Flee From False Prophets

It is necessary for us to take hold of the truth and bury it deep in our hearts. Time is coming to an end. We have entered into the last of the last days; we are moving closer and closer to the appearing of antichrist. Our world is changing and the darkness will become ever darker.

1 John 4:1-6 (KJV)

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.

Many are confused today because they are sitting in churches run by men and women who are the agents of the spirit of antichrist. They are the false prophets of the latter days. Lets us look closely at what the scriptures say of these men and women of the cloth. In the book of Matthew the 7th chapter, verses 15-20, Jesus taught us how to identify these enemies of God.

15. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

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

17. Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth 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 bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

You will know them by their fruits. He did not say you would know them by the signs and wonders they do, or the word they preach. You will know them by their fruits. It does not matter what gifts they are able to work in the church, among the people of God. If they have corrupted themselves, they will not live holy. It is most important to address this fact, because they have set themselves forth as men and women of God; thus they are examples for the saints to pattern themselves after.

And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many (Matthew 24:11 KJV). How is it that the false prophet is able to deceive the saints of God? Well that question deserves an answer. But let us allow the scriptures to do what they do best. Matthew 24:24states, For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

God is very specific once again. The elect of God would be deceived if it were possible. Beloved, we must be truthful here. There are many saints who are sitting under ministers of the gospel who they know assuredly that these men and women are not producing the fruits of righteousness. They know the leader is charged to be holy. Yet they follow him or her anyway. What are they following? Some are caught up in the signs, or the prophecies, or other gifts he might use. Some are caught up in the glitz and glamour of the ministerial show he puts on. Whatever the attraction, they are mesmerized by everything except righteousness; which means that if they continue to sit under such unrighteousness, it is because they prefer to align themselves with what they know to be sin, rather than God.

Are these saints who sit under false prophets continuously, the elect of God? Well, the truth is, those who are the elect of God, will hold fast to the truth. They will hide it in the hearts. They will hear the voice of the chief shepherd and another they will not follow. The sheep will know the voice of the true shepherd. Though there are many who came to sit in these synagogues of Satan in unawares. In other words, they might not have known the leader they chose to be the watchman for their soul, was a false prophet. But the Lord is faithful. He will reveal to the unsuspecting heart, the truth either through personal observation or through the righteousness of the Word that challenges that which the prophet says or does. Those who are of the elect of God will choose righteousness and depart from such madness. Those who remain, do so because there is something in them that is fed by that false prophet.

These facts are confirmed in the proceeding verses in 1 John 2. We will begin at the 2nd verse.

2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

The word confesseth used here is a Greek word meaning to declare openly by speaking out freely an acknowledgement with thanksgiving and praise that Jesus Christ is one’s Lord and Master. This confession must be the effect of a deep conviction of the facts.

The apostle is not talking about someone simply saying Jesus is Lord; he is referring to one who from the convictions of his heart makes a confession that is also seen in his lifestyle. In other words, this confession of Christ must come from the effect of the influence of the grace of God in his heart that is now reflected in his life. Jesus said there would be many who will stand before Him and confess the great works they did in His name, however, He will declare their work to be done in iniquity, and will demand they depart from Him.

1 John 4:4

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

God will identify the enemies of our soul. We are greater than these false prophets simply because we know the truth and hold fast to it. Nevertheless, it is true that many will choose not to depart from those who are proven to be such.

1 John 4:5

They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

One of the most outstanding attributes of a false prophet is his unrelenting praise of himself. Those who are of the world walk in the pride of life. The false prophet is no exception. He seeks every opportunity to bring glory to his own name; and he is quite comfortable with the people in his territorial sphere of influence, worshiping him rather than the true and living God. It is imperative that this praise and adoration come to him; as it is his objective to steer the people away from the precepts of Christ to follow the absolute will of their new god.

He has many ways of achieving this goal. One most popular is to cater to the desire of flesh. This is easy for him seeing as how he has already led the people away from the principles of righteousness. Therefore, he simply exalts one here and there, and creates scenarios that call for the saints to compete with one another for his attention. Another test of his godlike powers in the lives of the people is to minister precepts everyone knows to be heresy or false doctrine. He will begin this venture by choosing a subject that when perverted will profoundly cater to the pleasures of the flesh. If he can teach such a doctrine and no one in his arena oppose it, then he is assured of the strength of his power over them. His leadership can only continue to become more and more perverted.

2 Peter 2:1-3 (KJV)

1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

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

3 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.

Now you must ask yourself why would you choose to sit under or maintain friendship with anyone who works these works of unrighteousness? Whether leader or layman, the principles of falsehood are the same. Once you hear the truth why is so hard for you to follow it? Could it be because truth denies flesh? Beloved, think on these things.