False Prophets 101 - Eyes to See

“I have electric light,
and I have second sight,
I have AMAZING POWERS OF OBSERVATION.”
– Pink Floyd
"And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:20-21

I read a comment from an Anonymous source on another blog recently. The commenter was saying that "When the tower fell in Siloam killing 18 people, I don't see Jesus explaining to his disciples the significance of the number 18 or the hidden meaning of Siloam. I do read Jesus telling his disciples that if they didn't repent they too would perish." I thought that was a very insightful comment, also very true. Here is what Jesus told them:

There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?

I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?

I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Luke 13:1-5

The point here is that Jesus makes it clear that these people ARE NOT worse sinners than everyone else, just because calamity fell on them. Don't you think that if it WAS a judgement from God, or that there WAS some spiritual significance in those situations that Jesus would have said so?

There are alot of brothers and sisters out there that analyze the calamities going on in the world, or sporting events, rock stars, memes if you will, and attribute spiritual significance to it. Now I firmly believe that the Lord can and does communicate to His sons and daughters in different ways, but I'm not talking about that.

For example, a brother recently compared Congress to a train wreck and made the claim that God was stating by this train wreck that America would crash during the 111th Congress. This man went into great detail to prove his point. We are now in the 112th Congress and as of yet, America is still standing. This man had to come out and apologize for his false prophecy. Most people don't know this same man made similar proclamations of doom for America at Y2K that he had to apologize for as well, thus establishing himself as a false prophet. Don't be mad at me for stating the facts, this person has a pattern of making false predictions. I feel sorry for the people that are deceived by him. I know I was. God's standard for prophets are 100% accuracy. Period. Deu 18:20-22.

There was alot of talk about the significance of the earthquakes in Christchurch New Zealand recently. Well, there are literally hundreds of earthquakes going on in Arkansas but nobody is talking about that. The point I am trying to make is that there is alot of people claiming this judgement of God and that judgement of God and there are some websites that spend pages and pages making connections that may or may not be there, all the while saying that it is the Lord.

Jesus also told those people that if they did not repent they would likewise perish. I think that is the legitimate comparison. Know all those people who died in Hurricane Katrina? If you do not repent - you will likewise perish. Know the people who died in the earthquake in Haiti? If you do not repent - you will likewise perish.

Repentance is the key. It is so very important to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and repent. Be very careful when looking at the "signs of the times." The devil has many lying signs and wonders, and he will deceive believers with confirmations to false prophecies. Seek the Lord for your own confirmations and do not be so quick to believe every prophecy, even if it was someone who has had very accurate teachings on God's word in the past. Jesus warns about "wolves in sheep's clothing." Because we think they are true brothers, I do believe that there are those who are "deceiving and being deceived." I just don't want you or me to be part of that group.

Dear Heavenly Father, please open our eyes. Help us to discern what is true prophecy and what is false. I lift up to you brothers and sisters that are deceived by false prophecies and for those brethren who have presumptiously made false prophecies. That they will repent. I repent Lord, of any false prophecies I may have passed on in ignorance. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.