Dear Daisy,
It is increasingly difficult to hang onto hope in this evil world. In my personal search for God’s truth and for prophetic words to keep me encouraged, I am finding that on social media alone, there seems to be hundreds of people saying they are prophets speaking for God. Can all of these people really receive a message from God everyday to share? Why doesn’t He speak to me like that? Are they for real? Many things they say seem really “out-there” and I’m not sure I can believe them. Then when I do take a chance and believe a prophetic word, it turns out to be wrong. Are these really God’s prophets or false ones? ~ Signed, how to spot false prophets?
Dear how to spot false prophets?
Thanks for reaching out. This is a great question and one that so many are struggling with; you are not alone. God is very clear about how to spot them and what His plans are for their evil schemes. Let’s find you some scriptures for your personal study.
Take note:
“I am not your teacher, the Holy Spirit is.
I’m just the messenger leading you back to Jesus and His truth.”
Daisy Hawkins
1John 2:27, Jeremiah 33:3
What is a prophet from God?
A prophet of God is a person who is appointed by God our Creator and sent out at specific times with an assigned message from God to deliver to the people. These messages can vary between, teaching, warning, and encouraging. These messages are rare and profound, and should always lead you back to Jesus.
Beware of the “Prophet schools”
If a self-proclaimed prophet isn’t leading you to focus on Jesus, then they are leading you away from Him. That is your proof that they are false. If they are leading you to focus on making the world great again and encouraging you to place all your prayer and focus on a person, place, politician, or a specific mountain, beware.
There are some very vocal “prophets” today that say they are sent from God, who train other people to say the very same thing. There are actually a number of “prophetic schools” that “teach you how to be a prophet!” These people are taught how to practice prophetic words on people, and to tell them if they get it wrong not to worry, that they are new to this and practicing their gift. This is blasphemy according to scripture. They are lying in the name of God, and in the name of Jesus.
Many naive hungry christians can easily and innocently get sucked into this scheme of the devil as they are trying to grow closer to God. There are those who listen to the Holy Spirit warning them not to go any further that it’s a trap, and will quickly get off this path away from God. While others blindly continue, or intentionally continue down this dark path because they want to be a prophet. Becoming a prophet is not an elective or a choice that you can decide upon and go to a school to “practice” and learn how to be one.
According to scripture, God appoints someone to be a prophet; the Holy Spirit speaks through them when He has something to say. He doesn’t send them to a school to learn how to prophesy. It is easy to tell if someone is one of God’s prophets that He sent to warn us, listen to what they are focused on. The false ones are not focused on Jesus, but on things and people of the world.
Anyone who is prophesying about anything other than leading you to Jesus, walk away.
God’s appointed ones have already spoken
Fact is: God’s prophets have already spoken. Their messages are sprinkled all throughout the Holy Bible. You might recognize such names as, Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, to just name a few. They have already prophesied the future all the way to the end of time. It is written (Matthew 4:4)! Then Jesus, the only Son of God, came and quoted the First Testament scripture that was written and prophesied. All part of God’s plan to warn us of what has happened, what is happening, and what will happen, so that we would not be surprised.
God said that nothing happens that He doesn’t tell His prophets first so that we would know it was God and His power that caused these things to be.
“Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing,
but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.”
Amos 3:7
God has already breathed (2Timothy 3:16-17) the entire story of this world beginning to the end; writing the end from the beginning – including His prophetic words to warn. Nothing has changed, God does not change His mind (Malachi 3:6). His prophets have already spoken what we need to know, it’s all written in the Holy Bible. Study their messages.
As for the lying, false prophets, God clearly explains in Jeremiah chapter 23 everything we need to know about them so that there would be no question how He felt, who was sent by Him, and who wasn’t.
Study this entire chapter to get the whole story.
Does God send prophets today to warn us?
There are possibly a handful of truly sent prophets from God that are encouraging and warning God’s people today getting them ready for the last days. Sadly, they are hard to hear with the countless false prophets flooding the world with lies. Any prophets God sends today would not be telling us anything new, His Holy Word does not change. They may be preparing us for the end times, but they should only be speaking His truth that is already written in His Holy Word.
Today’s true prophets will only speak what the Holy Bible prophets have already spoken. There is no new content to prophesy; the story has already been written in the Holy Bible from beginning to end.
