Micah 3:5-12 “Thus saith the Lord concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him.”

Zephaniah 3:4 “Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.”

Jeremiah 2:7-9 “The priests said not, Where is the Lord? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.”

vs. 26-27 “As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets. . . .”

5:26-31 “The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so. . . .”

8:10 “. . . from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.”

14:13-16 “Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, the prophets say unto them, Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place.”

Jeremiah 23:9-17 “Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord. . . . I have not sent these prophets. . . .”

vs. 25-32 “I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.”

28:15-17 “Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The Lord hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie.”

29:8-23 “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.”

Matthew 7:15-20 “Beware of false prophets, . . . inwardly they are ravening wolves.”

1st John 4:1 “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”

Their Hour Is Coming:

Matthew 24:11 “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.”

vs. 21-25 “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” (Also in Mark 13:22)

There Have Always Been More False Prophets than True.

1st Kings 18:17-22 “Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel’s table.”

22:1-13 “And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, having put on their robes, in a void place in the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.”

(Also in 2nd Chronicles 18:1-12)

The Lord Is Against False Prophets

1st Kings 22:20-23 “And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.”

Ezekiel 13:1-9 “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the Lord; thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!”

Zechariah 13:2-4 “And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of hosts, that . . . I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land. . . . the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he hath prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive. . . .”

Revelation 2:18-20 “. . . thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess. . . .”

Zechariah 12:1 — 13:5 “And it shall come to pass, that when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the name of the Lord: and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth.”

Even Those Who Really Are The Prophets of God Are Not Necessarily Right With God.

1) SAUL

1st Samuel 10:1-12 “. . . the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.”

19:20-24 “. . . the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.”

Λ 15:1-23 “Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.”

(For great insight, see: vs. 24-35.)

28:5-6 “And when Saul enquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not. . . .”

2) BALAAM

Numbers 22-24 The history of the situation.

Deuteronomy 23:3-5 “. . . they [Ammonites & Moabites] hired against thee Balaam . . . to curse thee.”

2nd Peter 2 “all (v. 15) “. . . Balaam . . . loved the wages of unrighteousness. . . .”

Jude 11 “the error of Balaam” (The desire for a “reward.”)

Revelation 2:14 “. . . Balaam . . . taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel. . . .”

Numbers 31:1-16 “. . . these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass. . . .”

Joshua 24:1-10 “. . . so I delivered you out of his hand.” (Who is “his” here. What difference does it make?)

13:22 “Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among [the enemy].”

3) SHEMAIAH

Nehemiah 6:1-14 “And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.”

4) The Old Prophet of Bethel (who Deceived the Prophet who Prophesied Against the Alter And Withstood King Jeroboam)

1st Kings 13:1-32 “He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the Lord, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him.”