{"id":93,"date":"2018-04-14T12:22:33","date_gmt":"2018-04-14T17:22:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/godsvoice\/?page_id=93"},"modified":"2019-04-25T05:53:32","modified_gmt":"2019-04-25T10:53:32","slug":"true-prophets","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/godsvoice\/hear\/competing-voices\/true-prophets\/","title":{"rendered":"True Prophets"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>A SPECIAL PROPHET<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Since the concept of &#8220;Messiah&#8221; is an important feature of both Judaism and Christianity, and since a Messiah is generally regarded as a prophet of the highest order, it is instructive to look at a genuine Messiah as a model of a true prophet.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">STUDY TIP: See<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messiah\">\u00a0Messiahs <\/a>and<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messianic-prophecy\">\u00a0Messianic Prophecy <\/a>for more understanding of Messiahs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Many scriptures supply the clues needed to establish the identity of a Messiah. But they are not as easy to interpret as we might hope or expect. Generations of Jewish scholars have interpreted these scriptures to create the following expectations about the signs that would qualify a real Messiah:<\/span><\/p>\n<table class=\" aligncenter\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Bring about the political and spiritual redemption of the Jewish people<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Bring Jews back to physical Israel.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Restore the physical city of Jerusalem.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Establish a government in physical Israel that will be the center of all world government, both for Jews and gentiles.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Rebuild the physical Temple and re-establish its worship.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Restore the religious court system of Israel.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Establish Jewish law as the law of the land.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Based on these scriptures and their literal interpretations, Jews expect that the Messiah will have these qualities:<\/span><\/p>\n<table class=\" aligncenter\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">He will be a great political leader descended from King David.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">He will be well-versed in Jewish law, and observant of its commandments.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">He will be a charismatic leader, inspiring others to follow his example.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">He will be a great military leader, who will win battles for Israel.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">He will be a great judge, who makes righteous decisions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">He will be a human being, not a god, demi-god or other supernatural being.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Beyond Old Testament prophecies that predict the birth of the Messiah, the only real attention <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Christian_eschatology\">Christianity<\/a>\u00a0 pays to prophecy is to <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Eschatology\">eschatological theories<\/a> regarding the so-called &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/End_time\">end times<\/a>&#8221; and the &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Second_Coming\">second coming&#8221;<\/a> of the Messiah. In <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jewish_eschatology\">Judaism,<\/a> on the other hand, the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/psalms\/passage\/?q=psalm+72:1-11;isaiah+7:10-16;isaiah+9:1-6;isaiah+49:1-11;isaiah+52:4-15;isaiah+53:10-12;isaiah+61:1-3;micah+5:1-4;amos+9:1-15;jeremiah+23:5-6;ezekiel+34;ezekiel+36;haggai+2:20-22;zechariah+4:1-14;zechariah+6:9-15;zechariah+9:9-10;malachi+3:1-4;malachi+4:1-3\">prophecies Jews consider focus on scriptures that they say anticipate the first coming of the Messiah<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">For both religions this attention is misplaced because the doctrinal theories derived from prophetic scriptures are wrongly based on <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-1\">literal interpretations of the Bible<\/a>. They are not based on spiritual understanding of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/kjv\/passage\/?q=matthew+13:34-35;+mark+4:33-34;+matthew+13:10-13;+hosea+12:10;+john+10:6;+john+16:24-31\">parables,<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\">Symbols, Signs, Types, Copies, Shadows and Patterns<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\">mystery<\/a>, which are the substance of most of the Bible.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">They are also wrong because they do not understand <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=2+peter+3:3-9;+psalm+90:1-4\">God&#8217;s view of time<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">STUDY TIP: See\u00a0<\/span><a style=\"font-size: 0.984375em;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/time-hours-days-weeks-and-ages\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Time: Hours, Days, Weeks and Ages<\/span> <\/a><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">for more about how to interpret Biblical references to time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Having made these errors in understanding scripture, it is no surprise that these two religions come to different doctrinal conclusions by reading the same scriptures. This is a clue that literal interpretations cause both religions interpret the scriptures wrongly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The major consequence of such literal interpretations is that Jews and Christians both <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/the-law-is-a-stumbling-block\">stumble<\/a> in their anticipation of a unique, singular messiah. They do not allow for the possibility that all true prophets are messiahs who are spiritually equipped to teach (ie.e. prophesy) God&#8217;s behalf.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messiah\">Messiahs,\u00a0<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messianic-prophecy\">Messianic Prophecy<\/a>, and<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messianic-prophecy\">\u00a0<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/model-warriors\">Model Warriors.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><!--nextpage--><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>UNDERSTANDING THE TRUE MEANING OF PROPHECY<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Most people think they can identify evil when they see it. But, the problem is that they do not see evil as God sees it. Nor do they see idols and <a href=\" http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\/religion-is-idolatry\">idolatry<\/a> like God sees them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">For man, evil is associated with all kinds of immoral, malevolent behavior perpetrated by evil spirits (i.e. satan, demons) who work their will in and through godless people. And idols are typically thought of as physical creations of wood and stone. But for God, evil is a general term used to describe the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\">sin of religion, <\/a>and idols are human religious teachers who function as false prophets in their own little kingdoms. He has simply borrowed the term to communicate how he feels about religion so that we can begin to understand how objectionable religion is to him.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">God has done the same thing regarding prophecy. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?q=prophecy+definition&amp;ie=utf-8&amp;oe=utf-8&amp;safe=vss\">Prophecy has a culturally accepted meaning in human terms<\/a> but a different, spiritual meaning for God. Again, he has borrowed the human word to represent a spiritual concept. He uses the human term\/word to symbolically represent the spiritual term. Interpreted in human terms, a Biblical word is profane, but interpreted in spiritual terms, it is holy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">It is a challenge to know what is holy and what is profane. That is why <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=hebrews+5:11-14;+ezekiel+44:23;+leviticus+10:8-11;+ezekiel+22:26;+1-kings+3:9;+2-samuel+14:17;+leviticus+11:45-47;+leviticus+20:25\">God has given us warnings about discerning between good and evil<\/a> which the Bible also calls <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/ mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\/2\">clean and unclean food<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\">Bread, Food and Wine<\/a> for an extensive discussion of clean and unclean food.