Why Judge Prophecy Index
#2.1 Because we are Told to Judge it
#2.2 Because False Prophets will be Punished
#2.3 Because those who Follow False Prophets will be Punished
This bible study gives many scriptures to answers the question, 'Why should we judge prophecy?'
#2. 1 BECAUSE WE ARE TOLD TO JUDGE IT
29 For thus says the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel; Do not let your prophets and your diviners, who are in the midst of you, deceive you, nor listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed.
MATTHEW 7:15 (Jesus)
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the others judge.
30 If any thing is revealed to another who sits by, let the first hold his peace.
31 For you may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Note: Despite the fact that we are warned many times not to listen to false prophets, there are still many who will listen to and believe them. The purpose of judging false prophecies, is not necessarily to condemn, but to turn them from the error of their ways, so that they, and those who listen to them can be saved (See #2.2; #2.3). This kind of judging is therefore an act of love, because we know that in many cases they will not listen to us, and will persecute us (See #5.2). Even so, because of a love for their eternal soul, we should still confront this sin (See #5.1).
(Revelation 3:19) "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten."
5 And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he has spoken to turn you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust you out of the way which the Lord your God commanded you to walk in. So shall you put the evil away from the midst of you.
20 But the prophet, who shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
15 The LORD has not sent you, but you make this people to trust in a lie. Therefore thus says the LORD;
16 Behold, I will cast you from off the face of the earth: this year you shall die, because you have taught rebellion against the LORD."
17 So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.
30 Then came the word of the Lord to Jeremiah, saying,
31 Send to all them of the captivity, saying, Thus says the Lord concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite; Because that Shemaiah has prophesied to you, and I did not send him, and he caused you to trust in a lie:
32 Therefore thus says the Lord; Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite, and his seed: he shall not have a man to dwell among this people; nor shall he behold the good that I will do for my people, says the Lord; because he has taught rebellion against the Lord.
9 And if the prophet is deceived when he has spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.
10 And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him who seeks to him."
Note: One good reason to challenge false prophets is to save their soul. They are obviously lost, and awaiting the judgment of God. Most false prophets do not know that they are false, because they are deceived, so if their falseness can be exposed, there is the possibility that they will repent and get right with God:
(James 5: 19-20) "Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one converts him;
Let him know, that he who converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins."
(2 Peter 3:9) "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering towards us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
14 Therefore the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day.
15 The ancient and honorable, he is the head; and the prophet who teaches lies, he is the tail.
16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and those who are led of them are destroyed.
MATTHEW 15:14 (Jesus)
14 Let them alone: they are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
LUKE 6:39 (Jesus)
39 And he spoke a parable to them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?
Note: We have seen the fate of false prophets (See #2.2), and now we can see that the fate of those who follow false prophets will be the same. These people are also lost. Therefore, another good reason for judging false prophesy is that the spiritual eyes of those who are deceived may be opened, that they also may turn from the error of their ways.
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