Chapter 2 -

The prophecies

 

 

 

Prophecies can also be a source of guidance. We have to take some things into consideration so that we can use them in the correct way, because otherwise we can easily get on the wrong track. Make a note of the following points:

 

Not the most important thing in guidance. The most important thing in the use of prophecies is that they are not the main way guidance is given, only one of them. They have to stay in the background – not play the main role – when we are searching for guidance. Neither can they take the place of the word of God, as might easily happen.

   The main rule in using prophecies should be that they usually only confirm what we already know – they rarely bring out anything new. It is unlikely that God would first speak to others about our guidance. He will most certainly always speak about it first to our own hearts before telling it to us through the prophesies of others. This should always be the order.

   As to different ministries in the church, it is good to understand that if all of the ministry is led by prophecies or new revelations, we will always be led astray. Most of the heresies and false movements have their beginning in the incorrect emphasis and use of prophecies. They have begun because this gift (or perhaps an imitation of this gift) has been raised into first importance, though it should only be in a secondary position.

   Donald Gee addressed this confusion when he described his experience of the first events of the Pentecost movement. He warned about wrongly emphasizing prophesies:

 

In my country, Wales, several Pentecostal brothers have gone astray by misusing the gift of prophecy so that all of their activity is led by prophecies. All of their churches have been established by prophets and their private lives are guided by these prophets. This is very dangerous and quite wrong and completely non-biblical. We are not allowed to mix the teaching of the Old and the New Testament like this. I am glad that the Lord has brought me here to warn you. If this misunderstanding were ever to happen here in Finland, I pray that you would firmly stand against it. (9)

 

Not perfect. The second thing that should be noted is that our prophecies are always imperfect (1 Cor 13:9: For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.). No-one ever gets perfect in using this gift, but imperfection is seen especially among those who have not been believers for a long time. They may present their own thoughts as prophecies and make mistakes, because they have not yet had the chance to grow in this respect.

   Imperfection in prophesying is described in the next quote. Steve Thompson writes in his book that just like musicians make many mistakes when practicing to be better players, we may have to go through the same kind of process when practicing to use the gift of prophecy. In this process, we usually learn by the process of trial and error:

 

What musician could become talented without making thousands of mistakes? Not a single one. Why do we then expect those people who are just beginning to use their prophetic gifts to do everything right from the very beginning? We have to be ready to make mistakes before we can do things well. The key is that we start. The sooner we start, the sooner we can become skilful. (10)

 

So, even if prophecies are not always perfect, it does not necessarily mean the prophet is false: it is only imperfectly using this gift. Because of the same imperfection, it is good to make sure that we do not start to look down on this gift, but that we give it its right value. Paul taught that we must prove everything and hold fast to that which is good:

 

- (1 Cor 14:29) Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.

 

- (1 Thess 5:19-21) Quench not the Spirit.

20 Despise not prophesyings.

21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

 

FALSE PROPHECIES AND PROPHETS. The devil can imitate a genuine gift of prophecy and other gifts of the Holy Spirit as mentioned in 1 Cor 12. Imitating this gift is possible because many people are in connection with evil spirits. Because of this, their prophesies can occasionally come true and the information or "the message of knowledge" can be true. (Acts 16:16 mentions a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. Even a believer can sometimes be a channel for an evil spirit if he has in his past been dealing with fortune telling or occultism, and has not yet completely been released from this spirit.)

   However, if we look at some of the features of false prophecies, we can see that certain characteristics can be found in all of them. The most common characteristics are:

 

Content. One characteristic of false prophecies is that they contain information that does not even belong to prophetic communication, but are more like fortune telling messages. Authentic prophecies should be only for edification, exhortation, and comfort. (1 Cor 14:3: But he that prophesies speaks to men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.) False prophecies generally cross this line and ”foretell” quite different things. The following are typical:

 

- They advise donation of money to specific causes; this certainly does not belong in prophecies. These kinds of prophecies almost always come from the person himself.

 

I know some former rich people who have been bankrupt because they listened to someone prophesying about how they should invest their money.

   I remember a man who came to one of my meetings. I knew who he was although I didn’t know him personally. I did not know that he never made a deal without asking a so-called prophet for advice first.

   I said to him, “I have a powerful urge to say this to you: you will lose all you own and be bankrupt if you continue to listen to your advisor.”

   He ignored my warning. The poor man who used to be rich lost his home and all his property. I have seen this happen many times. (11)

 

- False prophecies reject the word of God. They often contradict the word of God and may, for example, advise a person to get a divorce and marry someone else (the reason may be "the current spouse not being spiritual enough” or “not being a believer”, for example) or to do something else, that conflicts with the word of God. The end result of these prophecies (when obeyed) is that a person often will lose faith.

