The apostolic testimony in Scripture consistently reveals the undercover ops of false prophets.
“I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.”
Acts 20:29-30
“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, ”
2 Peter 2:1
“For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.”
Jude 4
Among you. From among your own selves. Secretly. Crept in unnoticed. How can these things be so? Very simple. Because you cannot judge a prophet by his clothing. As our Lord Himself put it,
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”
Matthew 7:15
Like the wolf who disguised himself as grandma in the children’s classic, Little Red Riding Hood, false prophets disguise themselves in sheep’s clothing.
So what can you judge a false prophet by? Again, as our Lord Himself put it, “You will recognize them by their fruits.”(Matt. 7:16, 20) Let me give you 5 key words that highlight their evil motives and demonic lies.
1) Distort – They distort the truth of Scripture.
“and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things,”
Acts 20:30
“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words.
2 Peter 2:1-3
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,”
1 Timothy 4:1
The teachings of demons. Strong language. Should come as no surprise considering,
“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
2 Cor. 1:13-15
2) Destroy – They seek to destroy the church of God.
“I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;”
Acts 20:29
3) Draw – They seek to draw disciples after them. And no wonder since they are seeking to build their own kingdom.
“and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.”
Acts 20:30
“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths”
2 Timothy 4:3-4
“And many will follow their sensuality
2 Peter 2:2
4) Divide – They divide because of the false doctrine they perpetuate.
“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
Ephesians 4:11-14
Among the many ecclesiological truths Paul espouses in this passage, one that stands out is that there can be no unity in the church apart from doctrinal unity. By their cunning and craftiness, false teachers lure people by every wind of doctrine, thus bringing division rather than the unity of the faith
5) Deny – They deny the Lord Jesus.
“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction”
2 Peter 2:1
“For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.”
Jude 4
These are not secondary issues. After all, notice what false prophets attack, namely the Lord Jesus Christ, His Church and His Word. This is no Little Red Riding Hood children’s story, but the real thing!
