Prophets and the End Times
Bob Yandian
Now when the days of her (Mary’s) purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.” (Luke 2:22-26)
Three times Mary and Joseph came to the temple to dedicate and circumcise Jesus on the eighth day by instruction from the Law, the Word of God. Three times Simeon came to see the Messiah child by instruction from the Holy Spirit. And they all arrived at the temple at the same time. Nowhere in Leviticus 12:1-8 does it give a specific time to be at the temple. Mary and Joseph did not need to judge Simeon’s ability to hear from the Holy Spirit, because he arrived when they arrived. The word and the Holy Spirit agree. The Holy Spirit guides in line with the Word. And into the Word, He will lead you and guide you into all truth (John 16:10). God set the Word above the Holy Spirit, even above His own name (Psalm 138:2).
Today’s revival (which is in its beginning) was being driven by today’s prophets and prophecy. Much was said about so many prophets speaking the same thing, which meant it had to be right.
But in Jeremiah’s day the king listened to a great number of prophets all saying the same thing, but Jeremiah was not. Yet, Jeremiah was correct. Another king said he did not like God’s prophet because he always prophesied bad things. And God even allowed an evil spirit to be in the mouths of all the prophets to sway the king because his heart was so far from God (2 Chronicles 18:21-22). We have witnessed lately that a great number saying they have God’s plan does not mean they are right. And if you have to choose between many saying the same things yet contradicting God’s word, go with God’s word. Smith Wigglesworth said of the last revival for the Church Age just before the appearing of Jesus for His Church, “The Spirit and the Word will agree like your two hands joining.”
New Testament Prophets Are to Judge Each Other and Themselves
“Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be encouraged. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.” (1 Corinthians 14:29-32)
Old Testament prophets were not judged by other people or other prophets. And Old Testament prophets could not stop to correct their own prophetic word. New Testament prophets can make mistakes and are called to bring correction to each other. This has to be done by an understanding of God’s word.
Believers Can Also Judge If Prophets Words are True or False
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.” (1 John 4:1-3)
Of course, it is obvious what we as Christians are to use God’s word as our standard of judgment over prophecies. We are to use several scriptures of the word of God to test prophecy. If God declares His word to be absolute truth, we stand in good company when we use it as a standard for the utterances of men.
There Are Two Types of Prophets – True and False
False prophets are unbelievers operating under satanic power imitating true prophets. They do not confess Jesus Christ is God come in the flesh, which John declares to be the catalyst of the proof of God’s plan. Their purpose, like the false prophets around Pharoah, is to deceive believers into following Satan (Matthew 7:15, Matthew 24:11,24, 2 Thessalonians 2:9, 2 Peter 2:1).
Satan’s false prophet will convince the people of earth to receive the mark of the beast in the tribulation (Revelation 19:20).
All Christian prophets are true prophets, not false prophets. Don’t throw away all prophets because some are proven to be wrong. True prophets – those who believe Jesus is God in the flesh – will stand the test of time and still be around to be trusted.
A Christian prophet who prophesies wrong things is not a false prophet. He is a carnal prophet, listening to Satan, demons, or his flesh, pride, arrogance, self-esteem, and the love of money. Returning from being carnal to spiritual demands 1 John 1:9. A carnal prophet is no different than any other carnal Christian. He has his daily sins removed by confessing them and receiving God’s cleansing of them. After confession of his sins, he is now a spiritual prophet and capable of being guided by the Holy Spirit.
Not every Christian who says he is a prophet is a prophet. God has set some in the church, first apostles, second prophets (1 Corinthians 12:28).
Prophets Are Anointed Humans
But there are true prophets, who are saved, who are missing the direction of the Holy Spirit in small ways and, at times, big ways. If the gift came from God, he must be a true prophet. But he still can miss the mark and misuse the spiritual gift and the office.
Agabus, a true New Testament prophet of God, correctly told of a coming famine which happened in the days of Claudius Caesar (Acts 11:28). But Agabus later failed to hear or speak correctly the words of the Holy Spirit. He wrapped Paul’s hands in his own belt and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, So will the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.” But it was the Romans who tied Paul’s hands and rescued him out of the hands of the angry Jews (Acts 21:11).
A Prophets Character is More Important Than His Message
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” (James 3:13-17)
James is simply telling the congregation to stay away from arrogance in their call or daily life. When bitterness, envy, and strife is in our heart, you become proud and will even fight the truth of God’s word. This attitude does not descend down from heaven but comes up from below as sensual and devilish. Let your attitude toward God and people be humility and meekness. This means having a teachable attitude of wisdom from someone who is still being taught and formed in his ministry. Then display peace, gentleness, and an open attitude to be questioned. The fruit of your character is far more important than the message of the office you stand in.
