The psychology of false prophets

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Heb 13:8

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You ever wonder why God has place them in our midst.

Think of it as a candle burning in the dark.

How will you see the truth without the candle being lit by the true children of God, Jhn 3:3 and Rom 10:9.

It's how I learned the truth, by knowing what's false.

Rom 9:16-18 It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. 17For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.

Not much of a life though.. not knowing what you are
 

Enoch111

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The psychology of false prophets
Frankly, I was expecting some kind of psychoanalysis. But the Bible already tells us as to what drives false prophets:

1. They prefer false doctrines -- indeed *damnable heresies* -- over the truth (2 Pet 2:1)

2. Their lifestyles are pernicious -- highly injurious, destructive, deadly, wicked (2 Pet 2:2)

3. They are covetous -- greedy for filthy lucre. Which causes them to make merchandise of the Gospel and Bible truth (2 Pet 2:3)

4. They are sexually immoral and perverted, walking after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness (2 Pet 2:10)

5. They despise lawful authority (government) are presumptuous, self-willed, speaking evil of those in high office (2 Pet 2:10)

6. They resemble wild animals, brute beasts (wolves in sheep's clothing), and must therefore be taken and destroyed (2 Pet 2:12)

7. They speak evil of things which they do not understand (2 Pet 2:12)

8. They are bound for Hell and under a curse (2 Pet 2:12)

9. They will receive the reward of unrighteousness, which is eternal torment (2 Pet 2:13)

10. They enjoy riotous living, even during the day time, and cannot cease from sin (2 Pet 2:13,14)

There is a lot more that Peter has to say about these evil men which destabilize gullible Christians and promote sinful lifestyles.
 

Heb 13:8

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Frankly, I was expecting some kind of psychoanalysis. But the Bible already tells us as to what drives false prophets:

1. They prefer false doctrines -- indeed *damnable heresies* -- over the truth (2 Pet 2:1)

2. Their lifestyles are pernicious -- highly injurious, destructive, deadly, wicked (2 Pet 2:2)

3. They are covetous -- greedy for filthy lucre. Which causes them to make merchandise of the Gospel and Bible truth (2 Pet 2:3)

4. They are sexually immoral and perverted, walking after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness (2 Pet 2:10)

5. They despise lawful authority (government) are presumptuous, self-willed, speaking evil of those in high office (2 Pet 2:10)

6. They resemble wild animals, brute beasts (wolves in sheep's clothing), and must therefore be taken and destroyed (2 Pet 2:12)

7. They speak evil of things which they do not understand (2 Pet 2:12)

8. They are bound for Hell and under a curse (2 Pet 2:12)

9. They will receive the reward of unrighteousness, which is eternal torment (2 Pet 2:13)

10. They enjoy riotous living, even during the day time, and cannot cease from sin (2 Pet 2:13,14)

There is a lot more that Peter has to say about these evil men which destabilize gullible Christians and promote sinful lifestyles.

Wow, that's a good list. It was always strange to me why some choose to believe in righteousness without Christ over atheism. It takes effort and passion to study a false gospel. I suppose God knows their frame.
 

101G

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You ever wonder why God has place them in our midst.

Think of it as a candle burning in the dark.

How will you see the truth without the candle being lit by the true children of God, Jhn 3:3 and Rom 10:9.

It's how I learned the truth, by knowing what's false.

Rom 9:16-18 It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. 17For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.

Not much of a life though.. not knowing what you are
First good topic,

second, I agree. this was the whole purpose of the tree of the "knowledge" of GOOD and EVIL.

if one is given a map and was told to go North, how would they know where North is unless they had a south to go by. how can one know good unless they has experience evil.

this is why God get the worest sinner to make the best leaders. for a lier knows a lie 10 miles off.

and one can fill in the blank with that example in most settings.
 

Frank Lee

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Disagree about worst sinners being leaders. Simplest and most foolish yes.
Like Amos who was a simple country boy.

Billy Graham was a good man and effective evangelist but was far from a worst sinner.

The Holy Spirit tells us when we come against liars. Not our experience as one. Hahahaha! How many of us have NEVER lied?

Being a murderer does not qualify you to identify other such.

Brother Jude has much to say in a short letter.

Jude 1:10-16 KJVS
But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
[11] Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
[12] These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
[13] Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
[14] And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
[15] To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
[16] These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words , having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.


