The End Times are currently here with us and one of the most dangerous aspects of these Last Days is the rise of the spirit of deception amongst a disturbingly high number of Christian believers. When He was asked by some of His Apostles about the Signs of the Last Days, this was the Very First Admonition He gave regarding this critical issue: "And Jesus, answering them, began to say, “TAKE HEED THAT NO ONE DECEIVES YOU. For many will come in My Name, saying 'I am He' and will deceive many” (Mk. 13:5-6).
Confirming the Lord's Prophetic Warning, there has been a rapid spread of false prophets in epidemic proportions. The Knowledge deficiency and severe gullibility of multitudes of believers is one major reason these agents of the devil successfully parade themselves as prophets in the midst of the Church (Hos. 4:6). The primary source of the enemy's power is found not in his ability to intimidate or terrify his victims. On the contrary, his true power is tied to his deceptive dimensions or capacity to deceive those believers without a Proper Foundation in Christ Jesus (Isa. 5:13-14). No wonder these aforementioned false prophets parade themselves as angels of light and ministers of Righteousness (2 Cor. 11:13-15).
The Holy Scriptures charge us as Christian believers to "... examine everything carefully and hang on to what is good" (1 Thess. 5:21 CEB). There are two major categories of false prophets:
THOSE WHO STARTED WELL AS GENUINELY CALLED PROPHETS BUT LOST THEIR BEARING WITH TIME
These individuals initially delivered Prophetic Utterances as God's Mouthpiece and Oracle (1 Pet. 4:11) but permitted access into their hearts to the spirit of divination and familiar spirits due to the pressure associated with the quest for rapid Church Growth, money, fame etc.
THOSE WHO ENTERED A COVENANT WITH THE DEVIL TO OBTAIN SUPERNATURAL POWER
These individuals sold over their souls to the devil from the onset in order to purchase a demonic "prophetic" anointing (1 Cor. 2:9-16).
The following are some basic signs that enable us to distinguish Genuine prophets from false prophets:
(a.) GENUINE PROPHETS' UTTERANCES ARE ALWAYS IN ALIGNMENT WITH GOD'S WORD: (Rev. 19:10) Authentic prophets recognize that the Prophecy of the Scriptures is the Highest Dimension of Prophecy.
(b.) GENUINE PROPHETS ARE MEN OF BROKENNESS AND CONTRITE HEARTS: (Num. 12:3) Humility and Meekness become the inevitable outcome of the Multiple Encounters such men have with God.
(c.) GENUINE PROPHETS ARE HERALDS OF PREACHERS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS: (2 Tim. 2:19; 2 Pet. 2:5) These individuals have completely washed their hands off iniquity because they consistently reflect the Character, Attributes and Values of God.
(d.) GENUINE PROPHETS ARE CUSTODIANS AND BEARERS OF GOD'S PRESENCE: (Jer. 23:18-24) This is so important since false prophets are also "anointed," which fortifies their deception. However, manifestations of Power are never signs of Divine Approval, but God's Presence is.
(e.) GENUINE PROPHETS WIELD DIVINE AUTHORITY: (Matt. 28:19) The Name of Jesus is the Signature of the Trinity. In other words, any prophet who prophesies in the Name of Jesus (or by the Authority of the Godhead) undoubtedly has the Full Backing of Heaven (Deut. 18:20-22).