331-1 Defining a False Prophet
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
What is a false prophet? We have been led to believe that a “false prophet” foretells an event which does not come to pass. This is definitely true. However, “false prophets” CAN foretell an event that does come to pass. They can do miracles and wonders. These are the NOT the distinguishing characteristics of a “false prophet”. Debarim (Deuteronomy) 13:1-5 tells us that false prophets teach people to disobey the Laws of Yahuah written by the Prophet Moshe.
If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and gives you a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spoke unto you, saying, Let us go after other mighty ones, which you have not known, and let us serve them; you shall NOT hear and obey unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for Yahuah your Elohiym TESTS you, to know whether you love Yahuah your Elohiym with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after Yahuah your Elohiym, and fear him, and guard his commandments, and hear and obey his Voice, and you shall serve him, and cleave unto him. And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he has spoken to turn you away from Yahuah your Elohiym, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust you out of the way which Yahuah your Elohiym commanded you to walk in. So shall you put the evil away from the midst of you.
“False Prophets” are urging people to hear and obey the voices of someone else instead of the Voice of Yahuah. This passage is directly talking about the Words spoken by Yahuah and subsequently written by the Prophet Moshe. In context, this passage is telling us NOT to follow prophets, teachers or leaders who instruct us to HEAR and OBEY the voice of another individual exercising authority over others. People who teach against one Law written in the Torah and teach others to do the same are defined as “false prophets”. Let’s consider an example. The Word of Yahuah says the following:
I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto you, and will put My Words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
This Law is telling us that the Word of Yahuah is spoken by His Prophets. The Hebrew word for “prophet” in this passage is “navi” and it is defined the following way by The Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible written by Jeff A. Benner as:
ABN (נבא) Definition: A fruit produced from the inside of man. A knowledge of something that is not known by the five senses.
AYBN ( masc., נביא / na-vi) Translation: PROPHET Definition: One who utters the words or instructions of Elohiym that are received through a vision or dream. Relationship to Root: One who brings forth the inner fruit. KJV Translations: prophet, prophecy Strong’s Hebrew #: h.5030 Strong’s Aramaic #: a.5029
“Prophets” reveal inner fruit that cannot be obtained by the five senses. Yeshayahu (Isaiah) is identified as a “prophet” or “navi”.
The vision of Yeshayahu the son of Amotz, which he saw concerning Yahudah and Yerushalayim in the days of Uzziyahu, Yotham, Ahaz, and Hizqiyahu, kings of Yahudah.
And he sent Eliyaqim, who was over the household, and Shebnah the scribe, and the elders of the priests covered with sackcloth, unto Yeshayahu the prophet the son of Amotz.
Yeshayahu (Isaiah) saw visions from Yahuah. He was identified as a “prophet” of the Most High. He was teaching people to return to the Ways of Yahuah written in the Torah by the Prophet Moshe. Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) is also identified as a “prophet” or “navi’.
The Words of Yirmeyahu the son of Hilqiyahu, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benyamin: To whom the Word of Yahuah came in the days of Yoshiyahu the son of Amon king of Yahudah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.
Before I formed you in the belly I knew you; and before you came forth out of the womb I set you apart, and I ordained you a prophet unto the nations.
Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) spoke the Word of Yahuah and clearly states this in his testimony. Yechezqel (Ezekiel) is identified as a “prophet”.
Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of Elohiym.
And he said unto me, Son of man, I send you to the children of Yashar’El, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day. For they are impudent children and stiff-hearted. I do send you unto them; and you shall say unto them, Thus says Adonai Yahuah. And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there has been a prophet among them.
He also saw visions given to him by Yahuah and is defined as a “prophet” or “navi”. These three men are true verified prophets of the Most High. Their words are the Words of Yahuah. They fulfill the definition in Debarim (Deuteronomy) 18:18. ALL of them teach people to hear and obey ALL of the Laws written by the Prophet Moshe.
Testimony tells us that Messiah Yahusha was perceived as a true Prophet of Yahuah by the people. Two to three witnesses establish truth according to Debarim (Deuteronomy) 19:15.
And the multitude said, This is Yahusha the prophet of Natzareth of Galilee.
And there came a fear on all: and they glorified Elohiym, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That Elohiym has visited his people.
Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet. Others said, This is the Messiah. But some said, Shall Messiah come out of Galilee?
