Be on the watch for the false prophets

As early as the beginning of the nation of Israel, Jehovah God warned of false prophets that would arise from among his own people. The whole chapter of Deuteronomy thirteen deals with false prophets and those who could mislead God’s people away from true worship into apostasy. Deut 18: 20-22 also explains how to tell a true prophet from a false one. The warning given in Chapters 13 & 18 is very helpful to us even today. Jesus Christ warned us that false christs and false prophets would arise before his stealth-like, thief in the night second coming. (Matt 7:15, 24:11, 24) The apostles also had warned of false teachers and prophets arising from within. (2 Peter 2:1, 1John 4:1, 1 Tim 4:1, 2 Thess 2:2) First of all how do we tell who is a false prophet and who is not? Well, Deut 18:20-22 gives us some guidelines. After telling about the true prophet that God was going to raise up like Moses ( Jesus Christ), he then warns about false ones and how to identify them. Deut 18:20 "‘However, the prophet who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded him to speak or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must die. 21 And in case you should say in your heart: "How shall we know the word that Jehovah has not spoken?" 22 when the prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah and the word does not occur or come true, that is the word that Jehovah did not speak. With presumptuousness the prophet spoke it. You must not get frightened at him.’ So, we see three ways to identify a false prophet. One: Anyone who speaks in the name of Jehovah a word he had not commanded. Two: Any prophet that speaks in the name of other gods. Three: Anyone who speaks in the name of Jehovah and it does not occur or come true. Lets take the first one, the prophet who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded him to speak. How do we know whether or not a prophet speaks something God has not commanded? Well, we must check what this prophet says with what God’s word says. As the apostle John said in 1 John 4:1; 4 Beloved ones, do not believe every inspired expression, but test the inspired expressions to see whether they originate with God, because many false prophets have gone forth into the world. We must test any seemingly inspired expression with God’s word to see if it is true. This may not be as easy as it sounds. That is why we must faithfully put our trust in God and pray incessantly! Those who keeping asking and seeking will receive! The second way might seem to be easy to identify, but is not always easy since idolatry can come in many forms. Two a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods. Another god can be a spirit, a man or anything that is put above Jehovah. This is shown is Deut 13:6-9 6 "In case your brother, the son of your mother, or your son or your daughter or your cherished wife or your companion who is like your own soul, should try to allure you in secrecy, saying, ‘Let us go and serve other gods,’ whom you have not known, neither you nor your forefathers, 7 some of the gods of the peoples who are all around YOU, the ones near you or those far away from you, from one end of the land to the other end of the land, 8 you must not accede to his wish or listen to him, nor should your eye feel sorry for him, nor must you feel compassion, nor cover him [protectively]; 9 but you should kill him without fail. Any man or men that lure you away from giving worship or devotion to Jehovah God should be avoided. Jehovah is a God exacting exclusive devotion! We are to put our trust in him not any other man or supposed god. Trust is a major issue when it comes to who is a true prophet and who is not. For an example of this we have the account of the Baal prophets verses Elijah, the true prophet in 1 Kings 18. Third is a prophet that speaks in Jehovah’s name and what he has spoken did not occur or come true. This is an obvious sign that the prophet is false, for Jehovah does not say things that don’t come true. One example of this is the prophet Han·a·níah which you can read about at Jeremiah chapter 28. So, with these three ways to tell who is false and who is true we can now determine for ourselves who are true and who are false today. As mentioned previously, the apostles themselves warned of false teachers and prophets arising from within the congregations and increasing to the point that it would eventually become an all out apostasy . Acts 20:28 Pay attention to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the holy spirit has appointed YOU overseers, to shepherd the congregation of God, which he purchased with the blood of his own [Son]. 29 I know that after my going away oppressive wolves will enter in among YOU and will not treat the flock with tenderness, 30 and from among YOU yourselves men will rise and speak twisted things to draw away the disciples after themselves. Paul knew that wicked men would enter in among God’s holy ones in order to draw them away from Christ. This was already starting to happen, especially in the Corinthian congregation. It is amazing that no sooner than Christianity is set up that corruption was already taking place! The apostle Paul knew that it would only get worse over time. The apostle Peter to warned of this happening. 