A False Versus a Carnal Prophet

Deuteronomy 13:1, If there arise a prophet.

In the church not only is the term “prophet” carelessly thrown about, so is the term “false prophet” as applied to any God-fearing individual who simply “misses” hearing the word of Elohim correctly, but isn’t guilty of leading Elohim’s people astray spiritually into heathenism. For years, I had been using this term too broadly and generically (as many in the church do) to apply to those who either prophecy presumptuously out of the dictates of their own heart, or who hear a word from Elohim but incorrectly interpret it or misapply it (as was the case with Nathan the Prophet who repented for telling David incorrectly that it was YHVH’s will for him to build the temple), as well as to those evil prophets who lead YHVH’s people away from the Word of Elohim and into paganism.

The term “false prophet” is not to be found in the Tanakh (or Old Testament) at all, and is only found several times in the Testimony of Yeshua (or New Testament) and is applied to patently evil, satanic individuals. Therefore, based on the biblical evidence, it is incorrect to apply this term to a godly individual who, for example, makes an accurate prophecy, but gets the dates wrong, or somehow misinterprets a prophetic message from YHVH. 

Although the term “false prophet” isn’t found in the Tanakh, there are many warnings given against individuals who, through their false prophecies, lead YHVH’s people astray into idolatry or who don’t urge the people to repent and get back to YHVH’s straight paths of Torah-obedience, or who otherwise involved in ungodly activities (e.g. Deut 13:1–5; 18:20–22; Jer 23:9ff; 28:1ff; Ezek 13:2ff; Isa 28:7). The term “false prophet” doesn’t strictly apply to a godly person who isn’t leading YHVH’s people into apostasy.

Therefore, based on the biblical evidence, the godly person who “misses it,” so to speak, should be more correctly called a presumptuous prophet (Deut 18:22), or foolish prophet (Ezek 13:2) or a carnal prophet (i.e. who speak out of the flesh; Ezek 13:1). As such, I can see no biblical precedence for applying the derogatory term “a false prophet” to such a person.

Deuteronomy 13:1–6, A prophet or a dreamer … a sign or a wonder. A prophet may claim to receive his vision or “word from YHVH” while he was awake in a vision or in a dream while asleep (The ArtScroll Stone Edition Chumash, p. 1007). According to Rashi (the Jewish Torah commentator), a sign is a supernatural event in heaven while a wonder is a miraculous event on earth. There are those among the people of YHVH who, as Adam Clarke states in his commentary on this verse, “pretend to have a divine influence, so as to be able perfectly to direct others in the way of salvation” or shows some “miraculous proof of his mission … or some type of representation of what he wishes to bring you over to” (vol. 1, p. 774). Yeshua warned about false prophets in the latter days who would deceive many (Matt 24:11) and false messiahs who might even deceive the “very elect” (verse 24). Paul talks about a “man of sin” that would arise showing signs and lying wonders such that some would fall from the truth of the salvation message of the gospel (2 Thess 2:1–12). Paul warns, “do not be soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word … let no man deceive you by any means (verses 2–3). He then (in verses 15–17) encourages the brethren to stand fast in the simple truths of the gospel of Yeshua:

Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which you have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. Now our Master Yeshua the Messiah himself, and Elohim, even our Father, which has loved us, and has given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and establish you in every good word and work.

As you learn more about the Hebrew roots of the Christian faith and the Written Torah-Word of YHVH, are you being led astray from the simple Word of YHVH, whether as found in the Tanakh (OT) or in the Testimony of Yeshua (NT) by people claiming to speak as an oracle from heaven? Deuteronomy 13:3 says that YHVH proves his people “to know whether you love YHVH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul.” Jude, the half brother of Yeshua, speaking of the spiritual delusion to occur in the last days exhorts us to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once and for all delivered unto the saints” (Jude 1:3). Are you standing firm and earnestly contending every day or are you being allured by the siren’s song of the false prophets and teachers who lead people away from the gospel truth into spiritual delusion and eternal oblivion?