Messiah Yahusha was perceived to be a true Prophet of Yahuah. From their perspective, this means that he taught people to hear and obey ALL of the Laws of Yahuah written by the Prophet Moshe. This is verified in the following passage:
Think not that I am come to destroy the Law, or the Prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the Law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Messiah Yahusha has been resurrected and standing on the right hand of Yahuah Elohiym. He is the greatest in the Kingdom of Yahuah which means that he obeyed ALL of the Laws written by the Prophet Moshe and taught others to do the same. He still does to this day and he will when the Kingdom of Yahuah is established in the earth:
The Word that Yeshayahu the son of Amotz saw concerning Yahudah and Yerushalayim. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of Yahuah’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of Yahuah, to the house of the Elohiym of Ya’aqob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Tziyon shall go forth the Law [Torah], and the word of Yahuah from Yerushalayim. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Ya’aqob, come, and let us walk in the light of Yahuah.
The “Law” is a direct reference to the Law written by the Prophet Moshe. Our Messiah will be teaching the nations the Torah of Yahuah written by the Prophet Moshe. Messiah Yahusha will be teaching the Word of Yahuah from Yerushalayim (Jerusalem). Messiah Yahusha knows the Torah. He lives the Torah. He teaches the Torah. He teaches people to hear and obey ALL of the Laws written by the Prophet Moshe. NONE of them have been or ever will be deleted or changed. In the new covenant, the Laws written by Moshe will be written upon our hearts instead of tablets of stone. They are not eliminated or changed. The location has changed. Here is the text:
Behold, the days come, says Yahuah, that I will make a new covenant with the House of Yashar’El, and with the House of Yahudah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they break, although I was an husband unto them, says Yahuah: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the House of Yashar’El; After those days, says Yahuah, I will put My Law [Torah] in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their Elohiym, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know Yahuah: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, says Yahuah: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
The context of this passage is telling us that the Yahuah’s Laws, His Torah, will be written upon our hearts in this covenant. This means the people in this new covenant will be hearing and obeying ALL of the Laws written by the Prophet Moshe in the covenant given at Mount Sinai. We can read the Laws in the covenant given at Mount Sinai and we will see them obeying ALL of them. This is the message in this new covenant.
Yahusha would not qualify as our Messiah if he failed to obey ALL of the Laws written by the Prophet Moshe and taught others to do the same. He would be classified as a false prophet according to Debarim (Deuteronomy) 13:1-5. Based on testimony, we can clearly see that he was and is a true prophet of Yahuah.
The scribes and Pharisees were watching Messiah Yahusha closely waiting for him to teach against one Law written by Moshe.
And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath day, that they watched him.
And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the Sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.
Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death. Yahusha therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went there unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples. And the Pesach was near at hand: and many went out of the country up to Yerushalayim before the Pesach, to purify themselves. Then sought they for Yahusha, and spoke among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What do you think, will he not come to the feast? Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should show it, that they might take him.
If Messiah Yahusha taught against one Law written by the Prophet Moshe, the scribes and Pharisees would have had a legitimate, lawful right to put him to death. But they could not find any witnesses that could state such a claim and were unable to find any flaws in his teachings in this regard. They resorted to false witnesses in his unrighteous trial.
Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Yahusha, to put him to death;
Messiah Yahusha is a true Prophet of the Most High. He taught people to hear and obey ALL of the Laws of Yahuah written by the Prophet Moshe. However, Yahusha did not write these accounts himself. He is not documenting his testimony. People who witnessed these events documented the things they saw and heard. Their writings are “eyewitness accounts”. They are important. They provide valuable information. However, the authors of these accounts are not “prophets”. They are not describing a vision given to them by Yahuah. They are documenting eyewitness testimony of the birth, life, ministry, death, resurrection and ascension of Messiah Yahusha.
The purpose of their testimony is NOT to supplant the actual Word of Yahuah or to be placed on an equal plane to His Word.
Their testimony tells us Messiah Yahusha’s perspective on the “Word of Yahuah”.
And he [Yahusha] said unto them, These are the words which I spoke to you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the Law of Moshe, and in the Prophets, and in the Tehillim, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
In this testimony, Messiah Yahusha defines the Word of Yahuah as “the Law of Moshe, the Prophets and the Tehillim (Psalms)”. ALL of these were written by true Prophets of Yahuah. ALL of these writings teach people to hear and obey ALL of the Laws of Yahuah.
NONE of the authors of the eyewitness accounts claim to be “prophets”. In fact, the authors of Mattithyahu (Matthew), Mark, Luke and Yochanan (John) are not even positively identified in the texts themselves. We are told by early church fathers who they “think” wrote them. Were these names arbitrarily chosen to increase the credibility of the testimony?
