सच्चे और झूठे भविष्यद्वक्ता
व्यवस्थाविवरण 18 में मूसा ने इस्राएलियों के लिए एक सरल परीक्षा रखी: यदि किसी भविष्यद्वक्ता का वचन पूरा न हो, तो वह वचन यहोवा की ओर से नहीं आया। पवित्रशास्त्र में अन्य परीक्षाएँ भी दी गई हैं, जिनमें यह शामिल है कि क्या कोई भविष्यद्वक्ता परमेश्वर के प्रति वफादार रहता है, उसके जीवन का फल क्या होता है, और वह मसीह के बारे में क्या स्वीकार करता है। पवित्रशास्त्र में कई बार सच्चे भविष्यद्वक्ता और झूठे भविष्यद्वक्ता की तुलना की गई है और उनके बीच का अंतर स्पष्ट हो जाता है।
कसौटियाँ
Fulfilled Prophecy
सच्चा भविष्यद्वक्ता: What he predicts comes true
झूठा भविष्यद्वक्ता: Predicts, and it fails
Deuteronomy gives the baseline test: if what a prophet says in the LORD's name does not happen, the LORD did not speak it, and no one needs to fear that prophet.
Fidelity to the LORD
सच्चा भविष्यद्वक्ता: Points to the LORD, even when the sign works
झूठा भविष्यद्वक्ता: Leads toward other gods, even when the sign works
A sign coming true is not enough on its own. Even a prophet whose sign or wonder comes to pass is false if the message leads Israel to worship another god.
Source of the Word
सच्चा भविष्यद्वक्ता: Stood in the LORD's council
झूठा भविष्यद्वक्ता: Speaks from his own heart
Jeremiah accuses Jerusalem's prophets of never standing in the LORD's council to hear his word, and of repeating prophecies they heard from one another instead.
Fruit of Life
सच्चा भविष्यद्वक्ता: Good fruit, marked by repentance and righteousness
झूठा भविष्यद्वक्ता: Bad fruit, marked by adultery, lies, and corruption
Jesus points to the fruit a prophet bears, not their claims or credentials. A good tree does not produce bad fruit. Jeremiah likewise condemns the prophets of his day for their adultery, lies, and failure to turn people from their wickedness.
Confession of Christ
सच्चा भविष्यद्वक्ता: Confesses Jesus Christ come in the flesh
झूठा भविष्यद्वक्ता: Spirit of antichrist
John gives a specifically Christian test: a spirit that confesses Jesus Christ come in the flesh is from God; one that does not is the spirit of antichrist.
Motive
सच्चा भविष्यद्वक्ता: Serves without demanding pay
झूठा भविष्यद्वक्ता: Divines for money
Micah accuses prophets who cry "peace" for anyone who pays them and "war" on anyone who does not. Peter later warns of teachers who exploit people with made-up words for the same reason: profit.
