{"id":99,"date":"2018-04-14T12:27:57","date_gmt":"2018-04-14T17:27:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/godsvoice\/?page_id=99"},"modified":"2018-09-09T12:14:51","modified_gmt":"2018-09-09T17:14:51","slug":"false-prophets","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/godsvoice\/hear\/competing-voices\/false-prophets\/","title":{"rendered":"False Prophets"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>ONLY THE SPIRIT OF GOD CAN TEACH ALL THINGS<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=galatians+4:1-9;+colossians+2:8;+colossians+2:20\">elementary features of religion<\/a> found in historical religion, including Judaism and Christianity, have a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=2-timothy+3:1-7;+colossians+2:20-23\">form of godliness, but lack real spiritual power.<\/a> Although they are based loosely on the Bible, and reference God and Jesus as their respective spiritual authorities, God considers these Old\/First Covenant religious traditions a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/isaiah\/passage\/?q=isaiah+28:15-18\">covenant of death <\/a>based on<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=romans+3:19-20;+galatians+2:15-21;+acts+13:38-39\"> works of the law (i.e. flesh). <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">To call religion a covenant of death seems a harsh condemnation until we consider that the Old\/First Covenant religion always includes human teachers\u00a0 and does not depend on the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+31:31-34;+1-thessalonians+4:9;+1-john+2:27;+john+14:26;+1-corinthians+2:12\">spirit of God to teach all things as provided in the New Covenant. <\/a>These human teachers (i.e. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/nas\/shav.html\">false<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/nas\/nabiy.html\">prophets<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=ephesians+6:10-12;+ephesians+3:8-10;+colossians+1:16;+colossians+2:15\">powers and authorities in heavenly places<\/a>) take on many forms in Biblical language.<\/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=deuteronomy+28:15-41;+1-samuel+8\">Kings<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=revelation+2:18-23;+1-kings+16:31;+1-kings+18:4;+1-kings+18:19;+1-kings+19:1-2;+1-kings+21:23;+1-kings+21:25;+2-kings+9:7;+2-kings+9:10;+2-kings+9:22\">Queens<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=psalm+118:9;+psalm+119:23;+psalm+146:3;+proverbs+28:2;+isaiah+10:1-8;+isaiah+19:11-13;+jeremiah+2:22-29;+jeremiah+25:12-27;+jeremiah+44:21;+jeremiah+48:7;+jeremiah+49:3;+jeremiah+49:38;+jeremiah+51:57;+lamentations+5:1-16;+ezekiel+22:27;+ezekiel+26:1-16;+hosea+7;+hosea+8:1-10;+hosea+9:15;+hosea+13:10;+amos+1:15;+amos+2:3;+zephaniah+1:8;+zephaniah+3:1-3\">Princes<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+13:5;+deuteronomy+18:20;+2-chronicles+18:12-22;+lamentations+2:14;+jeremiah+28:11-17;+jeremiah+23:16-17;+jeremiah+23:21-32;+jeremiah+20:6;+jeremiah+29:31-32;+jeremiah+23:36;+jeremiah+14:14-15;+isaiah+9:15;+micah+2:11;+nehemiah+6:12-13;+micah+3:11;+zechariah+13:3;+ezekiel+13:6;+ezekiel+13:17;+matthew+24:4;+matthew+7:15-23;+matthew+16:1-4;+matthew+24:11;+matthew+24:23-36;+mark+13:22;+luke+6:26;+acts+13:6;+galatians+1:6-13;+2-corinthians+11:13-15;+2-peter+2:1;+2-peter+2:18;+philippians+3:18-19;+colossians+2:8;+john+15:19;+acts+20:29-32;+romans+16:17-18;+2-peter+2:1-3;+1-timothy+4:1;+titus+1:11-16;+revelation+2:20;+revelation+16:13;+revelation+19:20;+revelation+20:10\">False Prophets<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/zechariah\/passage\/?q=zechariah+11:15-17#\">Worthless, foolish shepherds<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/search\/?s=bibles&amp;q=seers&amp;t=niv&amp;c=all#\">Seers<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=genesis+41:8;+genesis+41:24;+exodus+7:11;+exodus+7:22;+exodus+8:7;+exodus+8:18-19;+exodus+9:11;+daniel+1:20;+daniel+2:2\">Magicians<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+18:10;+deuteronomy+18:14;+1-samuel+6:2;+1-samuel+28:8;+isaiah+3:2;+isaiah+44:25;+jeremiah+27:9;+jeremiah+29:8;+ezekiel+13:9;+ezekiel+13:23;+ezekiel+21:21;+ezekiel+21:23;+ezekiel+21:29;+ezekiel+22:28;+micah+3:6-7;+micah+3:11\">Diviners<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+24:15-27;+mark+13:11-22\">False