Wings of the Wind

Photo from Ask A Christian Live

^17 “For a command came to me by the word of the Lord, ‘You shall eat no bread, nor drink water there; do not return by going the way which you came.’ ¹⁸ He said to him, ‘I also am a prophet like you, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the Lord…'”

As I was reading a passage from God’s Holy Word, the verses above leapt off of the page.  How many say they speak “by the word of the Lord,” or say that an angel spoke something of importance to them.

Muhammad is the most followed false prophet in our day.

Mohammed Receiving Revelation from the Angel Gabriel
Photo From Wikimedia Commons

“The above pic shows Mohammed receiving his first revelation from the angel Gabriel. Miniature illustration on vellum from the book Jami’ al-Tawarikh (literally ‘Compendium of Chronicles’ but often referred to as The Universal History or History of the World), by Rashid al-Din, published in Tabriz, Persia, 1307 A.D. Now in the collection of the Edinburgh University Library, Scotland.” (Wikimedia Commons)

“When Islam’s defenders challenge Christianity and other faiths, their dialogue is based upon their assumption that Muhammad was the ‘Seal of the Prophets.’ According to them, this would give him the authority to supersede and refute the teachings in the Bible with his writings in the Koran.” (1)

I hope you get a chance to watch the video at footnote 1 below.  It quotes Islāmic texts (including the Koran), and clearly identifies Muhammad as a false prophet.  I love my Muslim friends, but the truth must be told.

Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon Church, is another. Joseph Smith said . . .

(Regarding Joseph Smith’s alleged first vision where celestial personages appeared to him.) . . .) “My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right — and which I should join. I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong, and the personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in His sight: that those professors were all corrupt . . .” (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, vol. 1, p. 5-6).

“What is it that inspires professors of Christianity generally with a hope of salvation? It is that smooth, sophisticated influence of the devil, by which he deceives the whole world,” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, compiled by Joseph Fielding Smith, p. 270.)

(In questions directed to Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism. . .) First — “Do you believe the Bible?” If we do, we are the only people under heaven that do, for there are none of the religious sects of the day that do.” Third — “Will everybody be damned, but Mormons?” Yes, and a great portion of them, unless they repent, and work righteousness.” (Teachings, page 119.) (2)

Joseph Smith’s First Vision
Photo at frommormonismtochristianity.weebly.com

In one of Joseph Smith’s stories, it was the angel moroni. (Click on the picture above to see how the story changed over time.)

In Muhammad’s story, it is the angel Gabriel: 

HERE is an interesting list of modern-day false prophets and teachers.

(There are quotes for the NLT in a few of these sites.  It is not my favorite translation because of its treatment of John 6:37.  I find its treatment unbalanced compared to the KJV or the NASB.  Check it out if you wish.  The NLT is not a bad translation for a new believer who hasn’t dealt with the free will/predestination issue.

Since I’m a rabbit trail guy, I’ll quote the verses now.

³⁷ All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.

John 6:37

King James Version (KJV)

³⁷ All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

John 6:37

New Living Translation (NLT)

³⁷ However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them.

There is a subtle difference in the NLT translation.)

Let me get back on track…

Photo by skenmy

Another modern-day false prophet was L. Ron Hubbard.

He is the founder of scientology and as THIS ARTICLE states:

“The Scripture warns that ‘many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.’ L. Ron Hubbard was such a false prophet. And the Godless ‘religion’ he created truly has deceived many.”

The article linked to above also states:

“The creepy part of Scientology is its teaching that we are all, everyone, descendants of Thetans brought to Earth 75 million years ago by Xenu, the tyrant ruler of the ‘Galactic Confederacy.’”

THE ARTICLE also mentions celebrities who believe the lies, and shows Mr. Hubbard’s hand-written description of Xenu.

THIS POST lists a number of modern-day false prophets.  Some would disagree with one or more of the editor’s choices, but the majority listed leave no question.

Photo at nowtheendbegins.com

HAROLD CAMPING is one of many found at this site.

BENNY HINN is another.

JIM JONES was another who is not listed anywhere I looked.  He is mentioned at Manny’s blog named “Cracked Pot.”  My friend’s blog may be seen by going to my BLOGROLL.  Manny also shared THIS LINK about the man who ” in 1965, Jones claimed that the world would be engulfed in a nuclear war on July 15, 1967, that would then create a new socialist Eden on earth.”  Manny has also put up a post with A LINK to a slide show about this false prophet.

