1. Prophecy
True prophecy, grounded in the Word, has the following characteristic:
First, prophecy is the Word of God itself—the very Scripture recorded in the temple of God, the Word of God that has been appointed and established from before the foundation of the world.
And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.(Micah 4 : 2)
But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets. And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth. And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey. And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.(Revelation 10 : 7~11)
Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel. So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll. And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness. And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them. For thou art not sent to a people of a strange speech and of an hard language, but to the house of Israel;…(Ezekiel 3 : 1~11)
Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.(Isaiah 6 : 8)
For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 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.(2 Peter 1 : 17~21)
Second,
Prophecy is the mystery and wisdom of the scroll of God’s Word, which is in the hidden kingdom of God, appointed and established from before the foundation of the world.
Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:(1 Corinthians 2 : 6~7)
That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.(Matthew 13 : 35)
Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:(Colossians 1 : 26~27)
And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:(Ephesians 3 : 9~11)
Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.(Romans 16 : 25~27)
Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.(1 Corinthians 4 : 1)
He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.(Matthew 13 : 11)(Mark 4 : 11)
And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.(Luke 8 : 10)
Third,
Prophecy is the very Word of God—appointed and established from before the foundation of the world—written by the anointed one who has comprehended all things concerning the deep purposes and providence of God.
Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counseller hath taught him? With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?(Isaiah 40 : 13~14)
But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.(1 Corinthians 2 : 10)
Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.(Isaiah 34 : 16)
But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.(1 John 2 : 27)
But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.(1 John 2 : 20)
Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.(Proverbs 1 : 23)
Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.(Amos 3 : 7)
Fourth,
Prophecy is the mystery of God concerning heaven and the kingdom of God, and it is the gospel of the mystery of heaven.
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.(Matthew 4 : 23)(Matthew 9 : 35~36)
And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.(Luke 8 : 10)(Matthew 13 : 10)(Mark 4 : 11)
And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.(Acts 20 : 25)
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.(Matthew 24 : 14)
Fifth,
Prophecy is the word of angels.
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.(1 Corinthians 13 : 1~3)
What, then, is the prophecy that today’s Christianity, which has no power, no testimony, and no fruit of the Holy Spirit, claims and teaches?
First,
It is nothing but momentary lessons and inspirations that vanish as soon as one turns away, chasing after worldly success and hopes that belong to the perishing world, having nothing whatsoever to do with salvation. The pastors interpret according to their own taste, and rashly proclaim their own assertions as though their teachings were prophecy.
The so-called wisdom and prophecy of God they speak of are nothing more than worldly lessons, akin to the sayings of pagans who pursue only success and happiness belonging to the perishing world and the flesh, stirring up nothing but sin and greed, and having no relation at all to salvation. Like leavened dough puffed up to appear as if it will soon be fulfilled, their teaching is always a fleeting inspiration, comfort, and hope that disappears the moment one turns away. Their lessons only encourage people to seek all the more after what will perish, guiding them to heap up sin all the more. They appear to be hope, yet are in truth the false hope of darkness that only multiplies sin; they appear to be comfort, yet in reality they are comforts that only stir up lusts belonging to the perishing world.
Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.(Romans 2 : 17~29)
Second,
It is a prophecy of fortune-telling, wrought by abominable false spirits, which has nothing whatsoever to do with salvation. Like shamans, they claim to see visions or put forward flattery in the form of promises of peace and blessing, and under the guise of God and Christ, they lead people with the deceitful assurance that all these things will soon be fulfilled, exalting blessings and peace as their pretense.
For there shall be no more any vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel. For I am the LORD: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord GOD.(Ezekiel 12 : 24~25)
Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God. For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.(Deuteronomy 18 : 13~14)
And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD, that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots: And I will cut off the cities of thy land, and throw down all thy strong holds: And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers: Thy graven images also will I cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thine hands.(Micah 5 : 10~13)
For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed. For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD.(Jeremiah 29 : 8~9)
Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times. Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard. Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.(Levitus 19 : 26~28)
Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field. For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd. Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats: for the LORD of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as his goodly horse in the battle.(Zechariah 10 : 1~3)
Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain. And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken. The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully. And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD.(Ezekiel 22 : 27~31)
Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that prophesy in my name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land; By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed. And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and they shall have none to bury them, them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters: for I will pour their wickedness upon them.(Jeremiah 14 : 14~16)
Third,
It is a prophecy that has nothing whatsoever to do with salvation, a divination no different from that of shamans, carried out under the guise of the name of Jehovah and the name of Christ, while putting forward omens of fortune and misfortune. This is nothing but the prophecy of Satan, disguised as the prophecy of God, for it is wrought by false spirits like those of shamans and amounts to nothing more than shamanistic fortune-telling.
…They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word. Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The LORD saith it; albeit I have not spoken? Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord GOD. And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.(Ezekiel 13 : 1~9)
And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD, that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots: And I will cut off the cities of thy land, and throw down all thy strong holds: And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers: Thy graven images also will I cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thine hands.(Micah 5 : 10~13)
And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear your lies? Wherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against your pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls to make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms, and will let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt to make them fly. Your kerchiefs also will I tear, and deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall be no more in your hand to be hunted; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life: Therefore ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.(Ezekiel 13 : 19~23)
That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish; That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:(Isaiah 44 : 25~26)
Fourth,
It is a prophecy that has nothing whatsoever to do with salvation, carried out in the same manner as shamans, declaring, “This is the word of Jehovah” or “This is the word of God,” while practicing divination like a shaman.
