The Biblical mentioned days of deception are already at hand. Have you noticed a large number of preachers nowadays calming to be Prophet and so casually apply the pre-fix “Prophet” to their names and ministry? Well, what are these so called prophets prophesying about in these days…? Have you ever thought or wondered what is the difference between prophecy and fortunetelling? what is the significance or the need of prophecy in these last days? And if prophecy is needed at all, what it should be about? We can go questioning on and on, but let’s see what answers we find.
It’s very important to understand the nature and characteristics of Prophets and prophecies mentioned in the Bible to get a clear distinction. We need to compare Biblical standards with the present day prophets and their prophecy to see what they are doing is actually a prophecy or fortunetelling. There are number of characteristics we can outline, but below are the two most important ones.
- Prophecy is normally concerned with the big picture of God’s plan for Earth, any prophecy about specific nations or people fits into this big picture. Example prophecies concerning Jesus Christ, Prophecies concerning the nation Israel.
On the contrary, Fortune telling is normally concerned with specific individuals, Its never concerned with God or this big plan. - The will of God is usually the major part of prophecy. What God will do, why He will do or why something will happen.
By contrast fortune telling is all about fate and mostly related to earthly things (“fortune” from Latin “Fortuna“). There is no rhyme or reason behind it. For example, someone telling, you will get miracle money or fame, etc. Clearly there is no valid reasoning as to Why or How?
If you compare and study the Biblical prophecies, clearly they all fit in the two points mentioned above. Bible does not emphasize on giving prophecy’s for individuals, rather all prophets and prophecies of the Bible were concerning the nations of that time, and on a still larger scale, about the coming Messiah for all of the Humanity. We do not see the concept of prophecies for individuals in the Bible.
But in the present day’s, almost all of the so called prophets proclaim prophecies for individuals. They pick up names and call individuals and proclaim healing is coming to your house, Blessing coming to them, and nowadays to the extreme of proclaiming about “Miracle Money” coming. Do you see these extreme contrasts to the Biblical prophecies? I would call this as fortunetelling for the individuals rather than prophecy.
As a kid going to school, I had to take a ten minute walk to catch the public transport bus. On the way was a Hindu Temple, and inside I used to see number of people sitting around a person discussing something. I later learned from my mom that they were fortunetellers. I feel it’s this same cult that has creeped into our faith system in a more sophisticated way. Now be cautious, fortunetelling is not Biblical and our God forbids it in any form, and we see many warnings for the same in multiple places in scriptures.
In today’s world, there is a very thin line between what is right and wrong, what is True and False. We ought to be very very careful and be mature in the Word of God to distinguish. Jesus Himself said, In the last days many will come in my (Jesus) name and perform great signs and wonders to deceive many, and the deception will be so strong that even if possible, the elect (we the believers) may fall into this deception. Mathew 24:24 and again in Mathew 7:15-23 we see Jesus warning…
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their Fruits…. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.
So if Jesus is telling about this, than its of prime importance. Believers who inquire about God’s direction in their lives through a prophet or through a gift of Sprits, are on dangerous ground. Under the New Covenant, prophets are not placed in the Church to lead, guide, or direct people’s lives. In fact, believers can wreak havoc in their lives by going to a prophet for guidance. Why? Because we are to be led by the Spirit of God (Rom. 8:14), not prophets.
All things change at the Cross with the establishment of the new covenant. It was because of the Cross we now have direct access to God, and the Bible makes it very clear that there is NO mediator between You and God except for Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5). We cannot take the old Testament ways into our New (Testament) covenant life. We believers need to be sustained by our Faith and Hope in Christ. There shouldn’t be a need of any prophet or miracle to establish our Faith and Hope in Christ in the first place.
On the contrary, we are to be strongly grounded and rooted in the Word of God, we shouldn’t be moved by so-called prophets or their so-called prophecies. Those who are moved by them are still spiritual children tossed about with every wind of doctrine (Eph. 4:14). The word of God and the Inward leading of the Holy Spirit should be our stand in these last days. Don’t allow people to run your life through prophecy. We should be led by the inward witness of the Holy Spirit in your spirit man. Get into the Word for yourself, and get hold of God for yourself. After all, you are in contact with Him directly if you are a believer!
At times I think, are there any genuine Prophets in these days? With the start of the COVID-19, many preachers came up with many prophecies, but have not seen one coming true. Check this Video put by Justin Peters which rightly fits what we are discussing here. I strongly believe in prophets and prophecies of the Bible, But when it comes to the present times, I don’t have a clear answer.
After Jesus in the new Testament, its very clear that we will be taught and lead by the Holy Spirit. Whatever prophecies needed are already given to us in the Bible. I do not see a need of any new ones. The thing that’s needed the most, is for us to meditate on what that has already been given to us and grow in understanding of the same. Then go and proclaim this understanding of our faith to the non-believers so they can come to Christ. Does that not make sense…? Then why so many are still going behind miracles and new age ministries…. Tough to understand this irony.
The gifts of the Spirit are very true, however it’s true for the individual who has genuinely received it. Jesus emphasized in Mathew 7:15-23, its the Fruit on which we will be judged. Its the Fruit of the Spirit that is more important than the Gifts of the Spirit. The primary and main purpose of the Holy Spirit (and Its Gifts) is not to give you more Gifts/Anointing/Blessings, but to form CHRIST in you, to form the character of JESUS in you. Today, people want the gifts of the Holy Spirit but they don’t want the Holy Spirit to give the character of Jesus. We have deviated from the path of Knowing the Person of Jesus to knowing just the works of Jesus. We are all into doing, do this and do that to get this. But God wants us to become a vessel which He can use.
Its very unfortunate to see how the new age charismatic ministries have battered the growth & maturity of today’s believers. There is prosperity that’s preached, Blessings are preached, Healing is preached, supernatural miracles are preached, giving and tithing is preached. However, the purpose of Cross is missing, Crucified and Risen Christ is missing, repentance is missing, the call to lead a sacrificial life and a clean inside life is missing.
Lastly, First Thessalonians 5:20–21 says, “Despise not prophesying’s. Prove all things; hold fast to that which is good.” I am not here to despise prophesying or any other Gifts of the Spirit. On the other hand, we aren’t supposed to believe everything. The Bible tells us to prove all things to see if they are of God. But just because some people get off into error doesn’t mean that we do away with the legitimate prophetic ministry. May God alone give us the spirit of discernment and the ability of reasoning so we all as individuals become witness and light for the people living in darkness.
References: I have included few of the points from the below two sources. Just before publishing the post, out of coincidence I came across a similar post with the same theme, You can read the post here which gives you more insights. Also watch his short video where pastor Manohar explains the work of Holy Spirit very humbly & beautifully.
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