Red flags

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D

DWR

Guest
#1
#1
Red flags usually mean danger.

Often when speaking to others about Bible truths, they say things that set off a red flag warning in my mind.
Same is true when I read what some post on this forum.
This is most often true when people speak about about end time events.

Some things that set off a red flag are-----
"God revealed it to me."
"God told me."
"God showed me in a dream."
"God gave me the gift of discernment."
"I have spent 40 years studying."
And one of my favorites---
"This verse is a spiritual alluding to."

1 Corinthians 14:33 "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace"

But I see people who make the claims I mentioned above who can never agree on when or what will happen in the future.
Someone must be wrong, and most likely ALL are wrong.

When people make these claims, I tend to ignore all they say.
 
tourist

tourist

Senior Member
#2
Mar 13, 2014
41,311
16,300
113
69
Tennessee
#2
DWR said:
Red flags usually mean danger.

Often when speaking to others about Bible truths, they say things that set off a red flag warning in my mind.
Same is true when I read what some post on this forum.
This is most often true when people speak about about end time events.

Some things that set off a red flag are-----
"God revealed it to me."
"God told me."
"God showed me in a dream."
"God gave me the gift of discernment."
"I have spent 40 years studying."
And one of my favorites---
"This verse is a spiritual alluding to."

1 Corinthians 14:33 "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace"

But I see people who make the claims I mentioned above who can never agree on when or what will happen in the future.
Someone must be wrong, and most likely ALL are wrong.

When people make these claims, I tend to ignore all they say.
Click to expand...
I'm skeptical as well to these claims.
 
J

John146

Senior Member
#3
Jan 13, 2016
16,638
3,533
113
#3
DWR said:
Red flags usually mean danger.

Often when speaking to others about Bible truths, they say things that set off a red flag warning in my mind.
Same is true when I read what some post on this forum.
This is most often true when people speak about about end time events.

Some things that set off a red flag are-----
"God revealed it to me."
"God told me."
"God showed me in a dream."
"God gave me the gift of discernment."
"I have spent 40 years studying."
And one of my favorites---
"This verse is a spiritual alluding to."

1 Corinthians 14:33 "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace"

But I see people who make the claims I mentioned above who can never agree on when or what will happen in the future.
Someone must be wrong, and most likely ALL are wrong.

When people make these claims, I tend to ignore all they say.
Click to expand...
“Well, the original manuscripts say...”
 
PaulChristensen

PaulChristensen

Active member
#4
Mar 17, 2021
560
165
43
#4
DWR said:
Red flags usually mean danger.

Often when speaking to others about Bible truths, they say things that set off a red flag warning in my mind.
Same is true when I read what some post on this forum.
This is most often true when people speak about about end time events.

Some things that set off a red flag are-----
"God revealed it to me."
"God told me."
"God showed me in a dream."
"God gave me the gift of discernment."
"I have spent 40 years studying."
And one of my favorites---
"This verse is a spiritual alluding to."

1 Corinthians 14:33 "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace"

But I see people who make the claims I mentioned above who can never agree on when or what will happen in the future.
Someone must be wrong, and most likely ALL are wrong.

When people make these claims, I tend to ignore all they say.
Click to expand...
You are right in having red flags in your mind about these things. It is actually the Holy Spirit warning you against a spirit of divination.

God will never say anything directly to anyone, that is not already written in the Scriptures. God is no respecter of persons. He doesn't give special messages to specially chosen individuals. Usually when someone says, "God told me..." it is because they are trying to use the authority of God to push their own thoughts and opinions.

Is is one thing to say, "in my opinion"...etc., and it is quite another to say, "God told me..." etc. If we want to communicate verbally things that God is saying, read the Bible out loud to them.

So, if someone comes to you and says, "God has told me..., or God has revealed to me..." relating to what they want you to believe, tell them that you will wait and see what God says to you personally out of the Scriptures before you take what they are saying on board.

So, the red flag is like a red stop light at an intersection means, "Stop right there and don't proceed until you get the green light!"

If anyone comes to you with a personal prophecy, saying, "God is saying this to you", reject it immediately as a spirit of divination seeking to attack your physically and mentally.
 
L

Live4Him

Guest
#5
#5
DWR said:
Red flags usually mean danger.

Often when speaking to others about Bible truths, they say things that set off a red flag warning in my mind.
Same is true when I read what some post on this forum.
This is most often true when people speak about about end time events.

Some things that set off a red flag are-----
"God revealed it to me."
"God told me."
"God showed me in a dream."
"God gave me the gift of discernment."
"I have spent 40 years studying."
And one of my favorites---
"This verse is a spiritual alluding to."

1 Corinthians 14:33 "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace"

But I see people who make the claims I mentioned above who can never agree on when or what will happen in the future.
Someone must be wrong, and most likely ALL are wrong.

When people make these claims, I tend to ignore all they say.
Click to expand...
Do you believe that we can accurately assess what is coming in the future by prayerfully studying God's word?
 
PaulChristensen

PaulChristensen

Active member
#6
Mar 17, 2021
560
165
43
#6
Live4Him said:
Do you believe that we can accurately assess what is coming in the future by prayerfully studying God's word?
Click to expand...
There is nothing wrong with prayerfully studying God's Word concerning end time events. That's not the OP's issue. It is hearing people saying "God told me..." etc., that shows that they are taking God's name in vain by adding Him to their own opinions about what they see in the Bible, or even the "revelation" they get in their mind apart from what the Bible actually says.
 
oldhermit

oldhermit

Senior Member
#7
Jul 28, 2012
9,142
612
113
69
Alabama
#7
Growing in understanding of scripture is a revealed mandate that is to be attained through study, not inspiration. Growing in knowledge and understanding of scripture is a simple academic exorcize. What I have noticed about those who feel threatened by concepts they do not understand or ideas that do not fit into their narrow mold of reasoning from the biblical text, tend to immediately try to discredit the other person by challenging their academics, marginalizing their level of education, attacking their level of intelligence, and then claiming that their own view is the correct one because the Holy Spirit has led them to this view, even when it stands diametrically opposed to the language of scripture. The ad-homonym argument is really nothing more than an attempt to assign credibility to half-baked ideas, theories, or concepts that scripture clearly will not support. What is more, that person KNOWS the language of the text will not support their doctrine so they attempt to circumvent the written word by claiming the Holy Spirit as the source of what they believe. Anyone who claims the Holy Spirit is directing them to accept something as truth that stands contrary to the written text (of which the Holy Spirit is the true author) is simply lying in an attempt to establish credibility for themselves by extending credit for their ideas to the Holy Spirit.
 
Roughsoul1991

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
#8
Sep 17, 2016
8,784
4,453
113
#8
DWR said:
Red flags usually mean danger.

Often when speaking to others about Bible truths, they say things that set off a red flag warning in my mind.
Same is true when I read what some post on this forum.
This is most often true when people speak about about end time events.

Some things that set off a red flag are-----
"God revealed it to me."
"God told me."
"God showed me in a dream."
"God gave me the gift of discernment."
"I have spent 40 years studying."
And one of my favorites---
"This verse is a spiritual alluding to."

1 Corinthians 14:33 "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace"

But I see people who make the claims I mentioned above who can never agree on when or what will happen in the future.
Someone must be wrong, and most likely ALL are wrong.

When people make these claims, I tend to ignore all they say.
Click to expand...
So do you believe the spiritual gifts are no longer active? Or that God doesn't speak in dreams?

Here's the key. When someone speaks anything, it must not contradict God's Word.
 
D

DWR

Guest
#9
#9
Live4Him said:
Do you believe that we can accurately assess what is coming in the future by prayerfully studying God's word?
Click to expand...
Yes, to a certain degree.
The Bible tells what is coming, and gives us a general time frame. Not hard to understand if you just take it as it is stated. .
But, much is given without great detail.
Jesus said "great tribulation" is coming.
Now when someone tries to tell me that is God's wrath, well, that is not what Jesus call it.
Prey, study, understand, believe, and just leave it there. Don't try to tell me there is more than stated in God's Word.
 
D

DWR

Guest
#10
#10
Roughsoul1991 said:
So do you believe the spiritual gifts are no longer active? Or that God doesn't speak in dreams?

Here's the key. When someone speaks anything, it must not contradict God's Word.
Click to expand...
Why not just read the Word to them?
 
