Definition and Characteristics:

False prophets are individuals who claim to speak on behalf of God but deliver messages that originate from their own thoughts, desires, or imaginations rather than divine revelation. These individuals often lead people astray by presenting their own ideas as the word of God, thus distorting the truth and undermining genuine prophetic messages.

Biblical Warnings and Descriptions:

The Bible provides numerous warnings against false prophets, emphasizing their deceptive nature and the danger they pose to the faithful. In the Old Testament, God frequently admonishes His people to be wary of those who prophesy from their own hearts rather than from divine inspiration.

Ezekiel's Condemnation:

One of the most explicit condemnations of false prophets is found in the book of Ezekiel. The prophet Ezekiel, speaking the word of the Lord, denounces those who prophesy out of their own hearts:

· "This is what the Lord GOD says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing." (Ezekiel 13:3)

Ezekiel further describes these false prophets as those who have not stood in the counsel of the Lord, but instead, have fabricated visions and divinations:

· "They see false visions and speak lying divinations. They claim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ when the LORD did not send them; yet they wait for the fulfillment of their message." (Ezekiel 13:6)

Jeremiah's Rebuke:

Similarly, the prophet Jeremiah rebukes those who speak from their own hearts, highlighting the deceitfulness of their messages:

· "This is what the LORD of Hosts says: Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They are filling you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD." (Jeremiah 23:16)

Jeremiah emphasizes that these prophets have not stood in the presence of the Lord to hear His word, but instead, they prophesy lies and deceit:

· "I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied." (Jeremiah 23:21)

New Testament Warnings:

The New Testament continues to warn believers about false prophets, urging discernment and vigilance. Jesus Himself cautions against those who come in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves:

· "Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves." (Matthew 7:15)

The apostle Peter also warns of false teachers who will arise among the people, bringing destructive heresies and exploiting believers with fabricated stories:

· "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." (2 Peter 2:1)

Discernment and Testing:

The Bible encourages believers to test the spirits and discern the truthfulness of prophetic messages. The apostle John advises:

· "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." (1 John 4:1)

By adhering to the teachings of Scripture and seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit, believers can guard against the influence of false prophets who prophesy out of their own hearts.Jeremiah 23:16,26
Thus said the LORD of hosts, Listen not to the words of the prophets that prophesy to you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Ezekiel 13:2
Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say you to them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear you the word of the LORD;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Whether Prophecy Pertains to Knowledge?
... bones were visited, and after death they prophesied." Now no ... and mad are not true
but false prophets, of whom it ... not to the words of the prophets that prophesy ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether prophecy pertains to knowledge.htm

The Prophet Jonah.
... when there is something akin in the heart. Not even with one step did Jonah touch
the territory of the false prophets, who prophesied out of their own hearts. ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the prophet jonah.htm

Prophets and Prophets. (xxiii. 9-32, xxvii-xxix, Etc. )
... In Samaria's prophets I saw the unseemly, 13 By Baal they prophesied.(535) In
Jerusalem's prophets I ... Behold, I am against the prophets of false dreams who ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/2 prophets and prophets xxiii.htm

Self-Destruction
... that he hated him, because he only prophesied evil of him ... died at even: and the blood
ran out of his ... no excuse for listening to those false prophets"no excuse ...
/.../kingsley/twenty-five village sermons/sermon viii self-destruction.htm

How Jehu was Anointed King, and Slew Both Joram and Ahaziah; as ...
... in mind of the prophecy which Elijah prophesied to Ahab ... and in the morning he went
out to take a ... one wicked man, but would punish the false prophets, and false ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 6 how jehu was.htm

The Last King of Judah
... land; and that I should drive you out, and ye ... In the fifth month Jeremiah prophesied
the death of ... by the representations of the false prophets brought Zedekiah ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 36 the last king.htm

The Prophet Hosea.
... sum and substance of what he had prophesied during a ... of Micah, and most of the minor
prophets generally. ... supposition upon which it rests is false"viz., that ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the prophet hosea.htm

Chapter xxv.
... lie, who will be found saying, "We have prophesied in Thy name, and have cast out
devils in ... what the Lord Himself says of the false prophets, speaking thus ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/our lords sermon on the mount/chapter xxv.htm

The Prophetic Theme. Rev. Gervase Smith.
... have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the ... That the Divine Being
has sometimes made "false prophets" means of carrying out his purposes ...
/.../the wesleyan methodist pulpit in malvern/the prophetic theme rev gervase.htm

Jeremiah
... and the conception of the enemy "out of the ... he counsels patience"it is the false
prophets who hope for ... of which""that which Jeremiah prophesied against all ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/jeremiah.htm

What is the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal? | GotQuestions.org

What was a prophet in the Old Testament? | GotQuestions.org

What is a prophet in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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