Deuteronomy 18:20-22

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Deuteronomy 18:20-22 reads:

But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.  And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?  When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

The "One Mistake" rule of Deuteronomy 18

A true Prophet must be 100% accurate. There is absolutely no margin for error.

Deuteronomy 18:20-22 states:

But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die. And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the Lord has not spoken?’ — when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.

The true Prophet of the Lord predicts that which does come to pass. If the Prophet's predictions fail, they are exposed as NOT of God. Jeremiah 28:9 tells us:

The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent him.

Ezekiel 13:2-9 is also an interesting passage:

Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel, who are prophesying, and say to those who prophesy from their own hearts: ‘Hear the word of the LORD!’  Thus says the Lord GOD, Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!  Your prophets have been like jackals among ruins, O Israel.  You have not gone up into the breaches, or built up a wall for the house of Israel, that it might stand in battle in the day of the LORD.  They have seen false visions and lying divinations. They say, ‘Declares the LORD,’ when the LORD has not sent them, and yet they expect him to fulfill their word.  Have you not seen a false vision and uttered a lying divination, whenever you have said, ‘Declares the LORD,’ although I have not spoken?” Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “Because you have uttered falsehood and seen lying visions, therefore behold, I am against you, declares the Lord GOD.  My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and who give lying divinations. They shall not be in the council of my people, nor be enrolled in the register of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord GOD.

God says a false prophet can actually say they are hearing from the Lord but it really is their own spirit.

In 1 Samuel 3:19-20, the Bible says this of the prophet Samuel:

As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him, and everything Samuel said proved to be reliable. And all Israel, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the Lord

In the Old Testament, prophets prophesied within three time frames: their own time, for the 1st coming and the 2nd coming. The test of a prophet was his near prophecies which would be fulfilled in his own lifetime. Obviously, if it was beyond his lifetime, he wouldn't be around to have to answer for it. Prophecy was very specific in the Old and the New Testament. They would foretell God's revelation to the people and if one looks back at the Biblical record to study a prophet's calling, it was God who picked them and they are often found arguing not to have the office. In contrast, there are now schools to train new prophets because the people desire this office.

Another test used on would be prophets, found in Deuteronomy 13:1. In addition to whether or not their predictions came true is whether they used signs and wonders as tools to draw people to other gods or a different representation of God. (Such as Jannes and Jambres in 2 Timothy 3:8). Here, God is testing the people to see if they love only Him. This is probably the most overlooked scripture pertaining to examining the claims of those who profess supernatural powers that come from God. If they were to contradict the teaching that had already been revealed - which had provided knowledge of the one true God then they were seen as false prophets. God did not, and still does not tolerate false prophesying. If they wrong once, they are false, they were to be stoned. If this occurred today many if not all who lay claim to this position would have a quick end to their so called anointing!

Remember: just because one performs miracles, even inside a church, does not mean God is working. We should be more on guard inside the church than we would like to think. In 1 Corinthians 4:6, we are told no to go beyond what in written. If one contradicts the apostolic writings and teachings, then they are false (2 Cor.11:14). Those who go beyond the word having God speak to them directly with new revelation, become puffed up with self-deception. There is something called humility that is practiced when one adheres to the same standard that everyone else does. Isa.8:16” bind up the testimony (of the Prophets) seal the law among my disciples”. (Moses) vs. 20 “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because their is no light in them.” This standard distinguishes a believer from an unbeliever. The test of the prophet was his conformity to the word of God, he condemns sin, he comforts the brethren, and he speaks of things in the near future and later than his life. A prophet, like an apostle, not only functioned as a gift, but as an office. A prophet would declare God's will for his generation, addressing idolatry or lukewarmness. We see this personified in John the Baptist who warned and rebuked the people preparing the for the Messiah.

William Branham applied the Deuteronomy 18:20-22 test to himself

It is clear that William Branham considered himself to be an Old Testament prophet and that as a result he was not subject to the judgment of the church. He also stated the test in Deuteronomy 18:20-22 applied to him:

“Let one speak and two or three judge,” said Paul. Now, those are the spirits of the gifts that’s in the Church. But the only person that has a right to say, THUS SAITH THE LORD, is an a vindicated prophet. You never seen anybody judging Isaiah, or Jeremiah, or those people. They were prophets, foreordained and borned in the world to be prophets. And they foresaw the thing by a vision, and then said, “THUS SAITH THE LORD,” for the Lord had already said it.

You can go to my hometown and find it one time, in all the times that It’s ever told anything, that didn’t come to pass just exactly the way It said. Now, you pin a sign on my back as a false prophet, and I’ll walk through your streets. Cause it’s not myself, I’m a man, but He’s God. And He’s the One Who does the saying. If I would say it, it could be a lie, ’cause I’m subject to any—any mistakes, lies, anything else, like anybody else.

