TESTS OF A PROPHET
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Section Titles
Applying the Tests
Additional Evidences
A Contrast
SUMMARY
FOR STUDY AND DISCUSSION
SELECTED REFERENCES
Satan has attempted to counterfeit everything God has done for the benefit
of His people. Thus some of the Lord's greatest blessings have been
perverted into agencies of destruction. Presumption has been mistaken and
substituted for faith. For most of the professed Christian world the day
of
wor****p originated by the deceiver has replaced the Sabbath of the Lord.
Forms and ceremonies in wor****p have taken the place of genuine wor****p of
God in spirit and in truth. Salvation through faith has been supplanted by
an almost infinite variety of systems of salvation by works. Some of the
most healthful and nouri****ng of foods-grains and fruits-have been made
into
intoxicating drinks that destroy men's minds and bodies.
Seldom does Satan deal in error unmixed with truth, for error alone would
not be sufficiently deceptive. Many of his teachings contain much that is
true and good, and the more truth they contain the more deceptive is the
counterfeit. The Sabbath and Sunday question is a good illustration of
Satan's methods. The Sabbath is a memorial of creation; Sunday is said to
memorialize the resurrection of Christ. The Sabbath is a day of rest from
the usual activities of the week, so that God may be wor****ped and His
work
of bringing blessing to others may be done in a special way. Sunday, for
the
majority of professed Christians, is a day off from regular work so they
might do whatever pleases them. For some persons this includes a brief
period of wor****p, but for most it does not. The Sabbath is the mark of
God's authority in the individual life, the seal of Christian experience;
but Satan has attempted to make it a mark of peculiar notions or
fanaticism.
The Sabbath, which was intended by God to be a sign of sanctification
through faith,
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has been perverted by the enemy so that many persons delude themselves by
saying that keeping it is an indication that one is attempting to be saved
by legalism and good works.
God's plan for reaching the minds of men through the messages of the
prophets has been counterfeited by Satan, usually in the form of false
prophets. These false witnesses have accomplished two major objectives in
Satan's scheme: (1) They have turned men's minds away from God's messages
and led them to accept error. (2) They have, through their
misrepresentations, either in message or in life, caused reproach and
discredit to be cast upon all prophets. Satan cares little what attitude
leads one to reject light, as long as the light is rejected.
No one need be deceived as to whether a professed prophet is true or
false.
Standards have been established in the Bible that make it possible to
determine which messengers have come with messages from God and which are
counterfeits. If the Bible tests are applied consistently and persistently
to the life and teachings of any prophet, they will reveal the source of
his
communications. Four major tests of a prophet are mentioned in the Bible.
It
is essential that all four of the tests be applied to anyone who claims to
possess the gift of prophecy. All the requirements must be met. In
addition
to the major tests, there are several minor tests or evidences that should
be noted.
Applying the Tests
[Top of Do***ent]
Test 1. "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to
this word, it is because there is no light in them." Isaiah 8:20.
Numerous questions have been raised as to the exact meaning of the "law"
and
the "testimony," but they are clearly references to the divinely inspired
instruction given through the prophets. If any teaching or action deviates
from the pattern prescribed in the revealed standard of truth, it is to be
recognized as coming from the realm of darkness rather than
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light. Prophets spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, and the
Spirit
never contradicts His former instruction. All else that stems from the
same
source will harmonize with what has already been given.
It is not difficult to trace through the Bible what its writers have said
on
many subjects. In an earlier chapter we have already commented on the
unbroken unity of the Scriptures. Though words, methods of expression, and
emphases vary, we find that the testimony of each writer dealing with the
same subject is substantially the same. We may take the teaching regarding
the condition of man in death as a well-known example. Note the harmony of
the Bible writers as recorded in their books.
Job. "So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they
shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep." Job 14:12.
Psalmist. "The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into
silence." Psalm 115:17.
Solomon. "The living know that they shall die: but the dead know not
anything." Ecclesiastes 9:5.
