” have passed away, as foretold in 1 Corinthians 13:8-19 (“…gifts of prophecy [a: Lit prophecies], they will be done away with; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away with.” “…the partial will be done away with“).
If a pew-sitter says “I have a word from the Lord”… and then states his/her own words, that person is in direct conflict with Scripture. See: They in fact have seen nothing
“Woe (judgment is coming) to the foolish prophets who are following their own spirit [claiming to have seen things] but have [in fact] seen nothing. – Ezekiel 13:3
_______________________
Guard against false practices
Churches need to guard their practices – practices by their leaders and by their pew-sitters.
Excerpt: At times we all wish we could know the will of God. But that’s not happenin’ folks. Well, not in the natural. The future is unknown for all humans. And only God knows His mind and His will.
“…no one
knows
the thoughts of God
except the Spirit of God”
– 1 Corinthians 2:10-16 (verse 11)
Also see: Isaiah 40:13
At times in the past God has revealed the future through His Spirit, through prophecies. We have them in the Bible.
It is through the Spirit of God that we know “the thoughts of God” (v11). Through the Bible the Spirit can help us “to be guided by His thoughts and purposes” (v16).
We have the mind of Christ [to be guided by His thoughts and purposes] (v16)
– Source: We know the will of God in this
To add/take away/distort – is evil
Those who add to Scripture, or take away from it, or distort God’s words which have already been given to us — are disobeying God’s command. That is why Jesus warned us all by this stern statement:
“21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me on that day [when I judge them], ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, and driven out demons in Your name, and done many miracles in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them publicly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me [you are banished from My presence], you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands].’
Revelation 22:18-19 — can be applied to all the Bible:
“…if anyone adds [anything] to them, God will add to him the plagues (afflictions, calamities) which are written in this book;
19 and if anyone takes away from or distorts the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away [from that one] his share from the tree of life…”
– Source: Revelation 22:18-19
Apostles and Prophets have no special authority over believers
No Christian needs a spiritual authority over him/her to tell them the will of God for their life. The Holy Spirit ministers directly within us. Seek the wise counsel of others, but seek His direction, directly.
We need not bow the knee to any supposed “authority” claiming to be apostle, prophet, or teacher. We bow to Jesus.
Jesus Himself is the “intermediary” between God and man – for every Christian. The Holy Spirit directs us and teaches us — directly (Romans 8:26-27).
No man has been given authority over any other to tell them where to go, what to do, nor where to go to college. How ridiculous that a church leader, appointed to serve…, would presume to have such authority!
“In the same way the Spirit [comes to us and] helps us in our weakness. We do not know what prayer to offer or how to offer it as we should, but the Spirit Himself [knows our need and at the right time] intercedes on our behalf with sighs and groanings too deep for words.”
– Romans 8:26
“And He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because the Spirit intercedes [before God] on behalf of God’s people in accordance with God’s will.”
– Romans 8:27
We have direct access to God the Father – through Jesus! We do not need a priest, nor prophet, nor apostle, nor pastor to pray to God on our behalf — because we have been given a new covenant, a vibrant relationship directly with God the Father – through the Holy Spirit of God who now resides inside us.
Church leaders have responsibilities for their flock (2 Timothy 4:2). But we each have direct access to God as His Children and are not beholden to wait on anyone else to pray (Galatians 3:26-29).
26 For you [who are born-again have been reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified and] are all children of God [set apart for His purpose with full rights and privileges] through faith in Christ Jesus.
– Galatians 3:26
We are told to pray for one another. Uphold each other in prayer. But we, on our own, are to seek God directly for our needs, also – not leave it up to our church leaders or others – “you who are spiritual” (Galatians 6:1).
We have it all
There is absolutely nothing more for God to tell us – for life and godliness. Through Christ we have it all. The anointing of the Holy Spirit, which happened at that moment of salvation “teaches you [giving you insight through the presence of the Holy Spirit] about all things“ (1 John 2:27). We need no new revelation from God.
As for you, the anointing [the special gift, the preparation] which you received from Him remains [permanently] in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you.
