The Test of a True Prophet Many important biblical tests exist that will prove or examine the inspiration of a true prophet; however, one must first be acquainted with why such an examination is necessary. Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world, (1 John 4:1). By definition, true indicates the inverse idea of the existence of a false prophet. One must notice how John mentions that the source of a true spirit or true prophet comes from God. This implies the Holy Spirit in contrast to the other angelic spirits that currently exist. This means that a source from any other means would be from Satan, the enemy of God. Satan designs false enterprises in order to lead followers and would be followers of Christ astray. Ellen White says, There will always be false and fanatical movements made by persons in the church who claim to be led of God--those who will run before they are sent, and will give day and date for the occurrence of unfulfilled prophecy. The enemy is pleased to have them do this, for their successive failures and leading into false lines cause confusion and unbelief.--letter 28, 1897. {2SM 84.3} One must be careful not fall into these lines of traps especially those who are among the fellowship of God in the church. Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart. Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that prophesy in my name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land; By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed (Jeremiah 14:14-15). Satan many times deceived the children of Israel into believing that because they were God s chosen people the future held for them only peace and prosperity. This set the stage for the children of Israel to neglect their spiritual condition, which cause them not to be prepared during times
of famine and oppression. The children of Israel experienced vulnerability because they fixed their ears only on the smooth agreeable teachings of the false prophets. They disregarded the conditions of the blessings and curses given to them by the prophet Moses in Deuteronomy chapter 28. And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, (Deuteronomy 28:1-2). And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them. But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee: (Deuteronomy 28:14-15). The contemporary person in these last days of earth s history would do well to learn from the failures of the children of Israel recorded in the Bible. One must deny the exaltation of self and the desire to only messages what seem profitable to one s own personal life. The first point of the determining the authenticity of a prophet, compares the voice of the prophet with the inspired word of God. To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn (Isaiah 8:20). It is not enough for a prophet to have some new and fascinating aspect of theology. In fact, the voice of the prophet should point the reader or listener back to the old-timeless word of God. In order to understand whether the voice of the prophet agrees with the law and the testimony, one must make it a life s work to become an earnest
student of the Bible. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth, (2 Timothy 2:15). The second point of the determining the authenticity of a prophet demonstrates how true prophets always direct obedience to God s will. If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a miraculous sign or wonder, and if the sign or wonder of which he has spoken takes place, and he says, "Let us follow other gods" (gods you have not known) "and let us worship them, you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul. It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him, (Deuteronomy 13:1-4). The false prophet seeks hold humanity in ignorance, especially of the importance of loving the Lord God with all one s heart and soul. The lack of a sincere desire to serve God wholeheartedly can place one into compromising situations that will force opposition to the will of God. One must allow the Word to examine the true love of God, as it pertains to obeying and serving Him in order to best discern the gift of a true prophet. Thirdly, one must understand the conditions that God in His sovereignty can place on prophecies. If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it, (Jeremiah 18:7-10). Jonah and the city of Nineveh is a prime example of
conditional prophecies. If, and when the requirements of God are fulfilled, His permissive will allows for the option of redirecting the course of action. One must not confuse a conditional prophecy with one that failed. Therefore, the fourth test is that if a prophecy does not meet the requirements of a conditional prophecy it must come true for consideration as the voice of God. But the prophet who prophesies peace will be recognized as one truly sent by the LORD only if his prediction comes true,"(jeremiah 28:9). It is imperative that one to understand that God word spoken through His personally chosen prophet has an accuracy rating of 100%. It is impossible for His word to fail. So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it, ( Isaiah 55:11). With the exceptions of conditional prophecies there is no flexibility here, which provides a strong method a determining the reliability of revealing the matters of God. The fifth proof-test of a prophet examines the harvest or fruits of the life and works of the prophets themselves. Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit, you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit, (Matthew 7:15-17). Another point to consider is the actual life of the prophet themselves in addition to the fruit of their work. And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate. But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in
judgment, (Isaiah 28:6-7). One should clearly see unmistakable evidence to the results of the prophet s work as it compares to the Word and Will of God. Many prophets true or false have followers, but the personal life of the prophet must agree with the divine plan as outlined in the scripture. In addition to predicting the future as God chooses to reveal, a true prophet will preach the gospel, rebuke sin, and provide direction to lead people to salvation. Generally, the fruits of a prophet require observation over the course of a lifetime for any serious consideration, if all other points agree. Another remarkable test of a true prophet in vision requires the supernatural manifestation of a life supported by God. For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? For as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me, (Daniel 10:17). In the case of Daniel, one can clearly see the unusual significance of this test. It can show at the very least that something supernatural is taking; and may be viewed as a life being sustained and supported by God. Note, it is doubtful, but one must still fully explore as to whether God can allow Satan to have this ability or control of breath of human. At the very least, this test shows, a supernatural event and all other test must fully agree with the test of a true prophet. An additional guideline to follow would be to examine the willingness of the prophet to speak the truth regardless of the consequences. The word of the LORD came to me: "What do you see, Jeremiah?" "I see the branch of an almond tree," I replied. The LORD said to me, "You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled, (Jeremiah 1:11-12). God closely examines the words that proceed from the mouth of His prophets. We can also see the willingness to speak the truth in a difficult situation with the young Samuel before a senior high priest. "What was it he said to you?" Eli asked. "Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if
you hide from me anything he told you." So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, "He is the LORD; let him do what is good in his eyes." (1 Samuel 3:17-18). The true prophet will not bend the truth to fit their own interest, great fear and humility surrounds their judgment thus guiding their tongue. Finally, and probably the most important proof test to determine the truth of a prophet is that their primary focus it placed on Jesus Christ and the ministry of His work for the salvation of souls. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world, (1 John 4:2-3). The Bible makes it imperative and clear, that the imposter is examined by the means of determining whether the prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in the flesh and yet is from God. The false prophet is a representative of the antichrist, which is Satan, who desires worship in the place of the Son of God. Worship is reserved for Christ alone. Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good, (1Thessalonians 5:19-21). The Godhead does not want us to be left in confusion, through the Bible, one can discern the between the false prophet and the true.