Biblical prophecy is important for believers in their quest for holiness and it has been given to impact how we live today. It creates a two-world view by giving a focus on future events, which in turn enables a believer to prioritize this life in a godlier way. This is why prophetic matters are woven throughout the N.T. scriptures by Christ and the Apostles. Unfortunately, many people, and even pastors, in the church today wrongly see prophecy as obscure, divisive, and of a minor nature. To abandon Bible prophecy, however, is to get rid of a key ingredient for godly living.
THE PROPHETS OF SEPTEMBER. One serious problem that the church has had to contend with has to do with those who make predictions, giving specific dates and times for the fulfillment of prophetic events. The past few months has seen an upswing in such predictions. The internet has been filled with those who have declared that the Rapture of the church would take place in September of 2025, specifically on the 23rd or 24th (which is the Jewish feast of Trumpets). There are those who claim that Jesus Himself appeared to them with information about this Rapture date. These went into some detail about their encounter with the Lord and were specific that the Rapture would take place this September. Their claims were clear. Others were not quite so bold, but their message was that the Rapture would take place in connection with this Jewish feast. Some hedged their bets by saying that we could not know the day or hour of prophetic events. But even with their disclaimers, it was obvious that they were in fact stating that the Rapture would take place in September of 2025. Some listening to their presentation came away circling those dates on their calendars.
THE SERIOUSNESS OF MISREPRESENTING THE LORD GOD. The Scriptures are sacred. They are “God-breathed”, without error and authoritative. One who handles God’s Word will face a stricter evaluation, according to James 3:1. And it is even more serious when a person claims that God specifically spoke to them and they are now speaking for God. But false claims and predictions put individuals in a dangerous position spiritually. Christians in America may take a casual, tolerant view of such false claims, but the Scriptures themselves are decidedly intolerant.
MOSES AND THE MATTER OF PROPHECY. The prophetic office started with Moses (Jer. 7:25) though God obviously spoke to others before Moses. And in his role as God’s first great prophet, Moses warned about those who would falsely claim to speak for God. To do so would bring about their death.
“THE PROPHET WHO SHALL SPEAK A WORD PRESUMPTUOUSLY IN MY NAME WHICH I HAVE NOT COMMANDED HIM TO SPEAK…THAT PROPHET SHALL DIE.” (Deuteronomy 18:20)
Capital punishment was the consequence for making these false claims and false prophecies. This reveals the seriousness of misrepresenting God.
JEREMIAH AND THE FALSE PROPHETS OF HIS DAY. Jeremiah ministered at the time when God’s people were taken into Babylonian captivity because of their sins. Among other things, Jeremiah declared that Israel’s captivity would be long and painful. That message was not particularly popular with the man on the street. However, there were several men who had a nicer, man-pleasing message. They said that those Jews taken away into Babylonian captivity would come home in two years; and furthermore, all the Temple treasure taken by the Babylonians would be returned by them. These claimed that the Lord God had given them this message. A prophet by the name of Hananiah boldly declared:
“THUS SAYS THE LORD OF HOSTS, THE GOD OF ISRAEL, I HAVE BROKEN THE YOKE OF THE KING OF BABYLON. WITHIN TWO YEARS I AM GOING TO BRING BACK TO THIS PLACE ALL THE VESSELS OF THE LORD’S HOUSE…I AM ALSO GOING TO BRING BACK…ALL THE EXILES OF JUDAH WHO WENT TO BABYLON, DECLARES THE LORD. (Jer. 28:2-4).
What a wonderful message for the people who now had family in Babylonian captivity, and for the priests who had seen the Temple plundered. These sounded so good, but were lies. Jeremiah told Hananiah of his fate.
“LISTEN NOW, HANANIAH, THE LORD HAS NOT SENT YOU AND YOU HAVE MADE THE PEOPLE TRUST IN A LIE. THEREFORE, THUS SAYS THE LORD, BEHOLD I AM ABOUT TO REMOVE YOU FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH. THIS YEAR YOU ARE GOING TO DIE BECAUSE YOU HAVE COUNSELED REBELLION AGAINST THE LORD. SO HANANIAH THE PROPHET DIED IN THE SAME YEAR IN THE SEVENTH MONTH.” (Jer. 28:15-17)
Hananiah died two months after giving his false prophecy. Two other prophets were singled out for giving false prophecies of a quick restoration from captivity. God said that He would use Nebuchadnezzar to execute these false prophets.