Christs<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/search\/?s=bibles&amp;q=antichrist&amp;t=nas&amp;c=all\">Antichrist<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/search\/?s=bibles&amp;q=enchanters&amp;t=niv&amp;c=all\">Enchanters<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/search\/?s=bibles&amp;q=sorcerers&amp;t=niv&amp;c=all\">Sorcerers<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/search\/?s=bibles&amp;q=witchcraft&amp;t=nas&amp;c=all\">Witchcraft<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/search\/?s=bibles&amp;q=mediums&amp;t=niv&amp;c=all\">Mediums<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/search\/?s=bibles&amp;q=spiritists&amp;t=niv&amp;c=all\">Spiritists<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jude+1:8;+jeremiah+27:9\">Dreamers<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/search\/?s=bibles&amp;q=soothsayers&amp;t=kjv&amp;c=all\">Soothsayers<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+7:15;+matthew+10:16;+luke+10:3;+acts+20:29;+ezekiel+22:27#\">Wolves<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-deception\/6\">MAGIC, SORCERY, DIVINATION AND WITCHCRAFT <\/a>for more about these characters.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">It is an unfortunate fact that neither Jews nor Christians interpret scripture with understanding that these <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?q=nefarious&amp;ie=utf-8&amp;oe=utf-8\">nefarious<\/a> characters could be found <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-deception\">deceiving <\/a>anyone in their religions. They are so <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+29:1-6;+isaiah+29:1-10;+isaiah+51:16-23;+jeremiah+51:7;+revelation+17:1-2;+revelation+18:1-3\">drunk (i.e. intoxicated with pride) with the wine of religion<\/a> that they do not understand that their religions have been, and continue to be, based on the lies and deceptive teachings of countless generations of human teachers whom God identifies by many names that are associated with lies, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-deception\">deception<\/a>, evil and death.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Being<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=isaiah+5:21;+proverbs+3:7;+proverbs+28:11;+proverbs+26:12;+proverbs+26:5;+proverbs+12:15\"> wise and righteous in their own eyes<\/a>, Jews and Christians treat scriptural warnings about these characters and all the warnings of the prophets as historical stories about ancient Israel. They never give a thought to what God says about the<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/2-timothy\/passage\/?q=2-timothy+3:16-17\"> application of all scripture to training and righteousness <\/a>to themselves <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=hebrews+3;+hebrews+4:1-12\">today.<\/a> And, totally ignoring what God says about <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+31:31-34;+1-thessalonians+4:9;+1-john+2:27;+john+14:26;+1-corinthians+2:12\">his spirit teaching them all things<\/a>, they continue to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=psalm+146:3;+psalm+60:11;+psalm+108:12;+isaiah+30:3\">trust human teachers for instruction about salvation<\/a> instead of trusting that God will<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+31:31-34;+hebrews+10:16;+hebrews+8:7-13\"> write his laws in their hearts and teach them directly by his spirit. <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Thoroughly deceived about the truth regarding religion, Jews and Christians refuse to taking seriously what God says about false prophets and other<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+13:5;+deuteronomy+18:20;+2-chronicles+18:12-22;+lamentations+2:14;+jeremiah+28:11-17;+jeremiah+23:16-17;+jeremiah+23:21-32;+jeremiah+20:6;+jeremiah+29:31-32;+jeremiah+23:36;+jeremiah+14:14-15;+isaiah+9:15;+micah+2:11;+nehemiah+6:12-13;+micah+3:11;+zechariah+13:3;+ezekiel+13:6;+ezekiel+13:17;+matthew+24:4;+matthew+7:15-23;+matthew+16:1-4;+matthew+24:11;+matthew+24:23-36;+mark+13:22;+luke+6:26;+acts+13:6;+galatians+1:6-13;+2-corinthians+11:13-15;+2-peter+2:1;+2-peter+2:18;+philippians+3:18-19;+colossians+2:8;+john+15:19;+acts+20:29-32;+romans+16:17-18;+2-peter+2:1-3;+1-timothy+4:1;+titus+1:11-16;+revelation+2:20;+revelation+16:13;+revelation+19:20;+revelation+20:10\"> religious people who speak out of their own imaginations to lead his people into vain, futile religion. <\/a>Therefore, they continue to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/deuteronomy\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+29:19-21\">walk in the stubbornness of their hearts. <\/a>They <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=1-corinthians+2;+jeremiah+31:31-34;+1-thessalonians+4:9;+1-john+2:27;+john+14:11-17;+john+14:26;+1-corinthians+2:12;+hebrews+8:10-11\">do not know that only the spirit of God can teach them about the deep, mysterious things of God and that no man can understand or teach competently about God and his ways<\/a>. But none of this can happen unless they know <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice#howtoheargodsvoice\">how to listen to God&#8217;s voice<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><!