Page updated 26 Oct 2015
Page Suggestions: False Prophets, False Teachers
What is the difference between a 'teacher' and a 'prophet'
The words 'teachers' and 'prophets' seem to be used interchangeably nowadays but they are NOT the same thing.
And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. 1 Corinthians 12:26-31
TEACHERS (pastors and evangelists) are called by God to teach and spread the good news of Jesus Christ to wherever God calls them.
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers... Ephesians 4:11
True PROPHETS are also called by God (NOT SELF-APPOINTED as they do in these end times!) but they have a spiritual gift of knowledge from the LORD (not psychic visions from demons as they do today!). True prophets are rare and not well known. True prophets do not go around telling people "Look at me...I am a prophet." We learn from the Bible what sorts of things God sent prophets to his people to tell them. It was never about gaining worldly possessions. It was never fortune telling. It was never self-serving. In Deuteronomy 13:1-6 the Bible clearly tells us what a prophet is not to be. Read more about what the Bible says about true prophets.
If there arise among you a prophet, or a DREAMER of DREAMS, and giveth thee a SIGN or a WONDER,
And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;
Thou shalt NOT HEARKEN unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.
And that PROPHET, or that DREAMER of DREAMS, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.
If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers. Deuteronomy 13:1-6