Religion

Introduction A proper analysis of the topic of prophets in the first ‘division’ of the Christian Bible named the Old Testament; the recognized repository of the Law, the Prophets, Hagiographa and chronicle of the covenant between God and Israel; should begin with a definition of the focus of our study. Succinctly, the term ‘prophecy’ generally means to foretell or predict future events. The religious application of the word implies that the individual – known as a prophet - offers utterances of ‘divine’ or ‘inspired’ predictions or revelations. Unfortunately, often a person who was considered a ‘true’ prophet by some was at the same time disparaged as a ‘false prophet’ by others. It is also notable that the ‘term’ prophet had a vast meaning in the Old Testament which encompassed among other things the functions of being a preacher and a writer as well as someone who is a prognosticator of the future. There are numerous cautions scattered throughout the text of the Bible warning ‘society’ to beware of false prophets (and, for that matter, false Messiahs). For instance, in Matthew 7: 15 – 23 are the words "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep 's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them”.

Other admonishments can also be found, such as within the ‘Acts of the Apostles’ when Barnabas and Paul met up with Elmyrus Bar-Jesus; or the additional reference to Elmyrus in Deuteronomy against proselytizing falsely in an attempt to dissuade another from the ‘true faith’. Indeed, there are enough citations of prophecy and the practice of its fraudulent

References: Chisholm, Robert (2009). Handbook on the prophets. Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, MI., 512 pp.