--nextpage--><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>BAD NEWS AND GOOD NEWS<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Associating Judaism and Christianity with a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/isaiah\/passage\/?q=isaiah+28:15-18\">covenant of death<\/a> makes sense when we recognize that both religions are based on literal interpretations of the Bible. These interpretations do not reflect spiritual understandings hidden in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+13:34;+matthew+13:10-13;+numbers+12:8;+psalm+78:1-2;+proverbs+1:1-6;+daniel+5:12;+john+16:25;+job+33:9-19;+deuteronomy+30;+psalm+19:1-13;+jeremiah+29:8-18;+matthew+7:7-8\">parables and mysterious language<\/a> that can <span class=\"verse-16\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/2-timothy\/passage\/?q=2-timothy+3:16-17\"> teach, correct, and train us in righteousness<\/a> &#8212; if we know how to interpret them. <\/span>This is bad news for Jews and Christians who pridefully think they are righteous because they understand and faithfully apply &#8212; best they can &#8212; the literal words of the Bible.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The good news is that even though these legalistic, Old\/First Covenant religions are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=hebrews+8:7-13;+galatians+3:15-21\">deficient, obsolete, disappearing and unable to impart life,<\/a> individual members of these religions always have the option to upgrade to<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/hebrews\/8.html\"> a new and better covenant <\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/hebrews\/8.html\"> that gives life<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/hebrews\/8.html\"> (i.e. the New Covenant.) <\/a>This is the only way that they can be set free from 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;\">This upgrade is the option that many people appear to be taking when they <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/god-is-calling-people-out-of-religion\">terminate their religious affiliations with Judaism and Christianity<\/a>. That means they choose to quit listening to the false prophets of their religions. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=ezekiel+14:1-11;+ezekiel+20:1-3;+ezekiel+20:31\">If they don&#8217;t stop listening to false prophets, they will not be able to learn about God from God directly<\/a> by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice#howtoheargodsvoice\">listening to his spoken voice<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=ezekiel+14:1-11;+ezekiel+20:1-3;+ezekiel+20:31\">.<\/a><\/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;\">It might be said that some, hopefully all, of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/god-is-calling-people-out-of-religion\">the many people who are leaving religion <\/a>have come to recognize that all religious leaders and self-declared spokespersons for God are false <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/nas\/nabiy.html\">prophets<\/a>. Maybe <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+29:1-4;+isaiah+6:9-10;+ezekiel+12:2;+matthew+13:14;+acts+28:26-27;+romans+11:8\">God has opened their eyes<\/a> to see that all human teachers are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=proverbs+28:10;+isaiah+3:12;+isaiah+9:16;+isaiah+19:1-14;+jeremiah+23:13;+jeremiah+23:32;+jeremiah+50:6;+hosea+4:12;+amos+2:4;+micah+3:5;+mark+13:20-22;+1-corinthians+12:2;+1-timothy+6:20-21;+hebrews+3:10;+2-peter+2;+revelation+2:20\">false prophets who have led them and others astray. <\/a>Or perhaps they have just become fed up with the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/dictionaries\/bakers-evangelical-dictionary\/hypocrisy.html\">hypocrisy <\/a>and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-deception\">deception<\/a> they have come to see in religion. Regardless of the reasons why they leave religion, however, there is room for hope that their <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/1-corinthians\/2.html\">faith no longer rests on human wisdom embodied in false prophets but on the power of God<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/ezekiel\/13.html\">God has some very hard words for false prophets who say they are speaking for God when they are really only speaking out of their own imaginations.