Ezekiel 13:2 - Prophesy Against the Prophets
Ezekiel 13:2 Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy
3. Power from God: one of the most fascinating and poignant stories in the Old Testament about power from God is Elijah and the burning of the altar. Recall how the 400 prophets of Baal could not even start a spark upon the altar of their god as they attempted to make a sacrifice to Baal. Yet even after dousing his altar repeatedly with water, Elijah called down fire from heaven that not only burned the bullock, but consumed also the altar, the stones, and the dirt!
4. Predict True Events: This seems obvious, but in order to be a prophet one must prophesy. If you are not prophesying, it is hard to claim the mantle of a prophet, for that is what a prophet does, predict the future, prophesy. Yes, that may seem like an oversimplification, yet Joseph Smith stated, “What are we to understand by a Prophet[?] It is his character to predict things that are in the future” (The Words of Joseph Smith, Ehat & Cook, p 230).
5. Persecuted for Christ's Sake: There are those who will claim to have heard the Lord or seen a vision or dream, but have not. One thing is true in nearly every case. True prophets are rarely popular. I like the Lord’s teaching to his early disciples. He stated, “Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.... Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets” (Luke 6:22-23, 26).
In contrast, false prophets often say those things people want to hear. Concerning the last days, Isaiah writes about the covenant people, “This is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord. Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits” (Isaiah 30:9-10). This was surely the case in Ezekiel’s day. The Lord told Ezekiel, “they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace” (Ezekiel 13:10). Jeremiah prophesied simiarly among false prophets. “They say still unto them that despise me, The Lord hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you” (Jeremiah 23:17).
6. Lead Others to Christ: By their fruit you shall know them. What are the fruits of the prophets? Is it the happy stories they tell that make you feel warm and fuzzy inside? Is it the many accomplishments they may achieve? Is it the number of members baptized or converted? Is it the great dissertations or orations that they give? Is it the depth of their doctrinal knowledge? No. There is truly one fruit they are offering to you, and that is your personal relationship with Jesus Christ, for that is your salvation.
7. Witness of the Holy Ghost: Most importantly, we can come to discern a true prophet from a false prophet through the guidance of the Holy Ghost. This is partially a continuation of the previous point. If after following the voice of a proclaimed prophet, you come closer to the Savior and develop a personal relationship with him, you may be able to discern whether he is a prophet of God. I quote again Joseph’s statement, “When a man goes about prophesying, and commands men to obey his teachings, he must either be a true or false prophet. False prophets always arise to oppose the true prophets and they will prophesy so very near the truth that they will deceive almost the very chosen ones.”
In all ages of history, men and women have claimed to hear the voice of God and prophesied in the name of the Lord. Some of them have been truly called by the Lord to be his mouthpiece. Some, however, have not. Ezekiel had an experience with this when the Lord asked him to “prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy.” The Lord told Ezekiel, “Say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord God; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing” (Ezekiel 13:2-3).
We have been forewarned that in the last days there will be “many false prophets [that] shall rise, and shall deceive many.” And more so that “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” (Matthew 24:11, 24). In a day when so much rides upon our choosing righteous paths, and with so many voices speaking in the name of the Lord, whether in truth or in vain, how can we be sure to choose the right voices?
Joseph Smith said, “When a man goes about prophesying, and commands men to obey his teachings, he must either be a true or false prophet. False prophets always arise to oppose the true prophets and they will prophesy so very near the truth that they will deceive almost the very chosen ones” (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, 7 Vols. 6:364). The trick is to discern that which is true from that which is false.
Joseph Smith said, “When a man goes about prophesying, and commands men to obey his teachings, he must either be a true or false prophet. False prophets always arise to oppose the true prophets and they will prophesy so very near the truth that they will deceive almost the very chosen ones” (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, 7 Vols. 6:364). The trick is to discern that which is true from that which is false.
Discerning True vs. False Prophets
How will we be able to distinguish those who are false prophets from those who are true prophets? Here is a list of some characteristics of true prophets we find in the scriptures:
1. Called of God: God calls prophets. He authorizes and instructs them. He endows them with the spirit of prophecy and revelation. Though a man can invite or mentor another to become a prophet, such as the case of Elijah and Elisha, only God can call and authorize his servants. Many men and women are called, given authority and tested to see if they prove worthy. Only few are chosen by God.
The Lord told Aaron and Miriam, “Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream." The Lord calls his mouthpieces by his own voice in his own way. Some by visions, some by dreams, and some in person. The Lord continued, "My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold” (Numbers 12:6-8).
- They are called personally by God
- They speak in behalf of the Lord as his mouthpiece
- They will have power from God
- They predict true events
- They are disbelieved or persecuted by most, particularly those to whom they are called to prophesy
- Their fruits will lead others to Christ
- God will witness of his servants to true seekers of righteousness through the Spirit
The Lord told Aaron and Miriam, “Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream." The Lord calls his mouthpieces by his own voice in his own way. Some by visions, some by dreams, and some in person. The Lord continued, "My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold” (Numbers 12:6-8).