What about the writings of Shual of Tarsus (Paul)? Testimony tells us that he was a Pharisee. He knew the Torah very well. In his letters, he claims to be an “apostle” and not a “prophet”. Here are three testimonies from three letters he wrote.
Shaul, a servant of Messiah Yahusha, called to be an apostle, separated unto the good news of Elohiym,
Shaul, called to be an apostle of Messiah Yahusha through the will of Elohiym, and Sosthenes our brother,
Shaul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Messiah Yahusha, and Elohiym the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
In the Hebrew, an “apostle” is a “shaliach”. It is not a “prophet”. A “shaliach” is a “sent one”. Here is an example in the Torah. It is translated as “sent us” in the following passage.
For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of Yahuah; and Yahuah has sent us [H7971] to destroy it.
These men were sent to Sodom to complete a task on behalf of Yahuah Elohiym. Shaul of Tarsus (Paul) was sent by Messiah Yahusha to complete a task. Shaul clearly states that he was “sent to preach the good news”. None of his testimonies describe a vision he received from Yahuah. He does not say and “the Word of Yahuah came to me”. He simply wrote letters to groups of people in different locations. These letters were specifically written to address certain situations that arose in each fellowship. Technically speaking, these letters were not written to us. If Shaul were writing a letter to us, it would be very different and probably very harsh.
Shaul (Paul) knew the difference between a “prophet” and a “sent one”. He was a Hebrew man, who was raised in the Hebrew culture. He knew the Hebrew language and the Torah very well. “Shaliach” is defined by The Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible the following way:
XLF ( common, שלח / sh.l.hh) Translation: SEND (V) Definition: To cause to go; to direct, order, or request to go.Alternate Translations: send off (when written in the piel [intensive] form) KJV Translations: send, go, lay, put, cast, stretch, depart, sow, loose Strong’s Hebrew #: h.7971 Strong’s Aramaic #: a.7972
This role is different than a “prophet”. Shaul (Paul) was a Hebrew raised as a Pharisee. He knew the difference between a “navi” and a “shaliach”. If he was a “navi” or “prophet,” he would have clearly told us in his letters just like every other prophet who has represented Yahuah Elohiym. By his own testimony, Shaul is telling us that he is NOT a “prophet”. He is telling us that his words are NOT the Word of Yahuah. He is telling us NOT to put his words on an equal plane to the Word of the Most High. He is telling us NOT to put his words ABOVE the Word of the Most High. Shaul of Tarsus actually points people back to the Word of Yahuah in the following testimony:
But continue in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing of whom you have learned them; And that from a child you have known the set-apart scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Messiah Yahusha. All scripture is given by inspiration of Elohiym, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of Elohiym may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
In context, Shaul (Paul) is referring to the “scriptures” that Timothy has had from his youth. This is a direct reference to the Law of Moshe and the Prophets. These writings lead people to salvation through faith in Messiah Yahusha. The Law and Prophets are profitable for doctrine, reproof, for correction and instruction in righteousness. This is NOT a reference to the current letter Shaul was writing to Timothy. It was not a reference to any letter written by Shaul. He was teaching Timothy to hear and obey ALL of the Laws written by the Prophet Moshe as well as the verified Hebrew Prophets.
When teachers and leaders claim that the Word of Yahuah Elohiym is Genesis to Revelation, they are, by definition, false prophets.
The Word of Yahuah says that His Word is spoken by prophets in Debarim (Deuteronomy) 18:18. The Greek writings were NOT written by prophets. According to this definition, the Greek writings are NOT the Word of the Most High. People who teach others that the Word of Yahuah is Genesis to Revelation are violating this commandment in Debarim 18:18. They are also violating the following commandment:
You shall walk after Yahuah your Elohiym, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey His Voice, and you shall serve him, and cleave unto him.
Moshe was and is a true Prophet of Yahuah. The words he wrote are the Words of Yahuah. Debarim (Deuteronomy) 18:18 says that prophets speak the Words of Yahuah. Teaching people that His Word is Genesis to Revelation is a violation of this Law. These false prophets are teaching people NOT to hear and obey the Voice of Yahuah. They are also violating the following commandment:
You shall not ADD unto the word which I command you, neither shall you DIMINISH ought from it, that you may keep the commandments of Yahuah your Elohiym which I command you.