Isaiah. "For the grave cannot praise Thee, death cannot celebrate Thee:
they
that go down into the pit cannot hope for Thy truth." Isaiah 38:18.
Ezekiel. "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." Ezekiel 18:20.
Jesus. "Lazarus sleepeth.. Lazarus is dead." John 11: 11-14.
Paul. "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them
which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope."
1
Thessalonians 4:13.
Jesus and the Gospel writers bore witness to the accuracy of the
predictions
of the earlier prophets concerning His first
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advent. The following sampling from the book of Matthew will give some
idea
of the scores of references that might be included.
Matt. 1:23 refers to Isa. 7:14. Matt. 8:17 refers to Isa. 53:4.
Matt. 2:6 refers to Micah 5:2. Matt. 11:10 refers to Mal. 3:1.
Matt. 2:17 refers to Jer. 31:15. Matt. 12:18 refers to Isa. 42:1.
Matt. 3:3 refers to Isa. 40:3. Matt. 13:14 refers to Isa. 6:9.
Matt. 4:14, 15 refers to Isa. 9:1, 2. Matt. 13:35 refers to Ps.
78:2.
Matt. 21:16 refers to Ps. 8:2.
The same consistency runs through the predictions of the second advent of
Christ, the doctrines of God's Creator****p, righteousness by faith, and
all
other Bible teachings. It was not difficult for God's people in ancient
times to apply this test to the messages of anyone who professed to
possess
the gift of prophecy. An outstanding example of how a prophet applied the
test to another who claimed to be a prophet is found in Jeremiah 28.
In the fourth year of King Jehoiakim, Jeremiah, under inspiration, had
foretold that the period of captivity of Judah in Babylon would be seventy
years. Jeremiah 25:1, 11, 12. This was the first time the specific number
of
years had been revealed, but more than a century before, Isaiah had
indicated that the desolation of the land should be for "many days and
years." Isaiah 32:9-14. He foretold that the deliverance should not take
place until the days of Cyrus (Isaiah 44:24 to 45:5), and that the Medes
would help to bring about the downfall of Babylon, the glory of kingdoms
(Isaiah 13:17-22). In the fourth year of Zedekiah, eleven years after the
prediction of the seventy years' Captivity, Jeremiah was challenged by a
professed prophet who said the deliverance would come within a brief
period.
The full story is recorded in Jeremiah 28. Hananiah declared that the Lord
had spoken to him (verses 1, 2), that Babylon's yoke would be removed from
the neck of Judah within two years (verse 3), and that all the vessels of
the Lord's house would be returned to Jerusalem.
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Jeremiah's response contains a touch of pathos. "Amen," he said, "the Lord
do so." Verse 6. "I hope the Lord will do it that way," is the thought.
"Nevertheless hear thou now this word that I speak in thine ears; . The
prophets that have been before me and before thee of old prophesied both
against many countries, and against great kingdoms, of war, and of evil,
and
of pestilence. The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of
the
prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the Lord
hath truly sent him." Verses 7-9. What Jeremiah was telling Hananiah was
this, "Hananiah, you have said that peace and restoration will come
quickly.
The older prophets have predicted war and evil for years to come. In order
to know for certain which is right, we will have to see whose predictions
are fulfilled." Later Jeremiah faced Hananiah with the specific accusation
that the Lord had not sent him (verse 15), and told him that because he
was
leading people to rebel against God he would die that year (verse 16). The
chapter ends with the sad record, "So Hananiah the prophet died the same
year in the seventh month."
In his first encounter with Hananiah, Jeremiah made reference only to the
predictions of the former prophets to confirm his own position that the
restoration would be long delayed. It was not necessary that the Lord give
him a special revelation that would condemn Hananiah. Jeremiah knew that
if
Hananiah's message was out of harmony with what had been given earlier by
men who had met the tests of a prophet, his message had not come from the
Lord. Later his conclusion was confirmed by a revelation, and the word
about
the death of Hananiah was added. Here is a practical application of the
test, "To the law and to the testimony."