The mission of a prophet is a calling from God for a specific purpose. It is not a station for a man or women to seek after, be elected to, or attain through any accomplishments or succession. It is an assignment with purpose and a gift from God. Isaiah provides an enlightening example of the Lord’s call to him. Consider also the calling of Ezekiel, Daniel, Jeremiah, and Lehi, who were all called around the same time. These were clearly called of God to prophesy in their time, yet interestingly, none of these were called to lead God’s church. It was God who called them and it was the covenant people (or covenant church) to whom they were called to prophesy against because of the wickedness of the people.
2. The Mouthpiece of God: True prophets of God will not claim authority of themselves, but always acknowledge God. When they speak for the Lord, they will speak in his name. They will not mince words. They will say what the Lord tells them to say. It will not be ambiguous or hidden within beautiful words or stories. It will be clear that the Lord is speaking. If you have read the scriptures, you get a feeling for how a prophet often speaks. Isaiah speaks in behalf of the end-time servant, saying: "The Lord hath called me from the womb..., and he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword" (Isaiah 49:1-2). "The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary" (Isaiah 50:4).
I love the story of the prophet Micaiah, who said, "As the Lord liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak" (2 Chronicles 18:13). Jehoshaphat and Ahab, king of Israel, were debating whether they should go up to battle. They called upon the prophets to predict what they should do. Ahab gathered together 400 prophets of the people who said God would deliver the king. Jehoshaphat asked if there was not "a prophet of the Lord" whom they could ask. Ahab responded there was one, but he didn't like him because he "never prophesied good unto me, but always evil."
The kings called upon this prophet, Micaiah, to come and prophesy for them what they should do. True to Ahab's word, Micaiah prophesied against the king. Ahab replied to Jehoshaphat, "Did I not tell thee that he would not prophecy good unto me, but evil?" The king was angry and imprisoned Micaiah, stating that Micaiah would remain in prison "until I return in peace." Micaiah responded matter-of-factly, "If thou certainly return in peace, then hath not the Lord spoken by me" (2 Chronicles 18:1-27).
2. The Mouthpiece of God: True prophets of God will not claim authority of themselves, but always acknowledge God. When they speak for the Lord, they will speak in his name. They will not mince words. They will say what the Lord tells them to say. It will not be ambiguous or hidden within beautiful words or stories. It will be clear that the Lord is speaking. If you have read the scriptures, you get a feeling for how a prophet often speaks. Isaiah speaks in behalf of the end-time servant, saying: "The Lord hath called me from the womb..., and he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword" (Isaiah 49:1-2). "The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary" (Isaiah 50:4).
I love the story of the prophet Micaiah, who said, "As the Lord liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak" (2 Chronicles 18:13). Jehoshaphat and Ahab, king of Israel, were debating whether they should go up to battle. They called upon the prophets to predict what they should do. Ahab gathered together 400 prophets of the people who said God would deliver the king. Jehoshaphat asked if there was not "a prophet of the Lord" whom they could ask. Ahab responded there was one, but he didn't like him because he "never prophesied good unto me, but always evil."
The kings called upon this prophet, Micaiah, to come and prophesy for them what they should do. True to Ahab's word, Micaiah prophesied against the king. Ahab replied to Jehoshaphat, "Did I not tell thee that he would not prophecy good unto me, but evil?" The king was angry and imprisoned Micaiah, stating that Micaiah would remain in prison "until I return in peace." Micaiah responded matter-of-factly, "If thou certainly return in peace, then hath not the Lord spoken by me" (2 Chronicles 18:1-27).
Lehi, Nephi, Jacob, King Benjamin, Alma, and so on, all quoted the sources of their words, whether from the Lord or from an angel. Throughout the scriptures, the prophets have warned and blessed with the words, “thus saith the Lord....” Though it is true that a prophet may not use these words exactly, it will be clear what they heard from the Lord or his messengers (angels) and it will be clear who is truly speaking. A true prophet always has a legitimate claim to his or her authority, and it always comes from God.
One of the greatest misconceptions of our time is that a person is called to be a prophet and is always a prophet, no matter what they do. Yet this directly conflicts with a teaching from Joseph Smith. In a historical entry on February 8, 1843, Joseph wrote, “This morning, I...visited with a brother and sister from Michigan, who thought that ‘a prophet is always a prophet;’ but I told them that a prophet is a prophet only when he was acting as such” (History of the Church 5:265).
3. Power from God: one of the most fascinating and poignant stories in the Old Testament about power from God is Elijah and the burning of the altar. Recall how the 400 prophets of Baal could not even start a spark upon the altar of their god as they attempted to make a sacrifice to Baal. Yet even after dousing his altar repeatedly with water, Elijah called down fire from heaven that not only burned the bullock, but consumed also the altar, the stones, and the dirt!
Prophesying of times to come in the last day, Isaiah speaks of the powers given to the end-time servant of God to bring the remnant of God’s children to Zion. That power will come by and through God.
