Hundredfold Ministries, Int'l

There are people today who can foresee future events in the natural world. These people can actually see with some degree of accuracy what will take place in the future. When these people foretell of that event, and it does come to pass, they are thought by some to be prophets. They are not; they are psychics. According to Webster's Dictionary a psychic is “a person who is supposedly sensitive to forces beyond the physical world--a spiritualistic medium.“20 A psychic can have precognitive experiences (that is, the perception of an event before it occurs). That person may also possess other supernatural powers which allows him or her to see into the spirit realm. Tragically, there are some individuals who are using their psychic powers in certain churches today to “prophesy.“

In the spiritual realm psychics are Satan's counterfeits for the genuine prophets of God. The lack of understanding of this distinction between true prophets and those with psychic powers allows a very serious error to be propagated in some churches today. That error is the assumption that anyone who gives a public utterance, speaks about future events, or reveals unknown facts has a prophetic call and is actually giving a prophetic word from God when he or she speaks.

Dreams and Visions

Many of these same churches are encouraging psychics to relate false dreams and revelations. Jeremiah makes it very clear that God is very hard on those who represent that their dreams are from Him when they are not.

Jeremiah, chapter 23 continues with God's judgement on false oracles and false prophets. This theme recurs in chapters 27 and 29. “So do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your interpreters of dreams, your mediums or your sorcerers . . .“ (Jer 27:9). “Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says; “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,“ declares the Lord. (Jer 29:8-9).

(See the next chapter for a much more extensive discussion of dreams.)

Foretelling Natural Disasters

Most unfortunately, there are those in the body of Christ today who are caught up in the excitement of foretelling natural disasters, or other future events. These events include such things as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, automobile accidents, and so on. First, let me point out that the source of this kind of “prophetic word“ usually is demonic since this sort of thing is “of this present world“ and Satan is the prince of this world. Demons can often see future events in the natural world. Further, this kind of foretelling almost always elevates the speaker and points away from Jesus and His purposes.

I repeat, to have this kind of “prophetic gift“ or psychic powers is not the same as having a prophetic call to deliver God's word. Psychics can be wrong because they get their power from the demonic world. God's prophetic word is never wrong. It is the word of God concerning His kingdom. It would not and could not be wrong.

Scriptural Use of Natural Phenomena

Biblical prophecies overwhelmingly focused on spiritual matters such as correction, guidance, personal and corporate sin, and the consequences of disobedience. In the relatively few occasions in Scripture where natural phenomena was involved, it was used by the prophet as a whip to drive home the word of God. The natural event was always secondary, or consequential, to what God was telling the hearers. The rare natural phenomena prophesied in Scripture is always related to a conditional response to God's call or His instructions. For example, in I Kings, chapter 17, Elijah, the prophet, held back rain from Israel because of King Ahab's wickedness.

If a prophecy is spoken forth in a church today which emphasizes a natural phenomena that is relatively unrelated to God's kingdom and His plan for this earth, even though it may come to pass, it is from the wrong source--the Tree of Death. (See Figure 4-1). It should be rejected.

There are also psychics who do such things as tell people's birthdays or recite their home address to them. This is justified by some as “the prophet's“ way of establishing his credibility so that when he or she does speak the word of God, the hearer will pay more attention. Nowhere in Scripture does a prophet of God resort to such psychic powers as telling someone his birthday “to establish his credibility.“

There may be that rare occasion where the true prophet will have a word of knowledge concerning some fact about a person. And certainly signs and wonders can and do sometimes accompany the prophetic word. But these occasions are God's prerogative. It is the genuine prophetic word from God that lays the heart bare, not some psychic power. Look at what Scripture says:

Note here that it is the prophet's word that convicts, not a psychic-like occurrence. Once again, I go back to one of the basic premises of this book, that is, the proper judging of prophecies. Because there are psychics masquerading as prophets in our church today it is extremely important that all prophecies, especially personal prophecy, be closely examined in light of Scripture by solid, experienced, mature church leaders.

New Age Converts to Christianity

Let me conclude this topic by addressing the problem of having someone with these psychic powers become born again and join the local church. I have encountered many of these people. In America, those who have been involved in the New Age movement often acquire psychic powers. In other parts of the world it is usually through some kind of witchcraft. I always tell such people that they must turn away from these abilities and powers and reject all such knowledge of them. They must undergo a long period of mental and spiritual discipline to free themselves of these powers.

If, after several years, they believe themselves truly called as prophets, they should consult with the church leaders and submit to their decision. If they are given the freedom to move prophetically, they must continually be sure that their source is God. Frankly, I believe the church leadership has a continuing responsibility to be careful with anyone who has ever been involved in that kind of witchcraft and has operated that kind of psychic power. It is very dangerous.
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20. Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language, Second College Edition, David B. Guralnik, Editor in Chief; William Collins + World Publishing Co., Inc. 2080 West 117th Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44111.