Much of Scripture is based on supernatural revelation or subjective experiences. Whether we’re talking about the early books such as Genesis with the creation accounts, the Flood, and the giving of the Law on Mt Sinai, it was God who spoke to Moses. The voice that Samuel heard as a small child calling to him in the middle of the night (I Samuel 3:9) was the voice of God, and only Samuel heard it. And the voice of a child who spoke (Confessions 8.29) while Augustine of Hippo was sitting on the bench in the garden that day, pondering his sins, was likely subjective as well, as there was no one in sight, according to Augustine. Throughout the ages, God has used ordinary men–and women–whom He called or appointed to be prophets. Prophets played a vital and critical role in the development of the Faith. As Peter says in his second epistle (1:29): “For the prophecy came not in olden times by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” Notice that Peter says people cannot choose to be a prophet, as if it were a vocational decision. Rather, God chooses them. Unfortunately, however, there are false prophets among us whom God did not choose.
The role of prophets
Entire books in the Bible such as Genesis, Isaiah, Daniel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Revelation, and many others are the works of a very few people who heard voices that others did not hear or saw things that others could not see. This is how we have learned a good deal about God. We could not learn about justice, mercy, divine love and so on merely by observing nature or looking at the heavens at night. It is left to the prosaic, the pastors and priests to decide when–or when not–the Lord has spoken. Usually this is done through prayer and consensus.
Sometimes the Holy Spirit is silent
Sometimes it comes down to casting lots or a vote. Who should replace Judas Iscariot? Justus or Matthias? Should the Revelation of John be part of the New Testament canon, or should it be The Shepherd of Hermas? Other times, the leading of the Holy Spirit is not crystal clear to us. At the Council of Jerusalem, the apostles had to decide what the Gentiles needed to do to comply with the requirements of the Christian life. People at the Council no doubt had heated opinions on one side of the issue or the other, and it seemed that there was no supernatural revelation in that case. Luke writes that the final decision was prefaced by the words: “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements . . .” (Acts 15:28.) In other words, they said that they had no precise leading from God, but they did not feel uncomfortable in their spirits with the provisions that followed.
Faking it (or being fooled)
There was a problem back then as there is now. People would claim that God spoke to them. They were prophets, some of them. Some, however, clearly were not. Or, they did hear voices, but the voices came from deceiving spirits. Ezekiel writes about individuals who would proclaim: “’This is what the Sovereign LORD says’–when the LORD has not spoken” (22:18). Jeremiah (23:32) agrees: “Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, says the Lord, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore, they shall not profit this people at all, says the Lord.”
Touched by the fire
Mental hospitals are filled with people who see visions or hear voices from whom or what they believe is God, angels, Satan, Martians, the CIA, and Pope Francis. But they are not prophets. Occasionally, these visionaries are able to persuade ordinary people to follow them across the United States, into the jungles of Guyana … or to the polls. These “prophets” can be very persuasive, and talented. Consider the famous British author William Blake, who had bipolar affective disorder. Most of the time he was a very dull “printer’s devil” who would carry about large trays of lead type and wash them after use, stacking them back properly in their racks afterwards. His eyes were listless during those periods. But when he cycled around and became hypomanic, he could write pages of poetry faster than a person could read them. During these periods he was an inspiring artist as well. He was once shown a sovereign, or British coin, and asked to describe what he saw. He replied that sometimes it appeared to be round like a guinea (another coin) while other times it took the appearance of a fiery orb of the heavenly host crying “Holy! Holy! Holy.”
A personal story
Of course, there are always charlatans who try to cheat gullible people, but many other so-called prophets are decent, well-meaning people caught up in the moment. I had a friend many years ago who was a Catholic charismatic. She called me aside after a meeting one evening to tell me about a prophecy she said she had about me. She spoke what she believed were words from God, and predicted that I would have a ministry in intercessory prayer. I would never describe myself as a prayer warrior, but if I believed her and acted accordingly, those words might have had an influence in my Christian life, and thus, might have come true after-the-fact, (called a self-fulfilling prophecy.) She was a warm, somewhat quiet person who loved the Lord who did not style herself to be a prophet. And I appreciated the inspiring words. But they did not come true to the best of my knowledge.
When prophecy become political
Over the last sixteen hundred years or so, prophecy has often become political, expecially in England. People were led to believe that God supported this faction or that faction or one pretender to the throne over another pretender. Sometimes prophecy was based on astrology and remarkable events, such as the appearance of Halley’s Comet in 1066.
In our day, people referred to as religious leaders have proclaimed in the name of the Lord that Donald Trump would defeat Joseph Biden in a landslide in the November 3rd general election, and serve a second term. They know this, they say, because they were told by the Spirit of God that he would prevail. But this clearly did not happen. We have a new president, for better or for worse. Hopefully, for better. Since God is omniscient, the error must lie with man.