Prophets are foreordained. They’re prophets. Now, there’s a gift of prophecy in the church, that could be on one, then the next one, the next one, the next one, and so forth—of prophecy. Paul said you may all prophesy one by one. But there’s a lot of difference between a prophet and a prophecy. A prophecy has to be judged by three witnesses (two or three) before it can be given or accepted in the church, according to the Scriptures. But a prophet, like the Old Testament prophet, they had the Word of the Lord. The translation was right to them. And they were known, because the Bible said, “If there be one among you spiritual or a prophet, I, the Lord, will make Myself known unto him, speak to him in visions, and reveal Myself in dreams. And if what this man says comes to pass, then hear him, for I’m am with him. If it doesn’t, then don’t hear him. I’m not with him. Don’t fear him.”

And you who will not come back, I want you to do me a favor, mark a little piece of paper, and put it in your Bible, and say, “Brother Branham said, ‘THUS SAITH THE LORD.’” Then if God lets us live, watch what this thing’s coming to. If God lets us live for a few more years and I pass through Phoenix, get that—get a little yellow piece of paper out, and walk up to the pulpit and say, “What about this, Brother Branham?” Then I’ll tack it on my back, and you get in your car, and drive me down the street, as a sign on my back, “A false prophet.”

God always sends a prophet. The Word comes to the prophet; the written Word, a discerner of the thoughts of the heart. Did you always notice? The prophet, being that he knowed that he was a prophet, is because that the Word of God discerns the thought that’s in the heart, foretells things, forth-teller and teller-forth. Did you ever take the dictionary, the old Hebrew dictionary, and see what the word seer means? It’s the one that has the Divine revelation of the written Word. And how it’s vindicated, he foresees things that he foretells, and they come to pass. 42 Now, how does that type in with the Scripture? Just exactly. “If there be one among you, who is spiritual or a prophet, I the Lord will make Myself known to him, speak to him in visions. And if these things comes to pass, then it’s God. If they don’t come to pass, then don’t hear him; don’t fear him at all, but just ignore it.”

The Bible said, “If there be one, and what he says comes to pass, then you hear him; but, if it doesn’t, don’t believe him, don’t fear him, but My…if—if My Word is not in him. But if it does come to pass, then My Word is in him.” That’s his identification. That’s the characteristic of a prophet.

Now, prophets. There’s such a thing as “gift of prophecy” in the Church; but a prophet is predestinated and foreordained for the hour. See? Yes, sir. Now, if a prophecy goes forth, two or three has to set and judge whether that’s right or not, ’fore the church can receive it. But nobody set before a prophet, ’cause he was—he was absolutely the Word of God. He was that Word in his day. You seen God reflect. Now, God has promised to send us that again in the last days, to bring the Bride out of that ecclesiastical mess, in the only way it can be done. ref>William Branham, 65-1204 - The Rapture, para. 136</ref>

Quotes of William Branham

So as Christians we must be reverent; we must be honest, and everything up and aboveboard, so everyone can examine and look in and see that Christ is the—is the virgin born Son of God and His Words are perfectly and absolutely true. I was on my road to see Brother Bosworth in Miami, Florida, for my first time. I was passing down through Kentucky and Tennessee here on a train. I saw a vision of a little boy; he’d been killed in an accident, seen where he was laying. Just like this I have written here… Comes, many, many, times and tells things. And I don’t live far from here, a hundred and nineteen miles. You can go to my hometown and find it one time, in all the times that It’s ever told anything, that didn’t come to pass just exactly the way It said. Now, you pin a sign on my back as a false prophet, and I’ll walk through your streets. Cause it’s not myself, I’m a man, but He’s God. And He’s the One Who does the saying. If I would say it, it could be a lie, ’cause I’m subject to any—any mistakes, lies, anything else, like anybody else. 11 But when He says it, it’s not me talking; it’s Him. And when He speaks I’ll stand by His Word. And I know that It’s true. It never fails. Watch It on the platform. Many times It’ll tell the people just what’s—what’s wrong with them. I pray for the person. But when you hear It speak out of, THUS SAITH THE LORD, you watch what It says, just lay your life right there, because it’ll be just that way.

There is no such a thing as three Gods: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. That’s not even in the Scripture, nowhere. Nowhere is it. Nowhere was we ever commanded to baptize, “In the name of the Father, and in the name of the Son, and name of the Holy Ghost,” not nowhere in the Scriptures. It’s a Catholic creed, and it’s not for the Protestant church. I’ll ask anybody to show me one Scripture where any person was ever baptized any other way than in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Come, show it to me, and I’ll put a sign on my back, “A hypocrite, and a false prophet, a false teacher,” and go through the streets. There’s no such a thing. Never was anybody baptized that way. It’s a Catholic creed, and not a Protestant doctrine.