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">This challenge is especially sensitive with respect to the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=ezekiel+44:15-23;+leviticus+10:1-11;+ezekiel+22:23-29;+hebrews+5:11-14;+1-kings+3:9;+2-samuel+14:17;+malachi+2:1-8\">challenge to know the difference between true prophets and false prophets. One is holy and the other is evil.<\/a> Training and discernment is necessary to know which is which. Failure to make such distinctions results in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/ezekiel\/13.html\">serious consequences for both the false prophets<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/ezekiel\/14.html\">people who idolize them for their teaching<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">We can learn from the U. S. Department of the Treasury which has <a href=\"https:\/\/uscurrency.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/download-materials\/en\/fed_cep_info_card_7_27_2015_fpo.pdf\">resources to train people to identify counterfeit cash by first exposing them to legal cash<\/a>. These principles may also be applied in Bible study and in identification of a true prophet. If we do not know the characteristics of a true prophet, we will not be able to identify a false, counterfeit prophet.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Just like in banks, there is a cost to not knowing the real thing. We have discussed the characteristics of false prophets in Religion is the Kingdom of False Prophets. In this series of pages we will discuss the characteristics of true prophets, true Priests, true shepherds and true servants.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Since prophets are mentioned so many times (454) in the Bible, we will begin with these characters which are well represented in both the old and new testaments. As always, we begin by looking at the definitions of prophets and what they do.<\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"height: 2203px;\" border=\"0\" width=\"730\" align=\"center\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 334px; background-color: #f2eded; text-align: center;\" colspan=\"3\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Old Testament<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 377px; background-color: #f2eded; text-align: center;\" colspan=\"3\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>New Testament<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 71px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Hebrew word<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 119px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Definition<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 126px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">English translation<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 100px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Greek wo<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">rd<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 134px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Definition<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 125px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">English translation<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color: #fffcfc; width: 71px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; background-color: #ffffff;\"><a style=\"background-color: #ffffff;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/kjv\/nabiy.html\">Nabiy\u2019<\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #f2eded; width: 119px;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">spokesman<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">speaker<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">prophet<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">false prophet<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">heathen prophet<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 126px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/prophet\">prophet<\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 100px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/kjv\/prophetes.html\">Prophetes<\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #f2eded; width: 134px;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">interpreter of oracles or of other hidden things<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">one who speaks about the coming of the kingdom of God<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 125px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/prophet\">prophet<\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 71px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; background-color: #ffffff;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 119px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 126px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 100px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 134px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 125px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 71px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; background-color: #ffffff;\"><a style=\"background-color: #ffffff;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/kjv\/roeh.html\">Ro&#8217;eh<\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #f2eded; width: 119px;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">seer<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">prophet<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">(prophetic) vision<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 126px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">vision<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 100px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/kjv\/prophetikos.html\"> Prophetikos<\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #f2eded; width: 134px;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">proceeding from a prophet<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">prophetic<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 125px;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">of the prophets<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">of prophecy<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 71px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 119px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 126px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 100px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 134px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 125px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 71px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/kjv\/raah.html\">Ra&#8217;ah<\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #f2eded; width: 119px;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">to see<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">to have vision<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">look at<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">inspect<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">perceive<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">consider<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 126px;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">see<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">look<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">behold<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">show<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 100px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/kjv\/prophetis.html\">Prophetis<\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #f2eded; width: 134px;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">a prophetess<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">a woman to whom future events or things hidden from others are at times revealed<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">a female who declares or interprets oracles<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 125px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">prophetess<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 71px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 119px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 126px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 100px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 134px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 125px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 71px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/kjv\/raah.html\">Chozeh<\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #f2eded; width: 119px;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">seer<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">vision<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #f2eded; width: 126px;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">seer<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">see<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 100px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/kjv\/propheteuo.html\"> Propheteuo<\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #f2eded; width: 