We hear a lot of rules these days about what is allowed to happen in our generation and what is not. The gifts, they say, are out. At least those that would require the miraculous intervention of God. Oddly enough, people who believe this never see the miraculous. People who do it regularly see it, even experience it.
One of the teachings that are transmitted is the concept of the differences between the prophecies and the prophets of the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, they say, the prophecy had to be perfect or the prophet was cursed, fled, and/or killed. In New Testament times, “they” also say, it just isn’t. If he or she “closes in” or even is flat out wrong, he or she is just training and will eventually get it right.
It brings many possibilities. Like going to a surgeon who is in training. Or fly with a pilot who is in training. Life or death. Please let me deal only with experienced ones, Sir!
However, it is true that “the prophecies will fail”. People will be wrong. Those who believe that prophecy is preaching know for a fact that pulpits have often botched it. None of them died at the hands of his people that I know of.
There is another class of prophets, Old or New, who are definitely under the curse. I’m sure you know the Old Testament guys and the passages that refer to them. But have you read the book of Jude or Second Peter lately to get an idea of how God feels about the false prophet today? Yes, I said “fake”, not “wrong” or “immature”. There are prophecies that will fail, and others that will be doomed, along with their speakers.
Judas: “…some men have come in secretly, who were long destined for damnation, who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness, and deny the Lord…”
So much for the notion that “the New Testament prophets cannot be cursed.”
But wait a minute. Even the Old Testament rule has its exceptions when it comes to the speaker’s intent. Remember Nathan, David’s personal prophet? Great man of God, right? Hit David between the eyes with a word from God after Bathsheba. Remember.
But there was another incident with Nathan. David wanted to build a house for God. How this man loved the Lord! David and Nathan agreed, this is God’s business. “Do what is in your heart,” said the prophet of God. And David took it as a word from the Lord.
But it was not like that. It was a word from Nathan’s own spirit. He meant no harm. It was a great idea. But it was not God. God corrected him, the message passed to David and things were put in order.
Sense? First, the good-hearted Old Testament prophets who “lost” simply received the correction and moved on. No sudden death! But in that same time period, the false prophets were cursed. Nothing has changed by the time of the New Testament. To this day, men of evil intentions fall under God’s curse, and so they may be told.
And others? Those who continue to speak, as Nathan did, from their own spirit – and in my opinion this covers a great deal of “prophesying” today – need to be taught to expect the Word of God. They also need to read certain passages in Jeremiah and Ezekiel to see how God views this type of prophecy. In many cases, such people would do well to simply quote the appropriate Scriptures for those seeking a “word” from God. Others should be completely silent.
We must never rule out the miraculous. We too must discern forever. This is not a day for the general acceptance of men’s ideas.