I love to focus on the words of Jesus because we know that
we can trust his words. Jesus tells us that the Pharisees of his day took the
key of knowledge and locked up that knowledge. In other words, in context, they
hid the words of the Prophets from the people. Instead of exploring the words
of the prophets, their fathers killed the prophets, then this current
generation of Pharisees hid the truth from the people. Jesus then pronounced a
curse on that generation, which was that they were responsible for all the
blood of all the prophets from Abel to Zechariah. Truly, none of those
Pharisees had been born when those prophets were killed, but the fact that
those Pharisees hid the sayings of the prophets, the Pharisees were now liable
for their blood. Today, not only do our modern day Pharisees hide the truth
from us, they also merchandise us. We have some clues to look at concerning
prophets and pseudo prophets. Today, the true prophets give the key of knowledge
to others.
Luke 11:49-52 That accounts for God's Wisdom saying, 'I
will send them prophets and apostles, but they'll kill them and run them off.'
50 What it means is that every drop of righteous blood ever spilled from the
time earth began until now, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of
Zechariah, who was struck down between altar and sanctuary, is on your heads.
Yes, it's on the bill of this generation and this generation will pay. 52
"You're hopeless, you religion scholars! You took the key of knowledge
[1108], but instead of unlocking doors, you locked them. You won't go in
yourself, and won't let anyone else in either." (from THE MESSAGE: The
Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights
reserved.)
NT:1108 gnosis (gno'-sis); from NT:1097; knowing (the
act), i.e. (by implication) knowledge: KJV - knowledge, science.(Biblesoft's
New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew
Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International
Bible Translators, Inc.)
NT:1097 ginosko
(ghin-oce'-ko); a prolonged form of a primary verb; to "know"
(absolutely) in a great variety of applications and with many implications (as
follow, with others not thus clearly expressed): KJV - allow, be aware (of),
feel, (have) know (-ledge), perceived, be resolved, can speak, be sure,
understand.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with
Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
The key of knowledge is the key of knowing. Christianity
is very different from other religions. In Christianity we believe when we hear
the truth. In Islam it doesn’t matter what you believe, you are required to
follow the rules. What you hear and believe is irrelevant. In Buddhism you must
do certain things to attain higher knowledge and a better life. You do things
first, then you will believe. You do your Dharma then you get good Karma, so
when you die you achieve Nirvana. The Holy Spirit in fills a person who
believes, then later the person’s behaviors change because of that in filling. Christianity
works in the opposite way from all other religions, Jesus said to follow Him
first. We didn’t have to do anything else; we didn’t need to work up to a
better position, or become less sinful, we are to simply follow, sin and all.
The Pharisees hid the prophecies concerning the coming
Messiah, and the prophets searched for the time when the Holy Spirit would be
poured out on the redeemed. There are many people attempting to hide the truth
from the Body of Christ. They come from all venues; within the church as well
as outside the church. Not all leaders in the church are prophets, and not all
prophets are leaders. Moses is an example of a leader who was a different kind
of prophet. Instead of visions and dreams, God spoke to Moses face to face.
Since there is no word to describe Moses as a prophet who knows God face to
face, just like Abraham did, let’s call him a super-prophet.
Num 12:4-8 And the Lord spake suddenly unto Moses, and
unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the
congregation. And they three came out.5 And the Lord came down in the pillar of
the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam:
and they both came forth.6 And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a
prophet [5030] among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a
vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.7 My servant Moses is not so, who is
faithful in all mine house.8 With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even
apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the Lord shall he
behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? KJV
OT:5030 nabiy' (naw-bee'); from OT:5012; a prophet or
(generally) inspired man: KJV - prophecy, that prophesy, prophet.(Biblesoft's
New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew
Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International
Bible Translators, Inc.)
OT:5012 naba' (naw-baw'); a
primitive root; to prophesy, i.e. speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction
or simple discourse): KJV - prophesy (-ing), makeself a prophet.(Biblesoft's
New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew
Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International
Bible Translators, Inc.)
