In dealing with many people who have contacted the Exit & Support Network™, certain common factors arise from people's experiences in their involvement in cultic groups led by a "false prophet." The biblical standards for determining whether one is a false prophet or not gets redefined by that false prophet in a subtle manner. The members of the group, many of whom had little or no knowledge or experience biblically, readily accept this redefinition as well as many others regarding biblical concepts and teachings.

The most common declaration then of those in cultic groups led by a false prophet is that they believed the false prophet was a true prophet because the prophet taught the truth!

Yet Scripture does not declare one knows a false prophet from a true one based upon what they teach. All false prophets are going to teach some degree of truth, and the falsehoods they teach will not be discerned as deceptions--they will be seen as truth also, for a deceived person does not know they are deceived, and if a deception were easily seen as a deception, there would have been little need to give such detailed warnings in Scripture regarding deceptions. Jesus declared that, if it were possible, even the elect would be deceived;1 that deceptions would be that good.

But what happens in an exploitative, deceptive group? The members are convinced early on they are receiving a calling from God; that their understanding of what is being taught is proof of it, and that they are the elect. After all, the elect can't be deceived!

"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 denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction" (2 Peter 2:1).

Their heresies are brought in "privily"--secretly, cleverly, subtly, under the radar, as it were. They are often stated matter-of-factly as though they are self-evident.

It is not the purpose of this article to teach or debate what beliefs are true or false, but rather present the biblical standard for determining if a person is a false prophet. Once it is determined a spiritual leader doesn’t measure up to the biblical standard, it is then up to the individual to realize his teachings are probably false, even though they believe them to be true.

"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them" (Matthew 7:15-20).

We are to examine their personal lives.

First off, they are ravenous wolves. What does a wolf do? He derives his sustenance at the expense of the flock. He does not spare the flock. The flock in this scenario, suffers financially at the hands of the wolf. Would the wolf declare that to deny him support is to rob God? Would the wolf make other declarations in order to instill fear into the flock should they fail to support him?

Next, what are good fruits and what are bad or evil fruits?

"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts" (Galatians 5:19-24).

What would you conclude about a religious leader who disfellowships members for nothing more than asking questions? Is that demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit of love?

What would you conclude about a religious leader who emulates himself to be something, or someone, greater than what he really is?2 If one claims to be God’s only servant or prophet, what proof can he produce to prove it? None. It is a claim that cannot be proved or disproved. Does God really work like this, through a man, without giving us proof God is working through a man?

Sedition is where one undermines the authority of another. What would you conclude about a religious leader who claims that to rebel against him is to rebel against God?

What would you conclude about a religious leader who is found in a drunken stupor by law enforcement and then tried to bribe the police officer?

What would you conclude about a religious leader who lives lavishly, in a large home, who wears expensive clothing, eats well, and all the while insisting the members sacrifice for the goals of the group?

The false prophet also teaches heresies. But his heresies are accepted as truth by his followers. Rarely do people discover they have been taught heresies, and as a result then leave a deceptive, abusive group. Often, they find themselves the victims of abuse perpetrated by the leader or one of his ministers under him. They finally see the fruits for what they are, once they are the victim of the fruits of evil.

By William Hohmann (former WCG member and graduate of Ambassador College)
January 9, 2007

Also read William Hohmann's critical review of Mystery of the Ages
 

Footnotes by ESN:

1 "For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect" (Mark 13:32).

2 Read: Biblical Titles Gerald Flurry Has Appropriated for Himself and Is Gerald Flurry Praising a False Elijah?

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