False Prophets in the Bible
The first False Prophet mentioned in the Old Testament is Baalam, the Pagan Prophet of early Idol worship. This was as the children of Israel were to enter the Promised Land in the plains of Moab. Numbera Ch 22:1,7,9-12 “And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.” “And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.” “And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee? And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying, “Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.” “And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.”
False Prophets are the ones that launched Idol worship after the Nation of Israel was established.
The Prophets of Baal already existed at the time of Elijah the man of God.
Elijah was an Old Testament prophet who ministered to the northern kingdom of Israel about 900 to 849 B.C.
Elijah tells Ahab to gather the prophets of Baal and meet him at mount Carmel. 1 Kings 18:19-20 “Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the Groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table. So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.”
Elijah’s challenge to the prophets of Baal to sacrifice to Baal. 1Kings 18:25-27 “Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under. And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, “O Baal, hear us.” But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made. And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.”
Elijah then made a sacrifice to the God of Israel. 1 Kings 18:38-40. ”Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, “The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.” And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.”
Zedekiah was a False Prophet at the time of King Ahab. I Kings 22:11-12&23 “And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and he said, Thus saith the LORD, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have consumed them. And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth gilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the king's hand. Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee.”
Diviners practice Divination an extended form of false prophesy forbidden by God. Deuteronomy 18:10-12 “There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth Divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.”
There were False Prophets at the time of King Josiah of Judah 626 B.C. when Jeremiah was the Prophet of God.
God speaks to Jeremiah about the false prophets. Jaremiah 14:15 “Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that prophesy in my name, and I sent them not, yet they say, sword and famine shall not be in this land; By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed.”
God refers to False Prophets as pastors that scatter and destroy the sheep. Jeremiah Ch. 23:1-2 “Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD. Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.”
During the reign of King Zedekiah, the last King of Judah from 597 to 586 B. C. before the Babylonian captivity there were False Prophets.
Hananiah was a false prophet during the ministry of the Prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah 28:15-17 “Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie. Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the LORD. So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.”
Jeremiah 37:18-19 “Moreover Jeremiah said unto king Zedekiah, What have I offended against thee, or against thy servants, or against this people, that ye have put me in prison? Where are now your prophets which prophesied unto you, saying, The king of Babylon shall not come against you, nor against this land.”
During the Babylonian Captivity of Judah, there were False Prophets and Diviners among them that falsely prophesied a speedy return of the captives. Jeremiah 29:8-14” For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed. For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD. For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.”
Jesus’s statements about False Prophets.
MATTHEW 7:13-23 Jesus warns about false peophets: “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are raven wolves. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
Jesus speaks to His apostles about the end of the age and predicts the coming of False Christs and False Prephets before His second coming and the end of the world. Matt. 24:3-5.
“As he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? 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.
Matthew 24:23-24 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.Jesus’s dealing with Demons and False Prophets.
s’s dealing with Demons and False Prophets. Jesus heals the demon possessed blind & dumb-Mt.12:22
Jesus’s dealing with Demons and False Prophets.
Jesus heals the demon possessed blind & dumb-Matthew 12:22 “Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.”
The Jewish religeous leaders, the Scribes attack Jesus and say “Jesus has Beelzebub the prince of the devils by whom he casteth out devils” Mk.3:22 and Mt.12:24.
Jesus’s respone:Mark 3:23 “And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?
“HOW CAN SATAN CAST OUT SATAN?” A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. Satan will not cast out demons. Mark 3:24
“They sought how they might destroy Him” Mk. 11:18. Jewish religous leaders reject the Messiah.
Judas who betrayed Jesus must become a pretend friend of Jesus and fulfill the Old Testament prophesies.
Psalm 41:9 “My own familiar friend whom I trusted which did eat of my bread hath lifted up his heel against me.”
Judas, a false Apostle and follower of Jesus would be the one to betray Jesus?
Jesus referring to the Strait gate and Narrow way, and Wide Gate and Broad Way in Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for Wide is the gate, and Broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because Strait is the gate, and Narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
What is the strait gate? The straight and narrow gate is Jesus Christ the only way to God. John 14:6. “Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh to the Father but by me.”
What is the wide gate and broad way? All gates and ways outside of Christ and His Word including:
False religion advocates. Any system of belief, worship, or values that deviates from biblical truth or relies on human effort rather than divine grace.
The Agnostics. Agnostics believe that the existance of God is unknown and unknowable.
Athiests. Athiests do not believe in the existance of God or deities.