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)
End-time prophecies have become
increasingly more common as the time for the return of our Messiah Yeshua draws
closer. Amazingly, the mainstream Westernized Christian 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;’ however, it is
Adonai our Elohim who sets up, and it is also Him who tears down (Job 34:24; Dan 2:21).
The Word of Elohim does, however,
give us some very strict criteria for determining the validity of a prophet.
Just like the combination on a bank safe, all
three of these criteria must be simultaneously met and fulfilled in an
individual – not even one of them can be omitted – or, like the combination for
the safe in question, the prophet (and his/her prophecy) will be very wrong …
The first criterion which must be
met is ‘fulfillment’ (see Deu 18:22). If the prophet prophesies an event in the
future, and it fails to come to pass, it was not from our Elohim. Presumptuous
prophecies are self-glorifying, and seldom bear fruit. ‘Presume’ is defined as
“to venture without positive permission; to form confident or arrogant
opinions”[1].
‘Presuming’ to prophecy is dangerous ground …
However, it is possible for
someone to give a prophecy, have it come to pass, and it not come from our
Elohim. The scriptural reference for this is Deuteronomy 13:2-6, and should be
carefully studied.
It is in those verses we find the
remaining two criteria that a prophet appointed and anointed by Elohim will fulfill. Such a person will NEVER speak
in the name of any other god except the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Nor
will a true, anointed, man/woman of Adonai our Elohim speak against keeping the commandments of
Torah. Signs and wonders are not the true test or proof of prophecy, or of a
prophet, for we can see that it is possible for them to be duplicated and fulfilled. Yeshua Himself said that
we shall know them by their fruit
(Mat 7:15-20).
All three of these criteria (1.
the prophecy will come to pass; 2. the individual will always reflect a life of
loving our Creator with everything in them, loving their neighbor as
themselves, and of a lifestyle of keeping the commandments of Torah, and 3. the
prophet does not ever speak in the name of any god but the God of Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob) - all of these MUST be fulfilled before the individual
will pass the test, and can be accepted …
Increasingly, the smell of rotten
fruit is lingering in the air. Upon my own extensive research, I discovered
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. Now, I wonder how this ‘test’ would separate the
wheat from the tares in the modern, westernized church system?
A true prophet of Elohim will ALWAYS
lead Adonai’s people back to the Torah covenant.
“But test and prove all things [until you can recognize] what is good;
[to that] hold fast.” (1The
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