<\/a> In these modern days it is impossible for Old\/First Covenant religionists to know the difference between a false prophet and a New Covenant prophet. But, because of God&#8217;s strong complaints about false prophets, it is necessary for everyone to learn know how to distinguish them from <a href=\"https:\/\/website-03399378.phw.pfz.mybluehost.me\/hear\/competing-voices\/true-prophets\/\">true prophets<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">New Covenant disciples are best equipped to discern the difference between false and true prophets. People who have not yet disengaged from religion, however, still need help identifying false prophets. For them, the following clues are helpful:<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">False prophets typically receive <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+2:13-17;+matthew+6:19-24;+matthew+10:5-10;+matthew+17:24-27;+matthew+21:12-13;+matthew+23:1-11;+mark+11:15-17;+luke+12:22-33;+luke+16:8-15;+acts+3:1-10;+acts+20:33-35;+romans+6:23;+1-corinthians+2:12;+1-corinthians+9:13-19;+2-corinthians+11:5-9;+2-corinthians+12:11-18;+ephesians+6:5-8;+colossians+3:23-24;+1-thessalonians+2:1-12;+1-thessalonians+4:8-12;+2-thessalonians+3:10-12;+1-timothy+6:3-10;+1-timothy+6:1-8;+1-peter+5:1-3;+isaiah+55:1-3;+daniel+5:11-17;+acts+8:9-24;+nehemiah+10:31;+ezekiel+27;+revelation+21:1-8;+revelation+13:11-18;+revelation+18;+john+13:29;+matthew+6:1-8;+matthew+6:19-34;+judges+17;+1-samuel+12:1-5;+1-kings+13:1-10;+2-kings+5;+deuteronomy+10:12-17\">some kind of compensation (e.g. money, gifts, bribes, etc.) for their prophecies (e.g. teachings, predictions of the future, dream interpretations, etc.), ministry services (e.g. sacraments, weddings, funerals, conferences, etc.), and products (e.g. books, videos, music, etc.).<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">False prophets are typically associated with a religious organization of some kind (e.g. church, synagogue, ministry, mission, college, etc.), but some conduct their business through independent ministries<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">False prophets do not always identify themselves as prophets, but they will always claim to be qualified to speak for God in the role of<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/matthew\/passage\/?q=matthew+23:1-10\"> pastor, teacher, rabbi, apostle, shepherd, prophet, etc.<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">There is an elite class of false prophets who <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=genesis+11:1-9;+john+5:39-44;+luke+6:26;+philippians+2:1-8\">pridefully exalt themselves by using their names<\/a> to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/john\/5-31.html\">identify themselves <\/a>as prophets when they <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hiskingdomprophecy.com\/resources\/prophetic-websites\/\">promote themselves<\/a> and invite people to come to their meetings and conferences where they <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/fakefaith\/2018\/05\/20\/disconnects\/\" class=\"broken_link\">publicly display their righteousness <\/a>to anyone who is willing to pay the price of admission or give an offering.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Some prophets identify themselves as prophets, and some do not. However, if they embody any of the characteristics of false prophets, they are false prophets. All prophets who claim to have knowledge and authority to speak for God are false prophets because they have one or more of the following characteristics:<\/span><br \/>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u25ca They have titles (e.g. pastor, priest, rabbi, apostle, etc.).<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u25ca They have education credentials (e.g. Phd, Master of Divinity, seminary, Bible school, etc.).<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u25ca They claim to have a special calling from God.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u25ca They have many admirers who listen to their teaching, follow their ministry and contribute financially to them.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u25ca They are charismatic.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u25ca They have reputations for being good preachers, teachers.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u25ca They have a history in ministry that reports their education and all the good things they have done.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Many <a href=\"http:\/\/thewayweseereligion.blogspot.com\/2012\/03\/religious-ornaments-and-labels.html\">false prophets draw attention to themselves through their clothing (e.g. robe, clerical collar, head covering, etc.) and jewelry (e.g. cross, star of David, fish symbol, etc.) and religious behaviors.