 

- One of the clearest signs of that a prophetic message is false is that it gives advice on finding a spouse or marrying someone even though the person himself does not want to do that. It is good to note that God never forces us to marry someone and does not provide guidance on important issues like this through the prophecies of others. These kinds of prophecies ought to be immediately rejected.

 

Ritva heard of a Finnish couple in Australia who only married because someone prophesied that they would. They did not study whether the prophecy was real: they blindly trusted it and followed it. The marriage was so awful that they finally divorced! The fruits of true prophecy are great but the fruits of false ones are bitter. Others have started full-time Christian service work only because someone prophesied that they should, and they were miserable and restless when doing the Lord’s work. You must have the Lord’s peace – do not trust any such prophesy if you do not! (12)

 

- False prophecies direct people about how to take care of their business, or tell someone about the exact hour of their death. God never tells anyone in advance when they will die, which would make people unnecessarily fearful. He does not want His children to be anxious, only to bring them closer, into a good relationship with Him. A true prophecy is for edification, exhortation, and comfort (1 Cor 14:3). False prophecies do not edify, exhort, or comfort.

 

- False prophecies contain more predictions than words that strengthen, encourage, and comfort (the benefits of a true prophecy). Some people may really be under the influence of an evil spirit so that they continually whisper and mutter predictions to other people.

 

- If a prophecy is of God, it raises the atmosphere in a meeting instead of dampening it down. If a prophecy that is of a false spirit is said aloud, it is like throwing cold water on top of the gathered people. Such a prophecy does not build, encourage and console (1 Cor 14:3: But he that prophesies speaks to men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.). Instead, it suppresses and oppresses:

 

Years ago, I had a seven-week series of meetings in a congregation. Every evening at about the same time during the same part of the meeting – right when the offertory plates were being passed down – a woman rose and spoke in tongues. She repeated the same words every evening. After a while, I could have repeated her entire message word by word. If nobody was willing to explain her message, she did it herself. It was like somebody poured cold water on top of the audience. It oppressed the entire meeting.

   The reverend asked me to teach the listeners one Sunday morning as he had to be out of town. This was unusual. I stopped before the tolling of the bell. One of the deacons asked me,

   “Brother Hagin, could I ask something?”

   “Of course,” I said. I thought he had something to ask about the lesson I had just given.

   He said, “When a message is given in tongues in a public meeting, shouldn’t it be a blessing for the congregation? Or should it put an end to the meeting?”

   The loved woman was sitting right in front of me at the time.

   I said, “This question is not about the lesson. I’m not comfortable about talking about it right now.”

   Others, some of the congregation’s elders, said, “Brother Hagin, we would like to hear the answer to the question.”

   So I said, “If a message is of God, it raises the atmosphere in a meeting instead of dampening it down.”

   The woman was smart enough to learn from this. She came to me and said, “I’m wrong, aren’t I?”

   I said, “Yes, madam, you are wrong.”

   She continued, “I thought that I was doing something wrong the whole time. But I wanted to be available to God. I will stop my wrong prophecies now.”

   I said, “Thank you, you are a true blessing for this congregation.” (13)

 

- False prophecies may address controversial subjects, to control others, and as a source of answers to doctrinal questions. Prophecies that try to control or teach people (true prophecy at most sheds light on what is already written in the Bible) come from us or from the devil. It is good to note that God has given His congregation teachers and His word, so that His Gospel is spread. Prophecies are not the right tool for teaching.

 

- False prophecies often deal with devastation and destruction or tell the day Jesus will come back (even though Matt 24:36 clearly states that we cannot know the exact date). True prophecies can also deal with devastation and negative issues, but always address them with a loving attitude. 

 

- Criticizing false prophets can be forbidden or punishable, even though 1 Cor 14:29, for example, teaches us to "let the other judge.”

 

- False prophecies may exalt the prophet himself or someone else, but not Jesus Christ, whereas true prophecy is about humility and gentleness, and exalts Jesus’ dominion and His love, not the person himself.

 

 - False prophecies often refer to teachings that are not in the Bible. Many cults and heretical movements have their beginning in revelations of a "guru" or a false messiah or in guiding spirits and angels (Mormonism, etc.). It is characteristic for these movements that only the people in their group can be saved, meaning that they displace Jesus as the Savior. They also concentrate on the end of the world, and their members are totally submissive to the leader whom they believe to be the messiah. This leader may also make all the decisions concerning his followers’ career and private life. This goes completely against biblical leadership, which only includes encouragement, support, and being an example (1 Peter 5:3…).

 

Compulsive behavior is one characteristic of a false prophet. A person may be under a power so that he cannot control himself, even though 1 Cor 14:28 and 14:32, among others, indicate otherwise (But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God...  And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.). It is also possible that if someone’s prophecies come from a false source, the speaker may bring his message out with an unnatural and a high-pitched voice and his face can often be distorted.

 

Does not have the spirit of love. One of the clearest signs of a false prophecy is that it does not contain love or humility. All prophecies and actions should be in accordance with the fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace... , Gal 5:22) and the nature of Jesus, and be full of wisdom that comes from above (Jam 3:17: But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.) Prophecies that come from a false source are generally fanatic, full of hardness, hostile, accusing, and condemning.

   The right prophecies can also warn us or reproach us for our sins and also be harsh sometimes, but if they come from God, the bottom line is always the love of God and the call to salvation. If this cannot be seen in a prophecy; it is certainly not from God and we ought to immediately reject it.

   This is also addressed in the following text written by Steve Thompson. He says that criticism and anger, the emotional expressions of false prophets, do not belong in the true prophecies that are delivered in accordance with the example set by Jesus:

 

Some prophetic people's current models and teachings defend this kind of anger, but it is clear that God does not accept or defend it. We must obey those models that God has given us, in spite of our experiences. The prophets have not been called or created to be critical, harsh, and angry. These are not included in the prophetic gift. If we believe and teach this, we will create a new generation of harsh and angry prophets instead of people who are patient and forgiving just like Jesus. (14)

 

Furthermore, a real prophet is not hard towards hardened people, because it is never the will of God. As we look at the attitude of Jesus towards the generation of that time and Jerusalem, He wept over it (And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,  Saying, If you had known, even you, at least in this your day, the things which belong to your peace! but now they are hid from your eyes, Luke 19:41,42). Likewise, Paul did not curse his citizens but prayed to God for them, so that they might be saved (Rom 10:1: Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.) It is the model given to us by God also now. A prophet who curses others but does not care for people is not sent by God. It is worthwhile to be careful with such persons:

 

”Nicky”, Dave said, “today God speaks again – audibly and clearly.”

   But we all are so weary of hearing about judgment.

   “Yes, there are also false prophets: mindless, immoral, half-mad, who have proclaimed themselves prophets and who also proclaim judgment”, Dave admitted. “But they have been sent by Satan to pervert the real message of sentries sent by God.” (15)

 

The fruit of prophecies. The fruits of false prophecies are always sour, the results always negative. True prophecies usually try to lead us into a closer relationship with God, to repentance, and toward an understanding of mercy. False prophecies do the opposite. They lead people into sin, divorce, negligence, fear, futility, oppression -- especially into the destruction of prayer and faith – all those deeds and emotions that always come from the devil.

   A good example has been provided by Yonggi Cho in his book. He writes about a situation where a woman who was under the influence of a spirit (an evil spirit, compare to Acts 16:16) told her predictions about others. The example demonstrates several characteristic features of a prophecy that comes from a false source:

 

Once a member of our congregation claimed that she had a miraculous gift of prophecy, and her prophecies actually came true several times.

   Because of this, many weak believers were so dominated by her prophecies that they ignored their prayer life, reading the Bible, and the life of faith. These prophecies were their guide. They came in multitudes to this woman to hear the so-called message of God for their daily problems, as if they had asked advice from a fortune teller.

   Because I was not able to immediately recognize whether this was from God or the devil, I observed the situation for a while. But when time passed, it became clear that the fruits of the woman’s work were not the fruits of the Holy Spirit. The attitude of her predictions was frivolous, lacking humility, love and peace like in a dove. Her words were cold, frightening, and destructive.

   (...) I threw myself to the ground before God and I prayed that He would tell me the truth by giving me the gift of distinguishing between spirits. In a vision, He showed me that there was an evil spirit in the woman.

   Because of this, I had the courage to put into effect disciplinary measures against this woman. The congregation was only just saved from a hurricane. Peace returned. (16)

 

Beware of enthusiasm and compulsive fulfilment of prophecies When people are seeking for prophecies, they want to hear positive messages about success, money, God’s blessings, finding a spouse, successful service work, etc. They want these things in their lives and they easily accept anything dealing with these issues they hear said through “prophecy”. This is what happens if a prophecy describes things that have happened to them in the past or that are currently happening to them in great detail.

   This is a very dangerous setting: when a person has heard a prophecy, he or she may start to realise it. People may be inspired by it or consider it as God’s law or God’s advise that cannot be questioned. In their enthusiasm – once having heard the prophecy – people may quit their jobs or do something else that is not included in God's plan for their lives. Or they may, obligated by the prophecy – “because God told me so” – go work in an area for which they do not have the necessary talent or to which God never summoned them. They may consider the prophecy and obedience to it more important than the internal understanding they used to have, which each Christian can experience in their relationship with God.

   We should therefore be wary of being extremely enthusiastic or compulsively fulfilling a prophecy. If we do so, we fail to take into account the fact that not all prophecies are from God, and that there may be false prophets within the congregation. The Scriptures repeatedly warn us about false prophets. We must keep in mind the warnings of Jesus and the Apostles.

