Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 5/9/2010

Question
can you tell me what the Bible tests of a prophet are?

Answer
Hi Georgia,

Thank you for this great question.  There are several things we can consider in testing a prophet.

1.  Does the prophet have 100% accuracy.  If they do not, they are not of God.

Deuteronomy 18:20-22
20 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. 21 And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? 22 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 King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

2.  Does the prophet turn people from the true God of the Bible and Salvation by grace through faith... if he does, he is not true.

Deuteronomy 13:1-5


If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, 2 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; 3 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. 4 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. 5 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.  

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Galatians 1:8-9
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

3.  Anyone claiming to be a prophet after the Bible has been completed is not a prophet.... there is no prophecy today.

- The Bible tells us that once that which is perfect (or completed) is come, then there will be no more need for partial direct revelation.

1 Corinthians 13:8-10
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.  9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.  
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Once the Bible is completed, then we have no more need for partial revelation through prophets.  We do have God's word that it is completed and His warning to no longer prophecy.

Revelation 22:18-19
18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.  

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

I hope that this helps you.  I am sorry for my late response.

In Christ
Pastor Don