“THUS SAYS THE LORD OF HOSTS, THE GOD OF ISRAEL, CONCERNING AHAB…AND CONCERNING ZEDEKIAH…WHO ARE PROPHESYING TO YOU FALSELY IN MY NAME, ‘BEHOLD I WILL DELIVER THEM INTO THE HAND OF NEBUCHADNEZZAR KING OF BABYLON AND HE SHALL SLAY THEM…ROASTED IN THE FIRE.” (Jer. 29:21-22).
Another false prophet by the name of Shemaiah proclaimed lies in the name of the Lord. He too would experience God’s judgment (Jer. 29:29-32).
Earlier in his book, Jeremiah had given a revealing discussion about false prophets (Jer. 23:16-39). He observed that the source of their authority was their own dreams (23:16, 25, 28); that they claimed to speak for the Lord (23:32); that they tell people what they want to hear (23:17, 22); that their prophecies result in people being led away from the Lord (23:16, 32); that they themselves are deceived (23:26); that they are soft on sin (23:17, 22); that they are arrogant (23:32); and that they will face the judgment of God (23:20, 34). Later Ezekiel would add a point that must not be overlooked and that is the involvement of demonic beings in that which is false (Ezekiel 13:6, 7, 9, 16). The N.T. reminds believers that falsehoods are the “doctrines of demons” (1 Tim. 4:1). The points made by Jeremiah and Ezekiel are applicable to the church today.
FALSE CLAIMS AND TEACHINGS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. The Church does not have the authority of capital punishment, but the false representations of the Lord must be taken seriously. False teaching casts doubt on the Word of God. This was of great concern to the Apostles. They saw the compromising of God’s Word as Satan’s major strategy in resisting God’s work in the world. Much could be quoted at this point, but just one verse will have to do. Paul instructed Titus about elders.
“ …THAT HE MAY BE ABLE TO BOTH EXHORT IN SOUND DOCTRINE AND TO REFUTE THOSE WHO CONTRADICT. FOR THERE ARE MANY REBELLIOUS MEN, EMPTY TALKERS AND DECEIVERS…WHO MUST BE SILENCED BECAUSE THEY ARE UPSETTING WHOLE FAMILIES, TEACHING THEM THINGS THEY SHOULD NOT TEACH…REPROVE THEM SEVERELY…”
Those who failed to turn away from their claims and teachings, and did not repent, were to face church discipline (1 Cor. 5; 2 Thes. 3; Matt. 18; Titus 3). And these “Prophets of September” need to repent and apologize to the church. If they do not, then any local church that they are part of should discipline them as spelled out in the N.T. scriptures. While a death sentence is not on the table, God has not changed His mind about those who falsely represent Him.
THE RESULTS OF THE FALSE CLAIMS AND FALSE PROPHECIES. Damage has been done by these “prophets of September.” First, they have harmed believers. How many younger believers have been demoralized by Jesus not coming at this Feast of Trumpets? The faith of many immature believers has probably been shaken. As Titus was told by Paul, these “upset whole families”. Ezekiel rebuked the false prophets of his day, saying “you disheartened the righteous with falsehood” (13:22). Second, these prophets of September have given more ammunition to those who diminish the value and purpose of biblical prophecy. As mentioned, there are many even in the church who see prophecy as meaningless and the domain of semi-crazy saints. However, biblical prophecy is very important as it helps us today in living a godly life. People do not have the authority to make specific time-related predictions. For example, how often can dates be given for the time of Rapture, and Jesus doesn’t come on those dates, without there being a deepening of cynicism and unbelief?
SOME SIGNIFICANT BIBLICAL PROPHETIC TRUTHS
Many wonderful prophetic truths give us comfort, perspective and hope as we live in this world which “lies in the power of the Evil One” (1 John 5:19)…such as:
THE RAPTURE. The “blessed hope” of believers is the coming of Jesus Christ, the Bridegroom, for His bride, the Church. The Rapture is a sign less, sudden and very supernatural event. We are given resurrection bodies at that moment. We meet Him in the air, and He takes us back to the Father’s house and it is there in heaven that the marriage of the Lamb takes place.
THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST. Immediately after the Rapture, the time for the evaluation and rewarding of church age saints takes place. Salvation is a completely free gift that God gives to those who place their trust in Jesus Christ, but the Judgment Seat is where the works of believers are examined, and rewards are given. These rewards will influence life in the future kingdom.
THE FUTURE, FOREVER KINGDOM OF GOD. For the believer, our best days are ahead of us. We truly have an incredible forever to look forward to. God, who declared the original creation to be “very good”, is going to give His people an amazing new version of that. So, we live now with one eye towards heaven where our Savior is coming from. And we live well for Him on this earth.
