Prophets Without Honor

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective

There is a growing movement within America and other parts of the world today that believes there are those whom God has called and anointed as today’s “prophets.” We’ve discussed this many times in the past in numerous articles and mini-series on New Apostolic Reformation (NAR). Not only are there alleged prophets of the order from the Old and New Testaments, but many believe there exists modern-day apostles as well, with the full authority granted to the original apostles, the ones specifically and personally called by Jesus Himself (including Paul, Acts 9).

The immediate problem of course is that if God is anointing people for the offices of prophet and apostle, then it also assumes that God is not yet done writing His Word. When prophets of old spoke, they either spoke the directly revealed Words of God or they were liars. Liars, according to the Mosaic Law, were to be taken outside the camp and stoned to death. Seems harsh. Why was this to be the punishment? Simply because if a person said they spoke the very words of God but were in fact, speaking falsehoods, that tended to come back on God Himself. The people didn’t necessarily say, “Oh, that man is a liar.” Instead, they would be inclined to say, “God must have changed His mind.”

God had not changed His mind of course (unless it is specifically stated in the text after the person targeted for God’s prophetic word humbled himself, repented and through himself on the mercy of God). In essence, God created this law as part of the Mosaic Law to reinforce the awesome responsibility of speaking on behalf of God. No one should ever take that lightly, though certain prophets of old did do just that and paid the consequences for it.

But there’s another thing to keep in mind with respect to the prophets especially (and certainly, to some degree, the original apostles). In times past, when true prophets of God spoke, they always prophesied with respect to the nation of Israel. Yes, their prophecies certainly included other nations and empires, but only as they connected to Israel. We know from passages in Scripture, Israel is the center of this world as far as God is concerned (Ezekiel 5:6). Everything He has ordained is due to the fact that God chose to bring forth a sovereign nation directed by God Himself. Israel was intended to be a pure theocracy. God was the Head, the King, the Lord Sovereign.

From Israel, God would unfold His plan of redemption for humanity. This was done through the ultimate birth of Jesus, God the Son, who lived a sinless life, died a painful death and literally became sin for us, though He Himself knew absolutely no sin at all (2 Corinthians 5:21). Because of Israel’s constant waywardness and rebellion, God was forced to send one prophet after another to warn the nation of what would befall them should they continue on their wayward path. If Israel chose to humble themselves and repent of their rebellion (usually having to do with the worship of false gods, or spiritual idolatry), then God would withhold promised judgment. More times than not however, Israel failed to see the evil of their ways and make the necessary changes.

In fact, quite often, the prophets of old were severely mistreated by the leaders within Israel. They beat the prophets, they imprisoned them, and they even killed them. Imagine being Israel for instance, or Jeremiah, and being one lone individual against all the rebellious cowards that made up Israel at the time. When God told these prophets to go and speak, they did so rarely even questioning their own safety. They did what they were assigned by God to do even when it meant potential harm to themselves.

Being a prophet of old often meant looking into the face of death on a daily basis. The words of the prophets became part of God’s holy Word, the Word that we have today. The saddest part of the work of many of God’s prophets is that their words mean far more for us today than they did when first uttered. We cherish them. We meditate on them. We compare the words of the prophets with other portions of God’s Word in our studious attempts to fully grasp God’s meaning for us and the future.

Yet, today’s “prophets” live with great honor. They have many “followers” who hold onto every word they speak. There is a level of arrogance that is often seen in modern-day “prophets” that did not exist with the men of old. Today’s “prophets” have little to fear except simply being accused of preaching falsehoods and ultimately being ignored. They have no worries that a group of people wholly devoted to the Lord will take them outside the “city” and stone them to death. In fact, to do that would amount to murder. The United States is not Israel, nor do we live by the rules that Israel lived by. The Mosaic Law was not given to anyone but Israel. Of the over 600 laws given to Israel, many are tied to the ceremonial law and some are given only to the priesthood. Certainly, Christians are obligated to follow God’s moral law found within the Mosaic Law, but we should not be striving to uphold every aspect of it because we cannot and because at least some of it does not apply to those outside of Israel.

Whenever I talk with Muslims and the subject of the Mosaic Law comes up, they begin to accuse me as a Christian that I do not follow that law. I ask them for specifics and they will try to point out some of them. My response to them is exactly what I’ve just stated. I am not Jewish. I am not part of Israel. I am not obligated to follow those aspects of the Mosaic Law that were given only to Israel. To this, they have absolutely no response. I am free from having to come to God under the burden of the Mosaic Law, specifically regarding the ceremonial aspects of that law. I am obligated to follow the law of “love” as outlined by Jesus Himself and throughout the New Testament.

