Studying the book of Isaiah, we recognize God hates sin because it separates us from Him. There were many false prophets in Isaiah’s time. The ones who led the people astray while professing themselves to be righteous. The same is true today. Many profess to be Christians, who have never bowed down to the authority of Jesus Christ in their lives. They teach a watered-down feel-good religion devoid of truth. Then there are the politicians who profess their acts as seeking justice and righteousness, while spewing hate and venom. And the secular humanists who impart ideas that humanity is its own god, needing no other, while developing egotists with no conscience of right or wrong. And the socialists who enchain the people by promising everything for free. So, how do we really discern who are the evil prophets?
It is not enough to just say, follow God’s word unless we learn how to rightly divide the word of truth. With so many voices proclaiming they know the truth, how can we discern what is right and who are the evil prophets sent to confuse? Peter and Jude describe these false prophets who bring confusion in detail. But how do we discern?
Paul warned Timothy, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15). For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12).
Therefore, if we hope to discern who are the false prophets, we must study God’s Word.
A Call to Righteous by Faith and Grace
In his second letter, Peter desired that the people know and cling to the truth of the gospel. Knowing that it was more than just a verbal accepting of Christ, but rather a total surrender to His Sovereignty over their lives. So, he wrote
“to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord. According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (2 Peter 1:1-4).
True our righteousness is not based on merits of our own; but it does require our diligence in daily laying down our transgression at the feet of Jesus. Bowing to His total authority in our lives and trusting Him to use every detail to transform us into His likeness, one glory at a time. Each tiny step, every painful trial is working to that completion. To that cause Peter made the following request.
Peter’s Plea
Beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge. To knowledge temperance. And to temperance patience. To patience godliness. And to godliness brotherly kindness. To brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure (2 Peter 1:5-10).
If you do not see this progression in your life, perhaps you should reconsider your own salvation first. For if you do not know Him as Savior and Lord, then certainly you can not discern the evil prophet yourself. For the study of the Scripture must be guided with the help of the Holy Spirit in you.
Why Do we Need to Discern the False Prophet?
We need to discern the false prophet, so that we might understand the truth of the gospel message. Only then can we bring others to Christ. If we are so easily drawn aside, how can we lead our brothers? Satan desires to confuse as many as he can so that we may not know the truth.
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts. Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2 Peter 1: 19-21)
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of (2 Peter 2:1-2).
A Detailed Description of the False Prophets
1. Covetous
They use the people for their own gain whether that be of power or money, promising whatever they think the people want to hear. But never telling them the truth. False, vain promises to keep them under their control while never fulfilling that which they promised.
And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not (2 Peter 2:3).
2. Disrespectful of Those in Authority
Whether you like those in authority, or not, the righteous understand that God is Sovereign and places government officials over us. Therefore, we are to respect those in authority as God’s men and women. That means our president, our law officers, and our laws. We are not to be those in violent protest. Rather we are to respect the laws.
If the law demands we stop praying or worshipping God, we continue to pray and worship God, accepting the fact we may die or be imprisoned. Then humbly surrender to face the consequences. But we are not to violently riot in the streets or promote those who do. Those who do these things are false prophets, even if they say it is in peace or justice that they proclaim this. Nor are we to fight for the right to sin openly against God, as some do today. False prophets show no respect to those in power, forgetting it is God who placed them there.
But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. But these( the false prophets and their followers), as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time (2 Peter 2: 10-13).
3. Deceivers Proclaiming Righteous While Chasing after Idols
These false prophets are an adulterous lot. Oh, not merely seeking sensuality and sexual pleasures; but they worship the creature more than the creator- even those who feign righteous living. They are adulterous in their relationship with God, placing other things above Him. Just like the worshippers of Balaam they sacrifice the children on the altar of abortion and by teaching the children to hate and disrespect their heritage. As such the children’s future can be sacrificed so long as it makes them more powerful. Enslaving them to their need of them through socialistic agendas.
Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you. Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin. Beguiling unstable souls. A heart they have exercised with covetous practices. Cursed children. Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness. But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet. (2 Peter 2: 13-16).
4. Empty Promises with No Plan
False Prophets are like empty wells without water, promising whatever they think will draw the people in. Their vain words are used to entrap the people. With their goal being that of power or money.
These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. (2 Peter 2: 17-18).
5. Proclaiming they do this in In the Name of Justice and Righteousness
These false Prophets declare that they are the righteous and the just, while spewing lies.
For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb. The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire (2 Peter 2:19-22).
But God Sees and Will Destroy all Evil Prophets in His Own Time
God will come with judgement on this we can rest assured.
For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment. (He) spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly. (Furthermore, God turned) the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an example unto those that after should live ungodly. And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished (2 Peter 2:4-9).
The heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:7-9)
HE IS COMING AGAIN
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat. The earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness.
Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things. Be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation
Even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you. …. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before. Beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen. (2 Peter 3:10-18)
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD?
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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Disclosures
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2020
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Credits
Photo by Nick Coleman on Unsplash