2 However, there also came to be false prophets among the people, as there will also be false teachers among YOU. These very ones will quietly bring in destructive sects and will disown even the owner that bought them, bringing speedy destruction upon themselves. 2 Furthermore, many will follow their acts of loose conduct, and on account of these the way of the truth will be spoken of abusively. 3 Also, with covetousness they will exploit YOU with counterfeit words. But as for them, the judgment from of old is not moving slowly, and the destruction of them is not slumbering. So both Paul & Peter say that these men would come from among the true disciples and that they would speak twisted things in such a way that they would exploit you with counterfeit words, coveting your very souls. Because their covetous actions draw Christians away to themselves; they disown the very owner that bought them, Jesus Christ. Not only that, but because of the false teaching and actions of these men and acts of loose conduct, which will be discussed, the truth is spoken of abusively! Jesus also warned about false prophets who would mislead and try to take his place or even the place of the true Holy ones. 4 And in answer Jesus said to them: "Look out that nobody misleads YOU; 5 for many will come on the basis of my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. 11 And many false prophets will arise and mislead many; 23 "Then if anyone says to YOU, ‘Look! Here is the Christ,’ or, ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will give great signs and wonders so as to mislead, if possible, even the chosen ones. 25 Look! I have forewarned YOU. 26 Therefore, if people say to YOU, ‘Look! He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out; ‘Look! He is in the inner chambers,’ do not believe it. 27 For just as the lightning comes out of eastern parts and shines over to western parts, so the presence of the Son of man will be. 28 Wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together. 8 "And to the angel of the congregation in Smyŕna write: These are the things that he says, ‘the First and the Last,’ who became dead and came to life [again], 9 ‘I know your tribulation and poverty—but you are rich—and the blasphemy by those who say they themselves are Jews, and yet they are not but are a synagogue of Satan. (Revelation 3:9) Look! I will give those from the synagogue of Satan who say they are Jews, and yet they are not but are lying—look! I will make them come and do obeisance before your feet and make them know I have loved you. So, Jesus says these men would be so powerful that even the chosen ones could possibly be misled. Now, if all the false prophets are from Christendom how could the chosen ones possibly be misled by the clergy? They wouldn’t, because we know that Christendom has been corrupt from day one. Therefore, these false Jews or anointed ones, come from within God’s own people. They are a synagogue of Satan as Jesus puts it, and are liars. How do we identify these false ones in our mist? Well, lets list the things mentioned already from the old testament and new testament. 1) Anyone who speaks in Jehovah’s name a word which he has not spoken. 2) Anyone who speaks in Jehovah’s name and it has not come true. 3) Anyone who speaks in the name of other gods. 4) False prophets would claim to be anointed followers of Christ when in actuality they are from the synagogue of Satan. 5) They would speak twisted things or exploit you with counterfeit words. 6) By this they would draw you after themselves or covet you into their thinking. 7) because of their words and actions, the truth would be spoken of abusively. Beside these things listed here, there are more things to be connected-- like the Man of lawlessness-- covered by e-Watchman. Throughout the years of the Watchtower we can see a two-fold message. One is a message of truth. It tells, who the true God is and what his purpose is for mankind and how his son, Jesus Christ, will fulfill all the things written in the scriptures; how there is no burning hell or eternal torment; there is not a mysterious triune god that we worship, but one true God. There are many truths that we have learned from the Watchtower, but there is also many things that have been twisted by men. The other message is one that exploits you with counterfeit words; such as we are living in a spiritual paradise; there is peace and harmony in our God-blessed organization, at least as long as you are loyal to the Watchtower you will have God’s blessing and protection. God’s Kingdom is already ruling and will destroy all who are not loyal to the Watchtower. Even though we have said many wrong things in the name of God and we have changed our minds on scriptures several times twisting them to our own interpretation and we disfellowship all those who oppose us, especially those who expose us for our apostasy, we are the true channel and only light from God, without us you will not be saved. Did Jesus say we were to trust the faithful slave? (as the Watchtower put it in the September 1st 2004 magazine: "What does Jesus the fine shepherd, tell us to do?) He teaches us to make disciples and to trust the faithful slave." Matt 24:45 is quoted as proof text that we are to trust the faithful slave. Matt 24:45 "Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time? Does Jesus here say to trust the faithful slave? No. Instead he asks the question "who really is the faithful & discreet slave?" Nowhere in the scriptures does it say to trust some faithful slave. No, but instead we are to trust God and Jesus. All this slave is to do is to give food at the proper time until Jesus arrives, then the faithful will be rewarded and the evil slave will be punished. . 