The Dilemma of False Prophets

By Fr. Martin Cross What if God has being speaking to the host of self acclaimed visionaries and seers of our time, like MDM, Holy Love etc, and we are not listening but rather, fighting against the Author of life and the Creator of the Universe? That would be terrible mistake on our side as the Church. But what if God is not the giver of the massages and the visions imposed on us, and we are gullibly silent to the fault for fear of offending God? Then we are finished, having being slothful to heed the warnings of the Lord Christ himself!. Blessed be God our Father, who gave us Christ the Saviour, and blessed be Christ our Lord who established his Church on earth, and blessed be the Holy Mother Church entrusted with the custodianship of the deposit of faith. For whatever she considers true on Earth is true in Heaven, and whatever she considers false on Earth is false in Heaven (Mt 18:18). I do not know of any revocation of this Divine Petrine-ecclesiastical-Power from on high, and the exercise of it resides on St. Peter, the Pope, and by extension the Bishops. Wherefore, all truths of faith and religion is by the will of God and Christ his Son our Lord and Saviour, subject to the approval of the Church, for he is with the Church as her head, so the Church will always reach the truth and surety of all things. Is it proper to look into private revelations, talk about them or even try stopping such massages? Yes because Christ the Lord warns us: Matthew 7:15-20 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves".  Jesus calls us as a Church to the mission of making Disciples of all the nations, aware that many will arise in his name (Mt 7:22) possessed by the Devil to deceive many innocent souls. They are ravens ready to destroy, cause confusions and make satanic authoritative utterances and perjury, causing fear, dishonour of God and his Church. The call to "Awareness" is the challenge to be vigilant against the subtlety of Lucifer, the fallen angel of light, still deceptively parading the light, with the great company of his fallen angels. They come as light, possessing insights into the mysteries of life, they work wonders, condemn evil, casting out demons, making prophecies and calling upon the name of Jesus (M7:22). Nevertheless, our Lord noted that they are false and do not belong to him, and for this reason will say unto them,  "I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" Mt 7:23. As regarding the criteria to knowing a false prophet, Jesus noted that we should watch out for their fruits. Their massages though, will include miracles, and prophecies, utterances of great insights, wonders and signs, and the usage of the Holy Name of Jesus and of His Most Blessed Mother, yet their massage is evil, because it does not come from God. You may ask, 'but how do we know'? Jesus readily answers,  "By their fruits" to know this, you have to look with the inner mind, for it is not against flesh and blood that we fight but against the principalities and powers (...Eph 6:10...).  Secondly, we follow the laid down rubrics of discernment by Holy Mother Church. The fruits visibly manifested by false prophets includes:  The nature of the massage. Does it agree with laid down truth of the sacred Scripture? Does it contain doctrinal errors, and teaches false assumptions.  The content of the massage of miracle; Does the miracle, the prophecies, the signs etc contain malicious attacks on the one custodian of Truth, the Church and the Vicar of Christ, Peter, and the Popes, and by extension, the Bishops, the Priests, who are the accredited leaders of the Church.  The life of the individual persons, is the seer humble, and obedient? Does the seer submit to the visible head of Christ on  earth, to whom Christ in Peter said," whatever you bound on earth is bound in heaven, and whatever you consider loose in heaven is considered loose in heaven" Mt 18:18. Surprising too, Christ noted that these individual false prophets seems to be ignorant of their pitiably state, or unaware that they were under strong possession of the devil. or rather thinks proudly that the end justifies the means.  "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (Mt 7:23). Here the false prophets made a case for themselves in Christ's presence invoking the eternal merits of their works as a claim to kingdom. Jesus said what seems like "You have no reward, and you can find none here, It doesn't matter, if the predictions and prophesies you made come true, or that you worked wonders, or prophesied in my name. The bottom line is that, it was not from God my Father and not from me and therefore unprofitable for the eternal salvation of souls, you will be punished having misled many, claiming to speak for God". (Mt 24:4) Finally hear this, No one is a judge in his or her own case, if you have nothing to hide, submit to the Church what you are doing in the name of God and of the Church. Save yourself from becoming unknowingly a disciple of the Devil, and his principalities and powers by means of following these massages. Look to the Church and be radiant. The ministry of the Word of God and the Sacraments are the means and the only sure means of eternal salvation, embrace it and prepare your soul for the last day, for no one knows the time Mt 24: 42-44. 24:1-26.