134px;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/prophesy\">prophesy<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">to be a prophet,<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">speak forth<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">foretelling future events pertaining to the kingdom of God<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">to utter forth and declare, teach, refute, reprove, admonish, comfort others<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">to act as a prophet, discharge the prophetic office<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 125px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/prophesy\">prophesy<\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 71px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 119px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 126px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 100px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 134px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 125px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 71px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/kjv\/naba.html\">Naba&#8217; <\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #f2eded; width: 119px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">to prophesy<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #f2eded; width: 126px;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/prophesy\">prophesy<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">prophesying<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 100px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/kjv\/propheteia.html\">Propheteia<\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #f2eded; width: 134px;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">prophecy<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">a discourse declaring the purposes of God, whether by reproving and admonishing the wicked, or comforting the afflicted<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">prediction of events relating to the kingdom of God<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 125px;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Prophecy\">prophecy <\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">prophesying<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 71px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 119px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 126px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 100px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 134px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 125px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">These definitions of the functions of true prophets can be summarized as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\" border=\"1\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 5.09801%;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 7.0588%;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 87.8431%;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">True prophets are\u00a0 spokespersons who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=1-corinthians+2;+john+7:16;+john+12:49;+john+14:10;+john+14:24-31;+john+16:13;+1-corinthians+2:12-13;+psalm+143:10;+luke+12:11-12;+matthew+10:17-20;+mark+13:11;+1-thessalonians+2:13;+exodus+4:12;+deuteronomy+18:18;+john+5:19;+matthew+26:39;+john+5:30;+john+6:38;+john+6:68;+john+8:28;+acts+4:29\">speak for God.<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">True prophets\u00a0interpret the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\/4#hiddenmanna\">hidden words of God<\/a> for people who cannot <a href=\"https:\/\/website-03399378.phw.pfz.mybluehost.me\/how-to-hear-gods-voice\/\">hear God&#8217;s voice<\/a> themselves.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">True prophets interpret the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/website-03399378.phw.pfz.mybluehost.me\/hear\/study\/hidden-mysteries\/\">Mysteries<\/a>\u00a0of God (i.e.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/website-03399378.phw.pfz.mybluehost.me\/hear\/study\/hidden-mysteries\/symbols-signs-types-allegories-parables-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/\">Symbols, Signs, Types, Allegories and Parables<\/a>).<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">True prophets speak about the coming of the kingdom of God (i.e. the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\">place where he places his name<\/a>) to people who live in the <a href=\"https:\/\/website-03399378.phw.pfz.mybluehost.me\/hear\/competing-voices\/false-prophets\/\">kingdom of false prophets.<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The basic function of a prophet in the Bible is to be a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+12:49;+john+17:1-8;+john+7:16;+john+8:26-28;+john+8:38;+john+14:10;+john+14:24;+john+14:31;+mark+13:11;+luke+12:11-12;+matthew+10:20;+luke+21:15;+acts+4:8;+2-corinthians+13:3\">spokesman and speaker for God. <\/a>This was what Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Jesus and all other prophets did. More to the point this is what true prophets of today do.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">In Biblical terms, true prophets are\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messiah\">Messiahs\u00a0<\/a>who are anointed by God with the authority and power to speak for God. They\u00a0interpret, teach, and report the <a href=\"https:\/\/website-03399378.phw.pfz.mybluehost.me\/interpret-the-written-law\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation\/\">spiritual meaning of the literal Bible<\/a>. In religion, this function emphasizes interpreting and reporting what God has said in the literal words of the Bible.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Applying these understandings of the prophetic function, it must be said that all religious leaders in both Judaism and Christianity are prophets in the true Biblical sense. If they set themselves apart from others as authorities on Biblical interpretation, they are prophets. It does not matter if they preach, write, or sing songs about God. They are all prophets in the Biblical sense. But the real question is this: Are they true prophets or false prophets.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Most religious leaders will not self-identify as prophets, but that does not change the fact that they function as prophets in God&#8217;s view. The significance of this, of course, is that all religious leaders (e.g. pastors, priests, bishops, teachers, writers, rabbis, musicians, etc.) who presume to interpret the Bible and report their findings to followers\/listeners\/readers satisfy the Biblical definition of prophet &#8212; even if they never presume to make a prophetic, &#8220;thus saith the Lord&#8221;\u00a0 pronouncement\/prediction regarding the near or far future. And because they are prophets in God&#8217;s eyes, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+18:20-22;+deuteronomy+13:1-4;+jeremiah+6:14-15;+jeremiah+14:14-16;+jeremiah+23;+jeremiah+5:30-31;+isaiah+44:25;+isaiah+56:11;+ezekiel+3;+ezekiel+13;+ezekiel+22:25-28;+ezekiel+33;+ezekiel+34:1-11;+psalm+55:21;+psalm+146:3-4;+zechariah+13:1-5;+micah+3:11;+1-kings+18:17-40;+1-john+4:1-6;+matthew+7:15;+matthew+15:14;+2-peter+2:1;+matthew+24:24;+john+10;+romans+16:18;+2-corinthians+11:13-15;+ephesians+6:12;+acts+20:30;+2-timothy+4:1-3;+revelation+2:1-2;+2-peter+2;+galatians+1:6-9;+jude+1:1-16;+revelation+19:20;+matthew+6:1-5;+matthew+6:16;+matthew+23:1-36;+luke+6:20-26;+john+12:37-43;+john+5:41-44;+romans+2:29\">all of God&#8217;s many warnings to prophets<\/a> apply to them. This fact should be a caution to anyone who presumes to speak\/preach\/teach\/sing about who God is and how he conducts his business in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/world\">the world<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><!--nextpage--><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>DEFINITION OF A TRUE PROPHET<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The following is a useful working definition of a true prophet:<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Someone who <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\">hears God&#8217;s voice when reading the written word<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Someone who interprets the Bible symbolically &#8212; not literally.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Someone who can <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=ezekiel+44:15-23;+leviticus+10:1-11;+ezekiel+22:23-29;+hebrews+5:11-14;+1+kings+3:9;+2+samuel+14:17;+malachi+2:1-8\">distinguish between the holy and profane (i.e. good and evil).