False Prophets, Balaam and Today

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

The first thing I have to do, when God brings some new thing into my consciousness,
is see what He's said about it before.

So this morning I've been reading and pondering about Balaam (Numbers 22-25, 31):
probably the prototypical "false prophet"...who paradoxically prophesied truly by
speaking God's blessing over Israel, even though he was promised a large payment
by Balak, the king of Midian, to curse Israel.

He obeyed God at first, when God said not the take the job.  Later God let him go
with Balak's emisarries. "But God was angry with him because he was going..."
(Numbers 22:22), and set an armed angel to kill him.  When Balaam finally saw
the danger (after his donkey famously spoke to him), God permitted him to go on,
but only speak what God told him: blessing on Israel.

And Balaam obeyed.  But Numbers 31:16 and Revelation 2:14 seem to indicate
that, still eager to serve Balak, Balaam then suggested that if Midianite women
seduced Jewish men, and persuaded them to worship Midian's Baal, God Himself
would strike Israel: a plan that Balak implemented.

I don't understand half of what scriptute tells us about Balaam: except that he
is held up, in the Old Testament and the New, as the most horrible example of
a man who truly knew God, heard God, and spoke God's word...yet worked to
thwart God's will.

A couple New Testament scriptures say that Balaam was motivated by the large
sum Balak promised him: that Balaam "...loved the wages of unrighteousness"
(II Peter 2:15), and that false teachers "...run eagerly in the way of Balaam
for profit" (Jude 11).

I don't know enough about today's superstar "Christian leader" false teachers
to say monetary gain is the primary motive for all of them: clearly it is a big part
of Joel Osteen's motivation: but probably much less so Franklin Graham's.

But there is "profit" greater than monetary: political power is one (which may
be why the current president was not satisfied with being...at least in his own
mind...a billionaire, and wanted to enter politics).  Every "king" is surrounded by
sycophants with that motivation, who battle among themselves for whatever
"Great Man's" ear, and personal influence over the highest political power.

Wise "kings" know better than to listen to the flattery of their sycophants.  Our
current president, of course, absolutely craves it.  And the "Christian leader"
false prophets of our time are eager to give it.

Eager to barter their name and reputation as God's spokesmen, for political
influence.  Eager to flatter the current president that he is, as he himself says,
God's "chosen one."

Their sell-out could almost be understandable if they were bowing to anti-Christ
himself.  Scripture indicates that man will be absolutely brilliant, attractive, and
charming; the most humanly perfect being that could ever be.  And scripture says
almost every person on earth will be deceived by him, and in complete awe of him.

I'll let each reader judge for himself how far short of The anti-Christ our current
president falls: but we'd probably all agree it is a great deal short. What's amazing
is that the false prophets of our time are willing to barter everything God has given
them to gain the ear of one of the minor, and quite shoddy, anti-Christs.

I don't know how much the current false prophets are actually deceived that the
current president is God's chosen man: they can't possibly all be that stupid, or
spiritually blind.  Possibly many of them believe that a huge effort of willfull self-
delusion, believing what's manifestly untrue, somehow evidences their strong faith.

By whatever means they are deluded, our current false prophets also show them-
selves able, and willing, to proclaim a false Messiah.  So I'm sure they will be entirely
fooled when The anti-Christ himself comes on the scene.

Jesus says that man will be so slick that he would deceive the elect themselves, if it
were possible (Matthew 24:24, Mark 13:22).  I doubt false prophets will be among
the elect who aren't fooled by him; so our current bunch will undoubtedly fall truly
head-over-heels for him, and enthusiastically lead their followers to adore him . . .
and follow him to destruction.

Note to self (and all who have an ear to hear): don't follow any of the current false
prophets.  When the time comes, they'll guide you straight into the arms of The anti-
Christ, and try to convince you...as they'll be convinced themselves...that The anti-
Christ is the ultimate and real deal...Christ Himself.