I believe or like to believe that most here want good, want truth and righteousness. But not all! Those that bring nothing but strife, division, contention, confusion and bad feelings are evil workers.

Even so when the sons of God assemble the devil may be found among them the word says.

Job 1:6 KJVS
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord , and Satan came also among them.
 
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Episkopos

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You ever wonder why God has place them in our midst.

Think of it as a candle burning in the dark.

How will you see the truth without the candle being lit by the true children of God, Jhn 3:3 and Rom 10:9.

It's how I learned the truth, by knowing what's false.

Rom 9:16-18 It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. 17For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.

Not much of a life though.. not knowing what you are


Being a false prophet is easy peasy. All you have to do is allow the outward man to control things. That's what the Pharisees did.

A false prophet doesn't know he's false mainly because he doesn't know himself. He can know a lot about the truth....and be very devoted to what he knows.

Just look at Balaam...he knew the truth....but there were other considerations in him that were not submitted to God. These other considerations came to define who the prophet was. There was a mixture....such as holding the truth, yes....but in unrighteousness.

All false prophets are zealous for the "truth" they know. They love to teach others.


But it's what they don't know that kills him.
 
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bbyrd009

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Dave L

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You ever wonder why God has place them in our midst.

Think of it as a candle burning in the dark.

How will you see the truth without the candle being lit by the true children of God, Jhn 3:3 and Rom 10:9.

It's how I learned the truth, by knowing what's false.

Rom 9:16-18 It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. 17For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.

Not much of a life though.. not knowing what you are
God uses false prophets to prove us to see if we love the truth.

“If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” (Deuteronomy 13:1–3) (KJV 1900)

“And if the prophet be deceived when he hath 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.” (Ezekiel 14:9) (KJV 1900)

Also to deceive world rulers leading them to destruction.

“The LORD said, ‘Who will deceive Ahab, so he will attack Ramoth Gilead and die there?’ One said this and another that. Then a spirit stepped forward and stood before the LORD. He said, ‘I will deceive him.’ The LORD asked him, ‘How?’ He replied, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ The LORD said, ‘Deceive and overpower him. Go out and do as you have proposed.’ So now, look, the LORD has placed a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours; but the LORD has decreed disaster for you.”” (1 Kings 22:20–23) (NET)
 

Heb 13:8

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Jhn 14:16-17 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

1 Cor 2:14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.
 

Heb 13:8

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False Prophets Condemned

1The word of the Lord came to me: 2“Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Say to those who prophesy out of their own imagination: ‘Hear the word of the Lord! 3This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the foolish a prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing! 4Your prophets, Israel, are like jackals among ruins. 5You have not gone up to the breaches in the wall to repair it for the people of Israel so that it will stand firm in the battle on the day of the Lord. 6Their visions are false and their divinations a lie. Even though the Lord has not sent them, they say, “The Lord declares,” and expect him to fulfill their words. 7Have you not seen false visions and uttered lying divinations when you say, “The Lord declares,” though I have not spoken?

8“ ‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because of your false words and lying visions, I am against you, declares the Sovereign Lord. 9My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations. They will not belong to the council of my people or be listed in the records of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.

10“ ‘Because they lead my people astray, saying, “Peace,” when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash, 11therefore tell those who cover it with whitewash that it is going to fall. Rain will come in torrents, and I will send hailstones hurtling down, and violent winds will burst forth. 12When the wall collapses, will people not ask you, “Where is the whitewash you covered it with?”

13“ ‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: In my wrath I will unleash a violent wind, and in my anger hailstones and torrents of rain will fall with destructive fury. 14I will tear down the wall you have covered with whitewash and will level it to the ground so that its foundation will be laid bare. When it b falls, you will be destroyed in it; and you will know that I am the Lord. 15So I will pour out my wrath against the wall and against those who covered it with whitewash. I will say to you, “The wall is gone and so are those who whitewashed it, 16those prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem and saw visions of peace for her when there was no peace, declares the Sovereign Lord.” ’

17“Now, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people who prophesy out of their own imagination. Prophesy against them 18and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the women who sew magic charms on all their wrists and make veils of various lengths for their heads in order to ensnare people. Will you ensnare the lives of my people but preserve your own? 19You have profaned me among my people for a few handfuls of barley and scraps of bread. By lying to my people, who listen to lies, you have killed those who should not have died and have spared those who should not live.