Some who foretold a Trump win tried to salvage their claims and perhaps, reputations. They revised their remarks: Mr. Trump did win, but that the election was stolen from him. Mr. Trump will get a second term, but in August 2021 through some miracle, or in 2024, or 2028. A third group tried to cast their error in a different light: “Trump was, indeed, reelected, but in heaven, not on Earth.” Or, the landslide had nothing to do with votes, it was symbolic of something else. Or God changed his mind. Or …
We were reminded of accurate prophetic dreams, visions or utterances that these self-proclaimed “prophets” had made in the past that established their credentials. All sorts of images and curious pieces of information were related, such as that the LA Dodgers would win the World Series, assurances that the COVID-19 death rate in America would not get much higher than 3,000 (or did the prophecy claim 300,000?) There were images of swamps with alligators, conflict, liberal treachery, and so on. If we can believe some recent “prophecies,” God is becoming increasing radicalized politically, using terms like “RINO’s” and “Demo-rats” [sic] as he speaks to men (and women,) Hmmm.
If it is not this, then maybe it is that
I remember something similar from the early ‘70’s when I live south of Miami, FL. Charismatic Christians were receiving prophecies that there would be a huge wave that would flood the peninsular. It never arrived. So, the prophecy was recast to mean there was a spiritual wave, not a tsunami from the sea. Or, maybe they got the date wrong? But, if it occurred, I did not see it, and I lived on the Florida coast. A gigantic wave was similarly predicted in Martin Luther’s day by “prophets.” That never manifested either.
Let me provide some context here. I believe that Scripture represents the final authority in matters of faith. There is nothing missing from the canon and nothing to be added. Nobody today has apostolic authority, though some claim that mantle. I do believe that God still speaks to people, but on a person-to-person basis as opposed to messages to the Church at large. I also believe that we have a responsibility to test what we are being told if the supernatural is involved, and if what we’re told seems contrary to Scripture in any way.
To clarify
I’m not cautioning about pastors who are playing the odds. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to know that George H.W. Bush was likely to beat Michael Dukakis in 1988, or that John McCain would likely lose to Barak Obama in 2008. Nor am I speaking to those ministers engaged in hunches or wishful thinking (e.g., “I have a good feeling that Trump will win.”) This essay is about Christian leaders who are speaking with the authority of the Almighty, claiming that they have been visited by the Holy Spirit with a message for the Church. Joseph Biden took the oath of office on Wednesday, January 20, 2021, several hours after Donald Trump flew home to Florida, one of only three U.S. presidents to refuse to attend the inauguration of their successor.
Lying spirit or stolen election (you decide)
I’d like to conclude with the words of one such person who was apparently beguiled. Rather than mention his name here, you may easily discover his identify–if you wish–from reputable news sources, on the basis of his quote which follows: “Either a lying spirit has filled the mouths of numerous trusted prophetic voices in America, or Donald J. Trump really has won the presidency and we are witnessing a diabolical and evil plan unfold to steal the election.” In fact, there was and as of August 2021, still is an attempt to steal the election, but it was not from Joseph Biden, Jr.
Test the spirits
Personally, I’ve always been attracted to someone who can speak with authority–who can “cut to the chase.” To me, life is full of variables and sometimes, shades of gray and sometimes the truth is difficult to discern. That may be a shocking admission to some. But take a recent example.
I saw a television show recently about occupied France in WW II. Two Vichy officials in a village were give a list by the SS commandant of twenty French villagers who would be executed in retaliation for a murder of a German soldier. But the two French officials could come up with a list of ten innocent people of their own who would replace the twenty condemned Frenchmen on the German’s list. The two officials agonized over the dilemma. but ultimately decided to do what the SS asked for and they came up with a list of ten people, many of whom were on the SS list in the first place. The two Frenchmen may have removed the only woman from the list, or a farmer with five small children whose wife died only months ago. If he was executed, the children would be orphaned. Still, another may have been the only doctor for the entire region. They rationalized that, because of their devilish task, ten French civilians were spared from death. They viewed their unenviable task as making the best out of a bad situation. When the war was over, the free French government put them on trial, executing one of the two for this action. While mulling over the movie, I’ve wondered what I might have done in the same situation. What would you have done? Not as you are seventy years after the fact, but living through those same times? If you refused to act, twice as many innocent people would have been killed.
It seems to me that God’s preference is to speak through His Word whenever possible. If someone dangerous is approaching your front door in the middle of the night, God might alert you in some other way. But if your faith depends on special revelation (which cannot be tested) from people who call themselves prophets, you may very well lose your way.