“The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be;
and that which is done is that which shall be done:
and there is no new thing under the sun.”
Ecclesiastes 1:9
Prophet vs. word of prophecy
It’s important to note that an appointed prophet and having the gift of prophesy are two different things. God appoints His prophets, and then the Holy Spirit will oftentimes give a Believer a word of prophesy to give someone. You are not a prophet just because the Holy Spirit gave you a word to share with someone. It’s up to the Holy Spirit how often He gives you a word. It’s not something you can practice doing. Practicing prophetic words would fall under divination, and God says He will judge that severely.
“10 There shall not be found among you any one
that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire,
or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits,
or a wizard, or a necromancer.
12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD:
and because of these abominations
the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.”
Deuteronomy 18:10-12
How to know which one is sent from God
How to detect a false prophet
- They have a continuous flow of messages to share
- The messages don’t lead you to Jesus
- The messages point to world events
- The messages suggest you should get involved and/or focus on world events
- The messages don’t bring you peace, they fuel fear and anxiety
- The prophet is well liked and has a huge following
- Many attempt to look spiritually dressed
- They are often loud
- They are often monetarily rich
- They want you to follow only them
How to detect a true prophet of God
- They are hated by the masses, persecuted and ridiculed
- They rarely have a message and when they do it’s profound
- They are humble
- People are uncomfortable with their truth
- Their messages point you to follow only Jesus
Wolves in sheep clothing
Their demise is coming
God is very clear on how He feels about the false prophets and teachers. He warned them continuously throughout His Holy Word not to do these evil things; but they refused. The punishment awaiting the false teachers and self-proclaimed prophets who have defiled God’s plan for His Shepherd’s to lead His flock, is just around the corner – it will be swift.
Beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing appearing to be sent by God. God sees what they are doing and already has a special plan for their disobedience.
“1 What sorrow awaits the leaders of my people—the shepherds of my sheep—
for they have destroyed and scattered the very ones they were expected to care for,”
says the LORD.
2 Therefore, this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says to these shepherds:
“Instead of caring for my flock and leading them to safety,
you have deserted them and driven them to destruction.
Now I will pour out judgment on you for the evil you have done to them.”
Jeremiah 23:1-2
You may think they are getting away with their evilness, but God told us all throughout His Holy Word, that His wrath is planned, is coming, and now is quite near. Wait on the Lord, be of good courage and wait on the Lord (Psalms 27:14). He will do what He says He will do – in His perfect timing.
“11 For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have
I found their wickedness, saith the LORD.
12 Wherefore their way shall be unto them as slippery ways in the darkness:
they shall be driven on, and fall therein: for I will bring evil upon them,
even the year of their visitation, saith the LORD.
13 And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal,
and caused my people Israel to err.
14 I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing:
they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers,
that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom,
and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.
15 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets;
Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall:
for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land.”
Jeremiah 23:11-15
God compares these evil ones to Sodom and Gomorrah. We know what He did to those people; He destroyed them with fire. He warns us that He will do this again in the last days but it won’t just be a city, it will be the whole world that goes up in flames to destroy the wicked. It is written; study the Holy Bible.
DO NOT LISTEN TO THEM
”This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says to his people:
“Do not listen to these prophets when they prophesy to you,
filling you with futile hopes.
They are making up everything they say.
They do not speak for the LORD!”
Jeremiah 23:16
God has a special plan for the false prophets. They are not getting away with leading His sheep astray; He sees what they are doing. He warned us that they would lie to us so that we would not be fooled by them. Observe;
“17 They say still unto them that despise me,
The LORD hath said,
Ye shall have peace;
and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart,
No evil shall come upon you.”
30 Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD,
that steal my words every one from his neighbour.
31 Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD,
that use their tongues, and say, He saith.
Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams,
saith the LORD,
and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness;
yet I sent them not, nor commanded them:
therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD. ”
Jeremiah 23:17,30-32
God says with our own eyes we shall see the reward of the wicked. Just watch and see God do what He says He will do. It’s time. (Psalms 91:8)
False prophets running wild
The enemy has been very busy sending false prophets to and fro across the globe in order to deceive as many as possible. When you are not in a close relationship with Jesus, it is easy to fall victim to their lies and begin to follow them instead of your Savior. God has not sent these evil ones who say they speak in His name. Observe;
“21 I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran:
I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.
