FALSE PROPHETS

Jeremiah 23

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Taught by:  Pastor Carolyn Sissom

Rev. 16: 13:  “And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon; and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.”

“These demonic powers are an incursion of perversion of the minds of those in authority by demonic powers, operating on a world-wide scale to engulf humanity in ultimate catastrophe.  These demonic powers are here pictured as the three evil spirits…like frogs from the mouths of the unholy trinity.  The judgment is identified with the second plague of Egypt.” (Paraphrased from F.F. Bruce Bible Commentary)

As we have always had the spirit of anti-christ among us, we have always had the spirit of the false prophet.  Do I believe the spirit of the anti-christ will manifest in one man?  Yes.  Do I believe the spirit of the false prophet will manifest in one man? Yes.  However, I believe the mouth of the false prophet has been released to deceive even the elect if that were possible.

In Jeremiah 23 and 28, the prophet speaks judgment on the religious leaders.  His judgment is based on a right conception both of God’s holiness and the false prophets’ failure.  The false prophet is explained as a corruption of life with its consequent anarchy affecting the law and the land.

Verses 16-40 are a crucial passage for understanding the nature of true and false prophecy.  Outwardly little distinguishes them.  But the false prophet (1) bends his message to what the people want to hear and makes no moral demands; with unfounded optimism, he promises peace to those who despise God’s Word.  He/She promises deliverance from divine wrath to those who insist on their own path and resist His revelation. 

“The false shepherds were (1-2) were the civil authorities, particularly the Kings of the house of David who were primarily responsible for the state of the nation because of their failure to heed the Word of the Lord. 

These prophets claim divine authority.  (17) “They say still unto them that despise me, The Lord has said, you shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walks after the imagination of his own heart, no evil shall come upon you.”  These prophets have no first-hand commission or experience of that commission.  Their lives do not produce the fruit of repentance which match the message and the source of his inspiration was himself and not God.

I believe the present Prophetic Revelation Movement is being tested by the standards set forth by Jeremiah.

One that is before us at this time is whether the prophets will come into agreement for their own gain and well being with those who are in agreement with hell to continue killing babies in the U.S.A.  (21:8) “And unto this people you shall say, Thus says the Lord; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death.”

There are prophets today who say these leaders will turn to God and become Godly men.  Until they do, then the true prophets will confront their ungodly speech and actions as sin.

Jeremiah confronts the prophets and pastors that there is a corruption of the word and message; when compared with the Lord’s word.  This leads to inevitable judgment (16-22) for claiming falsely to be the hearer of God’s word. (23-40)

As all of us have done the best we could to usher in the restoration of the prophetic to the world, many of us have made well intentioned mistakes.  I don’t know any prophets out there who have totally perfected their gifts and callings.  We all see through a glass darkly.  The measuring stick is upholding the Holiness of the Lord, in agreement with the Word of God, being commissioned by the Lord and sitting in His counsel.

The intercessor will cry out from the earth to the Lord.  The prophet sits in the counsel of the Lord and says, “Thus saith the Lord.”  (18) “For who has stood in the counsel of the Lord, and has perceived and heard his word? Who has marked his word and heard it?

When there is a corruption of the word and message; when compared with the Lord’s word this leads to inevitable judgment for claiming falsely to be the bearer of God’s word.

(v.26)  “How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? Yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbor, s their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal.  The prophet that has a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that has my word, let him speak my word faithfully.  What is the chaff to the wheat? Says the Lord.

The Lord is not condemning dreams as one of the ways He communicates with prophets.  He is condemning the heart of deception, manipulation and control. 

Self-originated ideas are condemned.  The false prophet is absent from God’s council.  1 Kings 22:19 describes this consultative assembly:

1 King. 22:19:  “And he said, “Hear you the word of the Lord:  I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.”

This speaks of intimate conversation and fellowship.  (Psa. 55:14) “We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.”

