20151106 Friday, November 6 2015
Ezekiel 13: Tall Tales Of The Imaginary Prophets

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!"

The primary difference between a true prophet of the LORD (see The Identity Of The LORD God and The LORD God Our Saviour) and false prophets is that a true prophet speaks the Word of God, as though the prophet doesn't exist, while a false prophet speaks their own word, as though the LORD doesn't exist. True prophets are humble servants, while false prophets are self-important, arrogant fools and con artists (see also What's The Bible Word For False Prophet?).

While there are many false prophets who mislead people into other religions, or no religion (see What Prophecy Do Atheists Fulfill For Themselves?), there are also many fake prophets who falsely claim to speak for the LORD. But what does the LORD say about those liars?

"14:14 Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart." (Jeremiah 14:14 KJV)

True prophecy is the Word of God, not the religionism or nationalism of man. As stated by the apostle Peter (see also 2 Peter: 'The Servants Of Corruption Promise Liberty' and 3 John: Follow Not That Which Is Evil, But That Which Is Good):

"1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Peter 1:19-21 KJV)

Israel (see Israel In History and Prophecy: The Lost Ten Tribes), and then Judah (see Israel In History and Prophecy: Kingdom Of Judah), fell because they lusted to hear the self-gratifying words of false prophets rather than the truly uplifting Word of God (see Truly Uplifting). As is always the result, unless repentance happens, the addiction becomes so powerful that deceived people demand to continue following the deception even when they can no longer deny that it is a deception. It's like a drug-addicted person saying that they don't care that it's killing them - they just want their poison so that they can continue the delusion that it makes them feel good.

"30:9 That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD: 30:10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: 30:11 Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us." (Isaiah 30:9-11 KJV)

The true prophets of the LORD experienced hatred toward them because the prophets would not have been sent to repentant people. They were sent to warn people, by the Word of the LORD, to repent. Some people heeded the LORD's warning, while others chose to elect themselves for destruction by continuing to follow the words of liars.

"13:1 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 13:2 Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD; 13:3 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! 13:4 O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts. 13:5 Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD. 13:6 They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word. 13:7 Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The LORD saith it; albeit I have not spoken?

13:8 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord GOD. 13:9 And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.

13:10 Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered morter: 13:11 Say unto them which daub it with untempered morter, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it. 13:12 Lo, when the wall is fallen, shall it not be said unto you, Where is the daubing wherewith ye have daubed it?

13:13 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in my fury to consume it. 13:14 So will I break down the wall that ye have daubed with untempered morter, and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall be discovered, and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed in the midst thereof: and ye shall know that I am the LORD. 13:15 Thus will I accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them that have daubed it with untempered morter, and will say unto you, The wall is no more, neither they that daubed it; 13:16 To wit, the prophets of Israel which prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and which see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace, saith the Lord GOD.

13:17 Likewise, thou son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people, which prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy thou against them, 13:18 And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the women that sew pillows to all armholes, and make kerchiefs upon the head of every stature to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of my people, and will ye save the souls alive that come unto you? 13:19 And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear your lies?

13:20 Wherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against your pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls to make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms, and will let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt to make them fly. 13:21 Your kerchiefs also will I tear, and deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall be no more in your hand to be hunted; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. 13:22 Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life: 13:23 Therefore ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand: and ye shall know that I am the LORD." (Ezekiel 13:1-23 KJV)

Fact Finder: What will be the last confrontation between true and false prophets - before the LORD incinerates all false prophets into ashes?
See The Battle Of The End-Time Prophets and Dust and Ashes