Oh, my. Oh, God, get the church in that state. Let me stay in that place. I said, “You speak right quick, Sister Isaac, interpret for me.” I said, “If the Lord God in a land of America, two years ago, here it is wrote on these brothers’ Bible leaf, see if that little boy isn’t on his feet alive in five minutes, I’ll leave Finland with a sign on my back, ‘False Prophet.’”

Never was anybody, any page of the Bible nor in history, until the Catholic church, was ever baptized by immersing in the name of “Father, Son, Holy Ghost.” 249 If you show me the page or anything, you write it, lay it up on here to me, tonight, and I’ll walk out of this church, saying, “I am a hypocrite; I have taught people wrong.” If you can show me one text of Scripture, or bring me one history, authentic history, that’ll show me that where that people ever baptized, in the Bible, in the name of “Father, Son, Holy Ghost.” Or, bring me one Scrip-…or, one book of history, one page, one quotation in history, where anybody was ever baptized in the name of “Father, Son, Holy Ghost,” until the Nicene Council of the Catholic church. Come, bring it to me; and I’ll pin a sign on my back and walk through Jeffersonville, and you behind with a horn, blowing. I’ll put on there, “A false prophet, misleading the people.”

Now, on down, as I made that quotation about the sprinkling, and baptism in the name of “Father, Son, Holy Ghost” being a Catholic baptism and not a Protestant or a New Testament baptism, I hope I’ve made that clear. And I’ve asked any person that would show a text of Scripture where anybody was ever baptized in the Bible or until the Laodicean Council where they formed the Catholic church, where anybody was ever baptized in the name of “Father, Son, Holy Ghost,” please come show me. And I’d put on my back, “a false prophet,” and go through the street. Now, I just make that…not to be hard, but just to show you that it’s the Truth. See?

Now, God in all ages gave the people signs, bear record of it (Deuteronomy 18:22, also 13:1, if you want to put these Scriptures down). God gave Israel an assured sign. He said… Now, God sends His Word by His prophets. Is that right? It’s exactly what the Bible said. The Word of the Lord come to the prophets. He said here was the test of a prophet: if a prophet prophesied, and that what he said come to pass, then hear him. But if it don’t come to pass, then God hasn’t spoke. That’s all. So don’t—don’t fear him. That’s right. “If there be one among you who’s spiritual or a prophet, I, the Lord God, will make myself known unto him in visions, speak to him in dreams. And if it comes to pass, then I—that’s Me speaking.” Sure, God ain’t going to lie. You know He can’t lie there’s nothing in Him to lie. He’s the Fountain of all purity, all truth, is God. So it can’t be a lie come from God. He’s perfect, pure.

I said, “If this child doesn’t raise up from this dead, then I’m a false prophet, I’m a misrepresentation of God. For, in the homeland, two years ago, He told me this would happen. And there these ministers, and all, it’s wrote on the flyleaf of our Bible, and here it is exactly. Read it off the flyleaf, how it would ‘be in a country, lapping rocks, and so forth, be killed, and on…be on the right-hand side of the road.’” I said, “There it is. Nothing can stop it. The situation is already under control.”

Quotes - William Branham applied Deuteronomy 18:22 to himself

The Bible said, "If there be one spiritual or a prophet, and what he says comes to pass, then believe him." Is that right? Well, I'm with that. "But if it doesn't come to pass, don't believe it." Those things are born; you're born to do that.

Then somebody--spiritual judgment, raise up and say, "Was of that of the Lord?" Each one. If three good men will stand and say, spiritual judges say, "That was of the Lord," then the church receives it; and everybody in that end of town moves out, gets away from it for that time. Then if it doesn't come to pass you'd better check that person. You've got another spirit among you. But if it comes to pass, then bless God and thank God for letting you escape the wrath that was to come. See? Watch those things. That's the church in order.

"If I am the truth..." The Bible says, "There be one spiritual prophet among you, and if he declares something, and it doesn't come to pass, don't you listen to him, because he's false. But if does come to pass, know that I spoke through him." Is that right?

I want you to take It to record. The Bible said, "If there arise one among you, and he says such-and-such, and it doesn't come to pass, don't hear it, for I haven't spoken. But if he speaks in My Name, and what he says comes to pass, then hear It." Amen. "For I am with that prophet, or preacher, whatever it may be. If what he says comes to pass, then hear him."

God's anger is kindled against the nation. And you're going to receive punishment and judgment. Write it in the fly leaf of your Bible and say that, "Brother Branham said so." If it doesn't come to pass, I'm a false prophet, for I have THUS SAITH THE LORD.

