Helpful Insights & False Prophets
James Borror, Th.D.
The Apostle Peter
The apostle Peter tells us a great deal about the God we serve and the world we live in. In first Peter chapter three, he gives us several insights:
Peter Tells us something about God
If He is not willing that any should perish then He must be loving and patient. I enjoy the fact that God is the God of the second chance (and of the 52nd chance) (v.9).
He Tells us something about Time
The fact that with God a day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as a day is not a principle for interpreting prophecy. It means that God lives in an eternal “now.”
When flying at 35,000 feet you can see all the terrain at once that formerly took hours to cross. God lives (as it were) at “35,000 feet.” He is the one who sees the end from the beginning. That means that when my car is about to crash head on into something and I cry out, “Oh God help,” in that split second, God has all eternity to answer my prayer. (v. 8)
He Tells us something about the problem of Evil
I must admit that there are times when I wish God would step out of the heavens and say “Make my day!” But delay is not the same as impotence. There will always be scoffers. Belief is more of a moral issue than it is an intellectual one. Jesus said in John 3:19, “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” A basic principle of all apologetics is that God gives enough evidence that the believing heart may have certainty, but never so much evidence that the element of faith is eliminated. (v. 3-9).
Peter Tells us about what gives Meaning to Life
After complaining that nothing else gives meaning to life, the preacher in Ecclesiastes 12:14 shows that God will bring every work into judgment. The fact that God thinks enough of everything we do to evaluate it someday is what truly gives meaning to this life. Peter says there is going to be an evaluation day.
He Tells us about the purpose of Prophecy
He also tells us what the purpose of prophecy really is and gives us a perspective on the materialism of this world. Since everything material is going to be obliterated, we ought to live Godly and holy lives. (v. 11, 17).
Prophecy sets the Bible apart from all world religions. It alone tells us of “things to come.” The Bible sets two requirements for a prophet. The prophet must be 100% accurate, and must speak according to the whole truth of God’s word (See Deuteronomy 18:22).
Some false prophets are able to use divination to get a vague look into the future and many people are swept away by them.
Jeane Dixon
– boasted that she was 80% accurate. Dixon’s predictions are vague enough to fit many events, so it is not hard to see how she gained her accuracy, but she still fell short of the Biblical demand of 100%.
Michel Nostradamus
– is often praised in the media and has many followers. He was a French spiritist in the 1500s. His predictions are so vague that any number of events could fit. For example he wrote,
“The year 1999 seven months.
From the sky will come the great King of Terror.
To resuscitate the great king of the Mongols.
Before and after Mars reigns by good luck.”
Kennedy Jr.’s Airplane Crash?
His followers claim that this was John F. Kennedy Jr.’s airplane crash in July of 1999. However, Kennedy was hardly a great king of terror. He was not a ruler at all. He was the editor-in-chief of George Magazine and had aspirations to run for political office, but he was far from a king and he did not terrorize anyone. He did not resuscitate any kings. This is a failed prophecy. This vague prediction could fit any number of incidents while at the same time fulfilling none.
Space Shuttle Challenger?
Here is another example:
“From the human flock nine will be sent away. Separated from judgment and counsel:Their fate will be sealed on departure Kappa, Theta, Lambda the banished dead err.”
This supposedly was the prediction of the Space Shuttle Challenger’s disaster in 1986. The matches are: 9 will be sent away and their fate sealed on departure. But they were not separated because of judgment nor were they banished, so the second and last lines are failures. The chances of 9 people departing and dying in a 440 year period somewhere in the world are pretty good.
World Trade Center Bombings?
There was also a hoax claiming that Nostradamus predicted the World Trade Center bombings. A teen-ager added a couple of details to make one of Nostradamus’ predictions sound credible and circulated it on the internet. Hindsight additions do not count as prophecy.
Satan Gives Mediums some Insight!
The Bible does make it clear that Satan has the ability to give mediums some insights. In acts 16:16-18 a slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination followed Paul and Luke crying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation…But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour.
But Satan is Limited
Through demonic possession this girl was able to give divination. But Satan is limited in his ability to discern the future. Satan and his fallen angels only exist at one place at one time and are bound to the time in which we live. Satan does not know the future, but with great knowledge and experience he and his demons can make shrewd guesses. God says to have nothing to do with them (Deuteronomy 18:10-12).
God exists Outside of Time & Space
God is outside of time and space and knows all the future. The Bible tells us that God sees the end from the beginning and has planned and ordained all things pertaining to this life for His purposes. We need not fear but should not seek those who make false prophecies.
“And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts…” (2 Peter 1:19).
___________________
GMM
Golden Minutes Ministries – 2007 January Newsletter
Jim and Norma Borror
Box 8399
Long Beach, CA 90808
Ph. (562) 425-3796
“Golden Minutes Ministries” is the supporting mission behind the personal vision and ministry of Jim and Norma Borror. Through years of holding conferences at churches and camps, Jim became aware that many of the major decisions of life were made in these special meetings. He witnessed how much churches and individuals were encouraged and grew through this type of ministry.
As an independent, nonprofit organization, Golden Minutes Ministries is a faith ministry, supported by those who share its vision for helping people and churches grow through the study of God’s Word. All contributions and gifts to this ministry are tax deductible.
The ministry especially targets smaller churches and churches in out of the way places. Jim has traveled from Bremerton, Washington to Spring Hill, Florida, and preached from Laredo, Texas to Grand Marais, Minnesota. He has been in big and small churches in cities, towns, and villages. In each of them God has worked in a unique way to bring people to Himself. Additionally Jim and Norma have ministered in 13 foreign countries.
About the author:
Dr. Borror holds a degree in biblical Studies from Bob Jones University and both the Th.M. and Th.D. degrees in Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary.
Dr. Borror taught at Biola University, Talbot School of Theology, and Grace Theological Seminary (West). He is Visiting Professor for Doctor of Ministry courses on the Church and Strategies of Ministry at Dallas, and similar courses at Talbot, and Denver Conservative Baptist Seminary.
Editor – On a personal note, Dr. James Borror is Valorie Emilio’s “spiritual father.” May God continue to bless his ministry!
Editor’s Note: Paragraph Headings and Arrangement by R.R. editors.
Photo Credits NASA’s photo website = http://grin.hq.nasa.gov/