In religion, a false prophet is one who falsely claims the gift of prophecy, or who uses that gift for evil ends. Often, someone who is considered a "true prophet" by some people is simultaneously considered a "false prophet" by others. The term is sometimes applied outside religion to describe someone who fervently promotes a theory that the speaker thinks is false.
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Throughout the New Testament, there are warnings of both false prophets and false Messiahs, and believers are adjured to be vigilant. The following verses (Matthew 7:15–23) are from the Sermon on the Mount:
The New Testament addresses the same point of a false prophet predicting correctly and Jesus predicted the future appearance of false prophets, affirming that they can perform great signs and miracles. The following verses (;24) are from the Olivet Discourse:
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus brought out an ethical application for his disciples using the analogy of false prophets in the Old Testament:
In the Acts of the Apostles, Paul and Barnabas encountered a false prophet named Elymas Bar-Jesus on the island of Cyprus.
This particular story likewise best matches the model found in Deuteronomy. The claim here is that Elymas is trying to turn Sergius Paulus from the true faith, just like the false prophet described in the preceding verses. In these verses, we do not see Elymas prophesying as the term is popularly understood, so the model seems to fit this scenario best.
The Second Epistle of Peter makes a comparison between false teachers and false prophets and how the former will bring in false teachings, just like the false prophets of old:
The First Epistle of John warns those of the Christian faith to test every spirit because of these false prophets:
One popular New Testament false prophet is the false prophet mentioned in the Book of Revelation. The Apocalypse's false prophet is the agent of the Beast, and he is ultimately cast with the Antichrist into the lake of "fire and brimstone" (Revelation KJV). There is a historical model which suggests that the writer of Revelation was referring to contemporary figures such as Nero and Domitian and not some far-off end times scenario.[1]
According to most Muslim scholars Muhammad is the final Prophet,[2] thus anyone who has emerged or will emerge to be a new prophet after Muhammad is considered a false prophet.[3]
Thawban ibn Kaidad narrated that Muhammad said;
"There will be 30 dajjals among my Ummah. Each one will claim that he is a prophet; but I am the last of the Prophets (Seal of the Prophets), and there will be no Prophet after me."—Related by Ahmad ibn Hanbal as a sound hâdith.
Abu Hurairah narrated Muhammad said;
"The Hour will not be established until two big groups fight each other whereupon there will be a great number of casualties on both sides and they will be following one and the same religious doctrine, until about 30 dajjals appear, and each of them will claim that he is Allah's Apostle..."—Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 88: Afflictions and the End of the World, Hâdith Number 237.[4]
The Prophet also stated that the last of these Dajjals would be the False Messiah, al-Masih ad-Dajjal (Antichrist):
Samra ibn Jundab reported once Muhammad (while delivering a ceremonial speech at an occasion of a solar eclipse) said;
"Verily by Allah, the Last Hour will not come until 30 dajjals will appear and the final one will be the One-eyed False Messiah."—Related by Imam Ahmed and Imam Tabarani as a sound hâdith.
Anas ibn Malik narrated that Muhammad said;
"There is never a prophet who has not warned the Ummah of that one-eyed liar; behold he is one-eyed and your Lord is not one-eyed.[5] Dajjal is blind of one eye[6] On his forehead are the letters k. f. r. (Kafir)[7] between the eyes of the Dajjal[8] which Muslims with strong faith would be able to read."[9][10]—Sahih Muslim, Book 41: The Book Pertaining to the Turmoil and Portents of the Last Hour, Chapter 7: The Turmoil Would Go Like The Mounting Waves of the Ocean, Ahâdith 7007-7009.
After which Imam Mahdi the redeemer of Islam will appear on Earth before the Day of Judgment.[11][12] After the Second Coming of Christ,[13] the Prophet 'Isa (Jesus Christ son of Mary) will kill al-Masih ad-Dajjal.[14] Both Messiahs Jesus and Mahdi together will rid the world of wrongdoing, injustice and tyranny ensuring peace and tranquility.[15]
The Books of Kings records a story where, under duress from Ahab, the prophet Micaiah depicts God as requesting information from his heavenly counsel as to what he should do with a court of false prophets. This depiction is recorded in 1 Kings 22:19–23:
It is possible that Micaiah meant to depict the false prophets as a test from YHWH. It is also possible that it was meant as a slur on Ahab's prophets, such as Zedekiah, the son of Chenaanah.[16]
The penalty for false prophecy, is capital punishment (per Deuteronomy 18:20).
In summary, the biblical standards for a false prophet, it is forbidden to speak in the name of a god other than YHWH. Likewise, if a prophet makes a prophecy in the name of YHWH that does not come to pass, that is another sign that he is not commissioned of YHWH and that the people need not fear the false prophet.(Deuteronomy 18:22)
The term false prophet is sometimes applied outside religion, to describe promoters of scientific, medical, or political theories which the author of the phrase thinks are false. Paul Offit's 2008 book Autism's False Prophets applied the phrase to promoters of unproven theories and therapies such as the thiomersal controversy and chelation therapy. Ronald Bailey's 1993 book Ecoscam: The False Prophets of Ecological Apocalypse applied the phrase to promoters of the global warming hypothesis; however, by 2005 Bailey had changed his mind, writing "Anyone still holding onto the idea that there is no global warming ought to hang it up."[17]