The False Prophets Condemned
Ezekiel 13
“The word of the Lord came to me: ‘Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Say to those who prophesy out of their own imagination:’ ‘Hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!’” (Ezekiel 13:1-3).
The prophet often declared messages from the Lord to a people who did not want to hear them. They were often tasked with speaking words of correction, warnings, and delivering God’s promises for the future. They had to speak truth to the spiritually deaf and try to open the eyes of the spiritually blind. They were God’s mouthpieces and moving instruments to go wherever He sent them, including exile, to deliver words to His people and the surrounding nations. So, when the Lord came to Ezekiel with another Word, this was another message that the people would despise and not wish to receive. It was a rebuke to the false prophets who created their own prophesies and passed them off as being words from the Lord. God was not pleased with the lies and blatant deception that came from their mouths, for they deceived the people into having a false sense of security and failed to return the people’s hearts to the Lord. The Bible says: “For these are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the Lord’s instruction. They say to the seers, ‘See no more visions!’ and to the prophets, ‘Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!” (Isaiah 30:9-11). This hatred for the Truth is taking place even in today’s times.
Many pastors would rather go along to get along instead of standing up for the unadulterated Word of God. They profess to know God but refuse to teach about Him and what He expects from those who claim to serve Him. These leaders have become compromised in their walk with Christ and in leading others to Him. This is why many are falling into scandal after scandal because they refuse to not only teach the Word but live the Word. Therefore, many will not teach on sanctification because they are not sanctified. They will not talk about adultery because some of them have mistresses and misters on the side. They will not talk about transgenderism because some of them have cross-dressing fetishes. They will not preach against abortion because some have secretly pressured women into having them to prevent their affairs from becoming public. They refuse to teach against pornography because many are addicted to pornography themselves. They will not stand against abuse, for some of them are the very abusers, with wives having to smile through the pain. They will not talk about children being turned out in schools because some of them are the ones doing the grooming and the turning. The list goes on and on…
Many leaders are running off of talent but no anointing. Elisha showed wisdom in asking for a double portion of Elijah’s anointing. Solomon had enough insight to know that he could not rule God’s people without having the wisdom to do so. No one can truly be effective in the kingdom of God without having a personal relationship with Christ, for talent can run out, but the oil of the Spirit will give us overflow. The Bible says: “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth; As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him" (1 John 2:20,27). Holding a position within the 5-fold ministry does not mean that one is walking upright with the Lord. God’s gifts are without repentance, but we must ensure that we confess and repent of our sins when we fail to align with God's will.
“Your prophets, Israel, are like jackals among ruins. You have not gone up to the breaches in the wall to repair it for the people of Israel so that it will stand firm in the battle on the day of the Lord. Their visions are false and their divinations a lie. Even though the Lord has not sent them, they say, “The Lord declares,” and expect him to fulfill their words. Have you not seen false visions and uttered lying divinations when you say, “The Lord declares,” though I have not spoken?” (Ezekiel 13:4-7).
The Lord referred to the false prophets as jackals. They should have remained silent and not spoken a word to anyone. They failed to know the truth because they had not consulted the Spirit of Truth. Even in exile, they continued in their foolish ways. They should have called the people to repentance, including themselves, but they failed to do so. Therefore, Ezekiel was instructed to speak against them. Instead of the false prophets teaching others lies, they needed to be taught the truth themselves. This is why there are so many false doctrines, for they come from false leaders who have not properly studied the Word for themselves to be able to properly instruct others. Ministry is a calling and should never be taken lightly. You should not make it your profession if you are not called to ministry by the Lord. God does not need employees; He needs fearless warriors. The Bible says: “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Romans 10:14-15). Ministry is not for the faint at heart, so one must be sure that they are called. Too many people are calling themselves prophets, apostles, master prophets, etc., but have not been called to open their mouths. Therefore, they are operating out of divination, for which God will hold them accountable.
Characteristics of a Jackal
a.) A jackal looks like and is related to the canine (dog, wolf, and fox), but it isn’t. The false prophets looked like the real thing, but they were not from God. The Bible says: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15).
b.) A jackal has a small face and fragile legs, quite the opposite of the wolf and most dogs. The false prophets did not have the capacity to endure the unadulterated truth in its fullness. The Bible says: “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction” (2 Peter 2:11).
c.) A jackal is a carnivore and feeds on small animals. The false prophets loved to feed on the weak and gullible as they allowed them to be overtaken by sin. The Bible says: “They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:6-7).
d.) A jackal is an omnivorous (plant and animal) scavenger that will devour a large carcass as a group or hunt alone. The false prophets feed on the masses of people as they lie dead in sin, or they will feast on an individual immature in Christ. The Bible says: “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions” (2 Timothy 4:3).
e.) A jackal can adapt to nearly any environment. A false prophet will do or be whatever you want them to be as long as it does not require them to speak truth, even doing signs many will believe comes from God. “For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect” (Mathew 24:24).
f.) A jackal is defensive of their turf. False prophets do not want the true prophets to come and dispel their lies. They will call on other false prophets like them to chase away the true prophet, fearing that they would lose their following or people’s eyes would be opened to the truth. The Bible says: “But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’ And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the Lord has not spoken?’— when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him” (Deuteronomy 18:20-22).
“Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because of your false words and lying visions, I am against you, declares the Sovereign Lord. My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations. They will not belong to the council of my people or be listed in the records of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord” (Ezekiel 13:8-9).
One of the worst things that has happened to the church is the onset of false prophets, pastors, teachers, and other leaders who have become monuments within many bodies of believers. They have caused Christians to elevate them instead of Christ. These false leaders have given words that have not been from the Lord and have caused many to stumble due to the people not knowing the Word for themselves. Such was the case with Judah’s false prophets.
They prophesied lies and only told the people what they wanted to hear instead of telling them what they needed to hear. They caused the people to be comfortable in their sins instead of leading them to repentance. Therefore, the Lord was against them and would judge them according to the great grievances they had done against Him and His people. Those leaders who had caused His people to sin and failed to teach them the ways of the Lord would not see the restoration of Israel once their captivity was over. Their names would be blotted out of Israel’s records as if they had never existed. These false prophets would only be known by what they had done and failed to do instead of being known by name, and their statuses within Israel would be removed. Imagine living a life where no one would even know you existed. No genealogy would ever be recorded of them, and their names would be blotted out of Israel’s records forever. Such will be the case for all false leaders who think they will make it to Heaven while leading the Lord’s people astray. The Bible says: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:21-23). Having a title and performing great deeds mean nothing if you are not in alignment with the will of God.
“Because they lead my people astray, saying, “Peace,” when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash, therefore tell those who cover it with whitewash that it is going to fall. Rain will come in torrents, and I will send hailstones hurtling down, and violent winds will burst forth. When the wall collapses, will people not ask you, “Where is the whitewash you covered it with?” (Ezekiel 13:10-12).
Many religions teach that one needs a “covering” when it comes to preaching and teaching the Word of God. Yet, one must be careful with whom they consider themselves being covered by, for many of these coverings are false prophets, thus creating other false prophets who will neither challenge the false teachings nor read and study the Word for themselves to receive a true revelation from the Lord. The Bible says: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. ‘Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are’” (Mathew 23:13-15). These false prophets have created other false prophets and followers who do not know the Truth. They blanket sin with lies disguised as love, inclusivity, diversity, and equity.
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