God tells Moses he will raise up prophets and put words
in their mouths. But most prophets at this time in history received revelation
by dreams and visions, and dark speeches, not face to face as Moses did. The people were required to listen to the
prophets; and just like the people, you may wonder how to tell if they are
truly speaking from God.
Deut 18:18-22 I will raise them up a Prophet [5030]from
among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and
he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.19 And it shall come to
pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my
name, I will require it of him.20 But the prophet [5030], which shall presume
to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that
shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet [5030] shall die.21
And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath
not spoken?22 When a prophet [5030] 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. KJV
The key for the people to know if a prophet was speaking
from God or was speaking falsely was if what the person spoke came to pass or
not. That is the basis of Hebraic prophecy; after a thing is spoken, if it
comes to pass then the people can look back on it and know if it was right.
Even though Moses wasn’t technically a prophet with dreams and visions like the
others, he was a super-prophet. Moses was a leader who was a prophet that spoke
with God plainly. There were others that God would speak to face to face.
Joshua was a prophet and leader like Moses.
Deut 34:9-12 And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the
spirit of wisdom; for Moses [Aleph Tav] had laid his hands upon him: and the
children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the Lord [Aleph Tav]commanded
Moses.10 And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom
the Lord knew face to face,11 In all the signs and the wonders, which the Lord
sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to
all his land,12 And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which
Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel. JOSHUA 1:1 Now after the death of
Moses the servant of the Lord it came to pass, that the Lord spake unto Joshua
the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying,2 Moses my servant is dead; now
therefore arise, go over this [Aleph Tav] Jordan, thou, and all this people,
unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.3 Every
place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you,
as I said unto Moses.4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great
river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great
sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.5 There shall not any
man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses,
so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. KJV
Joshua was full of the Spirit of Wisdom, and he was a
prophet like Moses. Notice the Aleph Tav showing up, it tells us the Lord
Jehovah, the First and Last, is speaking to Joshua like he spoke to Moses. No
dreams or visions, or cloaked symbols, the Lord spoke, saying…. The point is
he spoke clearly to Joshua. Joshua takes the people into the Promised Land, but
it is a very unusual story. This is not the typical way to conquer a land. Before
the fight even starts, God has to level the walls of the city. The commander of
Jehovah’s army comes to battle on Israel’s behalf and speaks to Joshua. He says
that he is neither for nor against them. Why? The captain of Jehovah’s heavenly host
doesn’t have an allegiance to man, but to Jehovah. We miss that. Somehow this
section never quite gets communicated correctly.
Josh 5:13-15 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by
Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man
over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him,
and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?14 And he said, Nay;
but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his
face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto
his servant?15 And the captain of the Lord's host said unto Joshua, Loose thy
shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua
did so. KJV
The Angel is probably Michael, the Archangel over Israel.
Notice here the words Aleph Tav do
not show up. Clearly this is not Jehovah Aleph Tav speaking here. The angel was
ready to war on behalf of Israel. That’s why the angel was there, but his
allegiance is to Jehovah. He will do what Jehovah says. Now the Lord Jehovah
Aleph Tav speaks to Joshua.
Josh 6:1-5 Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of
the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.2 And the Lord said
unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand [Aleph Tav] Jericho, [Aleph Tav]
and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.3 And ye shall compass
[Aleph Tav] the city, all ye men of war, and go round about [Aleph Tav] the
city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.4 And seven priests shall bear before
the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass
[Aleph Tav] the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the
trumpets.5 And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the
ram's horn, and when ye hear [Aleph Tav] the sound of the trumpet, all the
people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down
flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him. KJV
These are funny instructions, but Joshua did what Jehovah
Aleph Tav asked and we know the rest of the story, even if it is the Veggie
Tales version. The wall came down, except around Rahab’s house, and the
Israelites were victorious. Let’s take note of verse 2, the words mighty men of valor are the same words
that describe the Nephilim and Goliath as well as men of war. Remember the
Emims, the Anakims, the Rephaims and the Canaanites, from our previous studies?
