Apologetics

Prophesies About False Prophets

Jesus foretold and warned that in the last days many false teachers, false christs and false prophets will rise and will deceive many? It is important in our walk with Jesus, that we do not become deceived.

Matthew 24:11 NKJV
Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.

When Jesus spoke to us about the last days and the signs of the end of the times, one of the signs that He mentioned was the fact that “MANY false prophets will rise up and deceive MANY”. Therefore, a time is coming where MANY people will be deceived by MANY false prophets who will obviously be operating under demonic authority.

However, why would multitudes of people be so easily deceived by a multitude of false prophets? What is it about these false prophets that would make them so influential so as to deceive many people? Why is it that so many people will fail to discern a true prophet / teacher from a false prophet / teacher?

Matthew 24:24-25 NKJV
For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand.

Jesus clearly warns us that false christs and false prophets will perform or “show GREAT signs and wonders to deceive, if possible even the elect”. Even Jesus acknowledges that these signs and wonders that these prophets will perform will be GREAT – in other words, for those who will be deceived, the signs and wonders of these false prophets will be too irresistible to ignore such that the deceived will be tempted to follow them.
However, “the elect” will not be deceived.
Jesus also tells us “See, I have told you beforehand”. The Lord is therefore warning us in advance that MANY of these false prophets and false christs definitely will come or RISE and that they will deceive MANY people by their GREAT signs and wonders.

Matthew 7:15-16 NKJV
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn-bushes or figs from thistles?

Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Jesus clearly warns us that not everybody who looks like a Christian, talks like a Christian, acts like a Christian will enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus said that false prophets will wear sheep’s clothing. In other words, they will be disguised as Christ’s sheep but yet they are wolves who seek to prey on the sheep in order to devour or mislead the sheep.
Jesus clearly states that these hypocrites will claim to have “prophesied” in Jesus’ name, “cast out demons” and “done MANY WONDERS” in His name. I believe that Jesus is talking about false prophets and other hypocrites who disguise themselves as children of God but yet their intent is to deceive people.

How Will The False Prophets Deceive?

By performing signs and wonders through which the source of these signs and wonders is demonic.
By disguising themselves as sheep but yet they are wolves.
By teaching a false doctrine that subtly causes disobedience from God and God’s teachings whilst enriching themselves
By deceptive words and charismatic behavior meant to put the focus on them and their false miracles rather than on Jesus.

2 Peter 2:1-3 NKJV
But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.

Relationship with God
Jesus knows those people who belong to Him. In verse 23, Jesus says “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”
When Jesus says “I never KNEW you”, the Lord here is clearly talking about relationship. Jesus has a personal and genuine relationship with His people. He knows His own people or His sheep and His sheep follow Him.

John 10:27-29 NKJV
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.

So the most important steps to not being deceived by the many false prophets and false christs that have entered the world is through the following;

You must be genuinely born again. (John 3:3)
Have a strong, rooted and genuine relationship with God in Christ Jesus and to walk in obedience to Him. (John 15:1-17)
Walk in the Holy Spirit and not in the flesh (Galatians 5:16-25)
Pray for and allow the gifts of the Holy Spirit such as the gift of discernment to operate in your daily life (1 Corinthians 12:4-11)
Meditate on the word of God day and night. Do not just rely on what you are taught by another person – but also study prayerfully the word of God on your own and allow the Holy Spirit to minister to you one-on-one. (2 Timothy 3:16,17)
Talk to God about all your issues. He knows everything. Learn to listen to His voice. Often we pray to God – however we never take the time to listen to Him or to hear Him when He speaks.(Matthew 6:8-18)
The word of God is the standard by which we live by. Whatever spiritual things that you hear or are taught, learn to test and interpret what you are taught according to the word of God. (Psalm 119)
Test the spirits. (1 John 4:1)