When Jesus talked with His disciples about the end times and the sign of His coming, Jesus said in Matthew 24:24, there shall arise false Christs and false prophets and shall shew great signs and wonders, så tillvida, if it were possible they shall deceive the very elect. But what will these false Christs and false prophets and their deceiving signs and wonders look like? What does the Bible say about false Christs and false prophets?
What does the Bible say about false prophets in the Old Testament?
Not only in the New Testament do we read about false prophets. But also in the Old Testament, we read about false prophets, who God did not send.
Dina profeter har sett fåfänga och dåraktiga ting för dig: och de har inte upptäckt din missgärning, att vända bort din fångenskap; men har sett för dig falska bördor och orsaker till förvisning (Klagosånger 2:14)
Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the Lord; Så säger Herren Gud; Ve de oförståndiga profeterna, som följer sin egen ande, och har inte sett något!
Israel, dina profeter är som rävarna i öknarna. Ni har inte gått upp i luckorna, inte heller gjorde det en häck för Israels hus att stå i striden på Herrens dag.
De har sett fåfänga och lögnaktig spådom, ordspråk, Herren säger: och Herren har inte sänt dem: och de har fått andra att hoppas att de skulle bekräfta ordet. Har ni inte sett en fåfäng syn, och har ni inte talat en lögnaktig spådom, medan du säger, Herren säger det; fastän jag inte har talat?
Därför säger Herren Gud; Därför att ni har talat fåfänga, och sett lögner, därför, skåda, Jag är emot dig, säger Herren Gud. Och min hand skall vara över profeterna som ser fåfänga, och att gudomliga lögner: de skola inte vara i mitt folks församling, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, inte heller skola de komma in i Israels land; och ni skall inse att jag är Herren Gud (Hesekiel 13:2-9)
Her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, se fåfänga, och spå lögner för dem, ordspråk, Så säger Herren Gud, när Herren inte har talat (Hesekiel 22:28)
What does the Bible say about prophets in the New Testament?
In the New Testament Paul, John, Peter, Jude (and others) warned about false prophets and false teachers. They warned the saints to be cautious
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, som i hemlighet skall föra in fördömliga villoläror, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction (2 Peter 2:1)
Älskad, tro inte varje ande, men pröva andarna om de är av Gud: eftersom många falska profeter har gått ut i världen (1 John 4:1)
Jesus warned us about false prophets and false christs
Ty falska Kristus skall uppstå, och falska profeter, och skall göra stora tecken och under; så tillvida, om det var möjligt, de skola bedraga de utvalda. Skåda, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Skåda, he is in the desert; go not forth: skåda, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together(Matthew 24:24-28)
Akta dig för falska profeter, som kommer till er i fårakläder, men inombords är de glupande vargar (Matthew 7:15)
And many false prophets shall rise, och kommer att bedra många (Matthew 24:11)
Jesus warned us of false prophets, and told us, how can we can recognize false prophets. We can recognize false prophets by the fruit they bear.
False Christs and prophets do great signs and wonders. Therefore we can’t rely upon their teachings, doctrines, mirakel, tecken, och undrar.
Jesus told us that we should look at their lives and what kind of fruit they bear in their lives.
Do they walk after the Spirit according to the Word of God and keep His commandments? Do they bear the fruit of the Spirit?
Or do they walk after the flesh according to the will, lustar, and desire of the flesh? And do they bear the fruit of the flesh (works of the flesh), precis som världen?
A true Shepherd vs a Wolf in sheep’s Clothing
Till exempel, A charismatic prophet or preacher can speak wonderful encouraging words and maybe do signs and wonders. dock, in private, the prophet or preacher lives like the world doing the same works.
When the person experiences depression, beroende(s), watches porn, commits adultery, goes to clubs/bars, leaves his/her spouse and gets a äktenskapsskillnad, or is habitually living in sin and doing things that oppose the Word of God, you know that the person is not rooted and seated in Jesus Chris. The person is carnal and walks after the lusts and desires of the flesh instead of the Spirit.
When you look at the fruit, that a person produces, you know whether you’re dealing with a true shepherd or a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
How do you recognize false Christs and false prophets?
We have accepted too much garbage and false doctrines in the church. And because many Christians don’t examine the Bible themselves and are led by the flesh instead of the Holy Spirit, there is hardly any discernment anymore.
Many Christians follow their pastors, (well-known) Predikanter, profeter, and evangelists, without studying the Bible for themselves. They accept and believe their words, even if their words contradict the Word of God. (Läs också: Falska läror som är en förolämpning mot Gud).
Let us be serious and watchful. Look at the fruit of the person. Do they produce the fruit of the Spirit or the flesh?
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, otukt, orenhet, elakhet, Idolatry, trolldom, hat, variation, emuleringar, vrede, kiv, uppror, kätterier, Envyings, mord, fylleri, frossningar, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, glädje, fred, Tålamod, gentleness, goodness, tro, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Och de som tillhör Kristus har korsfäst köttet med sina böjelser och begär (Galaterbrevet 5:21-24)
sa Jesus, that this is the only way, that we can recognize and discern true and false prophets and Christs.
Jesus told us in Matthew 24:24 (also in Mark 13:22-23), that these false Christs and prophets could even deceive the very elect if Jesus didn’t warn us about them. Imagine that! These prophets seem like they are sent by God and seem devoted to God. Men sanningen är att, that they aren’t sent by God. Therefore be and stay watchful!
How do you recognize real from counterfeit?
The more you study the Bible; Guds ord, the more you will get to know the real Jesus Christ. If you renew your mind with the Word of God, the easier you will discern, what is real (genuine) and what is false (a counterfeit). Men återigen… sa Jesus, the only way you will discern false Christs and prophets, is to look at their lives and the fruit they bear.
Jesus continued and said, that if these false Christs and prophets say, that the Son of man is in the desert, you should not go there, or in the secret chambers, you should not believe it. You do not have to search for Jesus in places. You shouldn’t be led by (super)natural manifestations, which can also be a counterfeit of the devil.
When Jesus returns, everyone will see Jesus, not just one person, or a few persons. He shall return at an unexpected moment. Jesus gave us the example of lightning to compare to His return. Jesus will return like a thief in the night. Therefore we should stay watchful and be ready to meet Him upon His return.
'Var jordens salt’