<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Someone who <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=2-timothy+3:16-17;+romans+15:1-4;+deuteronomy+29:1-24;+john+5:39-47\">applies the symbolic intent of the whole Bible to his\/her life, and to the lives of others, in a way that results in personal, spiritual transformation<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Someone who has repented for practicing the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\">sin of religion<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=ezekiel+33:30-33;+jeremiah+1:1-10;+isaiah+6;+isaiah+61:1-5;+luke+4:14-19\">Someone who sees it as his\/her responsibility to instruct, comfort, encourage others to repent of the sin of religion.<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">A <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/model-warriors\">warrior<\/a> who is <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/model-warriors\">willing to lay down his\/her life<\/a> in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-the-enemy\">conflict with religion<\/a> so that others may be delivered from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-injustice-and-slavery\">slavery to religion<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Someone who sees it as his\/her responsibility to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=zechariah+12:9;+jeremiah+1:10;+jeremiah+51:15-23\">destroy nations<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\/religion-is-idolatry\/4\">tear down idols and high places.\u00a0<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Someone <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+12:49;+john+17:1-8;+john+7:16;+john+8:26-28;+john+8:38;+john+14:10;+john+14:24;+john+14:31;+mark+13:11;+luke+12:11-12;+matthew+10:20;+luke+21:15;+acts+4:8;+2-corinthians+13:3\">through whom the spirit of God speaks<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Readers should notice that we did not say that a true prophet reads God&#8217;s word, interprets what he\/she reads, and then reports a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?q=paraphrase+definition&amp;oq=paraphrase&amp;aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0l5.5414j1j7&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8\">paraphrased<\/a> interpretation to others. Anyone can read words on paper, interpret them intellectually and make a verbal or written report to others. God calls those who report literal or paraphrased interpretations false prophets. They have missed the critical ingredient of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\">hearing God&#8217;s voice<\/a>. Here we find the key difference between false prophets and true prophets:<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">True prophets <a href=\"https:\/\/website-03399378.phw.pfz.mybluehost.me\/how-to-hear-gods-voice\/\">listen to God&#8217;s voice<\/a> and and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-3\">interpret the spiritual, symbolic meanings of the Bible.<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">False prophets only consider the literal, written words of the Bible.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">This contrast explains why true prophets are not well received by religion. They are effectively teaching from different Bibles.<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">True prophets teach from the spiritual, word of God spoken by God&#8217;s spirit to the heart of man.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">False prophets teach from the literal, written word of God after it has been manipulated and perverted by fleshly human effort (i.e. intellect, reasoning, writing and speaking) that speaks to people through their natural eyes and ears.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">STUDY TIP: See this link for a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Picture-of-a-Prophet-Ravenhill1.pdf\" class=\"broken_link\">Picture of a Prophet written by Leonard Ravenhill<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><!--nextpage--><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>PROPHECY IS NOT ABOUT PREDICTING THE FUTURE<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Contrary to conventional thinking, the purpose of a prophet is not to predict the future. True prophets do indeed give warning of judgment for people who do not repent of the sin of religion, and they create a picture what life will be like if they do not repent\u00a0 But these <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/2-timothy\/passage\/?q=2-timothy+3:16-17\">prophecies are all designed to train people in personal righteousness<\/a> today. They are not matters to ponder or worry about for some unknown future time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">We see the opposite of this here and now, personal application of prophecy in <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Charismatic_Christianity\">Charismatic Christianity<\/a> where so-called, modern day prophets are imagined to hear from God about current conditions (i.e. <a title=\"Word of Knowledge\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Word_of_Knowledge\">words of knowledge<\/a> and <a title=\"Word of wisdom\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Word_of_wisdom\">words of wisdom<\/a>) that apply to individuals, churches, and coming events that affect select people in the past or in the future. In some super-religious circles these kinds of prophecies are highly regarded even though they are so broad and general that their validity can never be proven by observation. Nevertheless, prophecy is big <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-commerce\">business<\/a> in the world of Charismatic and Pentecostal religion where many <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?q=books+prophecy&amp;ie=utf-8&amp;oe=utf-8&amp;safe=vss\">books, <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?q=books+prophecy&amp;ie=utf-8&amp;oe=utf-8&amp;safe=vss#safe=vss&amp;q=videos+prophecy\">videos, <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?q=books+prophecy&amp;ie=utf-8&amp;oe=utf-8&amp;safe=vss#safe=vss&amp;q=ministry*+prophecy\">ministries<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?q=books+prophecy&amp;ie=utf-8&amp;oe=utf-8&amp;safe=vss#safe=vss&amp;q=conferences+prophecy\">conferences<\/a> devoted to prophecy attract eager followers who willingly finance religious organizations with donations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Beyond these commercial, exhibitionist examples of prophecy, there is a prevailing sense that whatever Biblical prophets had to say applied only to their contemporaries or to people who will live in some unknown, future time when prophecy will be fulfilled. For lack of understanding about God&#8217;s view of time and how he<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\"> uses natural things to represent spiritual truth<\/a>, and for lack of the ability to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-2\">interpret scripture symbolically instead of literally<\/a>, no one applies prophetic warnings to themselves in present time. Thus, it is impossible to find preaching &#8212; in either Judaism or Christianity &#8212;\u00a0 that interprets Biblical prophecy in terms of the two major themes of all prophetic books: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=zechariah+12:9;+jeremiah+1:10;+jeremiah+51:15-23\">destroying nations<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\/religion-is-idolatry\/4\">tearing down idols and high places<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">It is fair to say, therefore, that Biblical prophets are grossly misunderstood. Most people think they know that the job of a prophet is to foretell the future, but this notion is another example\u00a0 where we would say that &#8220;the greater the agreement, the greater the error in understanding.&#8221; Just because people agree on the function of a prophet does not guarantee that they are right in their understanding.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Despite the lack of a right understanding of the prophetic role, it is good to review what the conventional wisdom reports about prophets and prophecy. Therefore, we suggest the following resources:<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewfaq.org\/prophet.htm\">Prophets and Prophecy (Judaism 101)<\/a><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Prophet\">Prophet (Wikipedia)<\/a><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Prophecy\">Prophecy (Wikipedia)<\/a><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.newadvent.org\/cathen\/12477a.htm\">Prophecy, Prophet, and Prophetess (Catholic Encyclopedia)<\/a><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/prophecy\">Word definition (Merriam Webster Dictionary)<\/a><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/nas\/nabiy.html\">Word definition (KJV Old Testament Hebrew Lexicon)<\/a><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/nas\/prophetes.html\">Word definition (KJV New Testament Greek Lexicon)<\/a><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.studylight.org\/dictionaries\/hbd\/view.cgi?n=5121\">Prophecy, Prophets (Holman Bible Dictionary)<\/a><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.studylight.org\/concordances\/top\/view.cgi?n=288\">Prophecy and Prophets scriptures (StudyLight.org Topical Concordance)<\/a><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Abraham_Joshua_Heschel#The_Prophets_.281962.29\">The Prophets (book by Abraham Heschel)<\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">STUDY TIP: We do not recommend these or any of thousands of resources about prophets available in a wide variety of formats for reliable instruction about God&#8217;s view of a prophet. They are only useful for a review of the worldly understanding of a prophet.