Joshua was to kill all the giants, the descendants of the Nephilim, but that’s
another story for a different day.
Today we have prophets that have dreams and visions, but
most people can speak with God because the Holy Spirit resides inside of them. Yet
we have prophets that are messengers for the body of Christ, and it is
important to be able to discern between prophets and pseudo prophets. We have a
mindset of excess in our culture that permeates our churches so we think we all
must behave like machines. For example, if I tend toward evangelism, people
automatically think I must always be ready to win people for the Lord. If I
don’t win people to the Lord for a day or two some might think something is
wrong. That is silly. We are not machines. Prophets are the same. Today a
prophet may have some great messages from God for everyone, but tomorrow maybe
not, and that prophet may not have a message for several weeks or months. If
one has established themselves to be a prophet, and receives monetary
compensation for that “title” then that one must become a prophetic machine,
spitting out messages from God all the time. I know that sounds irrational and
it is, but if that is how someone earns a living, then that individual has to
keep the money coming in. Sounds like merchandizing. We will look at that in a
minute.
There are conferences and meetings where people “sell”
their words; they get paid to speak to the group. What if God is not speaking
to them about “a word” that day? We then hear vague, PT Barnum type
“prophecies” such as “there will be hurricanes in the southern United States”.
Really? That’s funny, that never
happens. Yes I’m being sarcastic. That is Meteorology, not Prophecy. People in
the weather business pick out names for storms and hurricanes well in advance
of the stormy seasons. Now if someone were to say there will be a hurricane in
Wyoming, we will only know if they are truly speaking for God if it comes to
pass. That would be impressive since the state of Wyoming is land locked and
not near any oceans. Something as vague
as hurricanes during hurricane season is just a way to keep the money coming
in. We have to be wise, so that we are not tossed about and chasing after
silliness.
Eph 4:14 So then, we may no longer be children, tossed
[like ships] to and fro between chance gusts of teaching and wavering with
every changing wind of doctrine, [the prey of] the cunning and cleverness of
unscrupulous men, [gamblers engaged] in every shifting form of trickery in
inventing errors to mislead. AMP
This is a business in the American Churches today; do not
be fooled. We have to really know our Bibles to know when someone is leading us
astray. Take for example the prophet who claims God is punishing us. That is
not true, we are saved from, spared from, kept from, the wrath to come. The
wrath of the Lamb and the wrath of God happens in the tribulation. This is the
dispensation of grace, we are not punished by God, but there is a god of this
world who would like you to believe that Elohim is punishing you. Listen
carefully to the words and intent of the prophet. Will you have to buy a book to
hear the whole story? Will you have to give your address so that you will
receive mail asking for money in order to hear future prophecies? Let’s look at
both good and bad prophets; the good ones first.
1 Cor 12:28-30 So God has appointed some in the church
[for His own use]: first apostles (special messengers); second prophets [4396]
(inspired preachers and expounders); third teachers; then wonder-workers; then
those with ability to heal the sick; helpers; administrators; [speakers in]
different (unknown) tongues. 29 Are all apostles (special messengers)? Are all
prophets [4396] (inspired interpreters of the will and
purposes of God)? Are all teachers? Do all have the power of performing
miracles? 30 Do all possess extraordinary powers of healing? Do all speak with
tongues? Do all interpret? AMP
NT:4396 prophetes (prof-ay'-tace); from a compound of
NT:4253 and NT:5346; a foreteller ("prophet"); by analogy, an
inspired speaker; by extension, a poet:KJV - prophet.(Biblesoft's New
Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew
Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International
Bible Translators, Inc.)
NT:4253 pro (pro); a primary
preposition; "fore", i.e. in front of, prior (figuratively, superior)
to:KJV - above, ago, before, or ever. In comparison it retains the same
significations.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance
with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft,
Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
NT:5346 phemi (fay-mee');
properly, the same as the base of NT:5457 and NT:5316; to show or make known
one's thoughts, i.e. speak or say: KJV - affirm, say. Compare NT:3004.(Biblesoft's
New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew
Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International
Bible Translators, Inc.)