20“ ‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against your magic charms with which you ensnare people like birds and I will tear them from your arms; I will set free the people that you ensnare like birds. 21I will tear off your veils and save my people from your hands, and they will no longer fall prey to your power. Then you will know that I am the Lord. 22Because you disheartened the righteous with your lies, when I had brought them no grief, and because you encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil ways and so save their lives, 23therefore you will no longer see false visions or practice divination. I will save my people from your hands. And then you will know that I am the Lord.’ ”
 

Heb 13:8

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1 Cor 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1 Cor 2:14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.

1 Cor 1:23-24 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
 

CoreIssue

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God has place them in our midst.

I do not believe that. Evil people such as these have no problem working among us. In fact they want to.

I also believe demons are working with them as well. Prodding them on.

They hate God. They hate saints. Everybody else as tools to use.
 

Heb 13:8

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"You don't lose salvation over things you do in a moment of weakness or without realizing it. What would cause a person to lose salvation is returning to a life of willful sins. Those are not under the original blood covering." - False prophet
 

Frank Lee

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False prophets are evidence that true prophets exist for those that deny God yet prophesies through men.

False prophets speak in half truths which are whole lies.

Yes it's true if you know the truth then a lie will be evident, mostly. Many that study the Bible are so immersed in the doctrine of their denomination or sect can only see scripture through a glass darkly. They have already succumbed to false prophets.
 
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CoreIssue

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"You don't lose salvation over things you do in a moment of weakness or without realizing it. What would cause a person to lose salvation is returning to a life of willful sins. Those are not under the original blood covering." - False prophet
False prophets are evidence that true prophets exist for those that deny God yet prophesies through men.

False prophets speak in half truths which are whole lies.

Yes it's true if you know the truth then a lie will be evident, mostly. Many that study the Bible are so immersed in the doctrine of their denomination or sect can only see scripture through a glass darkly. They have already succumbed to false prophets.

By your logic mystics and the like prove their version of the supernatural exists as well.

That is really poor poor logic.

But it is true the biggest lies begin with a grain of truth.

So it is not as simple an issues you're trying to reduce it to.
 

Heb 13:8

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By your logic mystics and the like prove their version of the supernatural exists as well.

That is really poor poor logic.

But it is true the biggest lies begin with a grain of truth.

So it is not as simple an issues you're trying to reduce it to.

Ask a person if all sin is covered under the blood, past present future, big or small and then you'll know.
 

Heb 13:8

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Ezek 13

“ ‘Because they lead my people astray, saying, “Peace,” when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash, 11therefore tell those who cover it with whitewash that it is going to fall. Rain will come in torrents, and I will send hailstones hurtling down, and violent winds will burst forth. 12When the wall collapses, will people not ask you, “Where is the whitewash you covered it with?” 13“ ‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: In my wrath I will unleash a violent wind, and in my anger hailstones and torrents of rain will fall with destructive fury. 14I will tear down the wall you have covered with whitewash and will level it to the ground so that its foundation will be laid bare. When it b falls, you will be destroyed in it; and you will know that I am the Lord. 15So I will pour out my wrath against the wall and against those who covered it with whitewash. I will say to you, “The wall is gone and so are those who whitewashed it, 16those prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem and saw visions of peace for her when there was no peace, declares the Sovereign Lord.” ’

Matt 7

15Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
 

101G

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Disagree about worst sinners being leaders. Simplest and most foolish yes.
Like Amos who was a simple country boy.

Billy Graham was a good man and effective evangelist but was far from a worst sinner.

The Holy Spirit tells us when we come against liars. Not our experience as one. Hahahaha! How many of us have NEVER lied?

Being a murderer does not qualify you to identify other such.

Brother Jude has much to say in a short letter.

Jude 1:10-16 KJVS
But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
[11] Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
[12] These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
[13] Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
[14] And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
[15] To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
[16] These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words , having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.


I believe or like to believe that most here want good, want truth and righteousness. But not all! Those that bring nothing but strife, division, contention, confusion and bad feelings are evil workers.

Even so when the sons of God assemble the devil may be found among them the word says.

Job 1:6 KJVS
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord , and Satan came also among them.
sorry about that, I was meaning the worst one NOW CHANGE over to the Lord. sometimes what's in the mind don't translate perfetly to the mouth.
 
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