#99 -- Gospel and Spiritual Growth

Valley – October 12, 2003

                                                                                                                              

THE PROVISION OF THE RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD SYSTEM OF PERSONNEL FOR THE PRACTICE OF RELIGION – III

his message continues the description of human moral religious prophets of the world system as presented in the pages of the Old Testament.  These characteristics provide a basis for warning Christians of those who attempt to present other revelation than the pages of the Bible.  Be reminded that revelation is complete for the Church and that there will be no more new revelation until the Rapture.  False prophets were using their prophetic activities to infiltrate Israel and led the nation away from Jehovah.  They constantly contradicted Jehovah's true prophets.  They prophesied their own prophecies that were different (and often the opposite of) than Jehovah's revelation.  Grace revelation encourages Christians to put every spirit to the test that comes and attempts to give revelation. Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world (1 Jn. 4:1).

 

C. lists 12 things that characterized the activities of the prophets of the world system in the Old Testament. 1. They err and cause others to err.  But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment (Isa. 28:7). They wander or go astray while they gratify the lusts of their sin nature through strong drink.  "Err" means to "make wander, deceive or go astray."  As a result, their vision and judgment are completely perverted.  And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err (Jer. 23:13).  1. They are ashamed.  Their shame the shame of one who is caught in a criminal act.  As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets, 27 Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us (Jer. 2:26-27). Their shame is in their idolatry which was a mark of stupidity.  They knew better and did it anyway.  3.  They are amazed.  And it shall come to pass at that day, saith the LORD, that the heart of the king shall perish, and the heart of the princes; and the priests shall be astonished, and the prophets shall wonder.  Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall have peace; whereas the sword reacheth unto the soul (Jer. 4:9, 10).   4. They do deceit and falsehood.  Prophets of the world system in Jeremiah's era were seeking unrighteous gain through fraud and deceit.  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 (Jer. 6:13, 14).  6.  They seek gain by violence.  Therefore will I give their wives unto others, and their fields to them that shall inherit them: for every one from the least even unto the greatest is given to covetousness, from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely (Jer. 8:10).  The word translated "covetous" in both of the above passages describes getting unrighteous gain, robbing or violently cutting off that which belongs to another. 7. They are polluted.  For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the LORD (Jer. 23:11).  8.  They oppose true prophets.  The whole chapter of Jeremiah 26 described the opposition of Hannaniah to the true prophetic ministry of Jeremiah.  There are many other passages that demonstrate this problem in the OT era.  8.  They do or make evil.  Because of all the evil of the children of Israel and of the children of Judah, which they have done to provoke me to anger, they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets, and the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.  Their evil is a part of the evil of the leadership of Judah and the whole population.  9.  They prophesy lies.  I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. 26 How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; 32 Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD (Jer. 23:25, 26, 32).  Their own immaterial (heart) being generated deceit.  10.  They teach lies.  They prophesy lies and also provide instruction concerning their lies.  the word "teach" is the verb that is the root of the word Torah or Law.  The Torah  (five books of Moses) was instruction for the practice of the sons of Israel.  The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail (Isa. 9:15).  11.  They make those who listen to them empty.  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD (Jer. 23:16).  This is another reference to the fact that their prophecies and visions are conjured up in their own hearts to impress the audience and to gain their own ends. 12.  They are prophets of deceit.  I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. 26 How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart (Jer. 23:25, 26).

 

D. provides an analysis of their expressions as prophets.  This involves the content of their speech and approach.  They prophesy lies.  The word "lie" is found in the Hebrew Bible 113 times.  The noun is normally found in the singular (often collective) and only in the plural five times (Psa. 101:7; Prov. 12:17; 5, 9; Jer. 23:32).  The verb is found six times.  This was clearly a central aspect of their approach to prophecy.  They knew that most of what they prophesied was a lie when examined in light of the revelation of the Law.  The outline has a substantial list of passages that demonstrate this.  Jer. 14:14-16 is a good example.  Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart. 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. 16 And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and they shall have none to bury them, them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters: for I will pour their wickedness upon them.  2.  These prophets prophesied by other gods on occasion (if they had thoroughly deceived their audience into believing its validity).  The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit (Jer. 2:8).  And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err (Jer. 23:13).  Baal was a major Canaanite god.  3.  They abhor true prophecy.  Therefore thus saith the LORD of the men of Anathoth, that seek thy life, saying, Prophesy not in the name of the LORD, that thou die not by our hand (Jer. 11:21): But ye gave the Nazarites wine to drink; and commanded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not (Amos 2:12).  As a result of their prophecies, they gave people a false anticipation and a false hope.  What they said led the people away from the God of creation as He was manifested before them under the Mosaic Law. 

 

The Law has revelation concerning how Israel was to look at one who claimed to be a prophet.  The key verse for this is in Deut. 18:22: When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.  Jeremiah reiterates this principle again in 28:9.  The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent him.  The proof of the prophet's revelation was in its fulfillment.  Another test was whether the revelation conformed to the revealed principles of the Mosaic Law that governed the lives of Israel. 

