Seven Marks Of A False Prophet

By John Stallings


Listen to Paul.in Philippians ...

Beware of dogs; beware of the evil workers, beware of the concision. Phi.3:2

Preach the Word; be instant in season out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap unto themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. --2 Timothy 4:2-4

We’re in a time when many of God’s people won’t endure sound doctrine. We are here now;

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.—1 Timothy 4:1-2

For among my people are found wicked men; they lay wait as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men. A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof? ---Jer.5:26/30-31.

When Paul calls someone a dog, he’s speaking of false teachers. Since dogs in our time are called man’s best friend, and loved by most everyone it’s too bad that in the Bible dogs are almost always seen in a negative light. This would be because in that day dogs ran wild, had no masters, and were considered filthy & dangerous.

You and I should be careful that we never brand people as false prophets just because they don’t agree with us on every detail of our theology. When we go there, we get into the harmful judging we’re warned against.

Watch the example Paul sets. In 1 Corinthians 8, Paul speaks about meat that was sacrificed to idols. He clearly calls people confused about eating or not eating it. He says they are brothers who just don’t have sufficient knowledge. Paul makes it clear that God loves the people on both sides of the debate. He isn’t calling them false prophets or “dogs.” Paul states what he believes to be the true but says, “an idol is nothing, but not everyone knows this.” Paul isn’t going to get his knickers in a knot about the issue.

If we move to Romans 14 &15 Paul goes further into it. He starts off by telling us to “receive those who are weak in the faith &don’t get embroiled in doubtful disputes.” Too much labeling & line-drawing is done today &God is displeased with it. Certainly we aren’t to compromise the truth or our convictions, but neither are we to be “Holy Ghost juniors” setting ourselves up as judges.

Dogs or false teachers will always be with us. Listen to the words of Jesus;

And many false prophets shall rise and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold……For there shall arise false Christ’s, and false prophets and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Matt. 24:11-12/24.

Many people love the smooth sayings of false teachers. Listen to Peter;

But there were false prophets among the people even as there will be false prophets among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that brought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you; whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. 2 Peter 2:1-3

Listen to John;

--Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they be of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of the anti-Christ, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.---1 John 4:1-3

Paul told Timothy;

Holding faith and a good conscience which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. 1 Timothy 1:19-20

“Who let these dogs out?” I think it’s rather obvious that Satan is the father of all these “dogs” who spew forth lies in the name of God. If we read Revelation we’ll see many other dogs will be released in the end-time.

Seven marks of a false prophet or DOG...

1. A FALSE PROPHET IS A MAN PLEASER

A false prophet will never tell us-inconvenient truths.Micah 23:16-17 says,--Thus saith the Lord, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart and not out of the mouth of the Lord.

We wouldn’t go to a doctor who would rub Vaseline on a cancer & we need to be careful listening to a ministry that never rocks the boat or tells us “thus saith the Lord.” Salvation is more than a fire- escape but Jesus had so much to say about sin, it’s consequence & eternal hell, you’d think a man/woman would mention these things at least once or twice every ten years or so. In my view a preacher who doesn’t declare the whole council of God has zero credibility, isn’t scripturally balanced & is probably a people pleaser. Acts 20:26-27.

2. A FALSE PROPHET SCORNS & OPPOSES TRUE MINISTERS OF GOD.

In Numbers 16 a man named Korah gathered others around him & went to Moses challenging his leadership. The narrative tells us that Moses fell on his face. Moses just collapsed right there. We might interpret it that Moses fell in humility & in a prayerful way but it seems to me Moses was so stunned at his core he fell out from the shock.

Moses may have fallen because he was aghast at these men rebelling against his leadership when they were there all through the wilderness journey. These men saw how God used Moses & the great miracles God wrought to keep these people alive, but they rose up against God’s man anyway. God dealt with this in a harsh way [He opened the earth and it swallowed them] as He will always do at some point when his anointed leaders are assailed.

It’s the mark of a wolf-in-sheep’s-clothing to have the unmitigated gall to  rise up against & oppose the work a true man/woman of God is doing.

3. A FALSE PROPHET GIVES UNTRUE PROPHESIES & VISIONS.

Then the Lord said unto me, the prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision, and divination, and a thing of naught, and the deceit of their heart.—Jer.14:14

Thus saith the Lord of hosts, hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart and not out of the mouth of the Lord. Jer. 23:16

This is sort of funny but I once was a pulpit guest in a church where the pastor (a very fine man) felt he was highly favored & mightily used of God to foresee events. One night after our service he “felt led” to drive across town & pray for a man who was having some difficulties.