Because he was called "god," because he packed within him the Word of God, THUS SAITH THE LORD. Therefore, the word "prophet" means a... His--his interpretation isn't to be mingled with. See? If the God... He says, "If there be one among you who's spiritual, a prophet, I the Lord will speak to him. What he says comes to pass, then hear him because I'm with him. But if it doesn't come to pass, then don't hear him; I haven't sent him. That's the way you know it.

THE.EPHESIAN.CHURCH.AGE JEFF.IN 60-1205

But the Bible said, "Try a man. If there be any among you who's spiritual or a prophet, or says he is, I the Lord will make Myself known to him. I'll speak to him in visions and in dreams. And if what he says comes to pass, then hear him; don't be afraid of him (See?), because that I am with him. But if it doesn't come to pass, then don't hear him; he hasn't got My Word." See, if it's His Word, it happens.

THE.THYATIREAN.CHURCH.AGE JEFF.IN 60-1208

How a person can call one, somebody a prophet, and then say they have the wrong revelation? Just as much sense as eternal sonship again. You see? See? See, it's--it's the... A "prophet" means "the correct Diviner, the one that the Word of the Lord came to, the revelation came to him." The word "prophet" means "a Diviner of the Divine Word." Jesus said, "If there be one among you who's spiritual or a prophet, I the Lord will speak to him. And if what he says comes to pass, then hear him; I'm with him. If it doesn't come to pass, then don't hear him." That's all. It was the--it was the Divine Word of God, and the Word of the Lord came to the prophets.

QUESTIONS.AND.ANSWERS_ JEFF.IN COD THURSDAY_ 61-0112

Now, to be sure that it's of God (See?), 'cause if it's just foolishness it ain't of God. If it doesn't come to pass, it's not of God. See? It's got to come to pass. And--and therefore in our churches (You see?), brother, we got a solid church then (See?), where nobody can say that anything is ever said or done...

MARY'S.BELIEF BEAUMONT.TX 61-0121

Now, remember, this Angel has to be a Scriptural Angel. Besides that, we are warned of God about false prophets. The Bible said, "If there be a man among you who thinks himself to be a prophet (or so forth), and what he says doesn't come to pass, then don't fear him. I'm not with him. But what he says comes to pass, then I'm with that prophet. Hear him." That's true.

IT.IS.I.BE.NOT.AFRAID_ LONG.BEACH.CA MONDAY_ 61-0213

...when our prophets speak and what he says comes to pass, then God told us to hear that prophet. 'I'm with him.'"

"'But if he speaks, and it doesn't come to pass, then don't fear that prophet.' But if it does come to pass...

WHY BLOOMINGTON.IL 61-0413

Some man speaks in tongues, then let him... It's a message to the church; everybody keep still; that's God speaking. And listen and see if it's not to the church, then it's in the flesh. See? If it's something to the church, and it doesn't come to pass, then that's a foul evil spirit 'cause God won't lie. Then you'll have your church setting in order. See?

JESUS.CHRIST.THE.SAME.YESTERDAY.TODAY.AND.FOREVER GRANDE.PRAIRIE.AB 61-0516A

And Moses (and if you'd like to refer to it, Deuteronomy 18:15-22), his words in quotation to Israel, he said, "The Lord your God, shall raise up a Prophet liken unto me; it shall come to pass that whosoever will not hear this Prophet will be cut off from amongst the people."

Now, all Israel--that was taught in the Word (now don't forget this, class); they knew that the Messiah was to be a prophet. Now, Israel was to hear their prophets. The Bible said, God speaking to Israel, "If there be one among you who is spiritual or a prophet, I, the Lord God, will make Myself known to him in visions, speak to him through dreams; and if what this prophet says comes to pass, then hear that prophet. But if it doesn't come to pass, don't fear that prophet; because I'm not with him. But if what he says comes to pass, then you be careful. I've sent that prophet."

A.TRUE.SIGN.THAT'S.OVERLOOKED JEFF.IN V-6 N-2 61-1112

There's something that's fixing to happen around here. And I want to know what it is, and I want to know directly from God, so that I can say it's THUS SAITH THE LORD. See? And then--then you can--you--the people then will know that it--it isn't me.

So I want to try to make it so that--or hear from Him first; 'cause if He puts His words in a--in a person, well, then it's not the person any more, it's Him. Then if the man's saying it in himself, then it won't amount to anything anyhow. But if he's--the Word of the Lord is in the man, it'll come forth, and then it'll be--it'll be just exactly right. That was what we were commissioned in the Bible over about the 20th chapter of Deuteronomy. I believe it said, "Watch, and if one speaks in the Name of the Lord, and it doesn't come to pass, then don't pay any attention to that person. (See?) But if they speak it, and it comes to pass, then you better hear it (See?), because it's coming from God."