 

The gift of prophecy no longer exists in the Body of Christ.  Any who prophesy or claim to prophecy are not prophets of God.  The characteristics that have been presented are common among any prophets of any dispensation that identify with human moral religion of the world system.  Their prophetic utterances and writings can only lead a true believer astray.  The next message will deal with the 11 occurrences of "false prophets" in the New Testament.  These neatly bundle in four categories.

 

I have used the AV in the citations in the synopsis and highlighted the pertinent words.

 

 

THE PROVISION OF THE RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD SYSTEM OF PERSONNEL FOR THE PRACTICE OF RELIGION – III

 

Prophets of Human Moral Religion -- #3

1 John 2:15

 

Proposition:   To develop the data concerning the provision of prophets for the human moral religion of the world system and to show the characteristics of their proclamations and practices.

        Introduction

              A. The Necessity for Personnel for Human Moral Religion of the World System

              B. The Vulnerability of People to Authoritative Leadership in World Religion

              C. The Diversity of Personnel in Human Moral Religion

                  1.  Priests Who Served for Access

                  2.  Prophets Who Show Revelation for Authority

                  3.  Pastors Who Shepherd the Adherents

              D. The Identity of Personnel for Old Testament World Religions

              E. The Enormity of the Problem of Prophets of System Religion in the Old Testament

              F. The Identity of Major Passages Dealing with Prophets of the World System

                  1.  Historical – 1 Kings 18, 22

                  2.  Prophetic – Jeremiah 23, 27, 28; Ezekiel 13, 14

 

II.  THE PRONOUNCEMENTS OF PROPHETS WHO DELIVERED RELIGIOUS MESSAGES TO HUMAN ADHERENTS – HUMANS ENERGIZED TO BRING FALSE REVELATION FOR A RELIGION TO ITS FOLLOWERS – SETTING STANDARDS FOR WORLD SYSTEM RELIGION AGAINST THE REVELATION OF THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE

        (Continuation)

      C.  The Examination of the Prophets of the World System

            1.   They Err (Isa. 28:7) and Cause People to Err – Jer. 23:13

            2.   They Are Ashamed – Jer. 2:26

            3.   They Are Amazed – Jer. 4:9, 10

      4. They Do Deceit and Falsehood – Jer 6:13, 14

            5.   They Are Seeking Gain by Violence – Jer. 8:10

            6.   They Are Polluted – Jer. 23:11

            7.   They Oppose True Prophets – Jer. 26:7, 8, 11, 16; 20:2

            8.   They Do Evil – Jer. 32:32

            9.   They Prophesy Lies – Jer. 23:25, 26, 32

    10.   They Teach Lies – Isa. 9:15

         11.    They Make Hearers Empty – Jer. 23:16

         12.    They Are Prophets of Deceit – Jer. 23:25

      D.  The Expressions of the Prophets of the World System

            1.   They Prophesy Lies

                  a.   Isa. 9:15

                  b.   Jer. 14:14-16

                  c.   Jer. 23:25, 32

                  d.   Jer. 27:14-16

                  e.   Jer. 29:9

            2.   They Prophesy by Their Gods – Jer. 2:8; 23:13

            3.   They Abhor True Prophecy from Jehovah – Jer. 11:21; Amos 2:12

            4.   They Give False Anticipation and Hope

            5.   They Lead People Away from the God of Creation

      E.   The Establishing of the Test for a Prophet

            1.   Deuteronomy 18:22

            2.   Jeremiah 28:9

     

TRANS:     Next week we will be examining the provision of false prophets by the world system as they are described in the New Testament.  They also provided revelation that gives an objective authority for the practice of its adherents.

 

II.  THE PROBLEMS WITH FALSE PROPHETS WHO DELIVERED RELIGIOUS MESSAGES TO HUMAN ADHERENTS – HUMANS ENERGIZED TO BRING FALSE REVELATION FOR A RELIGION TO ITS FOLLOWERS AND THE FOLLOWERS OF THE TRUE GOD – SETTING STANDARDS FOR WORLD SYSTEM RELIGION AGAINST THE REVELATION OF THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE

      A.  The Extent of False Prophets in the New Testament

            1.   False Prophets – 11 Times

            2.   Foreign Prophet – Titus 1:12

      B.   The Evidence of Ongoing Historical and Prophetic Problems with False Prophets

 

TRANS:  False prophets were the resources for revelation that prevented its adherents from seeing the natural revelation of God.  It got and held their attention so that they could be living in the realm of "the lie."  They could live independent of the God of the universe with a good conscience since there was prophetic revelation that supported their practices.

 

© by David K. Spurbeck

Valley Baptist Church

P. O. Box 99, Gaston, OR 97119