4. Predict True Events: This seems obvious, but in order to be a prophet one must prophesy. If you are not prophesying, it is hard to claim the mantle of a prophet, for that is what a prophet does, predict the future, prophesy. Yes, that may seem like an oversimplification, yet Joseph Smith stated, “What are we to understand by a Prophet[?] It is his character to predict things that are in the future” (The Words of Joseph Smith, Ehat & Cook, p 230).
The Lord is very vocal on this issue when he calls out the false gods and their prophets in the words of Isaiah. “Produce your cause, saith the Lord; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob. Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come. Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together. Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you” (Isaiah 41:21-24).
He follows this statement by proclaiming his omniscience through his end-time servant, “I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass. Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass; I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I shewed it thee: lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them. Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it? I have shewed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them. They are created now, and not from the beginning; even before the day when thou heardest them not; lest thou shouldest say, Behold, I knew them. Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb” (Isaiah 48:3-8). Only God can predict the future.
5. Persecuted for Christ's Sake: There are those who will claim to have heard the Lord or seen a vision or dream, but have not. One thing is true in nearly every case. True prophets are rarely popular. I like the Lord’s teaching to his early disciples. He stated, “Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.... Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets” (Luke 6:22-23, 26).
In contrast, false prophets often say those things people want to hear. Concerning the last days, Isaiah writes about the covenant people, “This is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord. Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits” (Isaiah 30:9-10). This was surely the case in Ezekiel’s day. The Lord told Ezekiel, “they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace” (Ezekiel 13:10). Jeremiah prophesied simiarly among false prophets. “They say still unto them that despise me, The Lord hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you” (Jeremiah 23:17).
6. Lead Others to Christ: By their fruit you shall know them. What are the fruits of the prophets? Is it the happy stories they tell that make you feel warm and fuzzy inside? Is it the many accomplishments they may achieve? Is it the number of members baptized or converted? Is it the great dissertations or orations that they give? Is it the depth of their doctrinal knowledge? No. There is truly one fruit they are offering to you, and that is your personal relationship with Jesus Christ, for that is your salvation.
Let’s take the symbolism that is used by Nephi and by Alma, and then we’ll combine them together. Alma describes faith as a seed that is planted in the heart and either grows or it withers away based on how we nourish that seed. Does it wither away because it is a bad seed? Not necessarily. It could be that we did not have faith enough to nourish that seed. Is a prophet false because we disagree with what he or she says or does? No, not necessarily. If you follow Alma’s allegory through to the end, you find that this seed is not just an ordinary seed, or a seed of a particular doctrine. He is not talking about various doctrines such as tithing or fasting, etc., but he is saying to plant a seed of faith in the true doctrine of Christ, that first principle and ordinance of the gospel. In Alma 32:41, Alma says “But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life” (emphasis added).
Now, Alma, being a student of the scriptures, would have been very familiar with Nephi’s dream in which Nephi sees a virgin bring forth an infant child, the Savior of the world, and is asked by the Spirit, “Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw? And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things. And he spake unto me, saying: Yea, and the most joyous to the soul” (1 Nephi 11:21-23). The tree, is the love of God, or the Son of God, and to taste the fruit of that tree is to taste the everlasting salvation offered by God’s love.
If a true prophet has been true to his calling, he will not seek your approval, blessing, or support, but he will teach you how to plant that seed of faith and come unto Christ, partaking of His fruit, partaking of eternal life. This is what Joseph Smith taught at the end of his life, that we should personally seek to have the blessing of the Second Comforter, having our calling and election made sure. And by coming to know Christ, you will see the fruits of that prophets labors were good. A true prophet of God holds the keys to bring people unto salvation in Christ, to bring people to the face of Christ.
7. Witness of the Holy Ghost: Most importantly, we can come to discern a true prophet from a false prophet through the guidance of the Holy Ghost. This is partially a continuation of the previous point. If after following the voice of a proclaimed prophet, you come closer to the Savior and develop a personal relationship with him, you may be able to discern whether he is a prophet of God. I quote again Joseph’s statement, “When a man goes about prophesying, and commands men to obey his teachings, he must either be a true or false prophet. False prophets always arise to oppose the true prophets and they will prophesy so very near the truth that they will deceive almost the very chosen ones.”
How critical it becomes that we can discern the promptings and voice of the Spirit! Moroni declared that "by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things" (Moroni 10:5). Enoch similarly related the Lord's instruction to Father Adam, "Therefore it is given to abide in you the record of heaven, the comforter, the peaceable things of immortal glory, the truth of all things, that which quickeneth all things, which maketh alive all things, that which knoweth all things, and hath all power according to wisdom, mercy, truth, justice, and judgment" (Moses 6:61). In the end, you can judge for yourself. But remember this, your primary goal should not be to find the right “prophet” to follow, but to learn for yourself how to commune with Jesus Christ and let Him be your prophet. If he is your prophet, you cannot go wrong (Helaman 5:12).
Are we spiritually prepared to be able to discern a true prophet from a false one? Are we willing to take the steps necessary to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ?