“MODERN DAY PROPHETS ? WHO ARE THEY”?

Most modern day prophets claim they know the future thus they make certain predictions regarding things yet to come. Since they use the Bible to defend their claims. We shall use the same Bible to expose their falsehood. Both scripture and experience declare that there are true prophets and false prophets. Hundreds of verses in the Bible speak of the faithful prophets that God used to teach, lead and correct his people. Moses was God’s prophet(Deut 18:15). Balaam was an unfaithful or false prophet.(Num 22:7-32). Those who read the sacred history of the ancient Hebrews will note the constant conflict between true prophets of God such as Jeremiah and Ezekiel and an endless parade of wicked men like Hananiah the false prophet (Jer 28:1-17). Jesus warned of “false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves”(Matt 7:15).

According to God’s word, a true prophet of God was a man and sometimes a woman to whom the Holy Spirit of God revealed God’s truth and on some occasions, foreknowledge of coming events. Thus Paul wrote” But to each one is given through the spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge, to another prophecy” (1Cornth 12:4-10). Later he said that “prophecies shall be done away…..(1 Cornth 13:8). In the following verses he wrote “When that which is perfect is come, that which is in part(ie. Prophecy, tongues, and other supernatural gifts of the spirit) shall be done away”(13:9-10). And what is “that which is perfect” of which the Apostle Paul speaks?. The word “that” is the key.(From the Harpers Bible Dictionary,) “that” is a neuter pronoun. Pronouns that refer to a man would be he, him, his. To a woman would be she, her and hers. A neuter pronoun refers to something which is neither male nor female (masculine nor feminine). Thus the Apostle Paul speaks not of Christ(masculine) nor the Church which takes the feminine pronoun, but of the New Testament of Christ which in Paul day was not yet completed. When that perfect thing arrived, the miraculous gifts, including prophecy ceased to be. While we have the written messages and predictions of true prophets of God in our Bible, no man living today has a supernatural gift of prophecy from God. That gift ceased with the completion of the New Testament of Christ near the close of the first Christian century.

How then do we account for all of those men and women who since the first Christian history have claimed to have this supernatural gift? They’re false prophets. Why you may ask, would a person dare to make such a claim? There’re several reasons:

1) For some, it is for the power their claim gives them over those who believe their lie and look to them for guidance.

2) For others, it is purely for the riches they can gain from their blind followers.

3) For others, it is diabolic meanness. They find a twisted pleasure in deceiving people.

4) For a few, it can be attributed to their ignorance of the word of God. Not knowing or understanding the scriptures, they think that God has given them such a gift.

5) Some have mental illness. Over the years many who suffered from various mental problems believed themselves to be God or Jesus or Prophets with supernatural knowledge.

God has provided us with a standard by which to evaluate those who claim to be prophets. We prove them by testing their lives and message by the Bible. Through Moses God said” the prophet that shall speak a word presumptuosly in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die(Deut. 18:20). He then says “when a prophet speaketh in the name of Jehovah, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing Jehovah hath not spoke……..thou shall not be afraid of him(Deut18:22). Of false prophets Jesus said “by their fruits ye shall know them”(Matt 7:15-18). Any person who presents himself as a prophet and yet lives ungodly life cannot be a true spokesman for our righteous God. That a teacher, claiming to be a prophet, is highly regarded or has a great following is not proof he’s from God. False prophets are found around the world, They deceive multitudes and lead them away from the righteous paths set forth by Jesus and His Father. The Apostle Paul warned” Let no man beguile you in any wise……(2Thess 2:3) To God be the Glory. By: Obourba Asante Taado.