Agreement With the Bible
1. What is one of the most important tests of a true prophet according to Isa. 8:20?
Is. 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
ANSWER:
If a claimed prophet speaks according to the law and to the testimony.
2. What is the Hebrew definition for the law and the testimony?
ANSWER:
Law-8451 towrah, to-raw´; or torah, to-raw´; from 3384; a precept or statute, especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch:—law.
Testimony-8584. teh-oo-daw´; from 5749; attestation, i.e. a precept, usage:—testimony.
5749. ood; a primitive root; to duplicate or repeat; by implication, to protest, testify (as by reiteration)
OBSERVATION:
The “law” is referring to Torah (the first five books in the Old Testament, the writing of Moses).
The “testimony” is referring to the witness from the prophets that repeat or reiterate things that are already in Torah. In this sense then everything must be tested by the writings of Moses.
If a prophet speaks not according to and not in harmony to the writings of Moses and the previous prophets then “there is no light in them” then he is not a true prophet.
3. What are some of the major teachings in Torah (Genesis to Deuteronomy) that can be use as to test claimed prophets today?
Gen. 2:2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. Gen. 2:3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
Gen. 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
Gen. 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. Gen. 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: Gen. 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Gen. 15:6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Ex. 25:8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.
Ex. 31:18 And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.
Lev. 16:30 For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD.
Num. 1:2 Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, every male by their polls
Deut. 8:2 And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. Deut. 8:3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
ANSWER:
Gen. 2:2-3 The creation story and the Sabbath
Gen. 3:1 The existence of Satan and the fall of man
Gen. 2:7; 3:4, 19 The state of the dead
Gen. 15:6 The righteousness by faith
Ex. 25:8 The sanctuary
Ex. 31:18 The Ten Commandments
Lev. 16:30 The final atonement
Num. 1:2 Organized church
Deut. 8:2-3 Living by the Word of God
OBSERVATION:
If a prophet speaks contrary to creation, the Sabbath, the existence of Satan, the nature of sin, the state of the dead, the righteousness by faith, the sanctuary, the Ten Commandments, the final atonement, the need for church organization and importance of living by the Word of God then he is not a true prophet.
4. Why did Isaiah mention about the importance of testing in Isaiah chapter 8? What are some of the issues that he was dealing with in chapter 8?
Is. 8:12 Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.
Is. 8:16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
Is. 8:19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?
ANSWER:
Is. 8:12-Evil alliance or conspiracy
Is. 8:19-Spiritualism
Is. 8:16-The importance of sealing with the law and the testimony
OBSERVATION AND APPLICATION:
See how evil alliance problem is connected to spiritualism and see how sealing message is connected to the need to test the spirits according to the law and to the testimony
In the last days there will be worldwide evil alliance in connection with spiritualism. During that time, those who test all things by the law and the testimony will be sealed with the law and the testimony. This group is mentioned in Rev. 12 as the “remnant” which keeps the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus.
APPLICATION:
How diligent are you when it comes to testing things that you hear and see?
Confessing Jesus, God-man
1. What was one of the issues John faced in his time; and what does he say is another mark of a true prophet? 1John 4:1-3
1John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1John 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
ANSWER:
False prophets teaching that Jesus Christ is not come in the flesh.
OBSERVATIONS AND QUESTION:
This deceptive teaching had to be such an important issue back in John’s day because he mentioned it again in 2 John. 2John 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
This deceptive teaching is connected to the spirit of antichrist
Therefore there is a connection between many false prophets and the spirit of antichrist.
There is a similar picture in Matthew 24:24
In order to distinguish between the true and the false prophet, we must understand that Jesus came in the flesh.
2. Did John believe that Jesus took human flesh?
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
ANSWER:
Yes
3. What did apostle Peter say about the flesh of Jesus?
1Pet. 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit
1Pet. 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin
ANSWER:
Jesus experienced death in the flesh (not denying that Jesus also went through mental suffering as well) that the unjust person may become just (The work of justification)
Jesus suffered for us in the flesh that we might only cease from sin. (The work of sanctification)
OBSERVATIONAL QUESTIONS:
If Jesus did not come in the flesh then could His death suffering in the flesh help us with our justification and sanctification?
Is it possible that the false prophets and the spirit of antichrist have taught different doctrines regarding the work of justification and of sanctification?
DEEPER STUDY
1. What else did John say about the characteristics of antichrist in 1 John 2:18?
1John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
ANSWER:
It just says they shall come
2. Observe the previous verses (1 John 2:15-17)
1John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1John 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
OBSERVATIONAL QUESTIONS:
Is it possible that the characteristics of the spirit of antichrist are “the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life”? If so how?
Is it possible that wrong teaching on the human nature of Christ can influence your understanding on justification and sanctification? If so how?
4. What did apostle Paul say about the human nature of Christ?
Rom. 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh
ANSWER:
Jesus took the likeness of sinful flesh
DEEPER STUDY:
“Likeness” in Greek, 3667 homoioma means similitude.
