Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Testing Scripture


Testing Scripture
 The claim to be a prophet is a serious matter. If we are to believe someone who says they had a vision, should we trust them? or test them? If we are to trust them, then what is the difference between Saul of Tarsus, Joesph Smith or Muhammad? If we are to test them, there is no difference either.

The Bible tells us what we can add to scripture by the testing of prophets that it has set in place. Only true prophets can be added. Some of these tests are in Deuteronomy chapters 4,12,13&18.

A key test is that a true prophet can not diminish or subtract from any command previously given (Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32). Even if a prophet showed signs and wonders (Deuteronomy 13:1-5).

Deuteronomy 18:20-22, “But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name,  which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.”

The first test of a valid prophet is they must make a specific prophecy using the name of the Lord. Some will say that an Angel appeared to them and others will say that God appear to them. If one says an angel appeared and the prophecy does not come to pass, they can say that it was an angel of darkness and escape the death penalty. If they say that God or Jesus appears and says, “the Lord saith”, and the prophecy does not come to pass, they are to be put to death.

If the event is easily predictable, such as the sun will rise in the morning, these predictions are not prophetic. Divine prophecy is making a prediction of something that is specific and highly improbable that God only knows. The speaker must clearly claim divine inspiration from God Himself for a highly specific and unlikely prediction.

Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.” Deuteronomy 4:2
A false prophet include someone who tries to "diminish" the words of a prior validated prophet. While a valid prophet can add to Scripture.

The Bible warns that even if someone comes with what otherwise appears to be valid true prophecy, they are invalid if they "diminish" the words of a prior valid prophet and if they come with true"signs and wonders" which "come to pass," they are still a false prophet if they thereafter try to "seduce you from the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk."

Isaiah 8:20 also says, “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”. Isaiah is speaking of the Law of Moses, God tells us one who teaches contrary to the commands in the Law is a false prophet despite his having true prophecy and real signs and wonders. By this standard all doctrines are still to be tried.

Balaam was one who has been put to this test. At first he was a true prophet that came from God and was filled with the Holy Spirit (Numbers 24:1-2). Later on he teaches people to do things which was not according to the Law of Moses, he says it's OK to eat of meat sacrificed to idols and it's was alright to fornicate (Numbers 31:16, Revelation 2:14). He fails the prophet test and you must ignore everything he has said. He seduced his people away from the Lord (Deuteronomy 13:5)

Why does God allow this? He allows them to seduce us to test our Love for Him. The Lord saith in Deuteronomy 12:32-13:5, “What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it. If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the Lord thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.”

1 John 4:3 says, “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”

What did Jesus say about false prophets? In Matthew 7:15, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” In Matthew 24:11, “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.” How about in Matthew 24:24, “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.”

Here are some additional Biblical test of a prophet: Jeremiah 28:9, A true prophet absolutely does not lie. Their predictions will be one hundred percent fulfilled. Daniel 10:17, While in vision, they don't breathe. Numbers 24:4,16, they will fall into trance with eyes open during a vision.  

Here's recap of how to test a prophet:
  1. A prophet can not diminish or subtract from any command previously given from a prophet. Even if a prophet showed signs and wonders.
  2. They must make a specific prophecy using the name of the Lord
  3. One who teachings are contrary to the Law of Moses despite his having true prophecy and real signs and wonders
  4. A true prophet absolutely does not lie
  5. Their predictions will be one hundred percent fulfilled
  6. While in vision, they don't breathe
  7. While in trance, they will have their eyes open during the vision
  8. If anyone denies that Jesus did not come in the flesh is that of the antichrist 
No Catholic council ever applied these test to the books of the new testament, they only

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