And here’s the scripture that started this little study:

1 Kings 13: 11-30

¹¹ Now an old prophet was living in Bethel; and his sons came and told him all the deeds which the man of God had done that day in Bethel; the words which he had spoken to the king, these also they related to their father. ¹² Their father said to them, “Which way did he go?” Now his sons had seen the way which the man of God who came from Judah had gone. ¹³ Then he said to his sons, “Saddle the donkey for me.” So they saddled the donkey for him and he rode away on it. ¹⁴ So he went after the man of God and found him sitting under an oak; and he said to him, “Are you the man of God who came from Judah?” And he said, “I am.” ¹⁵ Then he said to him, “Come home with me and eat bread.” ¹⁶ He said, “I cannot return with you, nor go with you, nor will I eat bread or drink water with you in this place. ¹⁷ For a command came to me by the word of the Lord, ‘You shall eat no bread, nor drink water there; do not return by going the way which you came.’” ¹⁸ He said to him, “I also am a prophet like you, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the Lord, saying, ‘Bring him back with you to your house, that he may eat bread and drink water.’” But he lied to him. ¹⁹ So he went back with him, and ate bread in his house and drank water. ²⁰ Now it came about, as they were sitting down at the table, that the word of the Lord came to the prophet who had brought him back; ²¹ and he cried to the man of God who came from Judah, saying, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Because you have disobeyed the command of the Lord, and have not observed the commandment which the Lord your God commanded you, ²² but have returned and eaten bread and drunk water in the place of which He said to you, “Eat no bread and drink no water”; your body shall not come to the grave of your fathers.’” ²³ It came about after he had eaten bread and after he had drunk, that he saddled the donkey for him, for the prophet whom he had brought back. ²⁴ Now when he had gone, a lion met him on the way and killed him, and his body was thrown on the road, with the donkey standing beside it; the lion also was standing beside the body. ²⁵ And behold, men passed by and saw the body thrown on the road, and the lion standing beside the body; so they came and told it in the city where the old prophet lived. ²⁶ Now when the prophet who brought him back from the way heard it, he said, “It is the man of God, who disobeyed the command of the Lord; therefore the Lord has given him to the lion, which has torn him and killed him, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke to him.” ²⁷ Then he spoke to his sons, saying, “Saddle the donkey for me.” And they saddled it. ²⁸ He went and found his body thrown on the road with the donkey and the lion standing beside the body; the lion had not eaten the body nor torn the donkey. ²⁹ So the prophet took up the body of the man of God and laid it on the donkey and brought it back, and he came to the city of the old prophet to mourn and to bury him. ³⁰ He laid his body in his own grave, and they mourned over him, saying, “Alas, my brother!”

False prophets are nothing new.  As this Biblical narrative describes the deception of a “prophet” and its consequences, we must ask God for discernment regarding those who claim special revelation from God.

I found a few verses about false prophets HERE.

They are:

“Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did their fathers to the false prophets.”

Luke 6:26 KJV

“For false Christ’s and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”

Mark 13:22 KJV

“For false Christ’s and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”

Matthew 24:24 KJV

“Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.”

Matthew 24:11 KJV

“[ You Will Know Them by Their Fruits ] “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.”

Matthew 7:15 KJV

“Her prophets plastered them with untempered mortar, seeing false visions, and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,’ when the LORD had not spoken.”

Ezekiel 22:28 KJV

“Your prophets have seen for you False and deceptive visions; They have not uncovered your iniquity, To bring back your captives, But have envisioned for you false prophecies and delusions.”

Lamentations 2:14 KJV

“[ False Prophets and Empty Oracles ] My heart within me is broken Because of the prophets; All my bones shake. I am like a drunken man, And like a man whom wine has overcome, Because of the LORD, And because of His holy words.”

Jeremiah 23:9 KJV

“And the LORD said to me, “The prophets prophesy lies in My name. I have not sent them, commanded them, nor spoken to them; they prophesy to you a false vision, divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart.”

Jeremiah 14:14 KJV

“The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule by their own power; And My people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end?”

Jeremiah 5:31 KJV

Photo by Mr Thinktank

Don’t be fooled.

Chris Reimers

(The photo above is not indicative of my view of Ford automobiles.)

(1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XGZS_GO8NI&list=PL-y7hT8aCU7BgjetGh2VE6MagVkwFLeuA&index=9&t=722s

(2) http://carm.org/does-mormonism-attack-other-religions