And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask thee, saying, What is the burden of the LORD? thou shalt then say unto them, What burden? I will even forsake you, saith the LORD. And as for the prophet, and the priest, and the people, that shall say, The burden of the LORD, I will even punish that man and his house. Thus shall ye say every one to his neighbour, and every one to his brother, What hath the LORD answered? and, What hath the LORD spoken? And the burden of the LORD shall ye mention no more: for every man’s word shall be his burden; for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the LORD of hosts our God. Thus shalt thou say to the prophet, What hath the LORD answered thee? and, What hath the LORD spoken? But since ye say, The burden of the LORD; therefore thus saith the LORD; Because ye say this word, The burden of the LORD, and I have sent unto you, saying, Ye shall not say, The burden of the LORD; Therefore, behold, I, even I, will utterly forget you, and I will forsake you, and the city that I gave you and your fathers, and cast you out of my presence: And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.(Jeremiah 23 : 33~40)
For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed. For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD.(Jeremiah 29 : 8~9)
For I have not sent them, saith the LORD, yet they prophesy a lie in my name; that I might drive you out, and that ye might perish, ye, and the prophets that prophesy unto you.(Jeremiah 27 : 15)
Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbour. Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He saith. Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.(Jeremiah 23 : 30~32)
I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal.(Jeremiah 23 : 25~27)
Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart. Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that prophesy in my name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land; By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed. And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and they shall have none to bury them, them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters: for I will pour their wickedness upon them. Therefore thou shalt say this word unto them; Let mine eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease: for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow. If I go forth into the field, then behold the slain with the sword! and if I enter into the city, then behold them that are sick with famine! yea, both the prophet and the priest go about into a land that they know not.(Jeremiah 14 : 14~18)
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. For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it? Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked. The anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly. I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.(Jeremiah 23 : 17~22)
Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.(James 5 : 19~20)
Fifth,
It is a prophecy that has nothing whatsoever to do with salvation, belonging to the perishing world, which, by putting forward blessings and peace as though all the desires and ideals of the believers were about to be fulfilled, stirs their emotions with fleeting inspirations, as if they were to accomplish some great mission and talent from God. In reality, it only drives them further to pursue worldly desires and perishing ideals, heaping up sin and greed all the more, while deceiving them with false prophecy that exalts peace and happiness.
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.(Romans 16 : 17~18)
With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him. He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;(Proverbs 7 : 21~22)
God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God. He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant. The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.(Psalms 55 : 19~21)
For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell. Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.(Proverbs 5 : 3~6)
For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.(Psalms 5 : 9)
That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish; That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:(Isaiah 44 : 25~26)
A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.(Proverbs 19 : 9)
Today, all the prophecies of church are alike to shamans who serve false spirits. They are nothing more than fortune-telling incantations, invoking demons under the borrowed names of God and Christ, for the sake of perishing wealth, material gain, success, and happiness. They deceive believers by puffing them up under the pretense of mission and vision, as though they will be greatly used, or by flattering them with abominable promises of blessing and peace, as though all things will soon be fulfilled.
Since no one knows the true standard of prophecy, those possessed by false spirits, like shamans, who serve demons, disguise themselves under the name of God’s prophecy and use it as a means of trade to covet the wealth of countless believers. Thus, abominable spiritual trainings not found in the Word—prophetic ministries, great spiritual revival assemblies, spiritual forums, mystical communion trainings, spiritual seminars, schools of prophets, schools of apostles, and gift-centered gatherings—are spreading throughout the world like leaven.
Like shamans, countless churches and pastors today lead their people into abominable and vain prophecies, which have nothing to do with salvation, prophesying fortune and misfortune, seeking and desiring things that will perish. Under the guise of God’s name and the name of Christ, those possessed by false spirits deceive believers with claims of visions, dreams, and trances. This is the prophecy put forward today by countless churches and pastors of Christianity.
A true prophet is one who possesses the Spirit of truth, which comprehends all things of heaven and of God. Therefore, prophecy is the wisdom that belongs only to those who have the Spirit of truth, who perceive all the ideals, providences, revelations, and praises of heaven and of God. This prophecy is the Word of Scripture, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit by those who were appointed according to the revelation of the Word that was determined from before the foundation of the world.
The gospel of heaven, which came to testify of heaven, is the true substance of prophecy; and the prophet of God, who came to testify of God, brought prophecy that they had received from the throne of God.
Therefore, be no longer deceived by abominable, filthy, and false prophecies that masquerade as the prophecy of God while, in truth, they are fortune-telling incantations through which demons and Satan work, leading believers astray with the pretense of being great servants, all the while making them tools to fill the bellies and selfish desires of others who seek perishing things of the world.
If you wish to hear and see true prophecy, attend this lecture. You will hear and experience the spiritual prophecy that comes from the Spirit of truth—prophecy that is without the slightest error and is perfectly clear in accordance with the Word.