Topical Encyclopedia In the biblical narrative, false prophets are individuals who claim to speak on behalf of God but instead deliver messages that are contrary to His will and truth. These individuals are often characterized by their immoral and profane behavior, leading people away from the true teachings of God and into error and sin.Old Testament Context The Old Testament provides numerous warnings against false prophets, emphasizing their deceptive nature and the danger they pose to the community of believers. In Deuteronomy 18:20-22, God sets a clear standard for true prophecy, stating that a prophet who speaks presumptuously in His name or in the name of other gods must be put to death. This underscores the seriousness with which God views the integrity of His word. Jeremiah, a prophet during the time of Judah's decline, frequently confronted false prophets who led the people astray with messages of peace and prosperity, contrary to God's warnings of impending judgment. Jeremiah 23:14-16 describes these false prophets: "And among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen something horrible: They commit adultery and walk in lies; they strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns back from his wickedness. They are all like Sodom to Me, and the people of Jerusalem like Gomorrah. Therefore, this is what the LORD of Hosts says concerning the prophets: 'I will feed them wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink, for from the prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness has spread throughout the land.'" New Testament Context The New Testament continues to warn against false prophets, highlighting their presence even within the early Christian community. Jesus Himself warned of false prophets in Matthew 7:15 : "Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves." This imagery illustrates the deceptive nature of false prophets, who appear harmless but are ultimately destructive. The Apostle Peter also addresses the issue in 2 Peter 2:1-3 , where he writes: "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." Characteristics and Consequences False prophets are often marked by their immoral conduct and profane actions. They may engage in sexual immorality, greed, and deceit, using their position to exploit others for personal gain. Their teachings often lead people away from the truth of God's word, resulting in spiritual and moral decay within the community. The consequences for false prophets are severe, as they face God's judgment for their actions. The Bible consistently portrays them as individuals who will ultimately be exposed and punished for their deceit and rebellion against God. Discernment and Vigilance Believers are called to exercise discernment and vigilance in identifying and rejecting false prophets. The Apostle John advises in 1 John 4:1 : "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." This call to discernment is crucial for maintaining the purity of the faith and protecting the community from spiritual harm. In summary, false prophets are a recurring threat throughout the biblical narrative, characterized by their immoral and profane behavior. They lead people away from God's truth, resulting in spiritual and moral decay. Believers are urged to remain vigilant and discerning, testing all teachings against the truth of Scripture to safeguard their faith. Torrey's Topical Textbook Jeremiah 23:11,14For both prophet and priest are profane; yes, in my house have I found their wickedness, said the LORD. Torrey's Topical Textbook Library The Second Epistle of St. Peter On the Study of the Evidences of Christianity. The Ordination of Paul and Barnabas; their Missionary Tour in Asia ... Memoir of John Bunyan Against Rash and Vain Swearing. On Regeneration Of the True Church. Duty of Cultivating Unity with Her, as the ... Letter xv. To Turribius, Bishop of Asturia , Upon the Errors of ... Papal Infallibility Explained, and Tested by Tradition and ... The Sovereignty of God in Reprobation Resources What does the Bible say about false prophets? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are the Major Prophets and Minor Prophets? | GotQuestions.org What was the school of prophets? | 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 |
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