Jesus' warning to His disciples again emphasizes the need for care in
verifying the claims of any prophet to be certain they harmonize with
Scripture. After telling of the time of tribulation that might be
expected,
Jesus said, "Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or
there; believe it
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not. For there shall arise false christs, and false prophets, and shall
show
great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall
deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before." Matthew 24:23-25.
Then Jesus enumerated the signs that would indicate His coming was near.
Any
prophet in any age to come who talked of the second advent would be tested
by these and all other statements of earlier prophets. When a person meets
the test of harmonizing his messages with earlier divinely inspired
predictions and teachings, then we are ready to apply other tests.
Test 2. "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." Matthew 7:20.
The setting for this statement is the latter part of the Sermon on the
Mount
in connection with the warning Jesus gave to His disciples, "Beware of
false
prophets." Verse 15. On the basis that every good tree produces good
fruit,
and that a corrupt tree produces corrupt fruit, Jesus presents another
test
to be applied to prophets. What kind of fruit is brought forth in their
lives? What influence do their teachings have on others? What results show
up in the life of the church as a whole?
Sometimes the life and influence of the professed prophet is so completely
out of harmony with the Scriptures that there is no difficulty in placing
him in his proper classification. But ordinarily this is not the case.
Generally speaking, the application of this test requires more time and is
harder to check than the first test. There are several factors to be
considered in determining whether the fruit is good or bad.
A. The life of the prophet must be worthy of God's personal
representative.
There must be no question about the trend of his thinking and actions. He
should be recognized as different from other men, because in vision he has
seen and talked with God and angels.
On the other hand, as has been suggested earlier, receiving the prophetic
gift does not make a man infallible; it does not
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ensure that he will never make a mistake. After nearly forty years as the
Lord's messenger, Moses lost his temper on the borders of the Promised
Land
and was denied entrance to it. In other instances recorded in the Bible,
we
have seen even more calamitous consequences as the result of the actions
of
those who possessed the prophetic gift. None should be recognized as
having
met this test because of a few outstandingly good traits of character, and
none should be labeled a failure because he has made some mistakes. It is
the trend of the life as a whole that must be considered, rather than any
occasional good deed or misdeed. What kind of man is he-good or bad?
B. The influence of the prophet's life and messages upon individuals and
the
church as a whole must be good. Frequently the Lord has had to use
prophets
to tear down before they could build up, but the net result of the work of
a
true prophet will be constructive rather than destructive. Jesus found it
necessary to unmask some of the sins of the Jewish leaders and to tear
down
their traditions, but He tore down only that He might build again; He
wounded that He might heal.
Again there is a problem to be faced before final conclusions are reached.
There were times in the history of God's people when with one or more
prophets among them they became progressively worse. Was this the fault of
the prophet? Did this mean that his messages were not from heaven? God did
not regard it so. He told Ezekiel, "Also, thou son of man, the children of
thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of
the houses, and speak one to another, everyone to his brother, saying,
Come,
I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the Lord. And
they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as My
people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their
mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their
covetousness."
Ezekiel 33:30, 31. People listened, they urged others to come and hear the
words of the prophet; but no one put into practice what he heard. Could
this
be
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charged against the prophet? There were those among the followers of the
Master who continued in their evil ways even though they claimed
allegiance
to Him. Sometimes it is necessary to study what the influence of the
prophet's messages would have been if they had been heeded. Are they
messages that lead to godliness, or do they turn the mind away from right
living and heavenly things?
C. A man may live a good life and have an excellent influence on others,
but
this does not necessarily prove that he is a prophet. All the other tests
of
a true prophet must be met.
D. The application of the tests is ***ulative. If, in addition to speaking
in full accord with the former prophets, the prophet's own life has been a
godly one, and if the tenor of his messages is such as would lead to
genuine
piety, we may conclude that he has passed another of the tests which may
eventually indentify him as a prophet of God.
Test 3. "When the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the
prophet be known, that the Lord hath truly sent him." Jeremiah 28:9.
