tthew 7:15-16 (KJV)
Mat15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Old Testament:
There were false prophets in the OT that God warned about and spoke to the people giving instructions about them. The enemy made sure there were many false prophets during times of apostasy. People did not want to give up their sin and the devil made sure his prophets were present to keep them in their sin. God’s judgment would loom over the nation because of sin and the false prophets would assure the people that there would be no judgment because of their sin. (Jer 14:13-15).
God told the people that they should follow His guidelines concerning false prophets Deut 18:22. He also told them that he would allow predictions to come true in order to test them concerning what he had told them Deut 13:1-5.
New Testament:
There is an unusual emphasis on false prophets in the New Testament. The Greek word pseudoprophetes appears 11 times and has no corresponding word in the OT. Of the 298 usages of “prophet” in the Hebrew Scriptures only eight are connected to false prophets and only in relation to dreams and visions. In the NT pseudoprophetes are workers of miracles, signs and wonders.
False teachers -- these people creep into the church 2 Pet 2:1. The goal of false teachers is to gain a following around a false doctrine of a true doctrine taken out of context and balance. Tit 1:10-11.
False Christs -- these are people who make spurious claims about their anointing. They may even be empowered by the enemy to perform certain miracles in order to deceive people into thinking of them as Christ or Christ-like in order to get a following (Matt 24:24; Mk 13:21-22)
False apostles -- these are people who do not claim to be Christ but have insight or perform signs to gain people’s respect and devotion to follow them (Acts 8:9-11; 2 Cor 11:13-14).
These people oppose truth and propagate lies because it is not popular to pronounce the truth of God’s word in relation to sin, righteousness and judgment. When true preaching says repent from sin, they declare that you don’t have to repent and turn from sin - -you can sin and live. They desire money – filthy lucre – and popularity – they want a following – that makes them look good before men and women. 2 Pet 2:15; Jude 11; Lu 6:26.
Characteristics of false prophets:
They infiltrate the church by subtlety – they appear like true believers until their false doctrine is presented in light of God’s word then they are seen as tares. Matt 7:15.
They despise authority and attack God’s credibility. They become spokesmen for those who desire to keep their sin and reject God’s truth. 2 Pet 2:10; Jude 8.
Very persuasive they can lead people into sin and abominable practices. They use their i9ntelligence and fair speeches to go against God’s man or woman Jude16.
They gather disciples for their own group or church. They are always on the lookout for those they can recruit and to whom they can deceive by their teachings. Acts 20:29-31.
They ridicule God’s standards. Just as the false propjets in the OT told people what they wanted to hear, so these tell people what God says is abominable they can practice 2 Tim 4:3-4; 2 Pet 1:2.
They twist Scripture to justify their immoral behavior. 2 Pet 2:19. God warned about this in 2 Tim 3:1-5
They are void of spiritual power. Because they refuse to be free of sin and lusts they are incapable of leading others out of sin and into freedom. Jesus called them blind leaders of the blind.