<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">False prophets never speak &#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/nas\/howy.html\">woe<\/a>&#8221; to people, nor do they <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+23:9-40;+exodus+19:21-23;+deuteronomy+32:45-46;+1-samuel+8;+2-kings+17:13-51;+2-chronicles+19:10;+lamentations+2:13-14;+isaiah+58:1-2;+jeremiah+6:8-21;+ezekiel+3;+ezekiel+16:1-59;+ezekiel+23:35-49;+ezekiel+33:1-9;+micah+3;+nehemiah+9:29-30;+hebrews+8:1-5;+hebrews+11:1-7\">prophecy warnings of judgment that will come to people who do not hear and obey God&#8217;s voice but served other gods.<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">All false prophets are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=galatians+1:10;+1-thessalonians+2:1-4;+colossians+3:22;+ephesians+6:6;+matthew+23:1-5;+matthew+6:1;+matthew+6:5;+matthew+6:16;+luke+6:26\">man-pleasers <\/a>who strive to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+5:39-44;+luke+6:26;+philippians+2:1-8\">have good reputations<\/a> by dreaming up prophecies <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=2-timothy+4:2-4;+isaiah+30:1-10;+1-kings+22:1-8;+1-kings+22:13;+jeremiah+6:8-14;+jeremiah+23:9-40;+ezekiel+13;+romans+16:17-18;+2-samuel+15:1-6;+psalm+12:1-2;+colossians+2:1-4\">that will conform to what people\u00a0 want to hear<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">STUDY TIP: This is a good checklist for anyone who wants to identify whether a religious leader (e.g. priest, pastor, rabbi, teacher, etc.) is a true prophet or a false prophet. See <a href=\"https:\/\/website-03399378.phw.pfz.mybluehost.me\/hear\/competing-voices\/true-prophets\/\">True Prophets <\/a>for a list of a true prophets teachings, qualities and normal behaviors.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">In God&#8217;s view, false prophets are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=ezekiel+14:1-11;+ezekiel+44:10-12\">stumbling blocks of iniquity<\/a> (i.e. idols) who encourage people to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=ezekiel+14:1-11;+isaiah+58:1-3;+jeremiah+3:25;+jeremiah+40:1-3;+jeremiah+44:23;+daniel+9:11;+matthew+4:1-4;+deuteronomy+8:1-3;+ezekiel+20:30-40\">come to them for instruction instead of listening to God&#8217;s voice. <\/a>In Biblical language, false prophets are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+3:2;+ezekiel+23:11;+ezekiel+23:29;+hosea+2:2;+hosea+2:4;+hosea+4:12-14;+jeremiah+13:27;+ezekiel+23:27;+ezekiel+43:7;+ezekiel+43:9;+hosea+4:11;+hosea+6:10;+jeremiah+3:8-9;+jeremiah+5:7;+jeremiah+7:9;+jeremiah+9:2;+jeremiah+23:10;+jeremiah+23:14;+jeremiah+29:23;+ezekiel+16:32;+ezekiel+16:38;+ezekiel+23:37;+ezekiel+23:45;+hosea+3:1;+hosea+4:2;+hosea+7:4;+malachi+3:5\">adulterers, harlots and prostitutes.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Most religious people will have trouble accepting that their religious leaders are false prophets because they have been <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-deception\">deceived<\/a> by many of them. That awareness makes it very difficult for them to admit that they have invested time, money and affections (i.e. idols of the heart) on people whom God considers to be false teachers and adulterers This is discouraging and embarrassing news, of course, but it is not as bad as discovering at some future day<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+7:15-23;+matthew+25:31-46;+luke+13:22-28\"> they never really knew God and that he never really knew them.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Religious people who discover that they have been following false prophets have a choice to make. One choice is that they can discredit and reject what they have learned here and<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/deuteronomy\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+29:14-21\"> continue with their religious life thinking that they have some kind of special favor with God that will pardon them from destruction. <\/a>Or, they can do the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Accept that they have been <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-deception\">deceived<\/a> by false prophets.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+3:2;+matthew+4:17;+matthew+11:20-21;+matthew+12:41;+mark+1:15;+mark+6:12;+luke+10:13;+luke+11:32;+luke+13:3;+luke+13:5;+luke+15:7;+luke+15:10;+luke+16:30;+luke+17:3-4;+2+corinthians+12:21;+revelation+2:5;+revelation+2:16;+revelation+2:21-22;+revelation+3:3;+revelation+3:19;+revelation+9:20-21;+revelation+16:9;+revelation+16:11\">Repent<\/a> for willfully following false prophets.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Forgive the false prophets for deceiving you and other people.