Can True Prophets of God Be Inaccurate?

Earlier today, I stumbled upon a meme image talking about false prophets and true prophets. As I always try to be discerning about any piece of instruction or advice found on the web, I quickly analyzed it:

The first part reads, “A false prophet will tickle the ears of the lukewarm and give false hope to the desperate.” So far, so good, as we know that many who claim to be modern-day “prophets” boast about having direct messages from God that talk about prosperity, wealth, blessings, and comfort and not about repentance, judgment, and turning back to the Lord.

The very next line in the image caused “alarm bells” to go off in my head: “A pure heart separates a true prophet from a witch, not accuracy.”

A prophet of God doesn’t need to be accurate? Wow, what a blatantly biblically asinine and illogical statement. To assume that a perfect, flawless, and completely truthful God would give one of His esteemed prophets wrong information is absolutely ludicrous. For one, it leaves the door wide open for any supposed “mouthpiece for God” to say anything they want at any time and not be held liable for the falsehoods they utter, just as long as they appear to have a “pure heart.” Secondly, they run right into the impenetrable wall of Scripture and what God says about His true prophets.

The Bible’s Stance on Prophets and Accuracy

On that second point, what exactly does the Bible say about prophets?

It may or may not come as a surprise to you, but the Bible is unambiguous about the role of prophets and the importance of their accuracy. Throughout Scripture, God provides clear guidelines to distinguish true prophets from false ones, emphasizing that true prophecy originates from Him and aligns with His revealed Word. Let’s Investigate thoroughly what the Bible as a whole says about prophets and the accuracy of their messages, considering each scriptural reference in its full context.

True Prophets and Their Messages

A defining characteristic of a true prophet is the divine origin of their message. True prophets are those who receive their words directly from God. This is evident in passages like Deuteronomy 18:18-19, where God says, “I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.” Here, God promises to raise up a prophet whose words will carry divine authority, underscoring that a true prophet’s message is not self-originated but divinely commissioned.

Furthermore, the consistency of a prophet’s message with God’s established Word is paramount. Deuteronomy 13:1-3 warns against those who might perform signs and wonders but advocate for following other gods. The passage states, “If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the Lord your God is testing you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” This emphasizes that even miraculous signs are insufficient proof of a prophet’s authenticity if their message leads away from the one true God.

One of the critical tests of a true prophet is the fulfillment of their prophecies. This is where the faulty meme picture above comes into play. Deuteronomy 18:21-22 articulates this criterion clearly: “And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the Lord has not spoken?’—when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.“ This passage establishes that the verification of a prophet’s words lies in their accurate fulfillment, thereby affirming their divine source. Anything else marks them as a false prophet.

And what was the punishment for being a false prophet in the Old Testament? It was so severe that the Lord God commanded that they be put to death (Deuteronomy 18:20)!

False Prophets and Their Dangers

The Bible also addresses the perils posed by false prophets, whose messages can lead believers astray. False prophets are known for delivering misleading messages that deviate from God’s truth. Jeremiah 23:16-17 warns, “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. They say continually to those who despise the word of the Lord, ‘It shall be well with you’; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, ‘No disaster shall come upon you.’” This warning illustrates how false prophets offer deceptive comfort and assurance, contrary to God’s actual message, which, as stated above, often contains warning undertones of judgment and commanding His people to repent from rebelliousness.

Additionally, false prophets are often driven by self-serving motives, seeking personal gain rather than truly serving God. Micah 3:11 indicts such leaders, stating, “Its heads give judgment for a bribe; its priests teach for a price; its prophets practice divination for money; yet they lean on the Lord and say, ‘Is not the Lord in the midst of us? No disaster shall come upon us.’” This highlights the corrupt motivations of false prophets, who exploit their positions for financial gain while falsely claiming divine endorsement. While this point somewhat seems to match the statement in the above meme image that true mouthpieces of God have “pure hearts,” we know that that is not enough. Accuracy is key to look out for, especially since surface-level fruitfulness can be faked.

I’ve already made the point a couple of times that one of the primary functions of prophets was to proclaim God’s judgment upon His people because of their sins. But this topic is so important that it bears repeating once again, as many modern-day Christians are falling prey to scam artists posing as men (and women) of God.

Prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel were often tasked with calling Israel and Judah to repentance, urging them to turn back to God and forsake their wicked ways. This aspect of the prophetic ministry is vividly illustrated in passages such as Isaiah 1:16-20, where the prophet calls the people to “Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause. Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” This call to repentance and promise of forgiveness underscores the role of prophets in guiding God’s people back to a righteous path.

The Bible does not shy away from declaring the consequences awaiting false prophets. Jeremiah 14:14-15 makes this explicit: “And the Lord said to me: ‘The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds. Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name although I did not send them, and who say, “Sword and famine shall not come upon this land”: By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed.'” This passage stresses that false prophets, despite their claims, will face divine judgment for their deceit.

All in all, it’s dangerous to listen to false prophets, and it’s even more deadly and damnable to be a false prophet.

New Testament Perspective on Prophets

In the New Testament, believers are cautioned to test the spirits to discern their true origin. 1 John 4:1 advises, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” This call to discernment requires believers to critically evaluate prophetic messages against the teachings of Jesus and the apostles, ensuring alignment with the foundational truths of the faith.

Jesus gave another signifying mark of a godly prophet – they must produce good fruit. “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:15-20) If you are able to examine a person claiming to be from God closely, you must see consistent, godly fruit coming forth from them, grown by the Holy Spirit. They must be fruitful in carrying out Christlike character and integrity, as well as bearing fruit for the benefit of others around them and their congregation.

I mentioned earlier that “surface-level fruit” can be faked. This is true in that people not of God can, for a temporary time, bear “evidence” that looks and smells close to the real thing. This is essentially “plastic” fruit. Of course, upon close inspection, such as “biting” into it, you’ll see that it is as artificial as can be.

The New Testament also recognized the gift of prophecy as a spiritual gift within the early church, meant to edify and build up the 1st Century Body of Christ. However, it emphasized the need for communal discernment and evaluation of prophetic messages. 1 Corinthians 14:29 instructs, “Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.” This practice of collective discernment ensured that prophetic messages were carefully examined and validated by the early followers of Christ.

What About Us Today? Are There Any New Prophets Still Around?

As believers, we can trust that the primary means of God’s communication to us today is through the written Word of God, the Bible. From my cessationist perspective, the miraculous gifts of the Spirit, including prophecy, were specific to the apostolic age and the foundational period of the early church. Once the New Testament canon of Scripture was completed and the church was firmly established, these sign gifts of prophecy were no longer necessary (1 Corinthians 13:8).

For us today, this means focusing on studying and rightly understanding the Word of Truth. As 2 Timothy 3:16-17 declares, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” Knowing Scripture thoroughly equips us to discern truth from error and guards against those who might claim to have new revelations.

When I immerse myself in the Bible, I can compare any message against the unchanging Word of God, ensuring that I’m not led astray. Prayer remains a crucial component of my Christian life, not for seeking new revelations, new visions, or new teachings from the Spirit, but for gaining wisdom and understanding of God’s already-revealed Word. James 1:5 encourages us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” Through prayer, I seek God’s guidance in understanding and applying Scripture to my life.

Engaging with the faith community is also vital. Although the miraculous sign gifts of the Holy Spirit have ceased, the church body plays a significant role in mutual edification and accountability. I’m called to encourage my fellow believers, as Hebrews 10:24-25 instructs, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” By participating in the community of believers, we can support and uplift each other in our walk with Christ.

Now, more than ever, we must stand on guard against false prophets and deceptive teachings. I challenge you to be vigilant and discerning in your spiritual walk. Test every message you hear against the truth of Scripture. Don’t be swayed by charismatic leaders or sensational claims that do not align with God’s Word. Don’t be “oooo-ed” and “ahhh-ed” by charlatans and liars who claim to have new messages from God coming from their mouths. Equip yourself with the knowledge of the Bible, seek wisdom through prayer, and rely on the support of your local body of believers.

By doing so, we can protect ourselves and others from the dangers of false prophecy and stay firmly rooted in the truth of God’s unchanging Word. My friends, don’t fall for these traps.

Stay vigilant, stay grounded, and always let the Word of God be your ultimate guide. God bless and keep your eyes on Jesus, my brothers and sisters.