Perhaps you have already read some of the new prophecies without even realizing it, like in Rick Joyner's popular book, ''The Final Quest.'' If so, I would encourage you to take a second, hard look at them.

The prophecies written by these new prophets are unlike the Bible. They are titillating- extremely persuasive, sensual, and seductive in nature, bringing to mind 1Tim 4:1 ''in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits.'' There are important clues that point to a different author than the God of the Bible.

The prophecies, unlike God's word, are filled with contradictions. The personal thoughts of each of the 'prophets' are easy to discern and each of them are developing their own followings, as people pick and choose which prophets they prefer - this is completely subjective!

The prophecies do, however, contain consistencies and a unified overall message which I'd like to point out.

Secretive.

The prophecies are secretive and vague, in contrast to the Bible's openness and forthrightness. The speaker hints at his plans in figurative language but does not openly disclose them. When one examines them carefully, these hints are often worded in such a way that they could actually mean the very opposite of what you would first assume. For example, let's look at a prophecy given by Cindy Jacobs to Europe, called ''One More Chance'':

Think carefully about this prophecy. What were the 'ancient covenants' of Europe? Did you assume Christianity? Why? Europe was the ancient seedbed of pagan religions like Wicca, druidism, and the ancient Celtic myths, which are making a strong comeback. Who was ''stirred to take Jerusalem''? This could speak of the Roman destruction in A.D. 70, or the Roman Catholic crusades. As we have seen, Roman Catholicism is making a strong bid to become the global 'church' once again. Do you say, 'but he says he's the Lord, the ancient of days!' Don't you know ''the devil... is a liar, and the father of lies'' (Jn 8:44) ? Furthermore, he can legitimately call himself the ''God'' or lord - of this world (2Cor 4:4, 1Jn 5:19). Gnostic symbolism. The prophecies contain the marks of gnosticism- a secretive, highly symbolic mysticism where one works to 'attain to' a 'higher wisdom.' Gnostic symbols well-known since ancient times are used, such as Rick Joyner's allegorical ''mountain'' which he had to climb to attain to 'higher spiritual levels' of the 'revelation of God.'

Clues.

The Holy Spirit constantly speaks on His own initiative, portraying Himself as wine, and saying He longs to make us ''drunk'' with Himself.

Statements that sound like Bible verses are made but when you look them up, you find they've been cleverly misquoted or misapplied. God does not misuse His own word. Satan, however, has been known to misuse God's word to tempt (Mt 4:6).

In a prophecy titled ''Behold I am Doing a New Thing,'' Marc Dupont has God saying,

God has no need for his people to go up to high places to seek Him! Jesus made it clear that a person's physical location has nothing to do with his worship of God; ''the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth,'' (Jn 4:21-23)

In the Bible, the 'high places' were places of demon worship (Num 33:52; Num 22:41; 1 Kings 14:23-24; 1KI 13:33-34; Jer 32:35; Ps 78:58-59). Jesus was taken by the devil to the pinnacle of the temple and to a very high mountain, to be tempted (Mt 4:1,8).

In Carol Arnott's 'Sword' prophecy, 'God' says he needs to

Time is never short with God, He is in absolute, sovereign control of the timing of all things! And, He is patient beyond our understanding; ''with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day,'' (2Pet 3:8). Time simply is not an issue for God.

But, time is short for someone else: ''Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.'' (Rev 12:12).

In Marc Dupont's ''New Thing'' prophecy, God says,

The believer is warned not to question or doubt it is really God speaking, whereas the Bible commands us to ''test the spirits,'' 1Jn 4:1. This demand should actually fill us with doubt!

The believer's relationship to Jesus is symbolized in these prophecies as a sexual relationship, to the point where it is just lewd. Jesus wants to ''have a love affair'' with you. He is a seducer instead of Lord and God. The Jesus of the scriptures does not seduce. We do, however, read of seduction in connection with demons and also false prophets (1Tim 4:1, KJV; Dt 13:5).

Carol Arnott claims God Himself was speaking through her when she said,

The old weapons God gave us are ''the full armor of God, that we may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm'' (Eph 6:13-18). But now, we no longer need to ''gird our loins with truth,'' put on the ''breastplate of righteousness,'' or ''shod our feet with the preparation of the gospel'' because God is ''doing a New Thing''? ''The shield of faith'' and ''the helmet of salvation'' ''will no longer do''?

We are to throw away the ''old'' sword - ''the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God''? We come again to the crux of the matter! Don't doubt it- this is what it's all about. The spirit of this movement desperately wants to separate us from the word of God!

No, we will not throw away what God has told us to hold fast, even if ''an angel from heaven should preach'' that we should (Gal 1:8).

Urgency.

These prophecies have the kind of urgency a salesman uses to hurry someone into a bad deal before they can think it over- ''Do not doubt... allow me to impart my essence in you, NOW!'' demands the spirit of ''Impartation.''