...First, let's take--let's take Deuteronomy the 18th chapter and we'll find out just in a minute, just so--before we close here, so that I can read this Scripture to you. In Deuteronomy the 18th chapter (All right.), and let's see now, the 20th verse of the 18th chapter: Deuteronomy 20.

But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods... (Plural)... even that prophet shall die. (That's right. Spiritually gone. "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." We got one God, not gods.)

And if thou sayest in thy heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD has--hath not spoken? ("How will we know? There'll be so many of them, how will we know? This one says that and another says this, like... One says this and the other one said that, and so forth." Now, watch. We'll know.)

When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken, but the prophet has spoken it presumptuously: thou shall not be afraid of him.

If God hasn't said it, then don't be afraid of it; it--it's all right; just go ahead and forget about it. See?

PRESUMING PHOENIX.AZ 62-0117

Now in Deuteronomy 18:22 you can find (18:15 to 22), you will find out the Bible said that, "The Lord your God will raise up a prophet liken unto me," Moses speaking. "And he the people... Ever who will not hear this prophet, will be cut off from amongst the people." Then He goes ahead and said, "If there be a prophet among you, or one who professes to be, and what he says doesn't come to pass, then don't you fear him. It's not right. But if the Lord has spoke to him, He will bring it to pass." See? That's the way you will know it. God give us instructions whether to know. Where we don't have to presume anything, nothing. You don't have to just imagine; you can have an experience to know it. Yes, sir.

...God had said, "If there be a prophet, one that raises up among you, and what he says doesn't come to pass, then don't hear him. But if it does come to pass, I have sent him."

FORSAKING.ALL TEMPE.AZ 62-0123

And we know that we've been taught if there's one among us who is spiritual or a prophet, what he says comes to pass, then hear him. If it doesn't come to pass, then don't hear him.

THE.SIGNS.OF.HIS.COMING CLEVELAND.TN 62-0407

Now, God in all ages gave the people signs, bear record of it (Deuteronomy 18:22, also 13:1, if you want to put these Scriptures down). God gave Israel an assured sign. He said... Now, God sends His Word by His prophets. Is that right? It's exactly what the Bible said. The Word of the Lord come to the prophets.

He said here was the test of a prophet: if a prophet prophesied, and that what he said come to pass, then hear him. But if it don't come to pass, then God hasn't spoke. That's all. So don't--don't fear him. That's right. "If there be one among you who's spiritual or a prophet, I, the Lord God, will make myself known unto him in visions, speak to him in dreams. And if it comes to pass, then I--that's Me speaking." Sure, God ain't going to lie. You know He can't lie there's nothing in Him to lie. He's the Fountain of all purity, all truth, is God. So it can't be a lie come from God. He's perfect, pure.

HAVE.NOT.I.SENT.THEE_ PHOENIX.AZ WEDNESDAY_ 62-0124

Lord, I've just got through preaching, when a prophet, or preacher goes forth and preaches the Word, and if it doesn't come to pass then don't hear that prophet. That's what Your Word says. But if it does come to pass, then hear that prophet for I'm with him.

PERSEVERANCE S.PINES.NC 62-0608

Now, our Bible tells us if a man claims to be a prophet, and what he says comes to pass, then listen to him, because you can fear him because he's from God. But if what he says doesn't come to pass, don't pay attention to it. Just go on (See?), 'cause it's not right.

PRESUMING CLEVELAND.TN 62-0408

We don't know where--which is right then, which is right? Give them the Word test. That's the One tells whether it's right or not. You see?

Deuteronomy 22:18, you know, said, "If there be one among you who's spiritual or a prophet, I, the Lord, will speak to him. Then if he's with the Scripture, it'll come to pass just what he says. It'll be all right." See?

PRESUMING S.PINES.NC 62-0610M

So many prophets today, telling so many different things, gets the people confused. Don't presume. Just watch His vindicated promise. Let's see. Deuteronomy 18:22, God said, "If there be one among you spiritual or a prophet, and what he says comes to pass, then you hear him. If it doesn't come to pass, then don't hear him."

...Nathanael didn't have to presume, not at all, when He told him. He knowed--he knowed what Deuteronomy 18:22 said.

BE.NOT.AFRAID SOUTH.GATE.CA 62-0620

And how you'll know He will be a prophet, because Moses has told us, and the Scriptures tell us, that if there be one among you who's spiritual, or a prophet, and what he says comes to pass, then hear him. But if it doesn't come to pass, then don't fear him, because the Word of the Lord is not with him, because God cannot lie. God has to be truth. And if a man tells it, and it comes to pass, then it--it wasn't the man; it was God.