Prediction is not the major work of the prophet; but in many instances the
prophets claimed that by divine inspiration they had been given insight
into
the future. Part of the testing of a prophet is observing whether or not
his
predictions are fulfilled. Confidence is established in the word of God
through the fulfillment of the many specific predictions it contains.
Confidence would be quickly destroyed should the prophecies prove to be
incorrect. See also Deuteronomy 13:1-3; 18:22. Earlier in this chapter
mention was made of Jeremiah's declaration that Hananiah would die that
year. Apparently many heard the prediction, and when they saw its
fulfillment, their confidence in Jeremiah's prophecy of the seventy years
of
captivity was confirmed. However, if the prophecy regarding Hananiah had
failed, it is unlikely that many would have believed the time prophecy of
the Captivity.
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Examples of predictions fulfilled are numerous throughout the Bible. In
some
cases the prophecies were not fulfilled in Bible times, but we find the
fulfillments recorded in history or have seen them take place in our own
times. Most of the Old Testament books tell of the Messiah who was to
come,
and the New Testament verifies the accuracy of the prophecies. Daniel
outlined the history of nations from the days of Babylon to the end of
time,
and it is a simple matter to trace through history the amazing
foreknowledge
of events that God gave him. Occasionally specific time periods were
predicted. These, too, have been exactly fulfilled. All of a prophet's
predictions must be carefully scrutinized and their fulfillments observed,
although, because of the time involved, this may prove to span more than
one
lifetime.
But the matter is not as simple as it might appear to be. The Bible
introduces another principle that must be considered before final
decisions
are reached. This is the principle of conditional prophecy, as stated by
Jeremiah: "At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and
concerning
a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; if that
nation,
against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the
evil that I thought to do unto them. And at what instant I shall speak
concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;
if
it do evil in My sight, that it obey not My voice, then I will repent of
the
good, where-with I said I would benefit them." Jeremiah 18:7-10. This must
be given careful consideration in dealing with the identification of a
true
prophet.
In certain instances conditional prophecy poses no real problem, for the
conditions are stated, and it is easy to see that if the conditions are
not
met there is no reason for the fulfillment of the prediction. But in other
cases, no conditions are stated. The Lord has said that when conditions
change He will act differently, either for reward or punishment. Does this
not create a loophole through which any false prophet may
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escape if we permit him to say, "That was a conditional prophecy I made,
even though I did not state the conditions; now that the conditions have
changed there is no reason why the prophecy should be fulfilled"?
The Bible's best illustration of the principle set forth by Jeremiah is in
the book of Jonah. The rebellious prophet proclaimed, "Yet forty days, and
Nineveh shall be overthrown." Jonah 3:4. No mention is made of any
conditions attached. In fact, it seems obvious that no suggestion was made
of a way of escape, for in his decree the king asked, "Who can tell if God
will turn and repent, and turn away from His fierce anger, that we perish
not?" Verse 9. Had a condition been offered he would have known that there
was the possibility of deliverance. The time passed, the city was not
overthrown, and Jonah was angry with the Lord because he felt he would be
considered a false prophet.
Was Jonah a false prophet? Our test reads: "When the word of the prophet
shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the Lord hath
truly sent him." Jonah's word did not come to pass, and yet he had taken
to
Nineveh the exact message the Lord had given him. In fact, it was because
of
his recognition of the principle that the Lord would withhold punishment
if
the people repented that he had not wanted to go to Nineveh in the first
place. In his prayer to the Lord after Nineveh had been spared, he
complained, "Was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country?
Therefore
I fled before unto Tar****sh: for I knew that Thou art a gracious God, and
merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest Thee of the
evil." Jonah 4:2. Had he been permitted to enumerate the conditions on
which
punishment would be withheld, there would have been no problem in his mind
on this particular point. But was he a false prophet? God did not consider
him so, and as we study the case carefully we conclude that he was a true
prophet of God despite the fact that what may have been the most prominent
prediction of his career was unfulfilled.
