The world has almost always held true prophets to be insane. Church leaders will generally find true prophets about as welcome as ants at a picnic. One of the main problems with the church today is a misunderstanding of what a true prophet is and how great is the need for true prophets in the church in these today. Every true church of Jesus Christ will welcome the gift of true prophesy. Everyone knows that there are true prophets and false prophets. How to tell the difference between true and false prophets will be given toward the end of this section.

Just because we are warned to beware of the many false prophets of the last days, be careful not to conclude the ministry of true prophets ended when John said Amen at the conclusion of Revelation.

The Hebrew word naba not only signifies to foretell events, but also to pray and make supplication; and nabi, the prophet, was not by office a declarer of future events, but primarily a preacher of righteousness for his day. That is why the world views true prophets as crazy. That is why the church has even called them crazy and even killed them. That is why the church today so disparately needs true prophets. That is why we are all called to seek to be true prophets.

The prophet is called to see future events in the light of the righteousness or wickedness of the people to whom God made everlasting covenants. His main work is to urge men to live righteously and godly according biblical principles. His secondary work was to warn of events to come in view of the attitude of the people concerning the will of God, and to pray and make supplication for the people and for God to be merciful. Do you see that we are all called to be prophets?
Will you help me see my blind spots and help me see my sins? Will you pray for God to be merciful to me? Will you be a prophet to me?
 
 

Characteristics of True Prophets:

Characteristics of False Prophets:

True Prophets 1) Few in Number; trusts only in God  Jer 17:5 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.  2) Generally disliked and not trusted  Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. James 5:10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.  3) Speaks what God says - "God says..."  Deut 18:18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like  unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.  4) Gives warning of God's judgment of all  Ezek 33:7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.  5) Works in the Holy Spirit and wields the sword of truth  2 Pet 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.  6) Demonstrates the Power of God and shows the Glory of God  1 Cor 2:4-5 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.  7) Socially unacceptable to the proud; does not conform to people's expectations:  1 Cor 1:26-29 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.  8) Speaks a compelling message:  1 Cor 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.  9) Seeks God's will in your life:  Prov 3:13-14 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.  10) Seeks God for His counsel:  Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.  11) Calls for the testing of prophets  1 John 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.  12) Shares that we too are subject to God's judgment, to fear God:  Rev 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:  13) Shares Scripture to show the truth:  1 Cor 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

False Prophets  1) Many of them; trusts the majority opinion    1 Ki 18:19 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount  Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the  prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table.   2) Generally liked and trusted by the people  Luke 6:26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so  did their fathers to the false prophets.  3) Speaks presumptuously of God; "I think ..."  Deu 18:22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the  thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD  hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.  4) Speaks of peace and prosperity  Jer 23:16-17 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words  of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they  speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD. They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said,  Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.  5) Uses power of suggestion or illusion; calls it signs & wonders   Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets,  and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were  possible, they shall deceive the very elect.  6) Demonstrates the wisdom of men and enjoys men's praise  Luke 6:26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.  7) Socially acceptable and conforms to people's expectations  2 Tim 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound  doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves  teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears  from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.  8) Promotes self-interest:  Phil 2:21 For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus  Christ's. Seeks your money in his life: Luke 16:13 No servant can  serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye  cannot serve God and mammon.  9) Gives counsel to God:  1 Cor 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may  instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.  10) Demands belief in his position:  2 Pet 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is  of any private interpretation.  11) Shares that God will not judge you, do not fear God:  2 Pet 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even  as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring  in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.   12) Shares opinion to explain Scripture:  2 Pet 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these  things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they  that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.