But just as His anointing teaches you [giving you insight through the presence of the Holy Spirit] about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as His anointing has taught you, [a Or you are abiding.] you must remain in Him [being rooted in Him, knit to Him]. – 1 John 2:27
The gift of “prophecy”, nowadays – after the early church, is not the “foretelling” type, nor “future telling” nor “prediction of the future” type, nor a new revelation from God (as it was in the Old Testament). Prophesy, as given by the Holy Spirit as a gift nowadays, is for “edification”, “the edification of the church“:
7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good...and to another prophecy….” – 1 Corinthians 12:verses 7,..9
“…strive to excel for the edification of the church. – 1 Corinthians 14:verse 12
God told Daniel, way back in Daniel’s day, that until our present time, “the time of the end“, he was to “shut up the words, and seal the book”. Nobody could understand the prophecies of Daniel, because that was “shut up” and sealed. Till now.
4 But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end. Many will run back and forth, and knowledge will be increased.” – Daniel 12:4 World English Bible
But now we are in the End Times, or as Daniel calls it, “the time of the end” — and the book has reached it’s end times when it has been opened up and unsealed for us to understand the prophecies.
See: | Why we are understanding so many prophecies now |
| Jesus volunteered to give us signs that would usher in the End Times |
| “Your redemption is drawing near” |
| Normalcy Bias says – “Rapture can’t happen now!” |
| Another hint about the Rapture |
| Waiting for it |
Dire consequences of disobeying
In the book of Revelation we see the dire consequences of disobeying God:
I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, if anyone adds to them, may God add to him the plagues which are written in this book.
– Revelation 22:18 World English Bible
It is an extremely harmful act to claim God’s vision – when in reality it was merely your own. They can “defraud you of your prize” – “…your freedom in Christ and your salvation”.
– Source: Coming from God?
Disobedience can defraud you of salvation!
‘They worship Me in vain [their worship is meaningless and worthless, a pretense],
Teaching the precepts of men as doctrines [giving their traditions equal weight with the Scriptures].’ – Mark 7:7
THIS is why I wrote:
| Why might many Charismatics not be saved |
| Jesus will reject many “Christians” |
The only way it really is
Correct interpretation insists you must “interpret Scripture – with Scripture“. If a verse in Scripture seems to you to point one way, but other verses obviously point the other way (contrary to your pointing…) then we must conclude that “your way” is in error. If you cannot see that, then you might see yourself in Colossians 2:18.
We must accept the veracity of Scripture. We must interpret along with the other verses to the only way it really is in God’s realm of reality.
So then, [a]brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold [tightly] to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.
– 2 Thessalonians 2:15
What you as a false teacher do is:
1) Take a verse out of the context of the whole of the Bible;
2) Interpret it according to what you want it to say;
3) Make your way into a new interpretation;
4) Make a new doctrine according to your new interpretation.
And “oo ee oo aa aa, ting, tang, walla walla bing bang“…you have God your way.
That is what witches do, what the Devil does (as in: misquoting God), what NAR doctrines do, what Bethel prophets do, what Bethel Music musicians often do in their lyrics, …what all prophets of today do. They make God say what they want to say – what God never told us in the Bible. Thus…
‘They worship Me in vain [their worship is meaningless and worthless, a pretense], Teaching the precepts of men as doctrines [giving their traditions equal weight with the Scriptures].’ – Mark 7:7
It is an extremely harmful act to claim God’s vision – when in reality it was merely your own. They can “defraud you of your prize” – “…your freedom in Christ and your salvation”.What some “presumptuous” type church folk are doing: (per Colossians 2:18)
- insisting on mock humility
- insisting on the worship of angels,
- going into detail about visions
- claiming to have seen a vision of God (but did not)
- motivated by authority issues
- puffed up in conceit
- having an unspiritual mind.
The Bible warns us: God is against those types. Is this happening with you?
– Source: Coming from God?
“interpret Scripture
– with Scripture“
We know what Jesus believes. We know what God tells us in His message, The Bible. Take it all — as what Christians should believe, what church leaders should believe and teach. It is our responsibility as followers of Christ — to examine our church leaders and not allow them to misinterpret Scripture. If they are in tight control and you cannot change things …just walk away.
Jesus would say to today’s prophets: You are all wrong
“…You are all wrong because you know neither the Scriptures [which teach the resurrection] nor the power of God [for He is able to raise the dead].