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What makes the difference? Why is one man whose prediction is not
fulfilled
called a false prophet, and another true? The answer is this: God has
explained to us a principle governing all prophecy in which men's
decisions
and attitudes are involved. We understand on the basis of the Jeremiah 18
statement that all of God's promises of blessing or threatenings of
punishment are made on condition, whether the conditions are stated or
not,
because their fulfillment depends upon man's relation****p to God.
This understanding in no wise applies to the ****tions of God's plan that
are
not subject to modification by the decisions of men. For instance, Jesus
Christ is going to return to this earth to gather the faithful and destroy
the wicked. This is a part of God's unalterable purpose, and it will come
to
pass despite any decision that might be made by any individual or group.
Peter says that it is possible for us to hasten the day of His coming (2
Peter 3:12-see the margin, which in this case is the preferable
rendering),
and conversely, it is possible for us to delay the coming through the
slowness of our preparation; but we cannot alter the fact that He is
coming.
We have no difficulty in understanding the case of Jonah and Nineveh. It
is
obivous that the changed cir***stances justified the Lord's decision to
withhold the threatened destruction. Must we not recognize the same
principle in judging any other case? If it can be clearly seen that the
cir***stances which called forth a condemnation have been so altered that
the condemnation is no longer warranted, then the Lord's alteration of His
course of action is in full harmony with Jeremiah 18. When He has openly
stated the cir***stances under which this will be done, there is no reason
why any prophet must declare all the specific details that might be
attached
to a conditional prophecy. A prophet whose prediction does not come to
pass
under these cir***stances is not to be condemned as a false prophet, for
we
must always remember that the reasons for the change will be clearly
evident. This procedure in no
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way leaves a way of escape for the false prophet; all of the tests are
still
to be applied to him and his teachings.
Test 4. "Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the
flesh
is of God." 1 John 4:2.
In presenting this test John is dealing directly with the matter of those
who profess to be prophets. "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try
the
spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out
into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that
confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God." 1 John 4:1,
2.
This test is broader than simply claiming to believe that Jesus Christ
lived. In its fullest sense it involves all that the Bible teaches
concerning Christ. It is the recognition that "the Word was made flesh,
and
dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the Only
Begotten
of the Father,) full of grace and truth." John 1:14.
The Word becoming flesh is the incarnation of the Son of God as man.
Earlier
verses in the first chapter of John set forth the Word as God, the
Creator,
the Source of life, and the Light of mankind. His virgin birth, His
sinless
life, His atoning death, His resurrection and ascension, His ministry in
the
heavenly sanctuary as High Priest, and His second coming, are all closely
related to His coming in the flesh. The first four are parts of His
earthly
life and experience. The others are made possible by what He accomplished
while He was here on earth. All of these must be recognized and taught by
the one accepted as a true prophet. And this is not to be a mere
theoretical
acknowledgment of the truths; the life of the prophet will correspond to
the
profession. One who denies the teaching of the Bible in any of these
truths
pertaining to Christ, His life, and His redemption is not confessing that
"Jesus Christ is come in the flesh," and is not "of God." See 2 John 7.
The four major Biblical tests are sufficient in themselves to enable us to
determine who is a true prophet and who is false.
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In addition, however, there are other factors that give added proof that
the
true prophet's messages are from the Lord. They are not as conclusive as
the
major tests, but they serve a useful purpose.
Additional Evidences
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Physical manifestations. In chapter 4 mention was made of certain physical
manifestations which at times accompanied the revelations of a true
prophet.
Taken with the other evidences, these manifestations form convincing added
testimony.
Timeliness is another striking feature of these revelations. Ordinarily we
think of messages being given years, or even centuries before their full
significance is realized; but many have been given at exactly the time
they
were needed.
There is the fascinating story of Elisha and the king of Syria, recorded
in
2 Kings 6:8-23. The king of Syria had marched against Israel. As a wise
military leader, he took counsel with his associates as to his plan of
procedure. But every time an ambush was planned or a move made, Elisha the
prophet warned the king of Israel, "Beware that thou pass not such a
place;
for thither the Syrians are come down." In a gem of understatement the
chronicler tells how Israel's king "saved himself there, not once nor
twice." So accurate was Elisha's information that the king of Syria was
certain there was a traitor in his camp. An intelligence service providing
such timely and accurate information would be highly prized by any army.
