Test The prophets
 

By George C. Stewart
 

In January of 2006, Pat Robertson made news (again) by making more ridiculous “prophecies.” After Israel’s Prime Minister Ariel Sharon suffered a stroke, Robertson declared that the stroke was a direct punishment from God. Robertson was unhappy with Sharon for removing the settlers from the Gaza Strip and some in the West Bank. With Robertson’s dispensational mindset and fixation on national Israel and the land, he believed that Sharon was fighting against God. (See my previous article on: “Who is Israel?”)

Robertson said of Sharon: “He is dividing God’s land and I would say woe unto any prime minister of Israel who takes a similar course to appease the EU, the United Nations, or the United States of America.” Further, he says: “God says ‘this land belongs to me. You better leave it alone.’” (I understood that God owned all of the earth, but I’m not a “prophet.”)

Robertson later apologized for these statements, which makes one wonder when a true biblical prophet ever did that.

We are well into the new millennium and despite the many “prophecies” we still have no ''antichrist,” no “Armageddon,” and no “rapture.”

All the hype leading up to year 2000 has evaporated like a snow cone in the mid­summer sun. How should Christians react to those who sensationalize the Lord's return? Should we smile, laugh, cry or totally ignore their divinations?

God is not very “tolerant” of those who claim to speak in His name when He has not spoken. Before Israel entered Canaan they were instructed that the false prophet should be put to death (Deuteronomy 13:1-5). In Deuteronomy 18:18 we have the promise of Christ's coming (First Coming) as a prophet like Moses. He is to be heeded.

Then God follows that instruction with a warning: “But the prophet who shall speak a word presumptuously in My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he shall speak in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die” (Deuteronomy 18:20). (Read also Jeremiah chapters 23 and 28, as well as Ezekiel 13 for God's view of false prophets.)

Since Jesus clearly stated that no one knows when He will return (Matthew 24:36), are the date-setters speaking “presumptuously” in the Lord's name?

Just prior to His ascension, the Apostles questioned Jesus about His return. He told them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs” (Acts 1:7). Are modern “prophets” in a better position to “know” than the Lord's faithful Apostles? And since Paul emphasized that “as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you” (1 Thessalonians 5:1), should we seek to “know” against His will?

This is not a minor issue. It is a major one. It needs to be addressed by more than a minor minion like me. Yet, it seems that an increasing number of my brethren are accepting the premillennial/dispensational theories.

We will leave the “stoning” to God, but it is certainly time to test the prophets. Even in the first century this was necessary. John says, “test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).

Will this latest failure of the false prophets cause them to convert to the truth? Can a Leopard's spots be changed (Jeremiah 13:23)? Will the hundreds of radio and TV preachers suddenly repent and close shop? Will all of the “prophecy ministries” (e.g., David Reagan) send their staff home and turn off their presses?

After thousands of years and an untold number of failures, the false prophets blindly lead the blind on into the darkness.

Jack Van Impe predicted that 2001 would “usher in international chaos such as we've never seen in our history.” Another false prophecy. Some later set 2004 as the date for the Lord to return. (To my knowledge, no one has informed the Lord.)

Hal Lindsey (Late Great Planet Earth) first set the date for the Lord's return at 1988, adding 40 years to 1948 (the establishment of the state of Israel). When the Lord did not cooperate, Lindsey added 40 years (a generation of Matthew 24) to 1967 to get 2007. Since 2007 isn't too far away, Lindsey now says a generation is between 60 and 80 years. That pushes the date to 2027 or 2047. That's safe. Lindsey will be too old to “stone” by then.

Many other dates are already floating out there. But you get the point.

My message is this: Before you get painted like a leopard (dispensationally) study God's word and rejoice in the glory of what Christ has already done. Then faithfully serve Him, while anticipating His any-moment return.

Come, Lord Jesus!