PERSEVERANT SOUTH.GATE.CA 62-0623

The Bible says, "If there be one among you who's spiritual or a prophet, I, the Lord will make Myself known unto him, and speak to him in visions, and so forth. And if what he says comes to pass then you hear him. But if it doesn't come to pass then don't fear that prophet, because I haven't spoke to him." Well, that's just only sense (See?), that it would be.

WE.WOULD.SEE.JESUS_ SANTA.MARIA.CA WEDNESDAY_ 62-0627

Now, we know that all Israel, all the Old Testaments, always depended on their prophets. Hebrews 1 said, "God, in sundry times and divers manners, spake to the fathers by the prophets, but in this last day through His Son, Christ Jesus." See?

Now, the Hebrews, the way that they could tell--we're taught over in Deuteronomy, about the 18th chapter, "If there be one among you who's spiritual or a prophet, I, the Lord God, will make Myself known unto him in visions and speak to him in dreams. And if what this prophet says comes to pass, then you hear him. But if it doesn't come to pass, don't you listen to him." See? because... "Don't fear that man, because I never sent him."

WE.WOULD.SEE.JESUS GRASS.VALLEY.CA 62-0704

Now, the Bible had taught those Jews, "If there be one among you who's spiritual, or a prophet, I the Lord will make Myself known to him. And--and in prophecies and visions, dreams, and so forth, and what he says comes to pass, then hear him." Now, that's only sense. "But if it doesn't come to pass like he said, then don't hear him." 'Cause God can't lie; He's God. But if a man says a thing, and it comes to pass, and then you watch it in him, coming to pass, coming to pass, coming to pass, then you know that can't be that man. That's got to be God.

WE.WOULD.SEE.JESUS SPOKANE.WA 62-0712

And Israel was taught to believe their prophets. Now, what did He say? "If there come one among you who is spiritual, or a prophet, I, the Lord, will make Myself known to him in visions, speak to him through dreams. And if what this prophet says comes to pass, then you hear him. But if it doesn't come to pass, then don't hear him." That's only sense. Sure.

If he said it and it don't come to pass, it's wrong. If a prophet comes by prophesying, it don't come to pass, then watch and see if it comes to pass. If it doesn't, then it's wrong. If it does, it's the truth.

FROM.THAT.TIME SPOKANE.WA 62-0713

God said, "If there be a prophet among you, and if he says--what he says comes to pass, then you hear it," 'cause the Word of the Lord came to the prophets. And if there... And if it doesn't come to pass, then don't believe it.

A.TESTIMONY.ON.THE.SEA SALEM.OR 62-0720

The Bible said, "If there be one among you who's spiritual, or a prophet, and what he says comes to pass, then you hear him. If it doesn't come to pass, then don't you fear him, 'cause I'm not with him." That's no more than sense (See?), because if God's there He will make it true. Now, you just pray.

WE.WOULD.SEE.JESUS_ VICTORIA.BC FRIDAY_ 62-0727

And our Bible tells us over here also that if there be one that's spiritual or a prophet among you, I, the Lord, will speak to this prophet. And what he says comes to pass, then hear him. And if it doesn't come to pass, then don't hear him.

CONVINCED.AND.THEN.CONCERNED SHREVEPORT.LA 62-1125M

And just anything will raise up they call it a message, when a message should be taken down. And if it doesn't come to pass, you got a evil spirit there. God said, "If there be one among you who's spiritual or a prophet, I, the Lord, will speak to him. And if it doesn't come to pass then it's not Me. But if it does, then fear him, because I'm with him," 'cause God is truth. We just raise up. And you see, it's just become just... like slop. That's right.

INFLUENCE PHOENIX.AZ 63-0112

Now, we're at the time of the Rapture. It's going to happen. Because it's been perfect, every other time, it's got to be perfect this time. God is calling out a people, see, and it's the time. We got to be sincere. [Blank.spot.on.tape--Ed.]... the Lord. Now, you've got something, but be careful with it. You'll ruin your influence if that thing doesn't come to pass. You know what I mean? [Congregation says, "Amen."] "Oh," you say, "I belong..." I don't care where you belong, brother, sister. It's got to happen exactly the way you said it. If it isn't, you've only made yourself a laughing stock. You've only brought disgrace upon yourself, ruined your influence, and ruined the testimony of Jesus Christ that you're bearing.

AWAKENING.JESUS TEMPE.AZ 63-0117

And all down through the Scriptures, they had a commandment, the Jews did, that, "If there be one among you who is spiritual or a prophet, I, the Lord, will make Myself known unto him in vision. And what he says comes to pass, then hear that prophet, for I'm with him. But if it doesn't come to pass, then don't hear him." Now, that's just logical. That's just sensible.

JESUS.CHRIST.THE.SAME.YESTERDAY.TODAY.AND.FOREVER TUCSON.AZ 63-0604

And the Bible said, 'If there be one among you who is spiritual or a prophet, I the Lord will make Myself known unto him, speak to him through visions, and so forth. And if what he says comes to pass, then hear him. But if it doesn't come to pass, then don't hear him.'"