See below how the word “likeness” is used in the Bible.
Rom. 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like (3667 homoioma) to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Rom. 5:14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude (3667 homoioma) of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
Rom. 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness (3667 homoioma) of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Phil. 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness (3667 homoioma) of men:
Rev. 9:7 And the shapes of the locusts were like (3667 homoioma) unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.
People may argue whether the definition for “likeness” (3667 homoioma) means “almost the same and not exactly the same” or “exactly the same”
However the both argument maybe correct because Jesus was exactly the same as us in terms of Jesus was 100 percent human. At the same time Jesus was not 100 percent exactly us in terms of Jesus had no sin and He also had 100 percent divine nature in Him. Therefore let us not argue about this.
However I do want to point out the fact that Jesus had the likeness of sinful flesh meaning the characteristics of the human flesh of Jesus was in many ways like us yet without sin. That was the reason why Jesus was able to “condemned sin in the (sinful) flesh”
5. How did Paul describe the “flesh” in Rom. 8:3?
Rom. 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh
ANSWER:
Paul described human flesh “weak”
6. According to Paul, in what way, human flesh is weak?
Rom. 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
ANSWER:
Flesh has no power to “perform that which is good”
7. How did Jesus describe human flesh?
Matt. 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak
John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
ANSWER:
Flesh is weak and “profiteth nothing”
“profiteth” means 5623. opheleo, o-fel-eh´-o; to be useful, i.e. to benefit: — advantage, better, prevail, profit.
Therefore human flesh is weak and has no advantages.
CONCLUSION:
Jesus came in the likeness of sinful flesh. Human flesh is weak to perform that which is good and has no advantages to accomplish anything.
Jesus came in the shape of weak (no power to perform) and no advantages to accomplish on His own.
Therefore Jesus overcame sin not by depending on His flesh but putting His trust in the Father. (John 6:57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.)
DISCUSSIONS:
Is it possible for “the false prophets” and the “spirit of antichrist” taught that Jesus had human form but it was not human and the flesh was not weak but had advantages over us?
If so then why would they teach it that way?
How does the false teaching of the human nature of Christ connected with the “lust of the flesh”?
APPLICATION:
Why do you need to believe that Jesus came in the likeness of sinful flesh?
The Orchard Test
1. What did Jesus say in the Sermon on the Mount about how true prophets can be identified?
Matt. 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Matt. 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Matt. 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Matt. 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Matt. 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Matt. 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
ANSWER:
By their fruits ye shall know them
2. What does it mean good fruit, absolutely no personality and character flaws?
Noah’s drunkenness-Gen. 9:21-22
Abraham’s lie-Gen. 12:12, 13
Moses’ anger-Num. 20:10-12
Jonah’s anger-Jonah 4:1
John the Baptist’s doubt-Luke 7:19
Paul’s contention-Acts 15:36-39
Peter’s fear of the Jews-Gal. 2:11-14
ANSWER:
It is true that God’s prophet should have holy character and not demonstrating a life of ungodliness constantly however that does not mean they are without personality and character flaws. Prophets are not infallible. Therefore when Jesus said, “you shall know them by their fruit” can mean they should have godly life but that does not mean absolutely no character or personality weaknesses.
3. What does it mean good fruit, good works of the ministry?
Matt. 7:21 Not 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.
Matt. 7:22 Many 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?
Matt. 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
ANSWER:
Yes, true prophets should have good works that include the works of the ministry but this may not be the best way to test the prophets. Why? Because according to Matthew 7:21-23, doing the work of prophesying, casting out demons, and miracles are not reliable to identify true prophet.
4. What does it mean evil fruit according to Matthew 7:15-20?
Matt. 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Matt. 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
OBSERVATIONS AND QUESTIONS:
Observe the connection between false prophets and ravening wolves and evil fruit.
Therefore it is possible that evil fruit is related to ravening wolves.
What does it mean, “ravening”?
5. Who else did Jesus describe with the word “ravening”?
Luke 11:39 And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.
ANSWER:
The Pharisees have similar characteristics as false prophets
6. How did Ezekiel describe false prophets in Eze. 22:25?
Ezek. 22:25 There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof.
ANSWER:
Roaring lion ravening the prey
7. What were those false prophets teaching according to Ezekiel?
Ezek. 22:28 And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken.
ANSWER:
Speak the things that God did not speak
OBSERVATIONS:
“Evil fruit” is related to “ravening wolves”
“Ravening” is connected to Pharisees (which is connected to righteousness by works) and “ravening” is also connected to false teaching (saying something with the authority of God but there is no scriptural bases).
Therefore “evil fruit” may be connected to righteousness by works and falsely using the authority of God.
CONCLUSION:
What would be the test to identify true prophet?
The words of true prophet should not contradict the word of God and the doctrine of righteousness by faith.
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