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">We do not recommend them as resources for New Covenant disciples because they approach the topic of prophets and prophecy from an Old\/First Covenant perspective (i.e. they all interpret prophets and prophecy with whatever literal understanding they gain from scripture combined with common, cultural understandings).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Resources in the above list do not interpret prophets and prophecy from the symbolic\/spiritual (i.e. New Covenant) perspective because all these resources (both Jewish and Christian) are written by Old\/First Covenant religionists who base their writings and ministries on <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-3\">literal interpretations<\/a> of the Bible.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Even though these and other religious writings do not accurately report about prophets and prophecy from a New Covenant perspective, we do not want to ignore or despise what the law (i.e. written word) says about prophets and prophecy because God has said that he uses Old\/First Covenant<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=galatians+3:15-29;+romans+11:25-32\"> law, including teachers of the law, to accomplish his redemptive purposes<\/a>. Nor do we want to deny God&#8217;s wisdom in allowing false prophets to express their Old\/First Covenant heresies to Old\/First Covenant religionists who ignorantly solicit such teaching from them. It is all about God&#8217;s plan to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=ga+3:24;ga+3:25\">lead people out of religion to faith<\/a> by placing a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/the-law-is-a-stumbling-block\">stumbling block before them.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><!--nextpage--><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>THE BIRTH OF A TRUE PROPHET<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-2\">We make grave errors in our understanding of the Bible when we interpret it literally (i.e. with human understanding) instead of symbolically (i.e. spiritually)<\/a>. Using human understanding framed with human words, we learn from man. But we<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-3\"> learn from God<\/a> when we <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice#howtoheargodsvoice\">hear God&#8217;s voice<\/a> interpret the symbolic meaning of scripture for us in a<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=exodus+19:16;+psalm+18:14;+psalm+77:18;+psalm+97:4;+psalm+135:7;+psalm+144:6;+ezekiel+1:13;+ezekiel+21:15;+ezekiel+21:28;+zechariah+9:14\"> lightning flash of understanding<\/a> in which our <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=1-corinthians+2:1-10;+isaiah+64:1-4\">eyes and ears are opened to truths that we never saw before<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice#howtoheargodsvoice\">How to Hear God&#8217;s Voice<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">At that moment we hear God&#8217;s voice and interpret the Bible in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/1-corinthians\/passage\/?q=1-corinthians+2:1-14\">spiritual words that are deep and very different from human teaching<\/a> which is based on interpretations of the literal words of scripture. These are &#8220;aha&#8221; moments when<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\"> mysteries<\/a> of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=luke+24:13-32;+luke+24:44-45\">scriptures are opened to us<\/a> in ways that<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=1-corinthians+2:1-10;+isaiah+64:1-4\"> could not be discerned by using our natural, intellectual abilities.<\/a> This kind of understanding is only available to those in whom the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/revelation\/19-10.html\">spirit of a true prophet<\/a> is present (i.e. New Covenant disciples who are conformed to the likeness of Christ). It is not available to false prophets who insist on interpreting scripture literally.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">From that moment of revelation on, true prophets will<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=isaiah+65:17;+john+5:24\"> not interpret that particular scripture the same way any more<\/a>. Moreover, having been enlightened and excited by hearing the voice of God speak truth to their hearts, they will be increasingly open to receiving new spiritual revelations of truth from the mouth of God in future Bible <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/study\">study<\/a> adventures. And they will be eager to share the good news of what they hear with others whom they will encourage to also listen to God&#8217;s voice. When this happens, they will begin to function in the role of a true prophet.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><!--nextpage--><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>IDENTIFYING FALSE PROPHETS<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The best clues we have to identify false prophets are these:<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">They do not teach <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=2+timothy+3:16-17;+romans+15:1-4;+2+peter+1:19-21\">application of scripture for personal training in righteousness. <\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The focus of their <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/kjv\/passage\/?q=matthew+24:1-27;+mark+13:1-23\">prophecies are events that are &#8220;out there&#8221; someplace in the future<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">They are always <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/the-law-is-a-stumbling-block\/signs-wonders-and-miracles\">looking for signs and wonders<\/a> in the natural world that they interpret to predict great and glorious things that God is about to do.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">They <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/matthew\/passage\/?q=matthew+23:1-12\">self-identify themselves as prophets (e.g. pastors, priests, rabbis, etc.) and teachers of God&#8217;s word<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">They use their so-called prophetic gifts to<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/nas\/shachad-2.html\"> bribe others to reward <\/a>them for their teaching and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/kjv\/passage\/?q=amos+5:21-27;+isaiah+1:10-17;+micah+6:6-8;+isaiah+66:1-3;+jeremiah+7:9-10;+1-samuel+15:10-24;+jeremiah+6:18-21;+jeremiah+7:22-23;+psalm+51\">performance of religious rituals<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">STUDY TIP: See Religion is the Kingdom of False Prophets for an extensive list of clues for identifying false prophets.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The attitudes and practices of false prophets do not agree in any way with the practice of prophecy found in true Biblical prophets:\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Exhort people to personal, individual repentance from religious beliefs and practices.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">False prophets and the religionists who listen to them neither understand nor apply the true prophet&#8217;s message:<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=ezekiel+14:1-11;+ezekiel+44:10-12\">Stop listening to the voices of false prophets whom they idolize<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Start <a href=\"https:\/\/website-03399378.phw.pfz.mybluehost.me\/how-to-hear-gods-voice\/\">listening to God&#8217;s voice.<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Failure to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=hebrews+3;+hebrews+4:1-9;+psalm+95:7;+isaiah+55:1-6\">apply this message in real time (i.e. today)<\/a> is the consequence of the inability to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=ezekiel+44:15-23;+leviticus+10:1-11;+ezekiel+22:23-29;+hebrews+5:11-14;+1+kings+3:9;+2+samuel+14:17;+malachi+2:1-8\">distinguish between the holy and profane (i.e. good and evil),<\/a> and between <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/ mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\/2\">clean and unclean foods<\/a>. Lacking this ability, religious people wrongly believe that everything they learn from religion is clean and good. In this belief they are greatly <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-deception\">deceived<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><!