L

Live4Him

Guest
#12
#12
DWR said:
Yes, to a certain degree.
The Bible tells what is coming, and gives us a general time frame. Not hard to understand if you just take it as it is stated. .
But, much is given without great detail.
Jesus said "great tribulation" is coming.
Now when someone tries to tell me that is God's wrath, well, that is not what Jesus call it.
Prey, study, understand, believe, and just leave it there. Don't try to tell me there is more than stated in God's Word.
Click to expand...
Actually, the Bible gives us a very specific timeframe and timeline, and in a lot more places than just one.

Based upon my own observations (not just here, but in general), the main reason why so many people don't understand end-time events is because they don't understand early-time events...if I can say it that way.

For example, when it comes to understanding the book of Revelation, that is not the place to begin one's study of end-time events. Much of what is stated in the book of Revelation is stated much earlier in different books of the Old Testament, and if one doesn't have a working knowledge of the same, then the book of Revelation simply cannot properly be understood.

I once heard someone say (and I fully agree with them) that trying to understand the New Testament without first having a working knowledge of the Old Testament is like trying to put a roof on a house without first building the house to support it.

Let me give you an example of what I mean, beginning with the very first verse of the New Testament:

"The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham." (Matt. 1:1)

If one doesn't understand the Old Testament prophecies which have gone forth concerning Jesus Christ as either "the son of David" or "the son" or "seed of Abraham", then they're greatly disadvantaged right from the start.

Hopefully, you understand what I'm saying.
 
4

4ChristAlone

Guest
#13
#13
This one right here could be found in Phil 3:15

Some things that set off a red flag are-----
"God revealed it to me."

Here,

Phl 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded,
God shall reveal even this unto you.

I would never begrudge anyone a dream but I do understand what someones beef might be when someone does nothing but share their dreams, afterall in Jeremiah 23:28 it says,

Jeremiah 23:28 The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully.
What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD.
 
Blade

Blade

Well-known member
#14
Nov 19, 2019
1,611
575
113
#14
DWR said:
Red flags usually mean danger.

Often when speaking to others about Bible truths, they say things that set off a red flag warning in my mind.
Same is true when I read what some post on this forum.
This is most often true when people speak about about end time events.

Some things that set off a red flag are-----
"God revealed it to me."
"God told me."
"God showed me in a dream."
"God gave me the gift of discernment."
"I have spent 40 years studying."
And one of my favorites---
"This verse is a spiritual alluding to."

1 Corinthians 14:33 "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace"

But I see people who make the claims I mentioned above who can never agree on when or what will happen in the future.
Someone must be wrong, and most likely ALL are wrong.

When people make these claims, I tend to ignore all they say.
Click to expand...
Hmm God does reveal to you to me. God does talk to you and me. God does show us talks to us in dreams and the word told us we have gifts by the sweet Holy Spirit as He wills. There are countless that have studied for 40+ years. The last one.. never heard anyone say that.

See is not that those things can't happen and are red flags. When someone thousands of years ago came up and said "thus says the lord, God said" and the like they would ask them "who are you? Who knows you? How long have you walked in what you preach/teach" then all would go pray for a long time. Seems this does not happen any more. So YES these CAN be red flags but also can be very true.

Could get really hung up well because love believes all things. See when someone came and said thus says the lord they didn't think they were lying. They didn't think one negative thought. There are known preachers around the world that can say GOD SAID.. what we personally think of them matters not.

So I try to believe.. well GOD talks to me so.. He can everyone else and it does not have to be the same way. For if its Him He always will back it up by His word. I then ask who are you? Who knows you? Whats your pastor say? Well we all need someone over us or we can get deceived. And for me if its of God its always for the good to help to uplift to point to Him.. so forth so on. And also there are things He wont tell me because just WHO am I? Somethings I don't have no right to know. There are others God has placed and tells them.

Be like some 4 star Gen walks up to you and shares with you some of the greatest secrets. HAHA yeah never happen. With God.. one would earn thay right. as with Moses Abraham. Yet Hes GOD so what ever He wants you me to do is VERY important to Him. And its something He gave only to you.. sorry.. for someone
 
4

4ChristAlone

Guest
#16
#16
Blade said:
There are countless that have studied for 40+ years. The last one.. never heard anyone say that.
Click to expand...
Maybe somethin more politically (or biblically) correct might be to acknowledge " that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures" instead of how many years one has studied?