It
is a part of God's plan to make available to His children, in any age,
well-timed guidance to meet their needs.
The certainty and the fearlessness with which the prophets gave their
testimonies add weight to their claims to have God's messages. There was
no
hesitation, no hedging, no note of apology when Nathan stood before David
and declared, "Thou art the man." 2 Samuel 12:7. Elijah, appearing before
Ahab
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after the long period of drought that had devastated Israel, was
challenged
by the king, "Art thou he that troubleth Israel?" 1 Kings 18:17. The
response was certain and fearless, despite the personal danger faced by
the
prophet. "I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in
that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou has followed
Baalim." Verse 18. No equivocation was permitted in the delivery of the
messages of the prophets.
High spiritual plane. In the messages of true prophets there is nothing
cheap or common or childish. While their writings deal with ordinary,
everyday affairs of life, they do so in a dignified and fitting manner.
Though great truths are expressed simply enough for children to
understand,
they are not childish, but profound enough to engage the keenest scholars
in
ever-expanding research. The spiritual principles laid down are the most
lofty known to the human mind. Both the theme of the Bible and its mode of
expression are worthy of, and command the respect of, the most learned as
well as the most humble.
Practical nature. Messages brought by the prophets are of a practical and
useful nature. There are no weird fantasies or pointless ramblings in
their
communications. Though some messages are given in symbolic language, their
intent may be discovered by following clearly discernible rules of
interpretation. We may repeat Paul's statement that all Scripture is
profitable.
A Contrast
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The contrast between true and false prophets stands out sharply in the
experience of Ahab and Jehoshaphat, kings of Israel and Judah, with
Micaiah
the prophet. 1 Kings 22. Jehoshaphat, of the southern kingdom, was
visiting
Ahab, king of Israel, when Ahab proposed that together they do battle with
the king of Syria for Ramothgilead. With a sweeping
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pledge Jehoshaphat agreed. Then, apparently a bit doubtful of the wisdom
of
his decision, he asked Ahab if there were not a prophet nearby of whom
they
could inquire the will of God. In response, Israel's king called in four
hundred professed prophets of God, and asked them, "Shall I go against
Ramothgilead to battle?" As one man they replied, "Go up; for the Lord
shall
deliver it into the hand of the king." Under the cir***stances this was
exactly the message Ahab wanted in order to impress his prospective
partner
in battle.
While Jehoshaphat may have been impressed, he was not satisfied with the
advice. There must have been something in the manner or the message of the
men that caused him to question that their word was from the Lord, for he
pressed Ahab, "Is there not here a prophet of the Lord besides, that we
might inquire of him?" Ahab admitted that there was one more who might be
consulted, a man named Micaiah, "but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy
good concerning me, but evil."
Micaiah was sent for, despite Ahab's misgivings, and during the
messenger's
absence the prophets continued to prophesy. One of the most enlightening
episodes in this account is that in which the king's messenger tried to
tell
Micaiah what he should say when he came before the two monarchs. It is
possible that the messenger had been sent before to gather prophets, and
he
had found that they greatly desired information as to what others had said
to the king so their testimony might harmonize. At least, he seems to have
felt that he was doing Micaiah a favor by re****ting to him what the four
hundred had counseled the king. "Behold now, the words of the prophets
declare good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be
like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good." He may have
had
a distinct memory of some of Micaiah's former predictions of evil.
But the prophet of God was not interested in what the other prophets had
said. His attention was focused on what the Lord
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had to say. His revealing reply was, "As the Lord liveth, what the Lord
saith unto me, that will I speak." No true prophet could have taken any
other attitude. We have mentioned previously the basic Bible passage
dealing
with the call of a prophet (Deuteronomy 18:15-22) in which these words
appear: "And will put My words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them
all that I shall command him.. But the prophet, which shall presume to
speak
a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, . even that
prophet shall die."
