“God-inspired” – More and more proclaimers of new “truths”

Deutsch

There are more and more of them. Self-proclaimed proclaimers of some kind of “truth” and supposed prophets. Usually driven by “inspirations” and dreams, supposedly mediated by the Holy Spirit or God. Usually convinced of this themselves, these supposedly chosen ones proclaim their emotionally charged messages to an unfortunately very gullible audience.

“Divine Inspirations”

“I recently had a dream that…” or “God told me that…” This is usually associated with some kind of prediction or fundamental teaching. Such statements are increasingly heard and read from Christian-oriented people, whose social media following is not all that small. The frequent comments suggest that there is also considerable support and belief in these statements. If you disagree and justify your opinion, you’ll quickly find yourself branded a “divider and hate monger.” A characteristic of the present.

If one approaches such prophecies pragmatically and fairly, then one doesn’t simply dismiss their stated content unless it can be immediately recognized as false. And it is precisely on this point that the proclaimed “inspiration” stands or falls. For the question is simply, how can it be verified? If the proclaimer speaks in the “name of Christianity,” then the question is immediately answered. By Scripture, and only by Scripture. For if the “prophet’s” statement deviates even by a single stroke from the written word, then the entire package of information can be immediately shredded.

Prophets or chatterers?

It’s actually astonishing that the following of supposedly “God-chosen prophets” is still so large, despite their predictions not coming true in the past. A “quality mark” of a genuine prophet, who has actually received inspiration from God, is the fulfillment of what was predicted (false and true prophets – more info).

Such a characteristic also applies to proclaimed teachings, for the written Word is not in vain called the “everlasting gospel” (Revelation 14:6), which God proclaimed through His prophets as the message of salvation (Revelation 10:7). Any deviation from the Word of God constitutes the disqualification of the “prophet.”

Critically “examine” prophets

The Bible is clear in its definition of a true prophet, and in its ability to identify false prophets. Even in the time of Moses and ancient Israel, it was recorded how such prophets should be classified, Deuteronomy 18:21-22:
“And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.“

A sign of our times, and one that is also understandable, are the increasingly loud calls for “peace and security.” The first words of the newly appointed Pope Leo XIV on the balcony above St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican, for example, concerned wishes for the longed-for peace on earth. However, anyone who objectively examines developments in recent decades realizes that, despite repeated calls and asserted efforts for peace, the exact opposite is evident.

The conflicts and wars on this planet do not begin to exist when the media reports on them. However, one must make the effort to learn the true state of affairs for oneself and not rely on the truth being handed to one like grapes while one lounges on the comfortable couch. And yes, there are crashes, crackles, and rumblings in every corner of the world.

False preachers as ever

The call for peace is always well received, especially in times of constant unrest. A phenomenon that lured false prophets to their pedestals thousands of years ago, delivering their false promises to the people for their own benefit. This was also the case with the people of ancient Israel, Jeremiah 6:13-14:
“For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.“

Then as now. Only today, a fair amount of pure cynicism also plays a major role, when the proclaimer and supposed bearer of hope for “peace and security” is simultaneously the one fueling the earth’s fires and adding fuel to the flames.

As Scripture attests, there were also true prophets. Among the outstanding proclaimers of God’s Word and warnings are Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, and Ezekiel. In the New Testament, it is John the Baptist who was described by Jesus Christ as “the greatest who ever was born of a woman” (Matthew 11:11).

Even on the subject of “peace,” the true prophet must be measured by the fulfillment of his pronouncements,

Jeremiah 28:9
“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.“

“To the Law and to the Testimony”

Prophets were sent by God to His people with the primary goal of bringing them back on the right path. Largely removed from the true gospel, the prophets exhorted them to finally do God’s will, to refrain from the invasive idolatry, and to strive for righteousness once again. This, of course, required that the prophets they sent spoke the truth.

Truth measured by the written word, and therefore, like the fulfillment of prophecies, was also an important criterion. When true prophets spoke, then:
“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).

