Tests of a True Prophet

“Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.’ (Amos 3:7).

There are many people these days who claim to be prophets or to be able to tell the future. They run commercials on Television, ads in the newspapers, and the tabloids are full of their latest bizarre or doomsday predictions.

In the midst of all this nonsense and confusion, are there any REAL prophets? How could we know if heard about one? Can the Bible help us to know who might be a prophet of God and what distinguishes the fakes? Let’s take a look.

1. PROPHETS OF THE BIBLE
1. What part of the Bible was written for us? Romans 15:4. Whatsoever things. This is primarily speaking of the Old Testament, since during Paul's time, the only Scripture they had was what we call the Old Testament.
1. How much Scripture is profitable to us? 2 Timothy 3:15, 16. All Scripture.
2. Believing all the prophets of the Bible, including the Old Testament ones, is a condition of our happiness and prosperity. 2 Chronicles 20:20. "Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper."
3. The ability to prophesy is a gift. Romans 12:6 "Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith."
4. Not everyone has the gift of prophecy. God gave some apostles, some prophets, etc. Ephesians 4:11, 12. "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers"


2. MODERN PROPHETS?
1. Jesus warned about false prophets in the last days. Matthew 24:24. "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."
1. Think about it. We are warned against false Christs. If no one was expecting the real Christ, then no one would be deceived by false ones. But Jesus knew that we would be expecting His imminent return, and that there would be some who would try to fake it to gain a following. The same follows for prophets. That means there must be true prophets also.
2. There will be true prophets in the last days. Acts 2:16-18 "But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy."
3. God's church has prophecy among them. The remnant church in Revelation 12:17 "keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." "The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (Revelation 19:10).
1. The book of Revelation is a book of prophecy and of the testimony of Jesus. (See Revelation 1:3, 9).
4. The testimony of Christ will exist until Jesus' coming. 1 Corinthians 1:4-8. "I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ."
5. We should be careful that we do not despise God's prophets. 1 Thessalonians 5:20. "Despise not prophesyings." Therefore, we must know how we can identify a prophet of God.


3. TESTS OF A TRUE PROPHET
1. Prophecy does not come by the will of man. 2 Peter 1:21. "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."
2. The prophet is to be tested by the Law and the Testimony. Isaiah 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."
1. He must not only teach it, but live it. Matthew 5:19. "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
3. His message must bring people to obey God, not disobey Him.
1. “If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” Deuteronomy 13:1-5.
4. A true prophet can be recognized by the result of his work. Matthew 7:15-20. "15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."
5. He will show the sins of God's people. Isaiah 58:1. "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins."
6. He warns of God's coming judgments. (Joel 2:12-15).
7. The Prophet has visions and dreams. Numbers 12:6. "If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream."
8. The prophet has no strength while in vision. Daniel 10:8. "Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength."
1. An angel gives strength. Daniel 10:18. "Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me."
9. Has no breath while the Lord talks. Daniel 10:17. "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."
10. His eyes are open as in a trance while in vision. Numbers 24:16. "He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open."
11. If a prophecy does not come to pass, that prophet is not a true prophet. Numbers 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."
12. The prophet will not prophesy for personal gain. 2 Kings 5:15, 16. "And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant. But he said, As the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused."
13. He recognizes that Jesus came in human flesh, in human nature, yet was divine. 1 John 4:1-3. "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world."


4. SUMMARY

A true prophet must exhibit all of the above points. Here they are again, in summary.

A True Prophet:

1. Does not prophesy by his own will.
2. Must agree with the Law and the Testimony, and live by them.
3. Message must bring people to obey God, not disobey God.
4. Can be recognized by the results—fruits—of his labors.
5. Will show God's people their sins.
6. Warns of God's coming judgments.
7. Has visions and dreams.
8. Has no strength while in vision.
1. But an angel gives strength.
9. Has no breath while the Lord speaks to him.
10. Has eyes open during vision—as in a trance.
11. Must have 100% accuracy in prophecies.
12. Will not prophesy for personal gain or profit.
13. Recognizes that Jesus came in our human nature to overcome sin.