The prophets of old were also obligated to approach God by upholding the Mosaic Law. Today’s “prophets”? Not so much. In fact, it appears that today’s so-called prophet and apostle has far greater leeway than did the prophets and apostles of old.

I just finished reading through 1 Kings and am now into 2 Kings. The quality of life for the prophets of old is a testament to the way they maintained their faith in God in spite of the obstacles that constantly befell them.

Today’s prophet speaks of the fact that God ordained Donald Trump to become president. Do we need prophets to tell us that since God’s Word already tells us that God installs kings and leaders and deposes them (Daniel 2:21)? Surely, it is clear that God either allowed or caused Donald J. Trump to become president. We do not need a “prophet” to tell us that, do we?

Now we have these same “prophets” telling us even more specifics about what Trump will accomplish during his presidency, in that he will appoint five new Supreme Court Justices to the bench? Will he? No idea. It’s possible, but let me ask a question here…is it also possible this information could come from Satan and that he might be guessing? We won’t know until either it happens or it doesn’t happen, will we? Even then, if it occurs, is this a guarantee that God was the One who uttered this through a human agent? No, it’s not.

As I read through the Old Testament, I am constantly amazed at how the prophets of old were treated. They were rarely honored and most of the time, vilified. Their words often became part of what we know today is God’s Word. Is the Canon closed or is God still “speaking” and thereby, adding to it?

I’ve said this before, but if God is actually speaking through people living today who are called or call themselves prophets, then isn’t what they say (if from God), as official and authoritative as what the prophets of old said? How could it not be?

This presents a bit of a conundrum for today’s average believer who might tend to find favor in listening to those who are alleged to be God’s “anointed” (either prophet or apostle). If God is still anointing people as His prophets and apostles today, then Christians have an absolute obligation to hear what they say and understand their words as truth directly from God. If this is so, then clearly, the Canon of Scripture is not closed, but remains open as God continues adding to His Word.

If these people who are called or claim to be prophets or apostles are not of God, then we have every reason to mark and ignore them. Their words then are not only not from God, but He is not adding to His existing Word. It cannot be both. We cannot say that what today’s “prophets” or “apostles” say is simply on par and has some authority over us. Either they speak God’s Words or they do not. If they do, we have a full obligation to hear and obey. If not, we have an obligation to mark and ignore.

Now I fully realize that sometimes, the inner urgings of the Holy Spirit are very real. He will open doors as well as shut them. He will direct our steps often without an acute awareness that He is doing that. When it comes to God speaking “audibly” (through inner conversations, voices, or vivid impressions), I tend to believe these are not actually of God. While it may be us putting words to our impressions, we need to be exceedingly careful that we are not giving more authority to our own voices that make us believe it to be from God.

I’m currently reading a book by Nick Redferm called Final Events and the Secret Government Group on Demonic UFOs and the Afterlife. I haven’t gotten too far into yet, but what I’ve read is fascinating and is along the lines of my own research presented in my books, Demons in Disguise and Nephilim Nightmare. Readers can look forward to a review of the book once I complete it. So far, I’m learning once again, that Satan is a very powerful, extremely intelligent supernatural being who works to deceive humanity. He does this mainly by combining truth with lies, something he has done since the beginning of time.

The Bible tells us point-blank to “be not deceived” (1 John 4:1; Colossians 2:8; 1 Corinthians 6:9; Romans 16:17-18; 2 Timothy 3:13; Matthew 7:21-23: 2 Thessalonians 2:10-11, etc.). There is a tremendous emphasis on the fact that deception is real and anyone can be taken in by it. The warnings throughout Scripture are clear and we ignore them to our own peril.

The prophets of old were often treated maliciously by the people and leaders of Israel. God sent them to warn the nation of their rebellion, their pride and arrogance and often their refusal to believe God by attempting to partner with neighboring empires or nations to help keep Israel “safe” from military overthrow. Isaiah repeats this over and over, constantly reminding the Israelites that God and God only is sovereign. He and He alone was the One they should have trusted and obeyed.

Folks, while many chase after the “prophets” of today hanging on every word they say, believing it to be from God Himself, these same people rarely open God’s Word to simply learn about God and His all-sufficient nature. If we never read His written Word, is it any wonder people chase after everyone who claims to speak for God? Folks, this ought not to be, as the apostle Paul would say.

Immerse yourself in His Word for no other reason than to learn about God, His graciousness, His love, His mercy, and His coming wrath on those who refuse to believe what He has already written.

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective