Topical Bible: Prophecy: Punishment For: Pretending to the Gift of

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In the biblical narrative, the gift of prophecy is a revered and sacred endowment bestowed by God upon chosen individuals to convey His divine will and guidance. The Scriptures sternly warn against the pretense of possessing this gift, as it is considered a grave offense against God and His truth. The Bible provides several accounts and teachings that illustrate the severe consequences for those who falsely claim the gift of prophecy.

One of the most notable examples is found in the account of the false prophet Hananiah in the Book of Jeremiah. Hananiah boldly proclaimed a message of peace and deliverance that contradicted the true prophecy given by Jeremiah. In response, Jeremiah declared the word of the Lord against Hananiah: "Listen, Hananiah! The LORD has not sent you, but you have persuaded this nation to trust in a lie. Therefore, this is what the LORD says: 'I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. This year you will die, because you have preached rebellion against the LORD.'" (Jeremiah 28:15-16). True to the prophecy, Hananiah died within the same year, demonstrating the seriousness of falsely claiming the prophetic gift.

The New Testament also addresses the issue of false prophets and the punishment that awaits them. In the Book of Acts, the account of Simon the Sorcerer serves as a cautionary tale. Simon, who had previously practiced sorcery, attempted to buy the gift of the Holy Spirit from the apostles. Peter rebuked him sharply, saying, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in our ministry, because your heart is not right before God." (Acts 8:20-21). Simon's attempt to manipulate the divine gift for personal gain was met with a stern warning of spiritual peril.

The Apostle Peter further warns of false prophets in his epistles, emphasizing the destructive nature of their deception. 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." (2 Peter 2:1). This passage underscores the inevitable judgment that befalls those who pretend to the gift of prophecy, leading others astray with their false teachings.

The Book of Revelation also speaks to the fate of false prophets, particularly in the context of the end times. The false prophet, who performs signs to deceive the inhabitants of the earth, is ultimately cast into the lake of fire along with the beast: "But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur." (Revelation 19:20). This vivid imagery serves as a stark warning of the eternal punishment reserved for those who falsely claim the prophetic mantle.

Throughout Scripture, the pretense of possessing the gift of prophecy is met with divine retribution, underscoring the sanctity of true prophecy and the severe consequences of deceit. The biblical accounts and teachings serve as a sobering reminder of the importance of authenticity and truthfulness in the exercise of spiritual gifts.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Deuteronomy 18:20
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.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Jeremiah 14:15
Therefore thus said the LORD concerning the prophets that prophesy in my name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land; By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Jeremiah 23:15
Therefore thus said the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Tenth Sunday after Trinity Spiritual Counsel for Church Officers.
... soul away to something else, pretending that this ... The gift of prophecy includes,
further, the ability ... of future indignation, vengeance and punishment for the ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/tenth sunday after trinity spiritual.htm

Second Sunday after Epiphany
... This is the danger-point in all prophecy. ... Now, they who harbor hatred while pretending
to love ... Reproof and punishment greatly differ from cursing and malediction ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol ii/second sunday after epiphany.htm

Doctrinal and Moral Treatises. Index of Subjects.
... 543, [625]544; loss of, how a punishment; how a ... 732]340; witnessed to by Jewish prophecy,
[733]342 ... 476, [787]494; denied before men in pretending heresy, [788 ...
/.../on care to be had for the dead /doctrinal and moral treatises index.htm

The Arguments Usually Alleged in Support of Free Will Refuted.
... endeavour to evade his judgment, by pretending that he ... the divine favour, and visited
with punishment, there is ... a distance is meant the withdrawal of prophecy. ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 5 the arguments usually.htm

The Greatest Trial on Record
... Prophecy unto us!" And thus the Savior passed a ... accused him of stirring up sedition,
pretending to be ... accepted by God instead of their punishment; believe that ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 9 1863/the greatest trial on record.htm

Homilies on the Gospel of John.
... Asa, his gout a punishment for sin, [117]132. Babel, an example of mischievous
agreement, [118]206. Baptism, promise at, [119]4; gift of the Spirit in, [120]36 ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homilies on the gospel of.htm

Regeneration by Faith. Of Repentance.
... for a time with the ungodly, pretending repentance ... says that therein was fulfilled
the prophecy concerning the ... with deprecation of the sentence and punishment. ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 3 regeneration by faith.htm

Of Passages from the Holy Scriptures, and from the Apocrypha ...
... When Paul declared that all prophecy ought to be ... Jesus Christ." This boundary they
pass in pretending that, as ... This, I allow, is a fearful punishment which God ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/of passages from the holy.htm

Letter Xciii. (AD 408. )
... But at that time the prophecy, "Be wise now ... more severe has been appointed, for the
punishment of that ... is known:" either refusing to see, or pretending not to ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter xciii a d 408.htm

Of Faith. The Definition of It. Its Peculiar Properties.
... and abuse, as the gift of tongues, prophecy, or other ... for the gift of miracles"a
gift possessed by ... therefore, is the proper hire and punishment of unbelief ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 2 of faith the.htm