It was a cold rainy night & the pastor’s wife was against him going & told him he could pray for the man & go see him the next day. But nothing would make him happy until the brother had me in the car & we headed out into the bleak night to “take care of business.” I was a little embarrassed for my preacher friend when we arrived at the house & the man wasn’t home. Now I didn’t think any less of my friend because of this because in truth, though I loved & respected him, I never had that much confidence in his radar anyway. Even at best, “We prophesy in part.” We need to be careful when we use the words “God told me.”

4. A FALSE PROPHET MAJORS ON MINORS.

From which some have swerved and have turned aside unto vain jangling; desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor whereof they affirm.-1 Timothy 1:5-6

If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even to the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to Godliness. He is proud knowing nothing but doting about questions and strifes of words where cometh envy, strife, railing , evil surmisings, perverse disputing of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth supposing that gain is Godliness; from such withdraw thyself. 1 Tim.6:3-5.

Did you notice the words “vain-jangling?” That sounds like a good song-title doesn’t it? That’s the best way to describe what you get from a lot of media ministry nowadays, vain-jangling! When someone offers me a miracle wallet telling me if I send them an offering the wallet will never be empty, I wonder why they don’t just keep all those wallets & use the money that’s obviously already in them.

Please don’t misunderstand, I believe strongly in the miraculous power of God who can move in wondrous & supernatural ways. I also believe in giving & remain open to God in the area of giving, even to ministries I don’t personally know. But some things don’t pass the smell test to me.

5. A FALSE PROPHET WILL DISGUISE DANGEROUS TEACHING WITH ELOQUENCE.

Now I beseech you brethren mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned and avoid them. For they serve not our Lord Jesus Christ but their own belly and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. Romans 16:17-18.

Woe unto them! For they have gone in the way of Cain; and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in their gainsaying of Korah. -- Jude 11

These are murmurers, complainers walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage. ---Jude 16

6. A FALSE PROPHET WANTS TO MAKE A CONVERT NOT CHANGE A LIFE.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte and when he is made ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. Matthew 23:15

7. A FALSE PROPHET IS COVETOUS.

For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophets even unto the priest everyone dealeth falsely. Jer.6:13

In my reading of the New Testament, no one has a periscope quite like Peter’s. It’s well worth the time to reread the second chapter of his second little letter where he deals with the destructiveness, the doom &  depravity of false teachers.Though this passage was previously used, listen to it again;

Peter says “Through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you, whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not and their damnation slumbereth not.-2:4

These false prophets want “your goods,” but not “your good.”

It pains me to turn on my TV or go to a church service & have someone tell the people in essence that EVERYTHING God will do for them is determined on how much money they give. As far as I’m concerned when they do this they cross the line, they go too far. These people to me are the same as spiritual “wife-beaters.” Any time an individual arbitrarily picks out an amount of money he/she wants folk to send them, then turns around and makes it an “obedience” issue, if they don’t respond; IMHO they’ve wandered off the reservation big time. This hard core sell to me is no less than “spiritual rape.”

How are they different than the Catholic Church before the Reformation when they were selling indulgences? Answer; they aren’t different!

How can a God-called individual tell people (as a TV evangelist did) “If you have $79.00 in your bank account that’s not going to help you, I dare you to close that account & send me that money?” The person who bites on that, unless they’ve really heard from God will in all probability be asking their church to pay their household bills in a few days.

How about this one, “I want you to post-mark that offering within three days. If you don’t send it in three days I don’t want it  we won’t accept it. God said three days!” How about this one, “You & I working together are going to be millionaires.” There are TV ministries I believe are sincere & I’ll go so far as to say that the majority are open & honest, but religious charlatans abound today. These people who are on giant ego trips & they’re in it for the money. I can best describe them using my grandmother’s favorite word, “superficiality.”

It’s easy to just turn our ears away and refuse to listen to these evil teachers. We already have seen that we should avoid false teachers. But we also need to stand against some of the excesses that abound today, know about the errors that are being taught and we need to be prepared to defend the truth when it becomes necessary.

Banks train tellers to spot counterfeit money by letting them spend time handling & acquainting themselves with real money. When we come upon these false teachers, we need to be fortified with truth and the best way to do that is to stay in the Word of God.

In Acts 8:18-20, a man named Simon wanted to buy the Holy Spirit’s power from the apostles. He knew if he had that power he could make a fortune with it. But Peter told him his money would perish with him because he thought the gift of God could be purchased with money.

But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:13-15.

I know thy works, and thy labor and thy patience and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are Apostles and are not, and hast found them liars….. Revelation 2:2

For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, And idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. Rev.2:2

Be careful, be very careful…

The DOGS are out.


Blessings,


John