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Summary:

Basically gives 2 ways that a believer can check the validity of a prophet: Supreme Test (Duet 19:22) and Test of the Fruit (Duet 12:1-3).

The Test Of A Prophet

      From Dueteronomy 18:18, we can know that a true prophet comes from God.  True prophecies never have it's origin from man's creativeness, but from God himself. (Cf. 2Peters 1:21)  By prophecy, we define this to mean any future predictions or alleged special revelation from God spoken or written through a human messenger.

     Unfortunately, as Scriptures tell us, there are also false prophets and false teachers out there.  "But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you.  They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who brought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves."(2Peters 2:1) Scriptures also tell us that as the end times approach, more and more false prophets will come and deceive the people. (Cf. Matt. 24:12)

     Jesus himself warn Christians to watch out and be on the alert for false prophets, who come "in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves." (Matt. 7:15)  Fortunately, God tells us that there are ways to identify a false prophet. (Cf. Matt 7:16)

     Now, you may say to yourselves, "How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?" (Duet. 18:21)

Tests

1. The Supreme Test - If a prophecy fail to be fulfilled or doesn't come to past, then it is indeed false. (Duet 19:22)  Remember: God's prophecies would come to pass, and it must have a 0 percent failure rate!
   

2. Tests of the Fruit - The prophecies itself or the prophet's theology must also be under examination in light of the Bible.  If it goes against God's Word, it is surely false.  Sometimes God would allow false prophets to have their prophecy fulfilled in order to test the faithfulness of the believer's heart. (Cf. Duet 13:1-3)

(Note: No prophecies could be more amazing in terms of probability than that of the Bible.   Just the life of Jesus Christ alone has been prophesied in the Bible over 500 times! Compared to any false prophets, the Bible is still a bigger giant)

     Now, what happens when an alleged prophet is found to be false?  Since Matthew 7:18 states, "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.", we should not even listen to the false prophet's teachings.  And we definitely should not be afraid of them. (Cf. Duet. 18:22)  Rather, we should come back to the living God and his Word for truth.

By Jimmy Li

[Last edited December 18, 2001]