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I have noticed on YouTube several people claiming the Holy Spirit has revealed to them what is going to happen in the near future. They fancy themselves as inspired, revealing modern day revelations and prophecies.
I am reminded of the false prophets of Jeremiah’s day. Jeremiah 23:16-40 is a good example of people claiming to speak for God and yet revealing what they imagined in the deception of their own hearts. See also Ezekiel 13.
“Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you. They are leading you into futility; They speak a vision of their own imagination, Not from the mouth of the Lord’” (Jer. 23:16). “I did not send these prophets, But they ran. I did not speak to them, But they prophesied” (23:21). “I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy falsely in My name, saying, ‘I had a dream, I had a dream!’” (23:25). “‘Behold, I am against those who have prophesied false dreams,’ declares the LORD, ‘and related them and led My people astray by their falsehoods and reckless boasting; yet I did not send them or command them, nor do they furnish this people the slightest benefit,’ declares the LORD” (23:32).
Jesus predicted false prophets would come (Matthew 7:15-20; 24:4-25; Mark 13:22-23; Acts 20:29-30; 2 Corinthians 11:15; 1 Timothy 4:1-5; 2 Timothy 4:1-4; 2 Peter 2:1-3; 1 John 4:1; Revelation 2:2). When people spout things they think they know and claim the Holy Spirit told them, I am skeptical.
Why? The Lord Jesus said to the apostles (not to everyone), “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.” They were guided into ALL the truth not some of it. Whenever I hear a modern-day person call himself or herself a prophet, I know they cannot be. Only those who were apostles or those who received miraculous gifts in the first century are true prophets. All others are false. The faith was once for all time delivered (Jude 3).
Beware of false prophets! Test their words. If they do not agree with the teaching of Jesus in the New Testament, do not believe them.
Philip Sanders
Edmond, OK