Topical Encyclopedia In the biblical narrative, false prophets are individuals who claim to speak on behalf of God but deliver messages that are not from Him. The Scriptures provide numerous warnings against false prophets and outline the severe consequences they face for leading people astray.Old Testament Context The Old Testament is replete with admonitions against false prophets. In Deuteronomy 18:20, the Lord commands, "But if any prophet dares to speak a message in My name that I have not commanded him to speak, or to speak in the name of other gods, that prophet must be put to death." This severe punishment underscores the gravity of falsely claiming divine authority and the potential harm such deception can cause to the covenant community. Jeremiah, a true prophet of God, frequently contended with false prophets who contradicted his messages. In Jeremiah 14:14-15, the Lord declares, "The prophets are prophesying lies in My name. I did not send them or appoint them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a false vision, worthless divination, the deceit of their own minds. Therefore, this is what the LORD says about the prophets who are prophesying in My name: I did not send them, yet they are saying, 'No sword or famine will touch this land.' By sword and famine these very prophets will meet their end!" Ezekiel also speaks against false prophets, emphasizing their ultimate destruction. In Ezekiel 13:9, God states, "My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations. They will not belong to the council of My people or be listed in the records of the house of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord GOD." New Testament Context The New Testament continues to warn against false prophets and their eventual judgment. Jesus Himself cautions in Matthew 7:15-16, "Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them." This metaphor highlights the deceptive nature of false prophets and the importance of discernment based on their actions and teachings. The Apostle Peter warns of the destructive heresies introduced by false teachers, stating in 2 Peter 2:1-3, "But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow in their depravity, and because of them the way of truth will be defamed. In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep." The Apostle John also addresses the issue, urging believers to test the spirits to discern whether they are from God, as many false prophets have gone out into the world (1 John 4:1). Eschatological Judgment The ultimate punishment for false prophets is depicted in eschatological terms. Revelation 19:20 describes the fate of the false prophet who deceived those who received the mark of the beast: "But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who performed signs on his behalf. By these signs he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. Both the beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur." Throughout Scripture, the punishment of false prophets serves as a sobering reminder of the seriousness of speaking falsely in God's name and the divine justice that awaits those who lead others away from the truth. Nave's Topical Index Jeremiah 14:13-16Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, the prophets say to them, You shall not see the sword, neither shall you have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place. Nave's Topical Index Jeremiah 20:6 Jeremiah 28:16,17 Jeremiah 29:32 Zechariah 13:3 Library How Jehu was Anointed King, and Slew Both Joram and Ahaziah; as ... Whether by God's Mercy all Punishment of the Damned, Both Men and ... The Circumstances Related of Montanus and his False Prophets. The Apocalypse of Peter. Psalm XI. Sermon on the Mount Continued Its Woes in Strict Agreement with ... Prophets and Prophets. (xxiii. 9-32, xxvii-xxix, Etc. ) Concerning Jehoshaphat the King of Jerusalem and How Ahab Made an ... How Jadon the Prophet was Persuaded by Another Lying Prophet and ... Why Man is of Two Sexes; what is his First Death, and what the ... Resources What does it mean that Saul is also among the prophets? | GotQuestions.orgHow many prophets are in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Are there prophets in the church today? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics False Prophets: Called Foolish Prophets False Prophets: Compared to Foxes in the Desert False Prophets: Compared to Wind False Prophets: Immoral and Profane False Prophets: Influenced by Evil Spirits False Prophets: Involved the People in Their own Ruin False Prophets: Judgments Denounced Against False Prophets: Light and Treacherous False Prophets: Made Use of by God to Prove Israel False Prophets: Mode of Trying and Detecting False Prophets: Not Sent or Commissioned by God False Prophets: Often Deceived by God As a Judgment False Prophets: Often Practised Divination and Witchcraft False Prophets: Often Pretended to Dreams False Prophets: Predicted to Arise in the Latter Times False Prophets: Predicted to Arise: Before Destruction of Jerusalem False Prophets: Pretended to be Sent by God False Prophets: Prophesied in the Name of False Gods False Prophets: Prophesied: Falsely False Prophets: Prophesied: Lies in the Name of the Lord False Prophets: Prophesied: out of Their own Heart False Prophets: Prophesied: Peace, when There Was No Peace False Prophets: The People: Deprived of God's Word By False Prophets: The People: Encouraged and Praised False Prophets: The People: Led Into Error False Prophets: The People: Made to Forget God's Name By False Prophets: The People: Oppressed and Defrauded By False Prophets: The People: Taught Profaneness and Sin By False Prophets: The People: Warned not to Listen To False Prophets: Women Sometimes Acted As Prophets were Called: Holy Men of God Prophets were Called: Holy Prophets Prophets were Called: Men of God Prophets were Called: Prophets of God Prophets were Consulted in all Difficulties Prophets were Esteemed As Holy Men Prophets were Mighty Through Faith Prophets were Required: Not to Speak Anything But What They Received from God Prophets were Required: To be Bold and Undaunted Prophets were Required: To be Vigilant and Faithful Prophets were Required: To Declare Everything That the Lord Commanded Prophets were Required: To Receive With Attention all God's Communications Prophets were Sent to Denounce the Wickedness of Kings Prophets were Sent to Exhort to Faithfulness and Constancy in God's Service Prophets were Sent to Predict the Coming of Christ Prophets were Sent to Predict the Downfall of Nations Prophets were Sent to Reprove the Wicked and Exhort to Repentance Prophets were Under the Influence of the Holy Spirit While Prophesying Prophets: Assisted the Jews in Their Great National Undertakings Prophets: Azariah the Son of Oded Prophets: Benefits of Presents Prophets: Benefits of Presents Refused By Prophets: Christ Exercised the office of Prophets: Christ Predicted to Exercise the office of Prophets: Extraordinary: Often Endued With Miraculous Power Prophets: Extraordinary: Specially Raised up on Occasions of Emergency Prophets: False: 400 in Samaria Prophets: False: Denunciations Against Prophets: False: Punishment of Prophets: Felt Deeply on Account of the Calamities Which They Predicted Prophets: Frequently in Their Actions Were Made Signs to the People Prophets: Frequently Left Without Divine Communication on Account of Prophets: Frequently Married Men Prophets: Frequently Spoke in Parables and Riddles Prophets: God Avenged all Injuries Done To Prophets: God Communicated to At Various Time and in Different Ways Prophets: God Communicated To by an Audible Voice Prophets: God Communicated To by Angels Prophets: God Communicated To by Dreams and Visions Prophets: God Communicated to His Secret Things Prophets: Great Patience of, Under Suffering Prophets: Jehu the Son of Hanani Prophets: Micaiah the Son of Imlah Prophets: Not Honored in Their own Country Prophets: Often Accompanied by Music While Predicting Prophets: Often Committed Their Predictions to Writing Prophets: Often Led a Wandering and Unsettled Life Prophets: One Generally Attached to the King's Household Prophets: Ordinary: Numerous in Israel Prophets: Ordinary: The Sacred Bards of the Jews Prophets: Ordinary: Trained up and Instructed in Schools Prophets: Predictions of Frequently Proclaimed at the Gate of the Lord's House Prophets: Predictions of Proclaimed in the Cities and Streets Prophets: Predictions of Were all Fulfilled Prophets: Predictions of Written on Rolls and Read to the People Prophets: Predictions of Written on Tables and Fixed up in some Public Place Prophets: Presented With Gifts by Those Who Consulted Them Prophets: Prophet Set to Israel Prophets: Simple in Their Manner of Life Prophets: Sometimes Received Divine Communications and Uttered Prophets: Sometimes Thought It Right to Reject Presents Prophets: Sometimes Uttered Their Predictions in Verse Prophets: Spoke in the Name of the Lord Prophets: The Historiographers of the Jewish Nation Prophets: The Interpreters of Dreams Prophets: The Jews: Often Imprisoned Them Prophets: The Jews: Often Left Without, on Account of Sin Prophets: The Jews: Often Put Them to Death Prophets: The Jews: Often Tried to Make Them Speak Smooth Things Prophets: The Jews: Persecuted Them Prophets: The Jews: Require to Hear and Believe Prophets: The Messengers of God Prophets: The Watchmen of Israel Prophets: Women Sometimes Endowed As Prophets: Wore a Coarse Dress of Hair-Cloth Prophets: Writings of, Read in the Synagogues Every Sabbath Prophets: Zacharias the Father of John Prophets: Zechariah Son of Iddo Related Terms Brother-servant (2 Occurrences) Almondiblathaim (2 Occurrences) Almon-diblathaim (2 Occurrences) Sycamore-trees (6 Occurrences) |
    |