False prophets preach messages that do not come from God. They appear to speak for God, but their teachings are not biblical. They talk about prophecies, dreams and visions. But if we examine his words carefully we see that they contradict – subtly or openly – what the Bible says.
False prophets are not filled with the Holy Spirit, they deceive others by leading them astray from God, causing conflict and confusion.
How can we recognize a false prophet? Studying the Bible. If someone preaches something that goes against the Bible, he is a false prophet.. It is also important to wait to see if the prophecy is fulfilled. If it doesn’t happen it’s because it came from the person’s imagination or from another source, but not from God.
We must avoid listening to and following false prophets. His teachings only bring trouble and can mislead believers who do not know the Word of God well. This is why it is so important to study the Bible and live a life of obedience and intimacy with God. In this way we will learn to discern between what is true and what is wrong.
Jesus warned that in the last times many false prophets would arise who would try to deceive us. Let us be very attentive and learn to distinguish between true men of God and false prophets.
Paul warned the Galatian churches of the following… Let’s heed his warning!
What the Bible says about false prophets
You may be wondering, “How can I recognize a message that is not from the Lord?” If what the prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord is not fulfilled or carried out, it will be a sign that his message does not come from the Lord. That prophet will have spoken presumptuously. He doesn’t fear you.
Beware of false prophets. They come to you disguised as sheep, but inside they are fierce wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Are grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? Similarly, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them.
Do not despise the prophecies, put everything to the test, hold on to the good…
The Lord answered me: «A lie is what those prophets are prophesying in my name. I have not sent them, nor have I given them any orders, nor have I even spoken to them. What they are prophesying to you are misleading visions, vain guesses and delusions of your own imagination. Therefore, thus says the Lord: “As for the prophets who prophesy in my name without my having sent them, and who also say that there will be neither sword nor famine in this land, they themselves will die of famine and by the edge of the sword.
Thus says the Lord Almighty: “Do not pay attention to what the prophets say, for they give you false hopes; They tell visions that they have imagined and that do not proceed from the mouth of the Lord.
I didn’t send those prophets, but they ran; I didn’t even speak to them, but they prophesied. If they had been in my council, they would have proclaimed my words to my people; they would have turned him from his evil way and from his evil deeds.
I am against the prophets who loosen their tongues and speak for the sake of speaking, affirms the Lord. I am against the prophets who tell lying dreams, and who by telling them cause my people to go astray with their lies and presumptions, declares the Lord. I have not sent them nor have I given them any orders. They are completely useless to this people, declares the Lord.
His visions are false, and his divinations are lies. They say, ‘The Lord says so,’ but the Lord has not sent them; however, they expect what they prophesy to come true. Are not their visions false, and their divinations lies, when they say: ‘The Lord affirms it’, without my having spoken?
Therefore thus says the Lord Almighty: Because of your false words and lying visions, here I am against you. The Almighty Lord affirms it. I will raise my hand against the prophets; against those who have false visions and offer lying divinations. They will not participate in the assembly of my people, nor will their names appear in the records of the Israelites, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Thus you will know that I am the omnipotent Lord.
This is what the Lord says against you, prophets who lead my people astray: “With a full stomach, you invite peace; with empty bellies, they declare war. Therefore, they will have nights without visions, darkness without omens». The sun will hide from these prophets; the day will turn to darkness! The seers will be put to shame; the diviners will be humiliated. God will cover their mouths, because he will not give them an answer.
Idols speak deceitfully, fortune-tellers have false dreams; they speak of deceptive visions and console with fantasies. And the people wander like a herd overwhelmed because they have no shepherd!
I beg you, brothers, to beware of those who cause divisions and difficulties, and go against what you have been taught. Stay away from them. Such individuals do not serve Christ our Lord, but their own desires. With soft and flattering words they deceive the naive.
If someone teaches false doctrines, moving away from the healthy teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ and from the doctrine that adheres to true religion, he is a stubborn person who understands nothing. Such suffers from the sick desire to provoke useless discussions that generate envy, discord, insults, suspicions and altercations between people with depraved minds, lacking the truth. This is one of those who think that religion is a means of profit.
Dear brothers, do not believe anyone who claims to be inspired by the Spirit, but put him to the test to see if he is from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. In this you can discern who has the Spirit of God: every prophet who acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in a human body is from God; every prophet who does not recognize Jesus is not from God, but from the antichrist. You have heard that this one is coming; indeed, he is already in the world.
So if someone says to you, “Look, here is the Christ!” or “Look, there he is!” don’t believe it. Because false Christs and false prophets will arise who will perform signs and miracles to deceive, if possible, even the elect. So be careful; I have warned them of everything.
In the Jewish people there were false prophets, and also among you there will be false teachers who covertly introduce destructive heresies, to the point of denying the very Lord who rescued you. This will bring them a quick destruction. Many will follow them in their shameful practices, and because of them the way of truth will be maligned. Driven by greed, these teachers will exploit you with deceitful words. Their doom has long been prepared and their destruction lies in wait for them.
These individuals are fountains without water, fog pushed by the storm, for whom the densest darkness is reserved. Pronouncing arrogant and meaningless speeches, they seduce with unbridled natural instincts those who are just beginning to turn away from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, when they themselves are slaves to corruption, since each one is a slave to that which has dominated him.
At that time many will turn away from the faith; they will betray and hate each other; and a great number of false prophets will arise who will deceive many. There will be so much wickedness that the love of many will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
Because false Christs and false prophets will arise who will perform great signs and miracles to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Notice that I have told you beforehand.
Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies, assembled to make war against the rider of that horse and against his army. But the beast was captured along with the false prophet. This is the one who performed miraculous signs in her presence, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped her image. The two were thrown alive into the lake of fire and brimstone.