God appointed several types of helps in the church, one
of which is prophet, one who foretells. God also gave instructions for group
meetings, if there isn’t anyone to speak in tongues and there isn’t anyone to
interpret, then the prophets may speak. Understand that it is ultimately the
same to speak in tongues and interpret, as to prophesy. The people are to
discern. And if someone who is not called a prophet is inspired then the
prophet should let the non-prophet speak. The spirit of the prophets are
subject to the prophets, meaning they can keep silent if they need to.
1 Cor 14:29-33 So let two or three prophets [4396] speak
[those inspired to preach or teach], while the rest pay attention and weigh and
discern what is said. 30 But if an inspired revelation comes to another who is
sitting by, then let the first one be silent. 31 For in this way you can give
testimony [prophesying and thus interpreting the divine will and purpose] one
by one, so that all may be instructed and all may be stimulated and encouraged;
32 For the spirits of the prophets[4396] (the speakers in tongues) are under the
speaker's control [and subject to being silenced as may be necessary], 33 For
He [Who is the source of their prophesying] is not a God of confusion and
disorder but of peace and order. As [is the practice] in all the churches of
the saints (God's people), AMP
Paul was trying to give some good guidelines for group
meetings. Notice that there is no talk of buying or selling books, cd’s, or
dvd’s. The prophets speak for free. And those who are inspired are allowed to
speak as well. That is how we are to raise people up, by allowing them to
speak. No one will be corrupted if they hear a word that is not from God, we
hear words that are not from God all day long. In fact, we hear words against
God all day long too. The body is to listen and interpret the divine will and
purpose of God and discern between prophets and pseudo prophets.
1 Cor 14:37-40 If anyone thinks and claims that he is a
prophet [filled with and governed by the Holy Spirit of God and inspired to
interpret the divine will and purpose in preaching or teaching] or has any
other spiritual endowment, let him understand (recognize and acknowledge) that
what I am writing to you is a command of the Lord. 38 But if anyone disregards
or does not recognize [that it is a command of the Lord], he is disregarded and
not recognized [he is one whom God knows not]. 39 So [to conclude], my
brethren, earnestly desire and set your hearts on prophesying (on being
inspired to preach and teach and to interpret God's will and purpose), and do
not forbid or hinder speaking in [unknown] tongues. 40 But all things should be
done with regard to decency and propriety and in an orderly fashion. AMP
Paul tells us if one believes himself/herself to be a
prophet by default, that one must be filled with the Holy Spirit. If someone
says they do not believe in the ministry or the age of the Holy Spirit, they
cannot be a true prophet speaking from God. Why? Because the Holy Spirit is the
one inspiring the prophet. And the Holy Spirit wrote the book, the Bible. People
can be inspired by a demonic spirit, or their own human spirit, but a true
prophet must be filled and governed by the Holy Spirit. This goes for all the
gifts of the Spirit as well. I would also point out that there were/are many
female prophets. God is not gender specific in the gifts of the spirit. The
mystery/dispensation of the age of the Holy Spirit has been revealed to the
apostles and prophets.
Eph 3:5-6 [This mystery] was never disclosed to human
beings in past generations as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles
(consecrated messengers) and prophets [4396] by the [Holy] Spirit. 6 [It is
this:] that the Gentiles nations
are now to be fellow heirs [with the Jews], members of the same body and joint
partakers [sharing] in the same divine promise in Christ through [their
acceptance of] the glad tidings (the Gospel). AMP
The importance of this message has not waned nearly two
thousand years later. There is no separation of people. Remember our study on
the word Gentiles, it is not an accurate word. The Greeks did not have a word
in their vocabulary that meant they were heathens and less than important in
comparison to the Jews. The word Gentile is nation. The nations are now fellow
heirs and of the same body. Therefore the true prophets will speak this
message. This message is now the key to knowledge. The true prophets will not
tell people to become more like Jews or to follow laws. Have you ever heard
someone say he/she is a prophet and yet he/she tells people the opposite of the
dispensation? There are modern day Pharisees that will hide the truth of this
dispensation; they take the key to knowledge and instead of opening the door,
they lock it and won’t enter in, or let anyone else in. What a parallel to the
last age, before the day of Pentecost!