--nextpage--><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>WHY PEOPLE PREFER TO LISTEN TO FALSE PROPHETS<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The way we see it, there are several basic reasons why people seek teaching from prophets:<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Human mediators (including false prophets) are a component of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=galatians+3:15-29;+romans+11:25-32\">Old\/First Covenant law that God uses to lead Old\/First Covenant religionists to the New Covenant.<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+7:13;+luke+13:24\">Most people will tend to go through the wide, easy gate<\/a> to learn about God.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Seeking teaching from false prophets is part of the<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/the-law-is-a-stumbling-block\"> stumbling block <\/a>that God has set before people to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=galatians+3:15-29;+romans+11:25-32\">lead them to faith<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">False prophets and priests have always been essential features of religion.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Like ancient Israel in the wilderness, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/exodus\/passage\/?q=exodus+20:1-21\">people are afraid to hear from God directly. Instead of listening to God&#8217;s voice, they defer to Moses, a prophet, who will hear from God and report that to the people<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Because <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=2-timothy+4:1-4;+hebrews+5:11;+matthew+13:10-17;+isaiah+6:1-10;+zechariah+7:11;+john+8:43-44\">they cannot endure sound doctrine, they have dulled their ears to hearing God&#8217;s voice<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">They are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=psalm+5:1-9;+psalm+12:1-2;+psalm+55:20-23;+proverbs+2;+proverbs+6:20-24;+proverbs+7;+isaiah+32:1-7;+isaiah+30:1-11;+1-kings+22:1-13;+jeremiah+6:8-14;+jeremiah+23:9-40;+ezekiel+13:7;+romans+16:17-18;+2-timothy+4:3;+daniel+11:1-32;+ephesians+5:1-10;+2-timothy+3:1-7;+1-thessalonians+2:1-5\">vulnerable to the smooth talk of seductive teachers<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Hard as it may be to believe, it is a fact that false prophets have always existed because God has made a place for them. He allows them to exercise their natural, fleshly tendencies to teach people Old\/First Covenant religion while they are on their way to becoming New Covenant disciples. They provide the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/ mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\/2\">evil, unclean religious food <\/a>that people need so that they can learn to discern the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+8:3;+matthew+4:4\">only food that gives life: God&#8217;s voice<\/a>. In other words, they cannot appreciate good (i.e. God&#8217;s voice) unless they compare it to evil (i.e. religion).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">There is no lasting shame, therefore, to having been a false prophet or to be someone who has listened false prophets. It happens to all religious people. God set up that way. There is only shame for those who do not eventually learn to discern the difference between false prophets and true prophets and then decide to only listen to true prophets.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><!--nextpage--><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>THE PROPHETIC FUNCTIONS<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">In several places in this website we have provided links to writings of others, but we do not normally reprint those writings in whole or in part because they are all written from an Old\/First Covenant perspective. We are making an exception to this rule in the following article by Art Katz.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">We do not know Mr. Katz and have not read anything else he has written nor attended any meetings where he has spoken. All we know about him is what we find in the article below which we understand is the entire text of the first chapter of his book The Prophetic Call.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">We offer this article for our readers&#8217; consideration because it appears to be an excellent summary of a true prophet&#8217;s character, what he\/she does and how they do it. We make no recommendations about the article, the book, or Mr. Katz, except to say that, he has captured much of what it means to function as a Biblical prophet. As we always do when referring readers to the writings of others, we strongly recommend using great discernment when reading.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><em>The Prophetic Function<\/em><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><em> By Art Katz<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><em>Source: http:\/\/www.benisrael.org\/books.html<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><em>The quintessential definition of the prophetic call is given to Jeremiah at the inception of his ministry:<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><em>The prophet&#8217;s purpose is singly and jealously the Father&#8217;s will. He restores lost vision of a kind that energizes the people of God, especially in crisis times when despair needs to be turned to hope\u2014having initially been stripped of false hopes by the prophet himself. He does not balk at having to be cruel before he can be kind. A man who can bring the necessary but painful, cruel word that must come in order to build is not unloving but very love itself. In a word the prophet brings the &#8216;moment of truth&#8217;. Standing in the counsel of the Lord he is able to perceive error and state boldly and unequivocally the requisite truth though it be utterly at variance with the consensus being demonstrated.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><em>The prophetic task is to restore to men who have lost it, the biblical mentality and the biblical view of things that are unchanging in God&#8217;s sight. He conveys the view of God particularly to a people who are unwilling to hear it. If the prophetic word is critical to bringing an alignment of God&#8217;s people with His own view, then the kind of word that is brought by the prophets is the ultimate issue. Where there are authentic prophets who are willing to bring the unwelcome word, so will there also be a plenitude of popular false prophets who bring the false word of comfort and who say, &#8220;Peace, peace&#8221; when there is no peace.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><em>A prophet does not major in minors. Out of a consummate jealousy for the glory of God, he sets forth the ultimate purposes of God in such a way as to obtain the sacrifices of his hearers to fulfill it. It is not enough just to set forth what God&#8217;s program is, but to set it forth in such a way that he has won the willingness of the hearers to be participant in obtaining the ultimate and eternal purposes of God\u2014 as sacrifice. That is where the prophetic word is more than the word of explanation. It does not just explain what the eternal purposes of God are, but he communicates it in such a way as to win the commitment of his hearers to the sacrifice necessary to fulfill them. That takes more than explanation. The prophet epitomizes the suffering that such an adherence evokes. In other words, those who are going to embrace the view that he is presenting are opening themselves to suffering. The prophet, therefore, who is inviting them to that suffering has himself in some sense to exhibit it and give the evidence that this is God&#8217;s way and that the cross is central to the faith. He makes clear to his hearers that persecution, if not martyrdom, is intrinsic to a faith of this kind\u2014and wins their willingness. It is one thing to establish that the cross, persecution and martyrdom are intrinsic to the faith, but to win the hearer&#8217;s consecration to that call is an extraordinary stroke that requires the authority and anointing of those who bear His word. That is the prophetic task. We are not bringing information, but rather calling men to ultimate, sacrificial things and that is why that kind of a word will always be resisted.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><em>The prophet announces and projects the impending end of this world in apocalyptic fury and judgment, sufficient to birth the longing for a new heaven and a new earth in which there is righteousness. He not only brings to the awareness of the hearer that the world that they have celebrated is under judgment and is intended for destruction, which means it will destroy a lot of where their own heart is, but he also births a longing for the thing that comes down from above and which will replace this present age.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><em>A prophet is a man of the word who abhors lightness while deeply respecting and guarding the sanctity of language and its meaning from abuse and cheapening. He is not, therefore, always your enjoyable household guest and is not good for easy conversation and small talk. He guards his mouth because he knows the sanctity of words and will not, therefore, give himself to frequent speaking as it debases the currency of words. There is with him a history of waiting and silences.