When the question about the battle was put to Micaiah, he responded in a
way
that at first glance appears strange. "Go, and prosper: for the Lord shall
deliver it into the hand of the king." A more careful scrutiny of the
passage helps us to catch the irony in Micaiah's voice. "Go ahead and do
what you've been counseled to do. This is the message you want." This time
it was Ahab who was dissatisfied even though the word of the prophet
appeared to be the same as what had already been said. He detected without
difficulty the derisive note in the prophet's voice, and demanded to know
the Lord's message. Micaiah's words were solemn and majestic: "I saw all
Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and
the
Lord said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in
peace." Ahab turned to Jehoshaphat. "Did I not tell thee that he would
prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?" A short time later Micaiah's
prophecy was fulfilled when Ahab lost his life in the battle for
Ramothgilead.
Satan is a liar and a deceiver. If it were possible he will deceive the
very
elect. This is true in dealing with prophets as well as every other human
being. What he cannot do through false prophets, he will attempt to do by
discrediting and counteracting the work of true prophets. In either case
we
need to be aware of the methods of testing prophets. Not only are we to
detect and reject the false, but we must be diligent to discover and
receive
the true.
[115]
No one test is a full and sufficient identification of a prophet. It is
frequently easier to detect the false prophet than it is to be certain of
the true, for if he obviously violates one of the major tests we have no
difficulty in knowing the source of his messages. On the other hand,
before
it can be finally determined that one is a true prophet, all the tests
must
be painstakingly applied and sufficient time permitted to make thorough
investigation.
The words of the Master clearly point out that one of the spiritual
problems
of those who live in the days preceding His second advent is that of
dealing
with false christs and false prophets. These imposters will have little
success among those who have been fortified with the truth and who know
how
to apply the tests. Every member of the remnant church should be so
familiar
with these criteria that he will automatically apply them in every
instance
where they are needed without having to ask, "How can I tell whether this
prophet is true or false?
SUMMARY
[Top of Do***ent]
1. Through the centuries Satan's attempts to deceive God's people have
been
multiplied.
2. The im****tance of God's plan to reach men through prophets makes it a
special target of the enemy.
3. Satan attempts to introduce false prophets and to discredit the true.
4. There is no reason to be deceived, for the Bible presents clear tests
to
be applied to the professed prophet.
1.. "To the law and to the testimony." Isaiah 8:20.
2.. "By their fruits." Matthew 7:20.
3.. "When the word . shall come to pass." Jeremiah 28:9.
4.. "Jesus Christ is come in the flesh." 1 John 4:2.
5. Added evidences that help to confirm confidence in true prophets are:
(1)
physical manifestations, (2) timeliness, (3) certainty, (4) high spiritual
plane, (5) practical nature.
[116]
6. All the tests must be applied to the prophet, over a long period of
time
if necessary. The evidence is ***ulative and must be carefully noted
before
a final decision is made.
FOR STUDY AND DISCUSSION
[Top of Do***ent]
1. What are the most deceptive of Satan's counterfeits? Why?
2. Is it possible for Satan's deceptions to nullify the influence of a
prophet so completely that an individual will not realize the prophet ever
existed?
3. Is a true prophet susceptible to influence from others in receiving or
communicating his messages? Give Bible incidents to prove your answer.
4. Apply the tests of a prophet to the life and work of Daniel, Paul,
Moses.
Do not simply state that Daniel spoke according to the law and the
testimony; present evidence that he did so. Do the same with the remaining
tests.
5. In addition to the ones mentioned in this chapter, find one example of
a
conditional prophecy in which no conditions are stated. Has it been
fulfilled, or not? Find two conditional prophecies in which the conditions
are clearly stated. Have they been fulfilled?
6. Select from the Bible incidents an example of one who claimed to be a
prophet and whose "fruit" sustained his claim. Give an example of one who
showed that he was a false prophet by bringing forth evil fruit. Give
texts
and a brief summary of the incident.
7. Find two topics that are mentioned by at least three Bible writers, and
show how their testimony is substantially the same, although it does not
appear in exactly the same words.
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