Prophets are an example of those who live under spiritual
pressure, suffering, and receiving ill treatment. Because they speak for God,
they have to endure the anger of men who don’t want to hear a word from God.
That is why many were killed for the words they spoke. But our age is slightly
different than the Old Testament, now the Holy Spirit indwells humans and all
who are born again can hear from God any time. The key to knowledge is belief
on the Messiah, which brings us into the kingdom of God, which leads us to the
indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This time, the time period of the Holy Spirit,
is a time of grace and salvation.
1 Peter 1:9-12[At the same time] you receive the result
(outcome, consummation) of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 10 The
prophets [4396], who prophesied of the grace (divine blessing) which was
intended for you, searched and inquired earnestly about this salvation. 11 They
sought [to find out] to whom or when this was to come which the Spirit of
Christ working within them was indicating when He predicted the sufferings of
Christ and the glories that should follow [them]. 12 It was then disclosed to
them that the services they were rendering were not meant for themselves and
their period of time, but for you. [It is these very] things which have now
already been made known plainly to you by those who preached the good news (the
Gospel) to you by the [same] Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Into these things
[the very] angels long to look! AMP
Peter is reiterating the mystery that Paul spoke about.
He also tells us to remember what the Old Testament prophets told us. Remember
the key to knowledge was hidden by the Pharisees, but now that that has been
exposed we can look into what the prophets said. Even the angels wanted to know
about our age.
2 Peter 3:1-3 BELOVED, I am now writing you this second
letter. In [both of] them I have stirred up your unsullied (sincere) mind by
way of remembrance, 2 That you should recall the predictions of the holy
(consecrated, dedicated) prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior
[given] through your apostles (His special messengers). 3 To begin with, you
must know and understand this, that scoffers (mockers) will come in the last
days with scoffing, [people who] walk after their own fleshly desires AMP
Peter says in the last day people will walk after their
own fleshly desires, which brings us to pseudo prophets. The word for false
prophet means an imposter, an untrue foreteller.
NT:5578 pseudoprophetes (psyoo-dop-rof-ay'-tace); from
NT:5571 and NT:4396; a spurious prophet, i.e. pretended foreteller or religious
impostor: KJV - false prophet.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and
Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006
Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
NT:5571 pseudes (psyoo-dace');
from NT:5574; untrue, i.e. erroneous, deceitful, wicked:KJV - false, liar.(Biblesoft's
New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew
Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International
Bible Translators, Inc.)
Matt 7:15-20 Beware of false prophets [5578], who come to
you dressed as sheep, but inside they are devouring wolves. [Ezek 22:27.] 16
You will fully recognize them by their fruits. Do people pick grapes from thorns,
or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every healthy (sound) tree bears good fruit
[worthy of admiration], but the sickly (decaying, worthless) tree bears bad
(worthless) fruit. 18 A good (healthy) tree cannot bear bad (worthless) fruit,
nor can a bad (diseased) tree bear excellent fruit [worthy of admiration]. 19
Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire. 20
Therefore, you will fully know them by their fruits. AMP
You will know them by their fruits. Yes, we are to judge
this, otherwise we would be deceived and misguided. We are not to judge
people’s progressive walk with the Lord. That’s what the Pharisees did.
Sometimes we think “that person isn’t doing it right” or “they aren’t living
right, I’m better than they are”, but that is not how we are to behave.
