This message is a continuation of the outline sent last week. We left the outline at II. B. 1. last Sunday and picked up there in this message. The section involves the external marks of the prophet by and in the world system. Zech. 13:4, 5 indicate that the prophets of the world system attempt to appear by their manner of dress to be true prophets of Jehovah. In other words, they wear a uniform that advertises that they are prophets of the true God. They wear a mantle of hair as did Elijah and Elisha the prophets of Jehovah.

B. 2. describes the fact that the prophets of the world system attempt to give revelation in conflict with the revelation of Jehovah. A great illustration of this is the conflict of Hananiah the prophet of the world system with Jeremiah the true prophet of Jehovah in Jeremiah 27, 28. Jehovah had told Jeremiah to make yokes of wood and to send them five kings (27:2, 3). Evidently Jeremiah wore these yokes for a period of time as a revelation to Judah as well as the five kingdoms. Hananiah, the prophet of the world system within Israel, came and prophesied saying that the vessels of the temple and the captives that were in Babylon would return within two years (28:2-4). He prophesied that the yoke of Babylon would be broken in complete contradiction to the revelation given by Jeremiah and signified by the prophetic act of making and wearing the yokes. Jeremiah indicated that it would be nice if Hananiah's prophecy was true but that only its fulfillment would demonstrate the validity of the prophet and his prophecy. Hananiah took the yoke off of Jeremiah's neck and broke it again saying that in two years Jehovah would break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the nations (28:10). Jehovah told Jeremiah that He had put a yoke of iron (Babylon) on the neck of the nations. The indictment is clear in 28:15, 16: 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. Note that the proof that Jeremiah's revelation was truly from Jehovah is that within a year Hananiah would die which he did two months later (28:17 cf. 28:1). Hananiah's revelation was antipodal to that of Jeremiah and was a lie. This is typical of the prophets of the world system.

B. 3. Prophets of the world system functioning in Judah who normally attributed their false prophecies to Jehovah. They prophesied lies in the character or Person of Jehovah. I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed (Jer. 23:25). The idea of "in my name" is that the character of God was manifested guaranteeing the validity and veracity of the prophecy that the false prophets gave. They claimed to dream dreams that originated with Jehovah. For I have not sent them, saith the LORD, yet they prophesy a lie in my name; that I might drive you out, and that ye might perish, ye, and the prophets that prophesy unto you (Jer. 27:15). There was a divine purpose in this. He permitted these prophets of the world system to prophecy lies in order to give himself grounds for driving out Judah and for causing Judah to perish. Furthermore these prophets use a prophetic formula like the prophets of Jehovah. Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He saith (Jer. 23:31). There are three occurrences of one of the roots that mark prophetic utterance [highlighted in the text]. Generally Hebrew lexicographers and grammarians identify the introductory verb as a passive participle [the Masoretes pointed the text as such]. This formula is found multiple times in Old Testament prophecy and in Jeremiah. Note the "saith the Lord" references in the context in 22:16, 24; 23:2, 4, 5, 11, 12, 24:28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 and 27:15, 16, 19, 22; 28 as examples of this marker. Two other verbs also are used in these contexts to mark the presentation of revelation "to speak" (dahbar) and "to say"(ahmar). Jehovah is opposed to the prophets that attribute their prophecies to Him marking them by "He saith."

B. 4. again goes to Jeremiah 28 and Hananiah who replaced Jehovah's revelation with other revelation. That revelation may have come from within his imagination or from supernatural involvement with demons. The context does not tell us. The prophet himself was accountable for his own prophecy on either count.

B. 5. These prophets prophesy a lie (often translated "lies"). A good example of this is Jeremiah 27:14-16: Therefore hearken not unto the words of the prophets that speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto you. ¹⁵ For I have not sent them, saith the LORD, yet they prophesy a lie in my name; that I might drive you out, and that ye might perish, ye, and the prophets that prophesy unto you. ¹⁶ Also I spake to the priests and to all this people, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Hearken not to the words of your prophets that prophesy unto you, saying, Behold, the vessels of the LORD'S house shall now shortly be brought again from Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto you. In the next message we will be dealing with "false prophets" in the Old Testament who are literally "prophets of a lie."

B. 6. explores the idea that the prophets of the world system often prophesy what they knew the people wanted to hear in order to gain their confidence and allegiance. The prophecy made the people happy and the prophet look good. For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. ¹⁴ They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. ¹⁵ Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? Nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD (Jer. 6:13-15). The promises of the false prophets of peace helped heal the hurt of the daughter of Judah "slightly" yet there was no peace. If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people (Mic. 2:11). This man becomes a prophet to Judah and is accepted because he prophesies exactly what they want to hear for their own personal gratification.

B. 7. takes us to a place that indicates the prophecy of the prophets of the world system may actually have demonic origin. Saul was the king of Israel. An evil spirit from Jehovah came upon him and he prophesied. And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand (1 Sam. 18:10). It is likely that this prophecy involved the demise of David to some extent or in some way. David was a great warrior who led Saul's army in great victories over the Philistines. When he returned to Saul, the women evidently gave Saul a basis for the prophecy. And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick. ⁷ And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. ⁸ And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom (1Sam 16:6-8)? Saul hurled his javelin at David intending to impale him on the wall but David fled twice (16:11). A demon came and enhanced his evil mood and caused Saul to prophecy. This is possible for any prophet of the world system. These demons are only permitted to originate a false prophecy by God's permission. They often use a specific mental condition that is a response of the sin nature as a basis for the prophecy that the prophet gives. Some may have created such a prophecy in such a way as to make the prophet believe that it had come from a supernatural source.

There is no outline attached since this material was in last week's outline. I will finish the material this coming Sunday and sent an abbreviated attachment with it next week. D.V.