Deceiving Prophets

Last Updated on Mon February 19, 2024 @ 2:39 pm


Peter teaches us that the Old Testament prophets are today’s teachers.  In 2 Peter 2:1-22 Peter reveals to us that teachers today are in the place where prophets were in the Old Testament (2Pt 2:1).  Therefore we are to beware of teacher’s or men’s teachings just as we were instructed in the Old Testament to beware of prophets with false prophecies (Deuteronomy 18:20-22).  This is a distinction that today’s false prophets don’t want you to know.

Teaching Prophets

We see Matthew warning us to beware of those who call themselves prophets in Matthew 7:15-20, showing that the New Testament has not eliminated prophets from being tested – as some prophets would teach today.  Because, you see, today they will come calling themselves prophets to mislead us into thinking they are not in the office that they claim is the false office today – teachers.  Yet, it is still by their works and fruit that we know what they are, not by what they claim they are (Mt 7:20).  For Whoever says he abides in Him [Jesus] ought to walk and conduct himself in the same way in which He [Jesus] walked and conducted Himself.” (1John 2:6 AMPC)

Some men today want to isolate themselves from detection as false prophets by using this verse in Peter to say that it is the teachers that are false today, not prophets.  That is not at all what Peter is saying (and certainly not what Matthew or Jesus says).  Peter is saying, and then showing, that the teacher is in the place of the prophet, and because the New Testament prophets teach therefore prophets are now the ones that will bring in the heresies and false doctrines.  So if prophets are teaching things for doctrine, then they’re a teacher (Mk 7:7).  Doesn’t matter if they call themselves a pastor or prophet or whatever – they’re a teacher if they teach.

As such they’re to be scrutinized and judged in everything they say (Deut 18:20-22;  1Cor 14:29).  Don’t let their office or calling scare you from doing what you are commanded to do.  Beware of them!  Test them!  To ignore this point is how the Church becomes deceived (1Jn 2:26), and how you can be turned over to a strong delusion (2Thes 2:10-11) by believing their lies.

For those who guide this people are leading them astray
And those who are guided by them are confused

(Isaiah 9:16 NASB)

New Testament Prophets

The New Testament declares that there are two prophets at work in the Church today (Rev 2:14, 20).

Balaam – the Non-Prophesying Prophet

Balaam is called a prophet yet there is no prophecy we have from him.  You might call him ‘a non-prophesying prophet’.  What scripture tells us Balaam did was he taughtBalaam was a teacher who was known as a prophet.  We can’t necessarily call Balaam a false prophet either because he was careful to not speak anything that God would not bring to pass.  He liked his prophet status.

Balaam was also not considered an Israelite.  So his claim or fame as a prophet was not bestowed by the God of Israel.  Balaam was a prophet who taught God’s people to partake in sacrificing to idolatry [like some prophets today have you give your goods and self to honor their calling over you].  This prophet Balaam brought the teaching to God’s people that it was okay to commit sexual immorality and lewdness.  That they should give themselves up to sexual vice (Rev 2:14  AMPC)Sound familiar?  Balaam, therefore, trapped God’s people and set a trap and a stumbling block before them to entice them (Rev 2:14  AMPC).

Jezebel – the Prophet of Sex & Self

Likewise, Jezebel is the spirit of one who calls themselves a prophet.  The Jezebel spirit prophets teach misleading doctrines that lead God’s people into sexual immorality and idolatry (Rev 2:20).  This spirit is noted as being one that is usurping authority where they have none, as Lucifer did (Isa 14:14).  This is why Jesus emphasizes “that woman” (Rev 2:20).  Don’t miss this point and go off focusing on this spirit to have to be on a female.  Realize that He provides no rebuke here to the church that a woman is running the church – something He would have mentioned if Jezebel was an actual woman.

This is emphasized in this way to make the point that this is one that is out of God’s prescribed order, one that is usurping authority – where they have none.  One that is making themselves out to be some great one (Acts 8:9-10).  This is made even clearer in how Jesus continues by saying that this one ‘calls herself’ (Rev 2:20).  This is someone who is usurping a position, a calling, or an office that is not theirs – which is what Jezebel epitomizes.  Lucifer did it first in his “I will”‘s (Isa 14:14) but no one thinks of him as a woman do they?  Yet that’s the origin of the Jezebel spirit.

They Lead My People

Here we see two New Testament prophets that are leaders, and heads of the Church (Isa 9:16, 3:12, 15).  These prophets are easily known by the signs of their fruits (Mt 7:20) – sexual immorality and idolatry [exaltation of themselves].  Peter says of Balaam that he seduced people into sex and won’t heed correction or rebuke for his maddening iniquity (2Pt 2:15-16).  Sound familiar?  What Jesus is most upset about His people here is that they tolerate (Rev 2:20) and cling to the teachings (Rev 2:14) of these prophets who teach them these lies (Hos 4:6).  These prophets also exorcize what Jesus hates – hierarchy, they rule over the laity – the Nicolaitan doctrine (Rev 2:15).

Related:  The Spirit That Now Worketh

Preachers vs. Teachers

While most Christians use the two words interchangeably and believe that the Bible treats them the same, they are in error.  Richard Owen Roberts brings out the simple difference between teaching the word and preaching the word.  To teach is to inform someone, to expound upon the word, giving them insight.  But to preach is to move someone from where they are to where they belong.  This is something rare today.  This is why there are no revivals today like there used to be – people are not moved by the spirit of God because God manifests his word through preaching (Titus 1:3;  1Cor 1:21).