Such prophets can be tested by results.  Lies make men forget God’s name (27) (character and fame).  Such men/women are un-commissioned and must not be listened to.  They are Godless.

These false prophets ran without being sent.

Spoke without having heard.

Prophesied by deceit.

Claimed divine authority

Prophesied words that were of no profit at all.

These false prophets could have spoken in the Name of the Lord if they had given themselves unto God. 

God is Omnipresent and heard whatever these prophets spoke in His Name without His authorization; therefore, they were unable to escape personal responsibility and divine retribution. 

Jeremiah’s complaint is endorsed by God who speaks to Jeremiah and all the people.  The self-righteous prophets of Judah condemned Israel’s prophets for their pagan Baal orgies which had been punished.  These prophets appeared to be unaware that even in Jerusalem’s temple (1) pagan rites were practiced.  Idolatry (adultery 14.) was condoned and illegal practices followed that rendered them already judged and prepared for the forthcoming sudden destruction such as had fallen on Sodom and Gomorrah.

By contrast the true prophet is described: Here are four distinguishable marks of the Word that comes from God.

1. He learns direct from God’s intimate council.
2. His message is faithfully delivered.
3. He does avoid the truth of the wrath of God on son.
4. God’s word is always effective, being nourishing like what, purifying like the fire and powerful like a heavy sledge hammer.

The omnipotent and omnipresent God (23-24) heeds the misuse and misrepresentation of His name and makes a threefold declaration with reasons why he is against the false prophets.

 (30-32)This rests on the double meaning of oracle (Massa) which is both a solemn utterance and a literal burden, something lifted up, carried.  The special solemn utterance is reserved for the men to whom God trusts his message.  Otherwise it will make nonsense of the words of the living God.  The misuse of the term oracle has lowered its value that it is to be avoided.

Verses 3-6 are the contrast between the True Shepherd who will gather and tend God’s sheep.  The calamities of the people (9-20) are attributed to the false prophets who led the people astray by their bad example and false messages of hope when judgment was pending. 

In chapter 28, Jeremiah has warned about the false prophets.  One of them Hananiah, broke the yoke of Jeremiah with brazen impudence and haughty stubbornness. (28:10) as a punishment, he died by the Word of the Lord through Jeremiah in two months!

Jeremiah said “Amen” sarcastically to Hanniah’s false prophecy because he would have been glad if Hananiah’s prediction of an early end of the captivity were to come to pass.  Hananiah utters a pleasing prophecy by promising a speedy deliverance from Babylon.  I believe the present financial tribulation in this nation is due to the spirit of Babylon.   He speaks with great positiveness, boldly claiming the authority of God.  Under contradiction, he can only defend himself by reaffirmation with loud words and passionate actions.  We learn from this:

1. Those who make the loudest claims to speak for God may have the least right to do so.
2. The truth of a statement must be measured, not by the vehemence with which it is uttered, but by the strength of the ground on which it rests.
3. Insolence and abuse may be used as a last defense for indefensible statements as well as incontrovertible facts.

God vindicates Jeremiah and his message.

28: 12-17:  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.  Then shall you call upon me, and you shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.  And you shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart.  And I will be found of you, says the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from among all the nations and from the places where I have driven you, says the Lord.

The true prophet may find himself in a minority of one (but with God on his side) (1 Kg. 22)

Compare Paul’s encounter with Bar Jesus in Acts 13.

Also the contest on Mount Carmel between Elijah and the prophets of Baal (1 Ki. 18)

Rev. 19: 11-16:  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he does judge and make war.  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.  And he was clothed with vesture dipped in blood; and his name is called “The Word of God”.  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.  And out of his mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  And has on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.

Carolyn Sissom, Pastor

Eastgate Ministries, Inc.

www.eastgateministries.com

Scripture from King James Version, quotes from F.F. Bruce Bible Commentary (Donald Wiseman) and Principles of Present Truth by: Kelly Varner