22 But if they had stood in my counsel,
and had caused my people to hear my words,
then they should have turned them from their evil way,
and from the evil of their doings.”
Jeremiah 23:21-22
God is our God all the time; when He is near, and when He seems far away. We cannot hide anything from Him; He sees the evil, and the good. He knows everything that is going on; He knew it would happen and He sees it happening. God warned us that all of this would happen and how to choose wisely. Observe;
“23 Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off?
24 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him?
saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.
25 I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying,
I have dreamed, I have dreamed.
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;
27 Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams
which they tell every man to his neighbour,
as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal.
28 The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word,
let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD.
29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD;
and like a hammer thatbreaketh the rock in pieces?”
Jeremiah 23:23-29
Seek God for His truth, not the false prophets lies
Prophets in our current day are a “dime a dozen” as the saying goes. The majority of them are spouting out lies all day every day saying that the Lord told them to share a special word. God shares His plan for them. Observe;
“33 Suppose one of the people or one of the prophets or priests asks you,
‘What prophecy has the LORD burdened you with now?’
You must reply, ‘You are the burden! The LORD says he will abandon you!’
34 “If any prophet, priest, or anyone else says, ‘I have a prophecy from the LORD,’
I will punish that person along with his entire family.”
Jeremiah 23:33-34
If you want to know what God says and what His plans are for you and this wicked world, study His Holy Bible. This is where the Holy Spirit will show you His truth; His Holy Word that you can hold on to.
God our fierce Protector
The Lion of Judah
He has promised to protect us from the evil of this world – in His perfect timing. Trust Him to do what He promised He would do. Instead of asking what He is prophesying, study His Holy Word for yourself and see directly what He is saying. All you need to know is in His Holy Bible that He breathed for us to learn.
“35 You should keep asking each other,
‘What is the LORD’s answer?’ or
‘What is the LORD saying?’
36 But stop using this phrase, ‘prophecy from the LORD.’
For people are using it to give authority to their own ideas,
turning upside down the words of our God,
the living God, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.
37 “This is what you should say to the prophets:
‘What is the LORD’s answer?’ or
‘What is the LORD saying?’
38 But suppose they respond, ‘This is a prophecy from the LORD!’
Then you should say, ‘This is what the LORD says:
Because you have used this phrase, “prophecy from the LORD,”
even though I warned you not to use it,
39 I will forget you completely. I will expel you from my presence,
along with this city that I gave to you and your ancestors.
40 And I will make you an object of ridicule,
and your name will be infamous throughout the ages.’”
Jeremiah 23:35-40
God is clear about how He feels about this evilness and what He plans to do about it. Because you are seeking prophets to tell you what you want to hear, rather than seeking God Himself and the truth that He is saying in His Word, there will be consequences for these evil actions. He warns us ahead of time what will happen so we won’t do it. If you choose to seek the false prophets and their smooth words after knowing now what His Word says about this, that prideful decision will come with a heavy price to pay.
Heart check time
Now that you see and know how God says He feels about these false ones, it’s time for a “heart check.” Jesus is coming back soon to get His Bride. Let’s make sure your heart is right with Him. Don’t complicate the process for salvation. Keep it simple. Whether you have prayed this before, rededicate your life today and go “all in” with Him. It’s time for a deeper relationship with your Creator, Adonai.
Do the ABC’s and repent today.
- A: Admit that you are a sinner. (Romans 3:23, Isaiah 64:6, Ephesians 2:8-9)
- B: Believe in your heart that Jesus is the son of God and that He died for your sins and rose from the dead for you. (John 3:16-18, 1Corinthians 15:1-4)
- C: Call on Jesus and repent of your sins and turn back to Him and ask Jesus to show you the way. (Romans 10:9-13, John 14:6)
In closing,
Always ask Jesus what you should do in every situation. The Holy Spirit will lead you and guide you. If it’s not okay with Him, He will check your spirit and you will have an uneasy feeling and doubt about going forward. Always follow Jesus; NOT your heart; our hearts are fickle and can’t be trusted. Listen to the Holy Spirit; He is trying to protect you. You have a choice to obey or ignore. Choose to obey and stay under His protection.
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick;
who can understand it?”
Jeremiah 17:9
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.“
Proverbs 3:5
“When you know you grow!”