45 "Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Happy is that slave if his master on arriving finds him doing so. 47 Truly I say to YOU, He will appoint him over all his belongings. 48 "But if ever that evil slave should say in his heart, ‘My master is delaying,’ 49 and should start to beat his fellow slaves and should eat and drink with the confirmed drunkards, 50 the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect and in an hour that he does not know, 51 and will punish him with the greatest severity and will assign him his part with the hypocrites. There is where [his] weeping and the gnashing of [his] teeth will be. Luke also talks about a faithful slave but adds to it this: 47 Then that slave that understood the will of his master but did not get ready or do in line with his will will be beaten with many strokes. 48 But the one that did not understand and so did things deserving of strokes will be beaten with few. Indeed, everyone to whom much was given, much will be demanded of him; and the one whom people put in charge of much, they will demand more than usual of him. In Luke's account of the faithful and evil slaves, Jesus explained that there will be those who will be punished because of either understanding and not doing anything about it; or, not understanding and so did things wrong. In both of these instances it seems that the heart of the slave is good, but his actions are not proper and so he must be disciplined. This illustration also shows that it is not just a matter of faithful verse evil slave, but the heart of each slave of Christ that is judged when he arrives. All Christ's brothers are slaves of him until they are united with him in heaven. In conclusion, we understand that there are many slaves in God’s household. What each slave will prove to be will be determined at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Until then we will have to discern who are the false teachers among us who are misleading us away from our salvation in Christ. We can only do this by having complete trust in our God and our lord Jesus Christ, not a so called faithful and discreet slave. Also, by studying God’s word like those in Beroea, and praying incessantly, like the apostle Paul advised. 10 Immediately by night the brothers sent both Paul and Silas out to Be·roéa, and these, upon arriving, went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 Now the latter were more noble-minded than those in Thes·sa·lo·níca, for they received the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so. . 17 Pray incessantly. Jesus told us to stay awake until he comes. Interestingly, he said this right before he mentions the faithful and discreet slave. 43 "But know one thing, that if the householder had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have kept awake and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 On this account YOU too prove yourselves ready, because at an hour that YOU do not think to be it, the Son of man is coming. 32 "Concerning that day or the hour nobody knows, neither the angels in heaven nor the Son, but the Father. 33 Keep looking, keep awake, for YOU do not know when the appointed time is. 34 It is like a man traveling abroad that left his house and gave the authority to his slaves, to each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to keep on the watch. 35 Therefore keep on the watch, for YOU do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether late in the day or at midnight or at cockcrowing or early in the morning; 36 in order that when he arrives suddenly, he does not find YOU sleeping. 37 But what I say to YOU I say to all, Keep on the watch." Yes, even though the Watchtower teaches that the lord has already come and has already given the reward, don’t believe it! Christ says nobody will know the appointed time! That is why we must stay on the watch! What would those who try to mislead us say? 2 However, brothers, respecting the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we request of YOU 2 not to be quickly shaken from YOUR reason nor to be excited either through an inspired expression or through a verbal message or through a letter as though from us, to the effect that the day of Jehovah is here. (2 Timothy 2:18) These very [men] have deviated from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already occurred; and they are subverting the faith of some. Yes, the Watchtower has said the day of Jehovah has already come; by saying that Christ has already come and judged his house and the Kingdom is already established. And because of this, the Watchtower itself, in effect, teaches that the resurrection of the dead anointed has already begun. Well, so much for a conclusion! Sorry if I tend to keep going on, but many things are connected. In true conclusion: Now we can understand exactly why Christ's coming will be truly as a thief in the night!