Here is a question that I got from a friend on Facebook.
If the letters to your friend Timothy ARE in fact from God, then that means that the prophecies in those letters MUST happen.....right? Since prophecy from our God is 100% accurate...
The reason I ask is because I have known sooooo many people who claim to have been given a message or revelation from God....and they boldly predict events to come....but they end up being wrong. (Which means either the one who gave them the message is a lier, or they faked the whole thing.)
Lets always discern what we hear and read. A huge event of the end times is people falling away.
Here is a reply, that I punched out on my crusty old laptop ...
Hi there.There is always tension when a prophet issues something from God. On the one hand, one should not despise prophecies. On the other hand, one should pay attention to cry false and to shun a corrupt source if and when their words show to be untrue. So, the tension is in looking at both the current word and all the words as a whole.
It gets easier once you find a fault, because you no longer have to deal with the source. One fault or error in what a prophet states and they are no longer to ever be viewed as God's messenger again.
It is difficult when someone has yet to be seen as false, because even though confidence is gained by the certainty and accuracy of their prophecies, one cannot use that confidence to rubber-stamp approval on any future prophecies or to turn a blind eye to what was said even from the beginning. All of it as a whole and every detain therein should be constantly re-examined and shown to be true. It should be always shown to be spotless in any examination or it should be treated as no better than the book of mormon or other demonstrably erroneous so-called prophecies.
I believe Timothy is true and is receiving from God. Nevertheless, I am always looking for new ways to nail down what is said and keep track of it with the rigor that it deserves. Does this mean that I am still skeptical? Well, I must admit that I certainly do believe it is authentic, but that does not give me the escape to treat the Words lightly or to quit testing them.
God speaks to me, not like Timothy, but in the Voice within. And even though it is from Him, I don't always hear it right and want Him to reaffirm His words over and over until I understand clearly. This going over and over would apply even more to any voice from God outside of my heart claiming to be from God.
I have spreadsheets, with predictions in the Letters, and links back to when (the date of origin) they were issued and the latest possible fulfillment thereof. When Timothy saw what I was doing, and making with the spreadsheets, he offered to help and has added to the list ... even from among his private letters (as opposed to the published letters on the site and pdf.)
I wish there were more people that took this approach to the integrity of what Timothy is delivering, but I don't know of anyone else that is doing it. Just what I am doing with Timothy's help as far as I am aware.
Anyway, you are right to say that one falsehood demolishes the ministry of any prophet. When I first set out to read the Letters, I was looking for that one falsehood. Now, several years later, I still am on the lookout, even though I stand convinced of them.
So, my advice to you would be to never take my word for it or anyone else's. Examine and test things for yourself with much prayer and much going over and over in prayer to see if you are really hearing right and really giving the situation the due gravity that it deserves.
This is not a time for herd mentality and just going along with the crowd, letting them decide things for you. The crowd is notoriously led astray, and prone to error. This is a time for study and prayer and to live with integrity before the Lord ... for when we are called to account for this life, the crowd will not be standing next to us as a defense if we get things wrong. We each will stand before Him and He is able to make us stand. Therefore, with stamina and longsuffering, let us be diligent with what is before us, so that on that day we will have no regrets.
Ripening for the harvest,
Trent
2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Beloved, believe not every spirit,
but try the spirits whether they are of God,
because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
~ 1 John 4:1
Trina, come now and confess all that you have done, and ask My forgiveness. Cast all that has become burdensome upon Me. I shall carry it for you. ~ Jesus [Letters from God and His Christ Volume 1 - The Seas Rage; The Earth, It Trembles...All is Quiet For Those Who Rest In the Lord]