There is no place in the Scriptures that indicates that the ministry of the prophet isn’t still valid within the body of Yeshua today (see Eph 4:11; 1 Cor 14 entire chapter; also Joel 2)—and all the more so as the time of Yeshua’s return draws near (see Joel 2:28–30).

How then can we tell the true from the false prophets? One simple test is this: All the true prophets of the Bible were obedient to the Torah and often their message involved rebuking YHVH’s people for Torahlessness and urging them to repent. This is one of the major biblical proofs to determine the validity of a prophet. Regardless of whether one calls oneself a prophet, or whether men call someone a prophet is irrelevant. His living in accordance with and pointing people to YHVH’s Torah-Word is the determining factor.


 

4 thoughts on “A False Versus a Carnal Prophet

  1. Natan there is quiet a bit to absorb re this subject. In my own understanding I can fully see the True Prophets as in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Elijah Jonah etc.. ; they had specific ministries ( callings) in a specific window of time = History – biblically to correct people to bring them back into repentance & obedience.. To Elohim …truth of his WORD..

    it never talks about the Gifts of Apostle in the O.T. Nor teachers ..(except Gamaliel in OT. ) pastors or evangelists.. The so called 5 fold as listed in the book of Ephesians written by Paul in his letters to the Ephesians in that period of time. I remember you did an article, teaching on the 11 levels of a True Prophet. .

    So take this forward to the time we are living in… History of the churches, congregations , denominations..& we see the ? First Pentecostal movement after the true book of ACTS…? the one movement that maybe was the start of Pentecostalism per say was during ? Azusa Street.. And then later some termed it the Charismatic Movement.

    I tend to steer away from that term because it wasn’t Charisma that endued people from on high with the true gifts of the Spirit ..it was the anointing of the RUACH. As it came as a mighty rushing wind on the day of Shavuot Pentecost With fire. & power that was not of this world but from Elohim.

    Perhaps there has been too much – over emphasis in the so called churches especially Sunday ones re the elevation of the 5 fold ministry gifts back to there rightful place in the body as they term it. When what is needed is to examine the office of a “True ” so called prophet with a careful magnifying glass ( good discernment) that can only be tested thru the RUACH..by the power of his spirit. The 5 fold as I understand it biblically are called the so called ascension gifts.

    The other gifts are outlined in the book of Corinthians.. Prophecy, interpretation of tongues which I equate with another native tongue ..That is Greek, Spanish or some other tongue/ language when you really read the verses carefully : it is very specific.. Each man could hear what was said in his own natural ( native tongue) .

    I have been asking The RUACH ( in prayer) to help me discern what is TRUTH. DISCERN THE PERSON & THE GIFT ..?? BY THEIR FRUIT WE CAN TELL ALSO. ( LET NO MAN DECEIVE US) THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF BAD STUFF ..not so true but false stuff come out of the so called churches and the New Apostolic reformation movement by one person Peter Wagner. Interested to read other people’s understanding on all this. We have to be very discerning & careful.

    As Book of Mathew chapter 24 Says.many false prophets would arise in the last days & deceive the very elect if it were possible.

  2. I have learned somewhere that the word prophesying just means ‘speaking Elohim’s Words’. I conclude from this, that even an evangelist who speaks Elohim’s Words from Scripture to people, is in a way prophesying; or really anyone who speaks the true Word of God to anyone is prophesying. What are your thoughts on this, Natan?
    Sonja

    • Correct. To prophesy not only can mean to foretell, but also to forth tell; that is, to speak by inspired utterance. Both Moses and Paul desired that everyone prophesy. In a sense, every time we open our mouth, we should be being led by the Ruach and be speaking the inspired word of Elohim, which, in the broadest definition of the word, makes us all prophets, or at least prophetic.

  3. Fancy names and titles just become millstones of pride around ones neck, heavy and burdensome.
    John

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