E-mailed Questions, Comments, and our Answers
Question - Dear Rev. Pastor, I am a Roman Catholic. In reading the Holy Bible I came across these verses:
1 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.
1 John 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1 John 4:3 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.
I asked my friends belonging to other sects. They all "confess Jesus Christ is come in the flesh." I can see we have different ways of salvation. I am wondering how the test exposes the false prophets.
Your help discerning the false prophets will be highly appreciated.
In Christ, Cris
Answer -Hi Cristine, You must be aware, from our web-site, that we are not Roman Catholic, so the comment and answers that you will get from us may not be in harmony with Roman Catholic doctrine (we do not believe in the Trinity). So I am wondering why you are asking us these questions rather than your local Priest.
The word "prophet" in Greek, means "before-speaker." This "before-speaking, can be in "time" or in "place." A Yahweh sent before-speaker "in time" would be able to foretell the future. But, in our present age, these type of prophets are always going to be false because Yahshua was the last Prophet to be able to foretell the future.(Heb. 1: 1-2). A modern before-speaker, can be a teacher, or your Priest or your Pastor, or anyone speaking-before, or speaking while standing in front of you, in a position of a teacher, or in authority.
The entire book of 1 John, is an exhortation of comparatives that was written as a letter by John, only to believers. I have added some of the other "measuring sticks" to test the "spirits" (which is the attitude and disposition of men), talked about in 1 John.
In order to keep our answer to your question simple, we should understand, that "spirit" as used here, is not some invisible being or ghost-like entity, but is simply the disposition, or the mental or emotional state of understanding of a man or woman, mostly represented by their actions, attitude and deeds.
Gal 5: 22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.If we go back a bit to some of the other verses in 1 John, we also find the following additional tests:1 John 2: 3. This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commandments. 4 One who says, "I know him," and doesn’t keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth isn’t in him. 5 But whoever keeps his word, Yahweh's love has most certainly been perfected in him. This is how we know that we are in him: 6 he who says he remains in him ought himself also to walk just like he walked.11 But he who hates his brother is in the darkness, and walks in the darkness, and doesn’t know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.5 Don’t love the world [system] neither the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world [system] the Father’s love isn’t in him.1 John 2: 22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Yahsha is the Christ? This is the Antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son, the same doesn’t have the Father. He who confesses the Son has the Father also.29 If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of him.1 John 3: 6 Whoever remains in him doesn’t sin. Whoever sins hasn’t seen him, neither knows him.9 Whoever is born of Yahweh doesn’t commit sin, because his seed remains in him; and he can’t sin, because he is born of Yahweh.10 In this the children of Yahweh are revealed, and the children of the adversary. Whoever doesn’t do righteousness is not of Yahweh, neither is he who doesn’t love his brother.24 He who keeps his commandments remains in him, and he in him. By this we know that he remains in us, by the Spirit which he gave us.1 John 4: 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of Yahweh; and everyone who loves is born of Yahweh, and knows Yahweh. 8 He who doesn’t love doesn’t know Yahweh, for Yahweh is love.15 Whoever confesses that Yahshua is the Son of Yahweh, Yahweh remains in him, and he in Yahweh.18 We know that whoever is born of Yahweh doesn’t sin, but he who was born of Yahweh keeps himself, and the evil one doesn’t touch him.Summary,
There are many tests from Scripture to discern truth from error, or to test for false Prophets.
1. A before-speaker in "time" will always be a false Prophet, because Yahshua was the last Prophet in "time." Future or "foretelling in time" Prophets do not exist in our day and age.
2. A false before-speaker in "place" would not follow or be representative of the "character" represented above in 1 John. A False Prophet would not be true to, or teach Yahweh's word from (Scripture), as presented and as taught by Yahshua. see:http://biblelogic.com/Documents/Yahshuasbible.htm
You would need to study and compare the word spoken by the Prophet, with Scripture, to see if those things spoken by the Prophet you are testing were true."The Bereans ... examined the Scriptures ... to see if it was true " Acts 17:11.Since you told me that you are a Roman Catholic, you need to read this very important document written by us, found at this link:http://biblelogic.com/Documents/Assemblyekklesia.htmPlease give a copy to your Priest, and ask him for comments. I hope that this has been of some help to you,
For aletheia (truth)
John William,
Assembly of Yahweh, Cascade