mistakes. They were holy men o f God who wrote as they were inspired by the Holy Spirit. Their prophecies were 100 percent accurate. Those that already have been fulfilled have been fulfilled in every detail. Others remain to be fulfilled. D. The Bible clearly indicates that there is no longer room for prophets. Though there is plenty of open space for “ forth-tellers,” there is no longer room for “ foretellers.” The prophetic script has been closed. The last word has been spoken. Jesus Christ is that last Word. God who spoke in times past by the prophets has now spoken by His Son (Heb. 1:1-2). The Book has been closed and the last period placed in position. We can safely con clude, therefore, that those whose words, lives, and ministries appear to make them prophets today do not fit into the Biblical pattern. False Prophets In this regard, the Bible has much to say. Jesus Christ warned His disciples that false prophets would arise who would do miracles and seduce many through power that came from sources other than themselves (Note Matt. 24 and Mark 13). The Apostle Paul warned the believers at Ephe sus that they would have to face false teachers. He said, “ For I know this, that after my depart ing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away dis ciples after them” (Acts 20:29, 30). In II Corin thians eleven, he speaks of “false apostles, deceit ful workers” who would transform themselves “ in to the apostles of Christ.” To this he adds, “ And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore, it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the minis ters o f righteousness, whose end shall be accord ing to their works” (w . 13-15). But it is left for Peter to express the strongest denunciation in this regard. He says, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even deny ing the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall fol low their pernicious ways; by reason o f whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with vain words make merchandise of you; whose judgment now o f a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slum- bereth not” (II Peter. 2:1-3). This denunciation fits in clearly with the Old Testament teaching concerning Israel’s relation ship to magicians, witches, wizards, soothsayers, sorcerers, and false prophets. We read: “When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone that malceth his son is
would be difficult to imagine Isaiah or Jeremiah, Mosea or Amos carrying around crystal balls, read ing the palms of kings and rulers, or checking astrology charts. They relied entirely on God and His revelation to them. Hence, they could say with authority, “Thus saith the Lord.” B. Modem “ prophecies” lack detail. Even in specific predictions made by psychics today, details are lacking. In contrast, look at the comparatively unimportant prophecy made by Samuel to Saul, relative to an immediate event which was to take place in Saul’s life. In the following six verses, Samuel gives no less than 15 specific details which had to come to pass for his prophecy to prove true. “When thou art departed from me today, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel’s sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son? Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Bethel, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves o f bread, and another carrying a bottle o f wine. And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves o f bread; which thou shalt receive o f their hands. After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy: And the Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man. And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee” (I Sam. 10:2-7). This kind of prophetic detail is completely lack ing in contemporary prognostications, and not without reason. According to the law o f mathe matical chance, Samuel’s prophecy had only one chance in several millions o f being fulfilled. Twen tieth century predictors are hardly ready to take that kind o f a “gamble.” C. “Modem prophets” are not 100 percent ac curate. Though some have higher batting averages than others, all fall short o f a perfect record. Though Mrs. Dixon’s percentage may be higher than other contemporary predictors, she has made some glaring mistakes. She predicted, for example, that the Quemoy and Matsu Island trouble (1959) would be used by China to lead the world into war. She predicted that Walter Reuther would run for the Presidency in 1964, and that Nixon would win the 1960 election. She “ struck out” on all three o f these. The prophets of the Scriptures never made such APRIL, 1969
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