#100 -- Gospel and Spiritual Growth

Valley – October 19, 2003

                                                                                                                              

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

This is only the first point of the whole outline prepared for this last Sunday.  I only covered this material.  The natural four-point outline of the eleven passages describing lying or false prophets is found under D.  This will be brief since we head out for the Dispensational Conference in just a few hours and my time is crunched.

 

To begin the approach to false prophets in Christ's earthly ministry, we went to Deuteronomy 18:15 which predicts that "the Prophet" would come to deliver Israel.  Jesus Christ was that Prophet.  The Jews were well aware of the prophecy and confronted John the Baptizer in John 1 questioning his identity.  They asked if he was the Prophet or Elijah (Jn. 1:21).  He denied that he was but pointed to Jesus Christ as that Prophet (Jn. 1:25, 45).  The great prophet was on earth and there were lying prophets who were contradicting Him.  He identified them and their assault on Israel even as He presented the kingdom of the heavens during His earthly ministry. He also prophesied the coming of false prophets at the end of the dispensation of Law during Daniel's 70th Week. 

 

Just a few notes are in order. 

A.  False prophets come disguised as devout Israelite sheep.  They appear to be Jewish prophets.  "Sheep" in the context of Matthew are Jews and neither the Gentiles nor the Church.  In reality they were ravening, rapine wolves.  The word "greedy" refers to taking or seizing by force.  Christ tells the group on the Mount to beware of these individuals.  The word "beware" has the idea of keeping one's attention directed toward the possibility of their coming.  In other words, "Don't let them sneak up on you or backside you."  The fruit of these false prophets of the world system demonstrates their prevarication. 

 

B.   In the sermon on the plain, Jesus turns from the crowd and addresses His disciples (Lu. 6).  His disciples were to expect persecution as was experienced by the true prophets in the passed.  They were to be aware of the good speech of the people because Israelites had a tendency to praise and speak well of false prophets and their prophecy.  Jeremiah is a good example of national opposition to the true prophet and acceptance of false prophets of the world system.

 

C.  Refers to Christ's predictions concerning false prophets that will be raised up in the Tribulation Period.  These serve under the False Prophet of Revelation.  They will have great powers by which they do sign miracles and marvels.  Matthew 24:25-28 gives an overview of the content of what they will prophesy then.  Mark 13:31 also provides an example of what they will say in the parallel passage.

 

 

Anticipating His blessings,

DKS

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

 

Prophets of Human Moral Religion -- #4

 

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 Existence of True Prophets in the New Testament Era

                  1.  Under Law

                  2.  Through the Grace Transition (cf. 1 Cor. 13:8-11)

              B. The Extent of World System Prophets in the New Testament

                  1.   yeudoprofh,thj (pseudoprophetes) – 11 times in NT

                  2.   profh,thj (prophetes) – one time in NT

              C. The Expression of the World System Prophets Related to the New Testament

                  1.  Lying

                  2.  Heresies of Destruction

              D. The Evidence of the threat of False Prophets

                  1.  Under Law – five times (Matt. 7:15; 24:11, 24; Mk. 13:22; Lu. 6:26)

                  2.  In the Transition – one time (Acts 13:6)

                  3.  In the Dispensation of Grace – two times (2 Pe. 2:1; 1 Jn. 4:1)

                  4.  In the Tribulation Period – three times (Rev. 16:13; 19:20; 20:10)

 

TRANS:  False Prophets are described during Christ's earthly ministry.  Some were active in His day and are predicted to be active later in the dispensation of Law during the 70th week.

 

I.    FALSE PROPHETS DESCRIBED DURING CHRIST'S EARTHLY MINISTRY – THE CHARACTERISTICS OF FALSE PROPHETS IN THE DISPENSATION OF

      LAW – THE APPROACH OF FALSE PROPHETS IN THE TIME OF CHRIST AND THE FUTURE

      A.  Christ's Description of False Prophets in His Warning in the Sermon on the Mount –

            Matt. 7:15

            1.   False Prophets Come Disguised as Sheep – Vs. 15

            2.   False Prophets Are Greedy Wolves Inside

            3.   False Prophets Produce Fruit That Will Identify Them – Vss. 16-20

                  a.   The Potential for Full Experiential Knowledge from Watching Their Fruit –

                        Vs. 16a

                  b.   The Production Identifies the Reality of the Species of Plant – Vss. 16b-19

                  c.   The Principle Concerning the Fruit as Proof of Who the False Prophets of the

                        World System Are – Vs. 20

      B.   Christ's Denunciation of Men Speaking Well of His Disciples – Lu. 6:26 (cf. vs. 20)

            1.   Blessings of Persecution as True Prophets Were Persecuted – Lu. 6:21-23

            2.   Woe Pronounced on Persons with Physical Blessing in Time – Lu. 6:24-26a

            3.   Fathers Spoke Well of False Prophets – Lu. 6:26b

      C.  Christ's Prediction of False Prophets in Daniel's 70th Week

            1.   Many False Prophets Will Be Raised – Matt. 24:11

                  a.   Someone Else Will Bring Them on the Scene

                  b.   They Will Cause Many to Wander

            2.   Many False Christs and False Prophets Will Be Raised Up – Matt. 24:24

                  a.   Lying Christs and Lying Prophets (Quality)

                  b.   Someone Else Will Bring Them on the Scene

                  c.   They Will Give Great Sign Miracles

                  d.   They Will Give Marvels (Signal Acts) [cf. Jn. 4:48]

                  e.   Their Purpose Is to Cause as Many as Possible to Wander

                  f.    Their Intention Is Possibly to Lead the Elect Astray

            3.   Many False Christs and False Prophets Will Be Raised – Mark 13:22 [as in Matt.

                  24:24 with the following additions]

                  a.   Refuse to Believe One Who Identifies a Man on Earth as Christ – Mk. 13:21

                  b.   Purpose Is to Cause to Wander from [AV "seduce"]

TRANS:  There is one time in which the noun prophet is used of a world system prophet in the New Testament.  This is found identifying Bar Jesus or Elymas.