People who teach people that the Word of Yahuah includes Genesis to Revelation are adding-to His Word and teaching people to do the same. Again, they are teaching people NOT to hear and obey the Voice of Yahuah further violating Debarim (Deuteronomy) 13:4. They are also violating the following Law:
You shall have no other strong authorities ABOVE Me.
The leaders who defined the “Word of God” as Genesis to Revelation are the Pope, the Roman Catholic Church and Protestant Christianity. They used four manmade criteria to define the “Word of God” from their perspective. They did not use criteria found in the actual Word of Yahuah. They did not use Debarim (Deuteronomy) 18:18 at all. We have two authorities with contradicting testimonies:
- Yahuah Elohiym says His Word is that which is spoken and subsequently written by His true Prophets (Debarim/Deuteronomy 18:18)
- The Pope, the Roman Catholic Church and Protestant Christianity say the “Word of God” is Genesis to Revelation.
Which one is the truth?
If people say that the Word of Yahuah is the Law of Moshe, Hebrew Prophets and the Tehillim (Psalms) then they are submitted to the authority of Yahuah Elohiym and are in alignment with the Torah and teachings of Messiah Yahusha. They have NOT placed the authority of the Pope, the Roman Catholic Church and Protestant Christianity ABOVE the authority of Yahuah Elohiym.
If people say that Word of God is Genesis to Revelation, they are submitted to the authority of the Pope, the Roman Catholic Church and Protestant Christianity. They are violating Debarim (Deuteronomy) 4:2, 13:1-5, and 18:18. They are violating Shemoth (Exodus) 20:3. This means they are NOT in alignment with Yahuah Elohiym or the teachings of Messiah Yahusha. They have placed the authority of the Pope, the Roman Catholic Church and Protestant Christianity ABOVE the authority of Yahuah Elohiym and Messiah Yahusha.
This is idolatry!
Idolaters will find themselves outside the Gates to our Father’s Kingdom.
Blessed are they that Do His Commandments, that they may have Right to the Tree of Life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For outside are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and IDOLATERS, and whosoever loves and makes a lie.
Idolaters do not have access to the Tree of Life. They will not live forever. They will die the second death after the resurrection. False Prophets will die the second death after the resurrection. This is a serious matter with highly unfavorable eternal outcomes. Messiah Yahusha said the following in this regard:
Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
If people follow these blind leaders, they will share in their outcome. If we financially support these false prophets, we share in their guilt and will be held accountable for the actions of these false leaders. This is not a game. It is not a debate. The Word is very clear.
I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto you, and will put My Words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and gives you a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spoke unto you, saying, Let us go after other mighty ones, which you have not known, and let us serve them; you shall NOT hear and obey unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for Yahuah your Elohiym TESTS you, to know whether you love Yahuah your Elohiym with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after Yahuah your Elohiym, and fear him, and guard his commandments, and hear and obey his Voice, and you shall serve him, and cleave unto him. And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he has spoken to turn you away from Yahuah your Elohiym, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust you out of the way which Yahuah your Elohiym commanded you to walk in. So shall you put the evil away from the midst of you.
You shall not ADD unto the word which I command you, neither shall you DIMINISH ought from it, that you may keep the commandments of Yahuah your Elohiym which I command you.
You shall have no other strong authorities ABOVE Me.
What is the solution?
- STOP listening to these False Prophets and STOP supporting them immediately.
- If you are a False Prophet committing these sins in ignorance, REPENT by no longer teaching people these falsehoods. STOP teaching people that the Word of Yahuah is from Genesis to Revelation. START teaching people that the Word of Yahuah is the Law of Moshe, the Hebrew Prophets and the Tehillim (Psalms) just as our Messiah stated in Luke 24:44-45.
It is not too late. As long as we still have breath, we can seek our Father’s forgiveness and change our ways. Testimony tells us that our Father abundantly pardons.
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto Yahuah, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our Elohiym, for he will abundantly pardon.
But this requires us to forsake our ways and our unrighteous thoughts. It requires us to return to Him by hearing and obeying His Voice and not the voice of anyone else. It is a TEST. He is watching our actions right now and wondering… “Are they going to hear and obey My Voice or are they going to continue to hear and obey the voices of the Pope, the Roman Catholic Church and Protestant Christianity?” This is the question He is asking right now about the reader of this article. We all have freewill to choose which direction we want to go but we cannot dictate the established consequences for those choices. False Prophets will die the second death for which there is no redemption. Idolaters will die the second death after the resurrection. This is the truth. It is my prayer that these words penetrate your hearts and cause many to repent from these sins right now. This is a warning to delivered to you from the Most High, Yahuah Elohiym.
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