 

- (Matt 7:15-17) Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

16 You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

17 Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit.

 

- (Matt 24:11,24) And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; so that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

 

- (2 Peter 2:1,2) But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privately shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.

2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

 

- (Rev 2:20) Notwithstanding I have a few things against you, because you suffer that woman Jezebel, which calls herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols.

 

- (1 John 4:1) Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

 

- (2 Cor 11:13-15) For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

 

In his important book Thus Saith the Lord, John Bevere gives several examples of how the life of a person or an entire congregation has veered off track when they held prophecies in too high regard. He has examples (construction plans of congregations, service work, finding a spouse) of how people have lost all divine wisdom when they have heard a prophecy and blindly started to realise it without taking into account the fact that God's prophets may be wrong or that not all prophecies are of God.

   The example below given by John Bevere is about how people may start realising things that are not included in God’s plan because of “prophecies”, and how the entire atmosphere within a congregation may change because of a false prophecy. It is possible when people hold the gift in too high regard, not taking into account the fact that prophecies may be from the wrong source.

 

After the meeting, the reverend hurriedly led me into his office. I knew we would have a serious conversation but I had no idea what he was about to say. He closed the door to his office, sat down and breathed a long sigh of relief.

   (...) He said, “It all started five months ago when a renown prophet visited our congregation. As you know, we are currently doing a construction project. Well, this person stood in front of my congregation sharing some personal words and then said, ‘Thus speaks the Lord: 'You are building a church that is too small’.’ The prophet said that the Lord says we should build a church that is twice as large because He was about to do something big.”

   (...) He continued, “And that's not all. The person knew that my glory group and I planned to make a CD, and he said that God wanted it to be published within six months. The group was overjoyed. In order to realise this, we had to buy twenty-five thousand dollars’ worth of recording equipment. It was truly not a wise move at the time, but I didn't want to oppose the will of God. So, we used the money and now we have the CD that has not brought us much joy.”

   (...) Larger churches and popular CDs may first sound like ideas coming from God. Such prophecies make people inspired and offer them an appealing vision to base their campaign on. The only problem are the people surrounding the false prophecy who are subjected to distorted divine authority and will. Their eyes were averted from their previous direction and the leader who loyally worked among them, and they adopted the words of a person who cannot be called a devoted leader. People were unwillingly lead away from the authority of God. I wish I could say that this is the single available example of such activities, but I have unfortunately seen other similar cases, too. (17)

 

IMITATION MOVEMENTS. Since it is possible that there are different kinds of false prophets and false messiahs, about which Jesus warned us when He was on Earth (Matt 24:24: For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets... ), it is also possible that different kinds of movements or cults are formed around these people. These, however, are not of God.  Each group has unique features.

   It is crucial to understand that these kinds of movements that spring up to follow false prophets and messiahs do exist; and that some people may be led astray; and that they can be led away from the loving guidance of God if they are not careful. If you are a member of this kind of a cult or movement, you should look into this and recognize that it cannot be from God. He wants to release everyone from relationships that are based upon lies.

   The following characteristics, for example, are common to such cults and movements. Let’s study them and related Bible verses:

 

- Unbiblical revelations are usually given to the “guru” or leader of the movement from spirit guides or angels. One example of this commonly found feature is found in the activities of Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

- Salvation is only possible by joining the movement. Jehovah’s witnesses have adopted this doctrine.

- No teachings from outside the movement are allowed, and the powerful “us versus them” mindset is sown. The group may consider itself the only true follower of God.

- Members are isolated from society and their families. In his letter to Timothy(1 Tim 5:8), Paul wrote: “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”

- Teachings either emphasize the importance of sexual behaviour or completely deny it.

- Rules direct followers about what to eat and wear, and legalistic teaching (teaching them that they can influence their own salvation by what they do).

- An authoritarian leadership model is followed. For example, in the Unification Church, the leader Sun Myung Moon decided on who his followers could marry. Such a model goes completely against true leadership. According to the Bible, we must respect our leaders but we are only completely subservient to God. A true shepherd is not a ruling lord but a role model:

 

- (1 Peter 5:1-4) The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, you shall receive a crown of glory that fades not away.

 

- Members wait for the end of the world and follow prophecies that give exact dates. Group members believe that only they will survive the future trial. According to the Bible, nobody can know the exact moment when Jesus returns to earth (Matt 24:36).

- Leaving the movement is difficult. Members do not dare to leave because of fear.

- The group demands full commitment; people are expected to give all their time and money to the group, and to go nowhere else.

- The fruits of the leaders are not good. They are not examples of humility, love and sincerity. Jesus has taught us:

 

- (Matt 7:15-20) Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

16 You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

17 Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

20 Why by their fruits you shall know them.