What other scriptures warn against false prophets leading people astray? The Wake-Up Call in Lamentations 4:13 “All this happened because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who shed within her the blood of the righteous.” • Jerusalem’s collapse was traced straight to spiritual leaders who had abandoned truth. • When shepherds turn deceptive, the entire flock is placed in danger—a pattern repeated throughout Scripture. Old Testament Echoes of the Warning • Deuteronomy 13:1-3 – “If a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises… and says, ‘Let us follow other gods’… you must not listen to that prophet… the LORD your God is testing you.” • Deuteronomy 18:20-22 – “The prophet who presumes to speak a message in My name… must be put to death… when a prophet speaks… and the message does not come to pass… the LORD has not spoken.” • Jeremiah 23:16 – “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They fill you with false hope.” • Ezekiel 13:2-3 – “Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit yet have seen nothing!” These passages underline that error often comes draped in spiritual language, yet God commands discernment and decisive rejection of it. Jesus Exposes the Wolves • Matthew 7:15 – “Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” • Matthew 24:11 – “Many false prophets will arise and mislead many.” • Mark 13:22 – “False Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” The Lord Himself places continual vigilance on the believer’s agenda—deception can look convincing, even supernatural. Apostolic Alerts to the Church • Acts 20:29-30 – “Savage wolves will come in among you… even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth.” • 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 – “Such men are false apostles… Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” • Galatians 1:8-9 – “Even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary… let him be under a curse!” • 1 Timothy 4:1 – “In later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons.” Truth-warfare is not optional; the apostles expected every believer to engage with Scripture so that counterfeit messages are unmasked. Final New Testament Trumpets • 2 Peter 2:1-3 – “There will be false teachers among you… many will follow in their depravity, and because of them the way of truth will be defamed.” • 1 John 4:1 – “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits… many false prophets have gone out into the world.” • Jude 4 – “Certain men have crept in unnoticed… ungodly ones who turn the grace of our God into a license for immorality.” • Revelation 2:20 – “You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads My servants.” • Revelation 13:13-14 – “The second beast performed great signs… it deceived those who dwell on the earth.” From the epistles through Revelation, Scripture keeps sounding the siren: deception intensifies as history moves toward its climax. Bringing It Together Lamentations 4:13 shows that when leaders trade God’s word for their own, devastation follows. From Moses to the prophets, from Jesus to John on Patmos, the Bible consistently warns that false prophets: • speak persuasively yet oppose God’s revealed truth, • often produce signs, wonders, or novel teachings, • lure hearts away from wholehearted devotion to the Lord, • and ultimately face certain judgment. Our safeguard is unwavering loyalty to the God-breathed Scriptures, measured line-by-line against every voice that claims to speak for Him. |
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