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+12;+deuteronomy+20;+numbers+21:1-3;+numbers+31:1-18;+numbers+32;+numbers+33:50-56;+deuteronomy+9;+joshua+7:1-15;+joshua+9;+joshua+11;+joshua+23;+judges+2:11-23;+1-samuel+15:10-26;+deuteronomy+7:1-6;+deuteronomy+31:1-8;+zechariah+12:9;+jeremiah+1:10;+jeremiah+51:15-23\">Destroy the religious kingdoms (i.e. high places) where false prophets carry on their business:<\/a><\/span><br \/>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u2666 Do not give them money.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u2666 Do not attend their meetings or purchase their religious products.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u2666 Teach others how to identify false prophets.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Look for opportunities to confront false prophets about their sin.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Destroy religious kingdoms by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=isaiah+58:1-7;+isaiah+61:1-5;+luke+4:14-19;+isaiah+42:1-7;+isaiah+49:1-9;+exodus+1:11;+exodus+2:11;+nehemiah+5:15\">setting captives free<\/a> from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\">bondage to religion.<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/study\">Seek God with all their heart, mind, soul and strength by studying the Bible themselves with the full expectation that God will teach them himself by his spirit with no human mediator.<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">These are not easy choices to make. Close relationships developed with false prophets make separation very difficult. Nevertheless, once we learn how distinguish between <a href=\"https:\/\/website-03399378.phw.pfz.mybluehost.me\/hear\/competing-voices\/true-prophets\/\">true prophets<\/a> and false prophets, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=isaiah+30:18-23;+jeremiah+7:23;+psalm+25:8-9;+proverbs+3:6;+isaiah+35:8-9;+isaiah+42:16\">we are in a position where we must chose between the way of holiness or the way of fools<\/a>.\u00a0We can continue wandering in Old\/First Covenant religion or become New Covenant disciples. This is <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+30:15-20;+deuteronomy+9:23;+jeremiah+11:1-4;+jeremiah+11:1-7;+jeremiah+42:13;+jeremiah+43:1-7\">life and death decision<\/a>. If we choose life, we must also decide if we will serve in God&#8217;s army where we will tell others that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\">religion is sin<\/a>. These are life and death choices that affect <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=ezekiel+3;+ezekiel+33:1-18;+acts+20:17-32\">us and others<\/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\/death-resurrection-life\">Death, Resurrection and New Life <\/a>and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-deception\/3\">HANGING ON FOR DEAR LIFE<\/a> for more about making life and death decisions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">In Biblical language, people who opt for continuing in religion choose to continue <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=exodus+14:11;+exodus+16:3;+numbers+14:2;+numbers+14:35;+numbers+21:5;+john+6:49\">wandering in the wilderness where they will die<\/a>. They will suffer all the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/deuteronomy\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+28:15-68\">curses prophesied for people who do not listen to or obey God&#8217;s voice<\/a>. And those who choose life will <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/deuteronomy\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+28:1-14\">receive all of the blessings that God promises to people who listen to his words<\/a> (i.e. New Covenant disciples).<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ONLY THE SPIRIT OF GOD CAN TEACH ALL THINGS The elementary features of religion found in historical religion, including Judaism and Christianity, have a form of godliness, but lack real spiritual power. Although they are based loosely on the Bible, <span class=\"excerpt-dots\">&hellip;<\/span> <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/godsvoice\/hear\/competing-voices\/false-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-99","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/godsvoice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/99","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=99"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/godsvoice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/99\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":832,"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/godsvoice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/99\/revisions\/832"}],"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=99"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}