Revival of Prophecy In Israel
Since the destruction of the Temple, wisdom has taken precedence over prophecy in Judaism. While the current resurgence of interest in Kabbalah, a tradition of Jewish mysticism, might imply a renewed openness to prophecy, wisdom is in fact still prioritized: "The advantage of wisdom over prophecy as a pathway to enlightenment is evident from the teaching of the sages that 'the wise man is greater than the prophet.'" Given this continued preference of wisdom over prophecy in Judaism, it may come as a surprise that there will be an end-time resurgence of prophecy, both true and false, in Israel.
We know this first of all from the book of Revelation. In Rev 11.3 the Lord declares that He will empower His "two witnesses and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth." The 1,260 days identifies the time of their ministry as that 3 and 1/2 years immediately preceding the apocalypse.
It is during this same final 3-and-1/2-year period that false prophecy will come to its apex in the person of The False Prophet, an individual explicitly given this title in Rev 16.13, 19.20 and 20.10. This False Prophet, a dragon in lamb’s clothing (Rev 13.11), will forcefully direct the populace to worship Antichrist and Antichrist’s image (Rev 13.12-15).
Human nature being what it is, when Antichrist inaugurates his new religion with its unholy trinity of dragon, beast and false prophet, some in Israel will become sycophants, aiding and abetting The False Prophet in calling Israel to worship the Beast and his image. By so doing, these Israelites will themselves become false prophets, incurring the full penalty of the law against those who lead Israel astray. When Antichrist finally decides to destroy Israel and Jerusalem because of those who refuse to worship him, the Israelite false prophets will not escape. The combination of war ravages, cosmic upheavals and divine judgments will eliminate two thirds of Israel’s population. Among the casualties will be the "[false] prophet, the soothsayer … and clever enchanter" (Isa 3.2,3). Jeremiah concurs. "In that Day … the [false] prophets shall stand aghast" (Jer 4.9, TNK).
This background, then, illuminates the teaching of Zec 13.2-6. The prophets described in this passage are directly connected to idolatry and the "spirit of impurity," i.e., "unclean spirit" (v. 2). The prophets will be executed, not for prophesying as such, but for telling lies (NIV) or speaking falsely (NASB) in the Name of YWHW (v.3). Repentant family members who strike down these false prophets, will do so in obedience to Deu 13.6-10 and 18.20. The implication is that these false prophets of Zec 13 will be found guilty, not simply of having made erroneous predictions, but of having encouraged the people to follow a false god, apparently Antichrist.
We know this first of all from the book of Revelation. In Rev 11.3 the Lord declares that He will empower His "two witnesses and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth." The 1,260 days identifies the time of their ministry as that 3 and 1/2 years immediately preceding the apocalypse.
It is during this same final 3-and-1/2-year period that false prophecy will come to its apex in the person of The False Prophet, an individual explicitly given this title in Rev 16.13, 19.20 and 20.10. This False Prophet, a dragon in lamb’s clothing (Rev 13.11), will forcefully direct the populace to worship Antichrist and Antichrist’s image (Rev 13.12-15).
Human nature being what it is, when Antichrist inaugurates his new religion with its unholy trinity of dragon, beast and false prophet, some in Israel will become sycophants, aiding and abetting The False Prophet in calling Israel to worship the Beast and his image. By so doing, these Israelites will themselves become false prophets, incurring the full penalty of the law against those who lead Israel astray. When Antichrist finally decides to destroy Israel and Jerusalem because of those who refuse to worship him, the Israelite false prophets will not escape. The combination of war ravages, cosmic upheavals and divine judgments will eliminate two thirds of Israel’s population. Among the casualties will be the "[false] prophet, the soothsayer … and clever enchanter" (Isa 3.2,3). Jeremiah concurs. "In that Day … the [false] prophets shall stand aghast" (Jer 4.9, TNK).
This background, then, illuminates the teaching of Zec 13.2-6. The prophets described in this passage are directly connected to idolatry and the "spirit of impurity," i.e., "unclean spirit" (v. 2). The prophets will be executed, not for prophesying as such, but for telling lies (NIV) or speaking falsely (NASB) in the Name of YWHW (v.3). Repentant family members who strike down these false prophets, will do so in obedience to Deu 13.6-10 and 18.20. The implication is that these false prophets of Zec 13 will be found guilty, not simply of having made erroneous predictions, but of having encouraged the people to follow a false god, apparently Antichrist.
posted by Roderick of TMin at 9:19 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home