Bread from the Basket: Your Daily Slice

NISAN 2

Real versus Counterfeit

“For false Messiahs and lying prophets will arise and will give signs and wonders and will deceive, if it is possible, even the chosen. But take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance.” (Mark 13:22-23 HRVS, emphasis mine)

There are extensive courses available to train employees in the proficiency of recognizing counterfeit money, something that is greatly needed as those involved in the nefarious business of printing ‘fake’ money become more and more ingenious[1]. Even our government offers instruction in this subject, mandatory for many of the three-letter agencies[2]. The essential foundation of these learning exercises is the intricate and detailed study of the real, genuine ‘tender’ – the different denominations offered by our US Treasury to be used as a medium of exchange. Hours upon hours are spent in examination of the legitimate article, for it is only in the KNOWING the real that the counterfeit is recognized and exposed.

And so it should be with us. End-time prophets and prophecies have become increasingly more common, with folks chasing a ‘word’ here, and a ‘word’ there. Amazingly, the mainstream westernized church community has suddenly become over-populated with a rapid rise of those ‘called’ to the prophetic ministry. I am not here to dispute the ‘calling’; those who engage in this activity probably love God to the best of their ability. However, it is Adonai who sets up, and it is also Him who tears down (Job 34:24; Dan 2:21).

Let us first define just exactly what a prophet is. Looking to the Tanakh (Old Testament) as our source, we understand that such an individual would know the laws of our Elohim – the Torah – inside and out, backwards and forwards, just like a bank teller would know a genuine $20 bill. Further examination and study will reveal that most of the prophets within the Tanakh were of the priestly tribe of Levi, had spent a great portion of their lives in the study of the Torah, and were familiar with the consequences of ignoring and breaking Elohim’s Law. An anointed, appointed, and chosen prophet of Elohim would recognize and expose the transgression of the Law (usually done by an entire nation, not just individuals), urge genuine teshuvah, and the turning back to walk in the ways of the Torah. Signs and wonders are NOT the test of a true prophet of Adonai, knowledge and commitment to Torah IS.

We find in Deuteronomy 13:1-5 guidelines concerning those involved in this ministry. Verse 2 specifically tells us that if the prophet says “Let's follow other gods, which you have not known; and let us serve them”, then such a person is NOT interested in adhering to Torah, and we are not to believe or follow them. In fact, the so-called prophet was to be put to death, as he/she was fermenting rebellion against the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I also discovered, through further research, that the early, first century congregations had added a further ‘test’ for discerning between a true or false prophet. If a prophet, while prophesying, asked for food, money, or any kind of a gift, he/she was labeled a false prophet, and not of Elohim^{^[3]}. Now, I wonder how this ‘test’ would separate the wheat from the tares in the modern, westernized church system?

Increasingly, the smell of rotten fruit is lingering in the air. Too many of all the ‘prophets’ that are currently on the scene have no interest in the intricacies of the Torah – in fact, most will tell you that ‘the LAW’ has been done away with. I would venture to say that a true prophet (anointed, appointed and chosen by Adonai) have been few and far between since the end of the first century. Beware, brethren, of WHO you are listening to. And study – then study some more, so that it becomes easier to recognize the one who is counterfeit (see 2Tim 2:15).