Who are false prophets and what do they do?

“For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.”
Matthew 24:24.

“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 2:1

“For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of
our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ” Jude 4

“Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They
speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord.” Jer. 23:16

“And the Lord said to me: “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to
them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds” Jer. 14:14

“For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of
the naive.” Rom. 16:18

“In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you
in the face.” 2 Cor. 11:20.

“For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” Mk. 11:22

“He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to
understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction” 2 Pt 3:16

Why do we have false prophets?

“He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field,
but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.’” Matthew 13:24-25.

“Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.” Acts 20:30

How do false prophets get in?

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” Matthew 7:15

“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan
disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness.
Their end will correspond to their deeds.” 2 Cor 11:13-15

Why are false teachers successful?

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching
ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” 2
Tim. 4:3-5

“Who say to the seers, “Do not see,” And to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us right things; Speak to us smooth things,
prophesy deceits.” Isaiah 30:10

“For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of
the naive.” Rom. 16:18

“so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human
cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” Ephesians 4:4.

“and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might
be saved.” 1 Thess. 2:10
“An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my
people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?” Jer. 5:30-31

What is your responsibility?

a) Be a lover and student of the Word.

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” 2 Tim
2:15

b) Take care not to be deceived – discern.

“And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you.” Matthew 24:4

“But test everything; hold fast what is good.” 1 Thess. 5:21

“Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation!” Phil 3:2

“Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic
principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” Col 2:8

c) Know who they are.

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into
the world.” 1 John 4:1

“You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?” Matthew 7:16

d) Avoid them.

“Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.”
Rom. 18:17

“If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him
shares in his evil deeds.” 2 John 1:10-11

“Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.” Prov. 4:23

e) Expose them

“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” Eph 5:11

f) Remove them from your midst – Stop them.

“God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you.” 1 Cor. 5:13

“For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision group. They must be
silenced, because they are disrupting whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach—and that for the sake of dishonest
gain.” Titus 6:10-11

“As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine,” 1 Tim
1:3

g) Preach the truth

“preach the word; be ready when the time is right and even when it is not; correct [those who err in doctrine or behavior], warn,
exhort and encourage with inexhaustible patience and [faithful] teaching.” 2 Tim 4:2 (AMP)

h) And for those deceived, handle them with care, lest you fall yourself.

“And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment
defiled by the flesh.” Jude 22
“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself
lest you also be tempted” Gal 6:1

“As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him,” Titus 3:10

What is going to happen in the end

“But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” 2 Tim 3:13

“By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their
destruction does not slumber.” 2 Peter 2:3

“But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will
utterly perish in their own corruption,” 2 Peter 2:12