The following was written to help us understand false prophets in response to false ideas that the cowboy community, among thousands of others, were sharing at the time of the April 8, 2024 solar eclipse, centered around End Times prophecy and the United States’ connection to it.
By Will Brunke / Cowboys of the Cross
Prophecy. Who gets it, right?
Ironically, the answer is inside the question that was a poor attempt at dry humor. History tells us that modern interpretation of prophecy is akin to a complicated and entangled ball of yarn. Even the best of us can find that tugging on a single string in earnest opens up a realm of confusion that seems delivered to us by Hollywood’s newest multi-verse-themed blockbuster.
It’s true. New Testament prophecy is an elusive concept to biblical scholars today much like the Theory of Relativity once was to scientists. There are competing attempts to define New Testament prophecy and make it fit into a neat, clean, square little box –like we humans love to do. Typically, the main competing theories of how prophesy works fall into five main categories such as;
Inspired exegesis (interpretation)
Pastoral exhortation (preaching)
Exposition (proclamation of the Gospel)
Inspired thoughts (inner divine voice)
Mediation (spirits speaking native tongue of the spectator)
STOP!! We get it, it’s complicated!
Don’t worry, this is as far as we will go on “diving deep” into prophecy.
So why are we here then? What are you getting at, Will? The important thing to grasp is the lack of reconciliation between the five or how they fit together. But any of the five can be identified in the New Testament. The real danger for us today is that there are voids of ambiguity between these five groups where evil can set up shop, lurk, and look to devour the undisciplined.
There’s no secret that we are surrounded by false teachers and spiritual warfare. It has become so apparent in today’s society, that even a “prophet” who has a low-percentage track record of accurate predictions can still wield a huge amount of clout and influence.
Why? It is only because the “prophet”, (profiteer would be the better word) knows his/her consumer and is ready to supply their audience with the desired product of their hearts, feeding into what they want to hear. Corrupt hearts, that is. In today’s day and age, the desire for specifically obsequious and self-serving content is chosen at a far greater margin than content centered in truth and holding to account.
A heart truly given to Jesus, even in the infantile stages of faith, should be able to distinguish and want to question why a prophesied event did not occur. Because God is never wrong and His word and meaning in the Bible never changes. God does not change His plan on the basis of unseen information a ‘prophet’ today comes up with reading into or reinterpreting scripture to fit a scenario while we as humans do.
I could spend hours divulging stories about individuals who I have ministered to or have personal relationships with, who have bought into and supported false prophets.
There are strong parallels between false profits and many other scams that we poke fun at or wonder, “how did that person ever fall for that?” But while our neighbor may have sent $5000 to that imaginary prince in Nigeria, we have given our personal seals of approval by sharing, liking and reposting the latest scripturally untested fad, or bought the newest apocalyptical rhetoric of the latest profiteer of prophecy.
So what’s the solution then, Mr. Smarty-pants? Will, how do we defeat these heretical zealots and send them back to the pits from whence they came? Well, the short and sweet version is we can’t. The Bible affirms they will exist and if you want apocalyptic, end of the world signs, we’re told by Jesus himself in a list of what to watch for near the end that false prophets are what people will follow.
Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.
Earlier, Jesus warns us inMatthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
And Paul encourages Timothy in a letter to him that Timothy needs to stay strong and press on with preaching the gospel because people are going to follow what they want to hear.
2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
This was a problem 2,000 years ago and it still is. We will never remove from ourselves every wolf in sheep’s clothing just like we will never be totally free from the evil one’s temptations. However, we can each resolve to have a greater impact on our immediate surroundings through Christ and being intentional about learning and then teaching others Biblical truth.
The speed at which technology has enabled us to witness change in our lifetime is unprecedented. But this is still nothing outside of Gods perfect plan. For the Lord has given us powerful tools within our design that transcend time.
One of the best tools He has equipped us with is the value of intimate personal relationships. We are called to cultivate relationships both inside and outside of our marriage, church, and family. How Christians treat their neighbors and how we are seen as innocent as doves yet as shrewd as serpents will open doors for us not only to spread the Gospel and tell others about our Lord Jesus, but it will give others a pause for wisdom and a cause for ears to open to issues of concern that we share in our daily life.
It’s these personal relationships that we can have the most impact with as we minister to those who are frustrated and stumbling, whether in their faith or outside of faith. Used tactfully, conversations can lead and steer a person toward truth and away from chaos. These relationships and therefore the conversations within those relationships take time and attentiveness. It’s no wonder the enemy is trying its best to speed up the mechanism to a near blurry pace.
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