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False Prophets
May 28, 2011

As of the writing of this, the world is awaiting the rapture that is prophesied to come sometime on May 21, 2011. If you are reading this after May 21, 2011, then you have an understanding of where the title of today's study comes from. There were some who predicted May 21, 2011 would be the day that Jesus would return to rapture the saved, and that until that exact moment, nobody would know if they would be saved. An analysis of the veracity of the rapture would be an entirely different study. False prophets exist for a number of reasons, and the Bible gives us guidance on this topic. Let's start with a warning from Peter.

2 Peter 2:1-2
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. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

Peter shows that when we allow false prophets to have a voice we are willing to hear, that the result is a perversion of our understanding of the truth. The larger the voice given to a false prophet, the greater following that person will have. And Peter correctly points out that when false prophets have a voice and people are willing to hear, the truth will be considered evil. In the most recent example of the May 21, 2011 rapture prophecy, media attention was given to the teaching of the group. The group had extensive knowledge of the Bible and could even detail the Holy Days of God, but interpreted the teachings to fit its own agenda. Instead of trying to fit our own agenda, when it comes to prophecy, it is only through the Spirit of God that one can accurately prophesy. And all we need to do is back up a few verses into the first chapter of 2 Peter.

2 Peter 1:19-21
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Prophecies are not the result of any person's reflections from the Bible. Prophecy is a gift of the Spirit, and comes through the Spirit of God. There are those who will interpret scriptures to fit their understanding of the Bible. And this makes these people false prophets. One can only be led by the Spirit of God and allowing the Spirit of God to interpret the Scriptures. Prophecy is one of several gifts of the spirit that can be given to an individual.

1 Corinthians 12:7-11
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

Of and by itself, prophecy or any other gift of the spirit does not make us a great person. Paul understood this and the breakdown that naturally comes from prophecy. He knew that we only have a small part of the Spirit of God, and that because of this, we can fail, and our prophecies can fail. He also knew that it would take a full measure of the Holy Spirit in order to be spiritually accurate all the time.

1 Corinthians 13:1-10
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

So for those who said the rapture would come on May 21, 2011, these people were false prophets. These people caused many to worry. And these people gave those who detest God a false reason to celebrate and to reduce faith to scorn. These people were not evil people. They were well-intentioned. They were just wrong. And that is what a false prophet is-somebody who is wrong about the Bible. The lesson we can take from this is to be led by the Spirit of God as we understand His Word, and instead of interpreting the Bible from our understanding, letting the Bible drive our understanding.

All verses are from the King James Version.
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