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Larry Ray Hafley
Are there truly "many false prophets" who "are gone out into the world"?
Jesus said there would be "many false prophets" who should arise "and deceive
many" (Matt. 24:11). The Holy Spirit made a similar statement (1 Jn. 4:1). As
Peter said, "there were false prophets" among the people of the Old Testament,
and even so "there shall be false teachers among you" (2 Pet. 2:1).
But how can this be? If, as many people believe, everyone's religion is
equally valid and acceptable, how can there be "any" false prophets, let alone
"many false prophets"? The fact that the Bible says there shall be "many false
prophets" implies that not everyone's religion is pleasing before God.
Even in his own day, the Lord Jesus did not receive the worship of each
person. "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the
kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 7:21). "This people draweth nigh unto me with their
mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in
vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men ....
Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up. Let
them alone; they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind,
both shall fall into the ditch" (Matt. 15:8, 9, 13, 14). The "blind leaders"
were false prophets, false teachers.
Again, that "false prophets" exist is indicative of the fact that not all
religions, not all "belief systems," are approved of God (2 Cor. 11:13-15; Rev.
2:2). Why do some say we may serve God according to the dictates of our own
conscience? If all religious concepts of faith are equally valid, why did John
say to "believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God"
(1 Jn. 4:1)? Why say that if it does not matter "in what" or "in whom" you
believe?
Since there are, as the Spirit of God says, "many false prophets," are there
not also "many false religions" (1 Cor. 8:6; Eph. 4:4-6)? That being so, what of
your faith? What of your religion? Is it of God or of man (Isa. 8:20)? "Examine
yourselves whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves" (2 Cor. 13:5).
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