That's just as honest and just as... That's sense. If what he says is right, it has to be right every time. You just can't guess at it. It's got to be right. If it is right, it's got to be God. And if it isn't right, then it isn't God.

CONFERENCES TUCSON.AZ 63-0608

And then, again, if they say it, and it doesn't come to pass, then get that evil spirit away from you. You don't want that. In my tabernacle, when one speaks like that, he better have it. It's wrote down. If it doesn't come to pass, they get that evil spirit out of them. It's got to be exact, not some repeating.

JESUS.CHRIST.THE.SAME.YESTERDAY.TODAY.AND.FOREVER HOT.SPRINGS.AR 63-0627

Now, Israel was always taught to only believe the prophets. You Bible teachers know that. And a prophet could only be identified, a prophet, that when he prophesied and the thing he said come to pass. The Bible said, "If there be one among you, who is spiritual or a prophet, I the Lord will speak to him, make Myself known to him, in visions and dreams. And what he says comes to pass, then hear him. But if it doesn't come to pass, don't fear him."

Now anyone knows that the Word of the Lord comes to the prophet; not to the priest, but to the prophet. The Bible said so. The Word of the Lord came unto the prophet. And we know, if it's the Word of the Lord, and the prophet is true, then his words are true, then his words comes to pass. And that's his credentials, that, first, it's the Word. And, first, God is the Word. And then if he speaks a word, and it happens, then that shows that God has Divinely set that man.

THE.THIRD.EXODUS_ JEFF.IN V-2 N-21 SUNDAY_ 63-0630M

God said, "If there be one among you, is a prophet, or spiritual, I'll speak to him. And what he says comes to pass, then hear it. That's it. But if his prophecy is wrong, then..." God can't be wrong. He's infinite, infallible, omnipotent, and He cannot be wrong. So, if the man is speaking, then it shows the man. If he spoke his own words, it'll fail. But if he speaks God's Words, it can't fail, because it's God speaking. Then, his inspiration comes from God, and it--it has to be right. That's the way God said to tell it.

WHY.CRY.SPEAK_ JEFF.IN V-2 N-26 SUNDAY_ 63-0714M

And remember now, (we're closing), it was that same He. It was He that said, in John 14:12, the... "He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also." Is that right? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] It was He that said so.

It was Jesus, in Mark 11:24, that said, "If you say to this mountain," not if you pray to this mountain. "If you say to this mountain, 'be moved,' and don't doubt in your heart, but believe that what you've said will come to pass, you can have what you've said." Now you, if you say it just presumptuously, it won't happen.

INVESTMENTS CHICAGO.IL 63-0803B

He sent us the prophets because the Word of the Lord comes only to the prophet. That's right. And He said, 'If there be one among you, is spiritual or a prophet, I the Lord will speak to him. And what he says, if it comes to pass, then hear him. But, if it doesn't come to pass, don't hear him, don't fear that man. But fear him if you... if it comes to pass, what he says.

SIR.WE.WOULD.SEE.JESUS NY.NY 63-1112

Now, the way they told whether that prophet was right or not, was because they watched the prophet. And if he said anything, prophesied, and it come to pass, God said, "You hear that prophet, for I'm with him. But if it doesn't come to pass, then ignore what he says." That's no more than right, see. "If there be one, a prophet among you, spiritual or a prophet, I the Lord will make Myself known to him in visions, speak to him through dreams. And if what this prophet says comes to pass, then hear him, for I'm with him. But if it doesn't, then don't."

THE.SIGN.OF.THIS.TIME_ NY.NY V-18 N-8 WEDNESDAY_ 63-1113

They'd always go down and find out where this prophet was. A seer means--a seer means to either "foretell or tell forth," he is a seer that sees things that's going to happen. And he predicts it to the people. And the Bible said, "If it doesn't come to pass, then don't you hear him." It has to be every time. God cannot fail, see. "And if it doesn't come to pass," then He said, "He wasn't with that person." So upon that, the people knew that the Word of the Lord was with this seer that He had, the Old Testament seers. Now the Holy Spirit doesn't change that trend.

THE.WORLD.IS.AGAIN.FALLING.APART_ SHP.LA V-17 N-4 WEDNESDAY_ 63-1127

" When the Word of the Lord came to the prophets, and them only, because they was anointed with the Word, they had the right to interpret the Word. And God worked through them, proving that the Word was right. "If I the... there be one among you who is spiritual, or a prophet, I the Lord will make Myself known to him. And if what he says comes to pass, then hear him. If it doesn't come to pass, don't hear him." That's no more than good reasoning, to any man.

