Christians are being bombarded by claims from several directions that there are apostles and prophets today, and that we should listen to what they have to say. There is a list of false teachers and false prophets on the internet which indicates that there are at least 50 false prophets today, and about the same number of false teachers. So there is no shortage of wolves in sheep’s clothing.
Most of these people are focused on profits rather than genuine prophecy. Some of the prominent names which people may be familiar with are from within the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), which asserts that there are modern apostles and prophets, and they have something to say to Christians. Lou Engel, Bill Johnson, Rick Joyner, John P. Kelly, C. Peter Wagner are all associated with NAR.
The late William M. Branham was a leading false prophet with a huge following. He made all kinds of predictions which never came to pass. But he also taught many false doctrines (“they shall privily bring in damnable heresies”), yet was regarded as “Elijah” or even “Jesus Christ” by his deluded followers. Evidently Kenneth Hagin, Oral Roberts, and Benny Hinn considered him to be “a great man of God”.
Todd Bentley, Paul Begley, Mike Bickle with the International House of Prayer (IHOP), Bob Jones, Paul Cain, and many others have been identified as false prophets and false teachers. Yet people continue to listen to their nonsense. CARM (Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry) has identified Mike Bickle and IHOP as being “cultic” and associated with the following characteristics:
These characteristics could be applied to just about all the false prophets and false teachers which exist today.
Christians who read and study their Bible should know that the Lord Jesus Christ had already told us that false Christs, false prophets and false teachers would appear in abundance before His second coming (Matthew 24:4,5,11): And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many... And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
The apostles also identified the characteristics of false prophets and false teachers in detail, and we know from the book of Revelation that they had already begun to enter into the churches at that time. One of the outstanding marks of these people is that they are covetous, make merchandise of the Gospel, and accumulate great personal wealth on the backs of poor gullible Christians.
So the so-called “prophets” are out to make a profit from their false teachings and false prophesies. Here is what Peter told us already: And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not... Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness (2 Peter 2:3,15).
The real issue is whether Christians need prophets today, and the obvious answer is “No, they do not”. Why? Because all that we need for life and godliness is already to be found in Scripture – the Word of God. The apostle Paul made this crystal clear in 2 Timothy 3:16,17: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Most of these people are focused on profits rather than genuine prophecy. Some of the prominent names which people may be familiar with are from within the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), which asserts that there are modern apostles and prophets, and they have something to say to Christians. Lou Engel, Bill Johnson, Rick Joyner, John P. Kelly, C. Peter Wagner are all associated with NAR.
The late William M. Branham was a leading false prophet with a huge following. He made all kinds of predictions which never came to pass. But he also taught many false doctrines (“they shall privily bring in damnable heresies”), yet was regarded as “Elijah” or even “Jesus Christ” by his deluded followers. Evidently Kenneth Hagin, Oral Roberts, and Benny Hinn considered him to be “a great man of God”.
Todd Bentley, Paul Begley, Mike Bickle with the International House of Prayer (IHOP), Bob Jones, Paul Cain, and many others have been identified as false prophets and false teachers. Yet people continue to listen to their nonsense. CARM (Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry) has identified Mike Bickle and IHOP as being “cultic” and associated with the following characteristics:
- Cultic origin, worship style, and goals
- Emotionalism
- Mysticism
- Gnosticism
- The IHOP dilemma
- False Prophecies
- Effective Denial of Sola Scriptura
- Opposition by multiple Godly Christian Groups
These characteristics could be applied to just about all the false prophets and false teachers which exist today.
Christians who read and study their Bible should know that the Lord Jesus Christ had already told us that false Christs, false prophets and false teachers would appear in abundance before His second coming (Matthew 24:4,5,11): And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many... And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
The apostles also identified the characteristics of false prophets and false teachers in detail, and we know from the book of Revelation that they had already begun to enter into the churches at that time. One of the outstanding marks of these people is that they are covetous, make merchandise of the Gospel, and accumulate great personal wealth on the backs of poor gullible Christians.
So the so-called “prophets” are out to make a profit from their false teachings and false prophesies. Here is what Peter told us already: And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not... Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness (2 Peter 2:3,15).
The real issue is whether Christians need prophets today, and the obvious answer is “No, they do not”. Why? Because all that we need for life and godliness is already to be found in Scripture – the Word of God. The apostle Paul made this crystal clear in 2 Timothy 3:16,17: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
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