Or something like in Apollos case, who was an eloquent man "mighty in the scriptures" ... that could work better?
 
D

DWR

Guest
#17
#17
Blade said:
Hmm God does reveal to you to me. God does talk to you and me. God does show us talks to us in dreams and the word told us we have gifts by the sweet Holy Spirit as He wills. There are countless that have studied for 40+ years. The last one.. never heard anyone say that.

See is not that those things can't happen and are red flags. When someone thousands of years ago came up and said "thus says the lord, God said" and the like they would ask them "who are you? Who knows you? How long have you walked in what you preach/teach" then all would go pray for a long time. Seems this does not happen any more. So YES these CAN be red flags but also can be very true.

Could get really hung up well because love believes all things. See when someone came and said thus says the lord they didn't think they were lying. They didn't think one negative thought. There are known preachers around the world that can say GOD SAID.. what we personally think of them matters not.

So I try to believe.. well GOD talks to me so.. He can everyone else and it does not have to be the same way. For if its Him He always will back it up by His word. I then ask who are you? Who knows you? Whats your pastor say? Well we all need someone over us or we can get deceived. And for me if its of God its always for the good to help to uplift to point to Him.. so forth so on. And also there are things He wont tell me because just WHO am I? Somethings I don't have no right to know. There are others God has placed and tells them.

Be like some 4 star Gen walks up to you and shares with you some of the greatest secrets. HAHA yeah never happen. With God.. one would earn thay right. as with Moses Abraham. Yet Hes GOD so what ever He wants you me to do is VERY important to Him. And its something He gave only to you.. sorry.. for someone
Click to expand...
My point is those who seems to believe God reveals thing to them that is not already revealed in the Word.
I do not believe them.
 
D

DWR

Guest
#18
#18
4ChristAlone said:
Maybe somethin more politically (or biblically) correct might be to acknowledge " that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures" instead of how many years one has studied?

Or something like in Apollos case, who was an eloquent man "mighty in the scriptures" ... that could work better?
Click to expand...
Some seem to imply that there understanding is based on many years of study and you disagree because of a lack of study.
 
L

Live4Him

Guest
#19
#19
DWR said:
My point is those who seems to believe God reveals thing to them that is not already revealed in the Word.
I do not believe them.
Click to expand...
I tend to agree with you on this point.

Interestingly enough, we do have at least one Biblical example of someone who TRULY had a supernatural vision/revelation from God, BUT still placed what is written in the scriptures above the same.

We read:

II Peter chapter 1

[16] For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
[17] For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
[18] And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
[19] We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
[20] Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
[21] For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Peter was with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration.

He not only saw Jesus transfigured right before his very eyes, but he also saw Moses and Elijah appear there. Furthermore, he heard God's voice out of heaven testifying that Jesus was his beloved Son in whom he was well pleased. Despite what he TRULY saw with his own eyes, and despite what he TRULY heard with his own ears, he said that WE ALSO HAVE A MORE SURE WORD OF PROPHECY that we should take heed to. In other words, what the prophets had written under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost was MORE SURE than anything else.

And so should it be with us today.
 
Nehemiah6

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
#20
Jul 18, 2017
24,420
12,905
113
#20
Live4Him said:
Do you believe that we can accurately assess what is coming in the future by prayerfully studying God's word?
Click to expand...
Not accurately but reasonably. And date-setting is out of the question. God has not fully revealed all the details regarding the future. But the broad and general plan has been laid out for all to see.

So if we wish to know what will transpire (not necessarily what we will personally see or experience), then we need to tie the Olivet Discourse to the book of Revelation (with connections to the book of Daniel).

1. The events of the first five seals of Revelation began in the 1st century and have continued.

2. The events of the 6th and 7th seals are in the future, with those of the 6th seal following those of the 7th, as shown in the Olivet Discourse.

3. We are currently living within the Great Apostasy, therefore the revelation of the Antichrist is not too far into the future. Everything connected with the COVID conspiracy is a precursor to this. The destruction of the United States and the setting up of Marxist Totalitarianism in Washington, D.C. is a part of this. The EU and Western Europe have already succumbed to this. Democracy is dead after the major election fraud that was not addressed.
 
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