how do you tell the difference between a false prophet and a 'genuinely' god-powered one with 'real' revelati

[Mark 13:13]

I was tempted to put this in the Muslim forum as there could be some cross interest but then I thought no it could get confused so I settled for here.

The answer as outlined in the Bible is mixed and more worrying suggests that at the very time we need to be most able to spot the false prophet is the very time we will be least able to. In honesty this was the very first time I had to face the fact that my faith was my own responsability and being part of a church was no protection when I has read the Bible from start to finish as a 12 yr old skipping over the begats and got to these areas of the Bible.

Matthew 24:24-25, "For 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. Behold, I have told you before.

Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved [Thessalonians 2:9-10].

Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon. He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth (Revelation 13:11-14).

this was the then in someways the very thing that allowed/forced me to question everything I was taught aware that at some point even the people we should be able to trust may be led astray to.

Even now the Issue is still one of the big 3 questions of my life in my faith but never my belief in GOD.

So although there I'm not making any statements to answer the Question rather i'm throwing out a starting position to see how the thread develops

[frankiej]

I thought the title was the start of a joke... oh well.
Anyway, you put too much trust in that ancient book of yours. Anyone could write that shit.

[pocaracas]

You can even go further...
How can you tell if a prophet was really inspired by a god, or if the ideas he manifests came to him by some other means, like dreams, pure imagination, hallucination, deceiving intent, etc, etc, etc? I'm guessing this would fall under the category "false prophet", but I just want to keep it clear that this false prophet may not be aware that his claim is false... he may be perfectly convinced of the truth that he preaches.

[Cato]

What a bunch of horseshit.

You claim that god is unknowable, except through his chosen prophets. I ask how one can discern between a true or false prophet. You basically indicate that we can't which leaves us where we started...a non-existent god with severe communication issues.

The fact that adult human beings buy this tripe is simply sad.

[5thHorseman]

I thought the title was the start of a joke... oh well.
Anyway, you put too much trust in that ancient book of yours. Anyone could write that shit.

and what a stink that shit kicks up!

[Mark 13:13]

You can even go further...
How can you tell if a prophet was really inspired by a god, or if the ideas he manifests came to him by some other means, like dreams, pure imagination, hallucination, deceiving intent, etc, etc, etc? I'm guessing this would fall under the category "false prophet", but I just want to keep it clear that this false prophet may not be aware that his claim is false... he may be perfectly convinced of the truth that he preaches.

I would suggest you are right some would believe they were whereas others like Ron Hubbard never made prophesies but apart from a self fulfilling one about starting a church. Which then raises question of how to you tell a true prophesy from an inspired guess or someone making a good deduction based on whats already happening.

Trouble is also Prophet as understood by the Jews wasn't always someone who made prophesies but rather acted as advisors although the ones who end up in the Bible books tend to foretell some future events but not willy nilly like a fair ground Gypsy but rather related to their mission.

---

What a bunch of horseshit.

You claim that god is unkowable, except through his chosen prophets. I ask how one can discern between a true or false prophet. You basically indicate that we can't which leaves us where we started...a non-existent god with severe communication issues.

The fact that adult human beings buy this tripe is simply sad.

Why not bring something to the thread that's usefull for the conversation to continue. If you think it's all bullshit then why waste your time even commenting. I have the number of a store that sells original thoughts I can give you its number sometime if you ever feel the need to have one.

[Cyberman]

It actually took you slightly longer than I expected before you resorted to trotting out bible verses, but then you did pad out the introduction so I'm claiming that as yet another hit.

Interestingly, what you did choose to quote only says that there will be 'false prophets', which isn't an answer to how you recognise which is which so much as a restatement of the question. The question as raised in your original thread, should you choose to peruse, was prompted by your statement that there are certain individuals who are 'chosen' to act as vessels for your god's utterances. I responded by asking by what metric you ascertain whether random person X is such a divine vessel or merely someone with an eye for the main chance and a glib tongue (hi there, Harold Camping! And Mr Hovind Sr, I wasn't expecting to see you for a good few years yet!).

I note in passing, and with amusement, how easy this stuff is to fake for a gullible audience, who have a tendency to recognise these 'false prophets' only after the event. Not including me, obviously - my prophet status is a matter of record.

[Mark 13:13]

[quote='frankiej' pid='380941' dateline='1357257623']
I thought the title was the start of a joke... oh well.
Anyway, you put too much trust in that ancient book of yours. Anyone could write that shit.

Its not just any book ( collection of books ) and it would be in the top league books that greatly influenced and still does. So it must carry a powerful message for some. Also as an Atheist you should still be interested in how Christians and others do read these books as if they are likely to act based on it then being able to understand why may help you, help them.

[Cyberman]

Its not just any book ( collection of books ) and it would be in the top league books that greatly influenced and still does. So it must carry a powerful message for some.

Indeed, any message perceived to be in its pages must be a powerful one, since it's been described as the greatest atheist recruiting tool ever created. I'd heard that it was pulled from bookshops in China (I think) a few years ago, due to complaints about its violent and pornographic content. Probably apocryphal, but what a beautiful world it would be if it were true.

[Mark 13:13]

It actually took you slightly longer than I expected before you resorted to trotting out bible verses, but then you did pad out the introduction so I'm claiming that as yet another hit.

Interestingly, what you did choose to quote only says that there will be 'false prophets', which isn't an answer to how you recognise which is which so much as a restatement of the question. The question as raised in your original thread, should you choose to peruse, was prompted by your statement that there are certain individuals who are 'chosen' to act as vessels for your god's utterances. I responded by asking by what metric you ascertain whether random person X is such a divine vessel or merely someone with an eye for the main chance and a glib tongue (hi there, Harold Camping! And Mr Hovind Sr, I wasn't expecting to see you for a good few years yet!).

I note in passing, and with amusement, how easy this stuff is to fake for a gullible audience, who have a tendency to recognise these 'false prophets' only after the event. Not including me, obviously - my prophet status is a matter of record.

Glad you were amused but lest just say for now as I'm still very much a learner in the field of explaining my faith to others and already know how careful need to be with words I sent out a general starter to weed out the interested from the time wasters. I don't come with a ready script I do litteraly respond to how things evolve. so from what thinking I've done since starting would ask for some clear Idea of what is a prophet and are we only interested in Biblical prophets, Christian prophets past or present. Where would you like me to focus. Ps if your only here for hits then lets stop the thread now and I will concede you will win if that's all that matters to you. I will give you one of my YOU WIN cards from my collection and a lollypop.