If a prophet proclaims something that is not found in Scripture, or even contradicts the written Word, then he is an imposter, not a messenger of God. He does not speak guided by the Holy Spirit, but is a willing vassal of the great adversary.

Still keep your eyes and ears open

A kind of “loud cry” is expected to go around the world soon. It’s a warning of what will soon happen. It’s a warning of a great deception, a great seduction of those who don’t take the written word very seriously, or who don’t care at all whether what is announced here and there is actually true.

God will not simply implement or allow drastic things, especially those that affect entire groups of people, without prior announcement or warning, as stated in Amos 3:7:
“Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.“

Therefore, especially in our present time, our ears and eyes should be opened wide, always with a critical eye and using the Word of God as a standard to hear such pronouncements. This is where the countless distractions come into play, leaving people as little room and time as possible to even consider them. But it’s up to the individual to set their own personal priorities.

The urge to find the truth

The love of truth is the great motivator for wanting to take care of the truly relevant things. Very few are even aware of what is actually at stake. There are only two “options”: either eternal life or eternal death (non-existence, the eternally burning hell is a fable – Info).

“There is nothing new under the sun,” said the wise Solomon. The bearers of good news are welcome, while the messengers of reproach are hated. Prophets sent by God were never welcome. They were shunned, laughed at, chased away, persecuted, and even killed. If a prophet today only proclaims what people generally like to hear, confirming their way of life, then one can fairly safely assume that such a prophet is also an imposter.

The time described in 2 Timothy 4:3-4 has long since arrived:
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.“

If these people wanted to care about the truth, they would also read the announcement in 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12:
“And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.“

Mostly convinced of it themselves

However, it must be emphasized that not every self-proclaimed proclaimer of fantasy stories with a Christian veneer intentionally intends to deceive. As a rule, they are themselves deceived and believe their own version to the best of their knowledge and belief. A distinction between this and their own deliberate misconception could be made simply by considering whether the “prophet” intends to capitalize on their proclamations.

In both cases, however, it can be determined that their love of truth cannot be particularly good. Anyone who merely pokes around in the Bible to pick out individual verses that may support the erroneous teaching without considering the bigger picture will end up with a huge mess.

The two main characteristics of a true prophet are:
– Previous prophecies must come true/have come true
– The prophet proclaims faithfully to the written word (no deviations)

Faith and emotions? Rather out of place

Such spiritual inspirations should definitely be taken seriously, and everyone should examine themselves. These “enlightenments” may also bring a good feeling, provide a kind of security, but they must be examined with particular skepticism. Exploiting emotions is one of the great adversary’s favorite weapons. All inspirations must be soberly and pragmatically tested against the written word. It is and remains a spiritual battle to the end.

Connecting faith directly with emotions generally proves to be a very poor guide. One believes, yes, but ultimately one believes in something, not in the written word, if it visibly contradicts one’s own feelings. The relatively well-known verses Galatians 5:22-23 demonstrate how “bone-dry” Paul treats the topic of true faith.:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.“

No trace of emotional outbursts or passion. The Holy Spirit is at work, the result in people is visible, but emotions? No, dry as a rusk in the midday sun, Paul writes: “There is no law against it“!

Nowhere do the apostles, nor Jesus Christ, speak of “sensing, feeling, or touching” the Holy Spirit in any way. Therefore, any “feelings” about faith must be treated pragmatically and tested against Scripture. Paul emphatically warns against accepting anything other than the written Word, twofold: Galatians 1:8-9:
“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.“

Popular misconceptions

Among the errors that are widespread today and carried by false prophets, but are easily refuted by Scripture, are:

• ‘Secret Pre-Rapture’ before a 7-year Tribulation Period
• A 1000-year kingdom of peace on earth
• A ‘never punishing God’, who will redeem all people
• Jesus replaced the 10 Commandments with ‘love commandments’
• Whoever is saved will always remain saved
• We are all under grace with abolished laws

Bible verses from King James Version (1611)