Manipulation.

Fear, guilt, and flattery (Ro 16:18, 1Th 2:5, Jude 16) are used to pressure, coerce, and manipulate. The grace and loving patience of God that the Bible communicates is absent. The church and the people of God are described again and again as ''filthy'' when God's word declares us as cleansed in Christ (Eph 5:26).

Sensual hints of promises are implied as rewards for obeying demands that go against God's instructions to us in His written word.

Rewards alluringly offered to those who will obey the prophecy usually do not even have any definite meaning, like, ''you will know me in a way you have never known before.'' If that doesn't happen, who are you going to sue and what charges would you be able to bring? Can't you hear a certain someone laughing in derision at your easily bought compliance on that day?

Often times things are promised as rewards that the Bible says we already possess as believers, like, ''I will clothe you in pure garments.'' Gal 3:27 says, ''For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.'' This is kind of like someone stealing your wallet then offering your own money back to you to do their dirty work.

Other times they tempt us to be unfaithful to our God, like, ''Be hungry for Me and the food I have prepared for you.'' In Jn 6:35, ''Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger.'''

And, finally, they feed sinful desires to have secret knowledge and significance above others, like, those who ''follow Me into the deeper things... shall see My glory visited upon them.'' Gal 6:3 warns us, ''if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.''

Accusation.

Scriptures about the wicked are applied to the church and believers, in an accusatory way, to coerce the reader into submission. Take, for example, these words in a prophecy called ''Repent!'' by Doug Fortune:

The god of this prophecy clearly talks to ''My people'' yet they are presented as in a fallen condition, unworthy of His mercy, and in danger of judgment. Jesus said, ''Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.'' Jn 5:24.

The God of the Bible sees us completely in Christ. A believer may backslide, but it is not possible for him to return to a ''fallen condition.''

And, what must they 'repent' of? Being 'satisfied in their religion? What is this vague accusation supposed to mean? Being satisfied with the word of God, perhaps?

The one who accuses us of being unclean and unacceptable is a thief who is trying to rob us of what Christ has already given to us, and ''the thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy'' Jn 10:10. This is not our God but the accuser (Rev 12:10). Do not trust him. He has an agenda, and though he is skillfull and persuasive, this agenda is not for our or the church's good.

Compare to the voice of the Scriptures.

Notice the general tone of the scriptures, the lovingkindness, forgiveness and gentleness of our God, and notice that He always speaks of our cleansing and fulness in Christ in past tense- it has happened. It is a present reality.

This God not Omnipotent.

This brings us to a highly important difference between these prophecies and the scriptures: the god of these prophecies has a plan but he cannot accomplish it without our efforts. He is not all-powerful. He is not in control. He is working hard with promises and threats because he has to convince us to do what he wants done; he cannot do it himself.

This can flatter a believer into a false sense of importance; ''God needs me!'' but the God of the Bible is not like this.

He is absolutely sovereign and omnipotent:

A Gospel of Works.

Through the Bible, we know that we are made righteous only through the blood of Christ (Php 3:9), not by our works. Through guilt, condemnation, and accusation, these prophecies seek to mislead us into a gospel of works instead.

Scriptures and concepts from the New Testament epistles are remarkably absent from these prophets' messages. Their message is law, not grace.

They would like to have the authority of the Old Testament prophets (without the accountability to be 100% accurate) and to put the rest of us back under law.

They have forsaken the New Testament message of salvation and righteousness through faith, and turned to a system of law and works.

Not compatible.

These prophecies are incompatible with the Bible. They cannot both be true- a choice must be made.

Make no mistake, though - there is enough truth mixed in with the error in these prophecies to confuse any person who does not know their Bible well, and the words are skillfully woven together. I personally do not encourage any Christian to read them, the possibility for deception is too great.

Why are we Dissatisfied?

Friends, we need to ask ourselves what we are looking for in new prophecies that is better than what God has already freely given us? He has ''granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness'' (2Pet 1:3). The scriptures are all we need to ''be adequate, equipped for every good work'' (2Tim 3:13-17).

What are we craving beyond the ''precious and magnificent promises'' He has given us in His word? (2Pet 1:4) Are we not like the Israelites, bored with the manna God has provided and demanding he provide for our own cravings for meat?

Is it possible we want new prophecy because we do not want to accept what the Bible says as the final word?

Are we tired of being rejected by this world system? (Jn 15:18-20).

Do we want to hear a message of earthly popularity, prosperity, power, glory, and influence? (Dt 28:13).

Do we want to hear that the world is going to fall at our feet and acclaim us rather than ''If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you'' (Jn 15:19) ?

Do we want to have our ''ears tickled... in accordance to our own desires''? (2 Tim 4:3-4).

We say ''we don't want to put God in a box,'' but don't we really mean that we don't want to be put in a box by God- that box being the authority, limitations and final word of the scriptures?