False Prophets and True

Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

In the apostolic period, two main gifts of the Spirit were those of the apostle and prophet. In fact, the church itself was "built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone" (Eph. 2:20). One functon of these was to recieve and transmit God's revelation to His people; first verbally, then eventually written in permanent form in the New Testament. Eph. 3:5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

The apostle Paul revealed also that such prophecies would cease once they were no longer needed. 1 Cor. 13:9-10 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. Clearly in the context, this refers to the complete revelation of God. When the last book of the Bible was transmitted to the Church by the Holy Spirit through the last living Apostle, John, the Lord Jesus Christ warned us neither to "add unto" nor to "take away from the words of the book of this prophecy" (Rev. 22:18-19).

But many false prophets have indeed "gone out into the world" (I John 4:1), just as Jesus warned, and they have "deceived many." One of them, a self-asserted seventh century "prophet" from Arabia, received certain "revelations" from a "god" that were vastly different from those of the God of the Bible, and his followers now number over a billion.

There have been others, before and since, and the Lord Jesus Christ warned us always to "beware of false prophets" (Matt. 7:15). The basic criterion by which to test any alleged prophecy, ancient or modern, is whether or not it fully conforms to the written Word of God, the Bible. Isa.8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

2 Cor. 4:4-6 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.