The time has come when men cannot endure sound doctrine. Men are heaping up for themselves teachers that say what they like to hear because of itchy ears. False prophets have risen to deceive many... Be careful. Be watchful. Open your eyes.THE TRAP OF a FALSE PROPHETFalse prophets are very gifted, but do not bear the fruit of Christ.False prophets flatter a lot, they say all the things you want to hear.False prophets boast in the fact that they do not rebuke.They will deceive you with the message of Love; they will lead you away from the message of repentance.False prophets will lead you away from preparation for the coming King.False Prophets will say peace, peace when there is no peace.Don´t be deceived by prophets who preach what you like or want to hear.GOD's TRUE PROPHETSGod´s true prophets are marked by these three common things "Rebuke, Reprove and Exalt".They encourage, comfort and edify according to the will of the LordThey will "mourn over sin"; they will carry the burden... God´s prophets should not be able to stand sin... hence the need to "rebuke or reprove"Yet they are peaceful & merciful.After a prophet is done releasing the burden, they can almost immediately (within a matter of minutes) put on another spirit (of joy, gentleness and mercy).They hunger and thirst for righteousness, God´s true Prophets must, at one point or another, preach holiness.The Prophet´s level of purity (sanctity) or the heaviness of the burden laid on him will likely contribute to how the prophet preaches the message of holiness or rebukes sin.They are marked by persecution because of the message they preach.They are poor in spirit; after receiving messages and mysteries from God, they must remain humble in spirit.They have no undivided loyalties (with their master, Jesus Christ).They bear the Character of God.THE CRUX OF THEIR MESSAGE will LEAD PEOPLE to RUN TO GOD!!~Source-theagapekindministry.org/contrast-signs-of-true-false-prophets/
_________________SI Moderator - Greg Gordon
To me it seems like many of today's "prophets" can easily move in the gifts of knowledge and discernment and wisdom and personal prophecy for someone yet there is little rebuke or reproof taking place. So are these just people moving in the gifts of the Spirit versus someone who holds the true office of a prophet? If you prophesy or have a word of knowledge does that make one a prophet? In today's climate it seems it does. I have long believed the meaning of holding the office of a prophet (not just being able to move in gifts) has taken a pretty deep dive and the meaning of holding the true office of a prophet has become confusing.
_________________David Winter
I tend to agree with your observations,... there seems to indeed be some confusion between the two. In my understanding, per Paul, we should all desire to prophesy as it is for the unbelievers not believers. Whereas the office of the prophet historically prophesies to believers in most cases tho not all. As such the message would naturally be different from each as their intended audience is different.
_________________Fletcher