CHURCH.ORDER_ JEFF.IN COD THURSDAY_ 63-1226

Now, then if someone writes a message that's been given in tongues or given in prophecy, and lay it up on the platform, it must be read by the pastor before the service starts, of "THUS SAITH THE LORD" from these people who spoke and interpreted. And if that comes to pass exactly the way the interpretation said, we'd raise our hands and give thanks to God for His Spirit among us. If it doesn't come to pass, then don't do it any more till that evil spirit's out of you. God don't lie, He's always truth.

THE.VOICE.OF.THE.SIGN_ BEAUMONT.TX FRIDAY_ 64-0313

God's way of doing it! Ever true to His sent sign, He followed by His voice; every, since, that God sends a sign in the earth. "Now God never does nothing," the Bible said, "until first He shows it to His servants the prophets." Now that, you... If that's wrong, then the rest of it's wrong, see. He never does anything until He shows it.

And that seer, prophet, is to be identified, that what he prophesies, we find out in Numbers 12:6, that what he says comes to pass. Then, believe it. But if it doesn't come to pass, then don't believe it. And it must be for that, His... No matter how much he says, and it comes to pass, and whatever; if it isn't according to the Word, then it's still wrong. It must be with the Word. It must be set in order with the Word for the sign of that time, the time that they're living in.

THE.VOICE.OF.THE.SIGN TULARE.CA 64-0214

See, he goes by impression, see, the way he feels, "Why, the Lord will do that, THUS SAITH THE LORD." That's a lie, see. You, when... You can't say THUS SAITH THE LORD until God, in His Own language, has spoke to you and told you that, then it's not you saying it, not your impression. The Bible said if a prophet did that, was going on presumptuously, that is presuming, and presume is "to adventure without authority," he is going upon his own.

But when you see the man speaking what's going to happen, in the Name of the Lord, and it happens day in and out, week in and out, month in and out, year in and out, then you know that come from God. See? That's God's credentials to the man, that he is the interpreter of the written Word for that day, because God sent the man to do it.

THE.INVESTMENTS BEAUMONT.TX 64-0314

God Jehovah had said that, "If there raise up one among you, who is spiritual, or a prophet, I the Lord will make Myself known to him in visions. And if what he says comes to pass, then hear that prophet, for I'm with him. But if it doesn't come to pass, then do not hear it." That's plain language. It's only sound thinking. If he said it, and it doesn't happen, then it's a lie; God did not say it. But if he says, and it--it does happen, that's truth; and nothing is more, more truer than truth.

THE.VOICE.OF.THE.SIGN_ DENHAM.SP.LA SATURDAY_ 64-0321E

Again, the coming of a prophet is a sign. Did you know that? The coming of a prophet, to the age, is a sign.

...But a prophet is a sign. The Bible says so here. And what's the sign of? It's a sign that His Word is fixing to fulfil, be fulfilled by the voice of this prophet's sign.

Remember, he has certainly, first, got to be vindicated by God and the Word for that day, and then he does the sign. And then watch that sign, what he predicts. He said, "If it comes to pass, then hear him." Numbers 12:6. "If it doesn't come to pass, forget it." It's got to be a Scriptural sign that He gives.

THE.IDENTIFICATION.OF.CHRIST.IN.ALL.AGES_ BIRMINGHAM.AL THURSDAY_ 64-0409

Now we find, then, that the unchanging God always does the same. ...In the beginning He spoke to the prophets, and the Word of the Lord came to the prophet. And the prophet, being able to foretell, divine things, and it happened just like that, was his identification. A prophet, seer, means, "one who forthtells or tells forth," and also is "a Divine interpreter of the written Word." Anybody knows that, that knows what a prophet means.

Now the English word, prophet, p-r-o-p-h-e-t, means, "a preacher," just anybody a preaching.

But a seer of the Old Testament, which was referred to as a prophet, he was the one that foresaw things. He said, "If there be one among you who is spiritual, or a prophet, I the Lord will make Myself known unto him. And what he says comes to pass, then hear him; but if it doesn't come to pass, don't hear that prophet, see, 'cause he's prophesying falsely. But if I have sent him, that'll be My identification, what he says will come to pass. He is born in the world, ordained, foreordained of God to do that." Cause, "All gifts and callings are without repentance." They are foreordained of God.

LAODICEAN.CHURCH.AGE - CHURCH.AGE.BOOK CPT.9

First of all, that messenger is going to be a prophet. He will have the office of a prophet. He will have the prophetic ministry. It will be based solidly on the Word because when he prophesies or has a vision, it will always be "Word oriented" and it will ALWAYS come to pass. He will be vindicated as a prophet because of his accuracy.

...As a prophet, every revelation will be vindicated, for every revelation will come to pass. Wonderful acts of power will be performed at his commands in faith.

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