– Matthew 22:29
See: Apostasy in Harbingers Daily
I believe God would have us be reminded of this:
The Bible. Take it all — as what Christians should believe, what church leaders should believe and teach.
Romans 15:4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
FOR MORE:
It is what it is: The Bible Is God’s Word To Us
The Bible is the standard for Christian thought and practice. Not me. Not you.
Prophecies in the Bible: A Perfect Track Record
The nature of biblical speculation
Warnings by Paul to Timothy about falling away
We know what Jesus believes. Do you agree with Him?
There are no more apostles | |
What does the Gospel promise us? | |
The Heresy of False Teacher John Pavlovitz (a response to “10 Things This Christian Doesn’t Believe About the Bible”) – January 20, 2016.
On what do you base your beliefs?
Rely on the Spirit of God in you
Jesus will reject many Christians
Will you be turned away by Jesus?
Why might many Charismatics not be saved
About False Teachings of Today
Be careful that no one misleads you
Show me actual false teachings
Words of Mere Men Are Not God’s Words
Pretending their word is God’s Word
False prophets (A Study in the Scriptures by Diane S. Dew)
Wandering Stars. The Paganism of Bethel, Hillsong, and the NAR pt 1 | The credits go to Jeremy Sanders | March 24, 2021 | from In His Image blog | See: Statement of Faith. Also see: pt 2, pt 3, pt 4
Does God give new revelations or is the Bible enough?
Cessationism or Continuationism? | Craig at CrossWise | September 16, 2023 |
Comment to article:
“From my perspective, false signs and wonders follow false doctrine, faulty Christology in particular. At root, modern hyper-charismaticism is neognostic, with a separationist Christology. That is, Jesus is only “Christ” by virtue of “the anointing”, aka “Christ anointing”. This fits the definition of antichrist per John’s first epistle (1 John 2:22, 4:1-3).”
– Source: 6 Responses to Cessationism or Continuationism? Comment where Craig says: September 17, 2023 at 6:07 am (Bruce,Thanks so much for your thoughtful and heartfelt comment….)
How Postmodern Pseudo-Prophecy Dishonors God
| December 20, 2020 | Joe Carter | The Gospel Coalition.org
Are there prophets in the church today? – from GotQuestions.org
What Does Scripture Teach About the Office of Prophet and Gift of Prophecy?
| October 8, 2015 | Sam Storms | The Gospel Coalition.org
The NAR – “A New ‘Reformation’ That Many Don’t Realize They’ve Joined | Source: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/biola-magazine/2015/a-new-reformation
Pretending their word is God’s word
About Being Apostate… following “another gospel”
As Teachers of the Faith – Unqualified and Worthless
Warning to us against becoming Apostate
Warnings by Paul to Timothy about falling away
Do not attend apostate churches
The music hook of today’s apostates
See more “Apostasy” at Harbingers Daily: Home | Deceptions | Apostasy
Does God give new revelations or is the Bible enough?
Are you under a deluding influence?
Needing something more than Jesus
Why your Church Shouldn’t Play Bethel and Hillsong Music – by Todd Friel (of Wretchednetwork). Interviews Justin Peters 2,375,014 views | Feb 8, 2020
Footnotes
- – Source: What Does Scripture Teach About the Office of Prophet and Gift of Prophecy? | October 8, 2015 | Sam Storms | The Gospel Coalition.org.|
“Prophetic ministry in the early church was widespread and diverse. A band of prophets traveled from Jerusalem to Antioch, and one of them, Agabus, “stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world” (Acts 11:28).
Prophets were active in the church at Antioch (Acts 13:1), Tyre (Acts 21:4), and Caesarea, where the four daughters of Philip prophesied (Acts 21:8–9).
Prophecy, one of the gifts of the Spirit designed for edifying the body of Christ, was also utilized in the churches at Rome (Rom. 12:6), Corinth (1 Cor. 12:7–11; 14:1–40), Ephesus (Eph. 2:20; 4:11; see also Acts 19:1–7; 1 Tim. 1:18), and Thessalonica (1 Thess. 5:19–22).”
– Source: What Does Scripture Teach About the Office of Prophet and Gift of Prophecy?
October 8, 2015 | Sam Storms | The Gospel Coalition.org
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