Everyone starts at a different place in their walk with God, and everyone grows
at a different pace. We have to stop being Pharisees about living life. We are
to judge between what people call prophecy, and we are to judge whether a
leader is leading correctly. If they have bad fruit, walk away. Fruit is what
is produced, not the lemons you have been handed. Fruit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, meekness, temperance and faith. For example,
getting hit by a car is not an example of bad fruit, it is the result of a
fallen world controlled by the devil, the prince of this world. Bad fruit would
be temper tantrums, manipulations, bullying, anger, lust, lying, covetousness, etc. That is what we look for regarding false
prophets. False prophets are not only around during our time, they will also be
in the next age as well.
Matt 24:11-14 And many false prophets [5578] will rise up
and deceive and lead many into error. 12 And the love of the great body of
people will grow cold because of the multiplied lawlessness and iniquity, 13
But he who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this good news of the
kingdom (the Gospel) will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony
to all the nations, and then will come the end. AMP
The love of the great body of people will grow cold,
because many false prophets will deceive and lead many into error. While I am
mostly speaking about false prophets within the church, there are false prophets
in other categories such as business, or the medical field, or self-help
groups. The one thing they all have in common is they deny the Lord.
2 Peter 2:1-3 But there were false prophets [5578] 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.2 And many shall follow their
pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.3
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. KJV
False prophets bring damnable heresies; lies about Jesus,
the Holy Spirit, and the Bible, which will keep people from receiving
salvation. In other words the lies told will keep people out of heaven. The way
of truth will be evil spoken of. False prophets make merchandise of people,
they sell their false teachings and prophecies. All false teachers and prophets
will deny the Lord that bought them with his own blood. Let’s read this in the
Amplified.
2 Peter 2:1-3 BUT ALSO [in those days] there arose false
prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among
yourselves, who will subtly and stealthily introduce heretical doctrines
(destructive heresies), even denying and disowning the Master Who bought them,
bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their
immoral ways and lascivious doings; because of them the true Way will be
maligned and defamed. 3 And in their covetousness (lust, greed) they will
exploit you with false (cunning) arguments. From of old the sentence [of
condemnation] for them has not been idle; their destruction (eternal misery)
has not been asleep. AMP
The pseudo prophets will exploit people. For example,
someone writes a book about some “prophetic revelations”, but it is full of
fallacies, denying the administration of the Holy Spirit, but people buy it
because they think they will be on the cutting edge of “something new”. There
are posters, t-shirts and eventually a movie is made. People are buying it all,
but they should be lining it up with the Bible. In effect the false prophet is
stealing money from the body of Christ.
In the church, every denomination has a set of ideas they
believe in; some call the Holy Spirit heresy and teach that there are no gifts
of the Spirit. Some teach that the gifts died with the apostles even though
that is never found in the Bible. By holding onto religious traditions people
negate the Bible and the Holy Spirit. The key to knowledge lies in the words of
the prophets who speak of the Messiah who came, and the Holy Spirit who Jesus
sent. The Pharisees hid the knowledge of the Messiah from the people. The
Pharisees didn’t enter into the kingdom of God and eternal life with the
Messiah, and they didn’t let the people enter into the kingdom of God and
eternal life either.
Today the message of the prophet has to align with the
mystery. It also has to align with the rest of the Bible concerning the age and
time we live in, the age of grace and salvation for the nations. The message of
a prophet aligns with the age of the Holy Spirit, the time period of the
nations entering into the body of Christ. This is how we discern the message we
hear from those who call themselves prophets. If one who calls him/herself a
prophet gives a weather forecast, they are most likely guessing about meteorology
because they are looking for something to say that sounds profound. If a
prophets’ message seems vague and the prophets’ beliefs coincide with the god
of this world, that one is not speaking a message from the Holy Spirit.
The key to knowledge today is in the message of the
apostles and prophets speaking the mystery. It is what the Old Testament
prophets looked into and saw that it was for a coming age, our age. While in
the Old Testament only super prophets spoke to God face to face. Today we can all
have the Holy Spirit inside of us and we can all develop that relationship. While modern day Pharisees might want to lock
people out of the knowledge, we now understand the key to knowledge is the
mystery of this age and the true prophets will open up the way to the truth.