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><em>A prophet shuns the distinctions and honors that men confer. These things bring a certain aura of prestige and eminence and weight, but the prophetic man, in order to be true to God is the &#8216;wilderness&#8217; prophet. Wilderness does not just mean physical isolation, but a conscious and willful separation from the kinds of things that are calculated to compromise. He does not effect any kind of prophetic outward &#8216;appearance&#8217; to indicate his office. He is unprepossessing in appearance and demeanor and despises what is showy, sensational or bizarre. A prophet is intent on turning men to God and not to himself.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><em>This calling is given and is not something that we ourselves summon or take for ourselves, but if we have it, then we need to know that God is going to work us over, again and again, in order to ensure that it is His word that comes forth and not our own.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Even though Mr. Katz has a good understanding of the function and attitude of a prophet, it must be said that he is still an Old\/First Covenant religionist who interprets the Bible literally. We know this from the fact that in publishing and selling a religious book he is engaged in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-commerce\">commercial religion<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">New Covenant prophets do not sell truth. They do not engage in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-commerce\">commercial religion<\/a>. Still, there is something valuable to learn from Mr. Katz&#8217;s writings. But, as always, we must be careful to sort out the clean teachings from the unclean teachings. That is what it means to be a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/nas\/mathetes.html\">disciple<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><!--nextpage--><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>CHECKLIST FOR IDENTIFYING TRUE PROPHETS<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Now that we have discussed the function of a prophet and discussed false prophets, it is time to look at true prophets. Here is a checklist that will help identify them:<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+1:1-9;+exodus+4:1-13\">They will have a sense of fear and inadequacy to speak<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">They <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=psalm+118:5-9;+isaiah+2:22;+psalm+146:3-4;+2-chronicles+32:7-8;+psalm+40:4;+psalm+108:12;+isaiah+31:1-3;+jeremiah+17:1-7;+2-chronicles+14:11;+psalm+60:11-12\">put no trust in the teaching of man<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=galatians+1:10;+john+12:42-43;+john+5:41-44;+luke+16:15;+luke+10:29;+luke+18:9;+luke+18:14;+john+2:25;+ephesians+6:1-6;+proverbs+29:26\">They are not man-pleasers <\/a>who seek <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=luke+11:43;+matthew+23:6;+mark+12:38;+luke+14:7;+luke+20:46;+matthew+6:1-6;+matthew+6:16-18;+matthew+23:1-12;+luke+20:46-47;+luke+21:1;+john+5:41-44;+john+12:37-43;+romans+2:29;+john+7:18;+2-corinthians+5:12\">praise and recognition when they do their religious activities in public.<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">They <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+7:15-23;+jeremiah+14:14;+lamentations+2:14;+ezekiel+13:9;+2-peter+2:1;+1-john+2:18;+matthew+24:11;+matthew+24:24;+luke+6:26;+1-john+4:1;+ezekiel+22:27;+john+10:12;+acts+20:29\">warn about listening to false prophets.<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">They <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+1:17;+hebrews+13:1-6;+psalm+118:1-6;+proverbs+29:25;+luke+12:4;+john+12:42-43;+isaiah+51:12;+ezekiel+2:1-6\">do not fear what others will say or do<\/a> when they speak the truth.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">They <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=philippians+2:1-7;+2-corinthians+8:9;+psalm+22:6;+isaiah+53:1-3;+jeremiah+49:15;+matthew+13:57\">do not seek or enjoy good reputations<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">They <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=philippians+1:12-17;+james+3:14;+james+3:16;+romans+2:1-8;+2-corinthians+12:20\">do nothing out of selfish ambition<\/a> that would exalt them in the religious community or advance them financially.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">They speak truth about <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\">religion being sin<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-injustice-and-slavery\">slavery<\/a>.<em><br \/>\n<\/em><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/jeremiah\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+1:9-10\">They see it as their mission<\/a> to<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\/religion-is-idolatry\/4\"> tear down idols and destroy high places of religion<\/a> to prepare the way for the establishment of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-the-enemy\/gods-at-war\">Kingdom of God<\/a> in the hearts of God&#8217;s people.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">They do not stay in one place to do their ministry. Rather they, like Jesus,\u00a0 are on the go and<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+10:14;+acts+13:51;+mark+6:11;+luke+9:5\"> shake the dust off their feet and move on when their message is not received.<\/a> <em><br \/>\n<\/em><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">They are<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=isaiah+40;+matthew+3:1-3;+matthew+11:7;+mark+1:1-4;+luke+3:1-4;+john+1:19-23\"> a voice crying in the wilderness of religion encouraging religious people to repent for practicing religion <\/a>and to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=exodus+15:22-26;+exodus+23:20-25;+exodus+19:1-5;+jeremiah+7:23-26;+jeremiah+11:1-4;+matthew+4:1-4;+deuteronomy+8:1-3;+job+22:21-23;+psalm+119:9-13;+psalm+138:4;+isaiah+28:23;+jeremiah+11:1-7;+jeremiah+22:21;+psalm+106:25;+nehemiah+9:29;+jeremiah+11:10;+jeremiah+13:11;+zechariah+7:11;+isaiah+46:12;+matthew+13:15\">listen to God&#8217;s voice<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">They<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+6:1-16;+matthew+23;+luke+6:24-26;+luke+11:42-47\"> are willing to confront religious leaders with hard truths<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">They<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=mark+1:14-15;+mark+6:12;+matthew+3:1-3;+luke+13:1-5;+jeremiah+5:1-3;+ezekiel+14:1-6;+ezekiel+18:30-32;+ezekiel+33;+ezekiel+3;+jonah+1:1-2;+jeremiah+1:1-10;+jeremiah+25:4;+jeremiah+29:19;+jeremiah+35:15;+zechariah+7:12;+isaiah+6:1-8;+2-chronicles+24:19\"> preach repentance from the sin of religion<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">They teach people <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice#howtoheargodsvoice\">how to hear to God&#8217;s voice<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">They do not desire to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+6:1-5;+matthew+6:16;+matthew+23:1-5;+luke+6:20-26;+john+12:37-43;+john+5:41-44;+romans+2:29\">receive praise from others for their religious activities<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">They are<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=hebrews+5:11-14;+ezekiel+44:23;+leviticus+10:8-11;+ezekiel+22:26;+1-kings+3:9;+2-samuel+14:17\"> able to distinguish between good and evil, holy and profane<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">They are able to understand Biblical <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\">Mystery<\/a> found in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/\">Symbols, Signs, Types, Copies, Shadows and Patterns.<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">They Interpret Bible symbolically &#8212; not literally.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Understanding God&#8217;s attitude about <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+2:13-25;+mark+11:1-18;+psalm+40:6;+isaiah+1:11;+daniel+5:13-17;+jeremiah+6:13-20;+micah+3:1-11;+micah+7:1-4;+revelation+13:11-18;+jeremiah+6:20;+jeremiah+7:22-23;+amos+5:22;+micah+6:6-8;+hebrews+10:5-7;+genesis+14;+genesis+30:25-43;+numbers+16:1-40;+deuteronomy+8:3;+judges+17;+judges+18:1-6;+isaiah+20;+ecclesiastes+5:18-20;+isaiah+1:23;+proverbs+23:23;+jeremiah+5:23-31\">physical\/monetary offerings<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=nehemiah+13:15-18;+exodus+20:8-11;+exodus+34:21;+deuteronomy+5:12-15;+nehemiah+10:28-31\">commercial religion<\/a>, they do not accept any <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-commerce\">compensation for their ministry<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">They trust that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+10:19-20;+luke+12:11-12;+luke+21:15;+john+16:14-15\">God will give words to speak when necessary.