This moving is something that Brother Stair has not done and he makes this very clear almost every time he speaks to his congregation.  How many times have you heard him say that they are not moved by what he says?  How many times have you heard him say they are not changing from what they were?

Therefore Brother Stair is not preaching to his congregation or his listeners – no matter what he says or thinks he’s doing.  He is simply teaching them something new or interesting – that’s what keeps their ears tickled and keeps them listening.  Yet it’s worse than this.  What he is teaching is distorting and perverting the word of God – to his own ends.  Remember Brother Stair does not preach the gospel, he does not preach Christ crucified (1Cor 1:23).  He hath stumbled at that stumblingstone (Rom 9:32-33;  1Cor 1:23).

The Foundations Be Destroyed, If…

How they do this is by introducing teachings that destroy the Foundation and deny foundational truths (Psalm 11:3).  They will tweak and distort the scriptures to their own desires and ends, which will also bring about destruction – even their own (2Peter 3:16).  They move or remove the old landmark and thus change the point of judgment so that their followers will not walk therein (Pr 22:28;  Jer 6:16).

Peter describes these teachings as:

 

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Paul adds to this List:

In Romans 16:17-18 Paul gives these attributes:

  • They cause Divisions  [Stirring up one against another.  Strife]
  • They create Obstacles that are Contrary to known foundational truths  (Mt 23:4)
  • They serve their fleshly appetites  [Having their brother’s wife (Mk 6:18)]
  • They Talk – with Flattery to Deceive the heart and mind  (Acts 20:30;  Eph 5:6, 4:14)

 

Other important Attributes to note:

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Calling Themselves Prophets

John, Matthew, Mark, and Luke do use the term prophets rather than teachers, as did Jesus.  One reason for this is because they will call themselves prophets – that’s how they come to you (Mt 7:15;  1Jn 4:1;  Mt 24:24, 11;  Mk 13:22;  Acts 13:6).  Jesus emphasized this in speaking of Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet.  By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality (Rev 2:20). 

This defies the teaching that teaches you that there are only false teachers today and not false prophets.  This false teaching comes from a false prophet who is teaching you this.  This false teaching is forgetting about the three false teachers that called themselves prophets in Revelation (Rev 2:14, 20, 16:13) which can be contrasted with the two true prophets of the Last Days (Rev 11:3-4), and the book of Revelation which is Johns’ prophecy (Rev 1:3, 22:7).

Paul also warns that these falsies also exalt their calling as apostles (2Cor 11:13-15) [another title, like Son of Man].  Jesus also warns us about them in Revelation 2:2.  In Revelation John also speaks further of the Last Day Prophet in Rev 16:13.

Paul, like Peter, warns of the fierce wolves that come to devour, and that we are to Be Alert for them (Acts 20:29-31).  These wolves are leaders (Acts 8:9-11) just as prophets Balaam and Jezebel are the leaders who teach in the Pergamum and Thyatira churches (Rev 2:14, 20).  Also, take note that they come to us speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them (Acts 20:30).  Getting the picture yet?

In the Church Today

The function of prophets in the Church today is seen in 1 Corinthians 14:29-33 where Paul briefly runs over some instructions on how the body of Christ is to order itself.  What we find here is something that is contrary to 99% of all churches today.  It’s probably no stretch to say that no one reading this has ever been in a church where this was practiced.  Yet this is how the New Testament Church is supposed to function according to scripture.

This alone tells us that the church today has corrupted itself away from God’s design.  One of the means of this corruption has come about by teachings from false prophets.  Because in Paul’s instructions, there is no single one-man prophet leading the church.  Where we see this is in the error of Pergamum and Thyatira where they were led by prophets that led them into sexual immorality and idolatry (Rev 2:14, 20).  Those prophets taught, as all prophets do that lead churches today (Isa 9:16).

Ye May All Prophesy

In the New Testament church, two or three prophets are to speak and the others are to judge what the prophet said (1Cor 14:29.  For ye may all prophesy one by one (1Cor 14:31).  Is this what we find today?  Anywhere?  Then today we do not have the proper function of the prophet ministry.  Check, if you will, to see if the prophets today who are leading churches are not showing the attributes (the works) of Balaam and Jezebel (Rev 2:14, 20).  Leading the church into their sexual immorality and causing them to idolize them.

Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment. But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent.  For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted; and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
(1Cor 14:29-33  NASB95)

Final Words from Jesus

While New Testament false prophets will teach you that the New Testament says that it’s not prophets that are false now but teachers that are false.  Jesus told us a different story.  Jesus said in Matthew 7:15-16 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.  Ye shall know them by their fruits.

Jesus Did Not Say “Beware of False Teachers”

Jesus also tells us in Matthew 24:24 that these false prophets will show us great signs and wonders.  Have you been shown stories of great signs and wonders from your prophet? (Acts 8:9-10)  Are you blindly taking their word for it?  Or worse, have they convinced you that God will give you some revelation (or witness) that they are approved by GodJohn told you to test the prophets and Jesus told you that you are to test their fruit that you witness – not the glorious back-stories that they tell of what signs and wonders God did through them in the past (Mt 7:20;  Acts 8:9-10).

 

How To Check If Someone’s Sermon Is True

“In order to avoid deception, we have to be able to identify the truth.'”

“In order to know for sure that you really have the truth, you have to check all three coordinates.  Jesus, the Bible, and the Spirit.”

Take Heed that You are Not Deceived

Remember – “There will be false teachers among [leading] you”
Question – Whose name is on your forehead?  (Rev 13:16, 22:4)

I will remove both the prophets and the spirit of impurity from the land
(Zechariah 13:2  NIV)