Prophets, false

Criteria for recognising true prophets

A true prophet’s word will be fulfilled

Deuteronomy 18:21–22 KJV 1900

And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken? When a prophet 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.

See also Je 28:8–9

A true prophet’s teaching commends righteous behaviour

Deuteronomy 13:1–4 KJV 1900

If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.

See also Eze 13:17–23; Eze 14:4–8; La 2:14

A true prophet’s godly life will reflect his calling

Matthew 7:15–20 KJV 1900

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

See also Is 28:7; Je 23:10–11; Je 23:14; Zep 3:4

A true prophet will acknowledge Jesus Christ as divine

1 John 4:1–6 KJV 1900

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

The motivations of false prophets

Their messages originate with themselves

Jeremiah 23:16 KJV 1900

Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord.

See also Je 14:13–14; Je 23:25–32; Je 23:36; Eze 13:1–7

Their messages may be occasioned by popular demand

Jeremiah 29:8–9 KJV 1900

For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed. For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the Lord.

God places a strict requirement upon his prophets that they should proclaim only what is divinely revealed:

Nu 22:35; Nu 22:38; Nu 23:12; Nu 23:26; Nu 24:12–13; 1 Ki 22:13–14

Is 30:10–11; Je 5:30–31; Mic 2:11

Their messages may be given for financial reward

Nehemiah 6:12–13 KJV 1900

And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me.

See also Je 6:13–14; Eze 13:19; Mic 3:11; 2 Pe 2:1–3

Their messages may be the result of deception

1 Kings 22:19–23 KJV 1900

And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left. And the Lord said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner. And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will persuade him. And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so. Now therefore, behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken evil concerning thee.

See also Eze 14:9

Their messages may be inspired by divination

Jeremiah 14:14 KJV 1900

Then the Lord said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.

See also Eze 13:6–7; Eze 22:28; Ac 13:6

Examples of false prophets

In the OT

Nehemiah 6:10–13 KJV 1900

Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee. And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in. And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me.

See also 1 Ki 22:1–28; Je 27:9–10; Je 27:14–18

False prophetesses

Ne 6:14; Eze 13:17

Prophets of other gods

Jeremiah 23:13 KJV 1900

And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; They prophesied in Baal, And caused my people Israel to err.

See also 1 Ki 18:19–40; 2 Ki 10:19; Je 2:8

In the NT

Matthew 24:24 KJV 1900

For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

See also Mt 24:10–11; Ac 13:6–11

False prophets feature as part of the symbolism of the book of Revelation:

Re 2:20; Re 16:13; Re 19:20; Re 20:10

The punishment of false prophets

Deuteronomy 18:20 KJV 1900

But the prophet, 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 shall die.

See also Dt 13:5; Zec 13:3; Je 14:15

God sometimes intervened to strike the false prophet down:

Je 28:15–17; Je 29:21–23; Je 29:30–32

Je 23:34–40; Eze 13:8–16; Mic 3:5–6