<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">They <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+7:27;+exodus+11:9;+ezekiel+2:7;+ezekiel+3:1-7;+mark+6:11\">expect that people will not listen to them<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">They always interpret the Bible symbolically.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">They are willing to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+15:13;+john+10:11-18;+1-john+3:16\">suffer and die<\/a> for the sake of others who will have new life because of their teaching.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">They <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+5:15;+deuteronomy+16:12;+deuteronomy+24:18-22\">have a sense of having been enslaved to religion before being delivered from it<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">They will have a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=galatians+5:1;+john+8:32;+john+8:36;+romans+8:15;+2-corinthians+3:17;+galatians+2:4;+galatians+5:13\">strong desire to see religious people set free from religion<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=mark+6:1-4;+matthew+13:53-58;+john+4:39-45;+mark+6:1-6\">True prophets will more likely be received well by people who do not know them than by people who do know them.<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">They have no need or desire to <a href=\"http:\/\/thewayweseereligion.blogspot.com\/2012\/03\/religious-ornaments-and-labels.html\">brand themselves as prophets <\/a>or promote their prophecies for commercial gain.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">They do not <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+23:6-10;+james+3:1;+romans+2:17-23;+1-timothy+1:6-7\">identify themselves with religious labels or titles <\/a>that indicate that they have special knowledge or spiritual qualifications.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">They do not <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/2-timothy\/passage\/?q=2-timothy+4:1-3\">itch tickling ears<\/a> with <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=romans+16:18;+psalm+12:1-2;+isaiah+30:10;+colossians+2:1-4;+2-peter+2:1-3;+jeremiah+6:14;+jeremiah+8:11;+ezekiel+13:1-17\">smooth\/ flattering talk<\/a> that entertains and comforts religious people.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">This checklist is useful for evaluating <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/kjv\/nabiy.html\">anyone who presumes to speak for God<\/a> or teach others about God. If all of these qualities are not present, anyone who presumes to speak for God or teach about God may be rightly judged as a false prophet and not a\u00a0 true prophet.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">In particular, the checklist should be used to evaluate pastors, priests, rabbis, elders, bishops, and all others who have reputations as spiritual spokespersons, writers and teachers. After such an evaluation, all religious leaders will be found to be <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/ezekiel\/13.html\">lying, false prophets<\/a> who <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/micah\/passage\/?q=micah+7:1-6\">wrongly dispense their judgements (i.e. opinions) about God&#8217;s laws in exchange for a financial reward.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">STUDY TIP: See this link for clues that help evaluation of false prophets:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><!--nextpage--><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>THE TRUE PROPHET&#8217;S BASIC MESSAGE<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">A serious study of the messages of false prophets of today would show that none of them preach a message of repentance for practicing Old\/First Covenant religion. Because they are trained and experienced in literal interpretation of scripture, they do not teach people <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice#howtoheargodsvoice\">how to hear God&#8217;s spoken voice<\/a>. They may occasionally speak of repentance from other kinds of sins (e.g. sex, drugs, greed, alcohol, etc.), but they will never speak repentance for practicing the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\">sin of religion<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">How could prophets preach against religion? Why would they preach against religion? Prophets (e.g. pastors, priests, evangelists, rabbis, writers, etc.) are fixtures in the Old\/First Covenant institutional religion system that characterizes Judaism and Christianity. If they taught people how to hear God&#8217;s voice, they would be out of a job. If they would preach repentance from practicing religion, they would first need to preach to themselves. They would offend everyone who supports them in their public ministries. They would lose their lucrative positions and all the praise they receive from their followers who <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-commerce\">support them financially<\/a> and with <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=luke+11:43;+matthew+23:6;+mark+12:38;+luke+14:7;+luke+20:46;+matthew+6:1-6;+matthew+6:16-18;+matthew+23:1-12;+luke+20:46-47;+luke+21:1;+john+5:41-44;+john+12:37-43;+romans+2:29;+john+7:18;+2-corinthians+5:12\">praise<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><!--nextpage--><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>TRUE PROPHETS ARE ANGELS AND MESSIAHS<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/nas\/malak.html\">Angels are messengers<\/a>, and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=mark+1:1-4;+malachi+3:1;+matthew+11:7-10;+luke+7:27\">prophets are messengers<\/a>. That makes true prophets angels and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messiah\">messiahs<\/a>.\u00a0They are also High Priests who sprinkle God&#8217;s spoken word on people.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/angels\">Angels,<\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messiah\">Messiahs,<\/a> and\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/the-high-priest\">High Priests<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">These Biblical characters are all messengers with good news who preach a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+5:1-3;+jeremiah+15:7;+ezekiel+14:1-6;+ezekiel+18:30-32;+matthew+3:1-2;+matthew+10:7;+mark+1:15\">message of repentance<\/a> for people who are too <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=hebrews+3;+hebrews+4:1-9;+psalm+95:7-11\">busy being religious to hear God&#8217;s voice.<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/malachi\/passage\/?q=malachi+3:1-7\">True prophets bring the good news of the New Covenant in which they can rest &#8212; but only after they have been purified from all of their Old\/First Covenant religion<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">False prophets, on the other hand, are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/2-corinthians\/passage\/?q=2-corinthians+11:1-15\"><span class=\"verse-13\">false apostles, deceitful workers, and satans who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ,\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"verse-14\">angels of light, and <\/span><\/a><span class=\"verse-15\">servants of righteousness. They all teach people to be religious.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A SPECIAL PROPHET Since the concept of &#8220;Messiah&#8221; is an important feature of both Judaism and Christianity, and since a Messiah is generally regarded as a prophet of the highest order, it is instructive to look at a genuine Messiah <span class=\"excerpt-dots\">&hellip;<\/span> <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/godsvoice\/hear\/competing-voices\/true-prophets\/\"><span class=\"more-msg\">Continue reading &rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":89,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-93","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/godsvoice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/93","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/godsvoice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/godsvoice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/godsvoice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/godsvoice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=93"}],"version-history":[{"count":32,"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/godsvoice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/93\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":890,"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/godsvoice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/93\/revisions\/890"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/godsvoice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/89"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/godsvoice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=93"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}