“What should be our attitude toward Christians who have a history of failed predicitons?”

May 2013 – Grace & Truth Magazine

QUESTION: What is the proper attitude one should have toward sincere Christians who have a history of failed predictions?

ANSWER: A Very Contemporary Danger
It is important for Christians to be very careful with making predictions of future events. The world is listening more than we realize and looking for any opportunity they can find to discredit our Lord and His Word, the Bible. The world is quick to pick up anything that Christians say or do which might reflect unfavorably on our faith in Him and His Word.

Before answering the above question, let’s look at a few background facts. Mankind’s means of communication have increased tremendously during the past few decades so that what may be said to a few in a whisper can soon be shouted from the housetops! Radio, television, the internet, e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, and other similar inventions have joined the older, traditional means of spreading news by word of mouth, letters, telegrams and newspapers. While all these capabilities can be used for good purposes, Satan has been quick to make use of them for his wicked purposes as well. He is a liar and the father of lies, our Lord has told us in John 8:44.

Satan’s Tactics
Satan’s lies are deliberate. We see this already in Genesis 3:1-5, where when talking to the woman he flatly contradicted what God had said. We see his purpose to discredit God and His loving kindness and to make our first parents distrust God. Throughout the Bible we find his agents, false prophets, bringing lying prophecies in order to deceive. Scripture repeatedly warns us against these and gives us tests to use to determine whether a person is a true prophet, sent by God, or a false prophet.

False Prophets
In Deuteronomy 13 we find that a prophet who was attempting to lead people away from the Lord and from obedience to His Word, was not to be heeded, even if he produced a sign or a wonder to back up what he was saying. In fact, Israel, God’s earthly people, was to unsparingly kill such a wicked person. Christians, God’s heavenly people, are not given any such command, but are to put away wickedness from their midst and are to separate from evil (1 Cor. 5:13; 2 Tim. 2:19-22). In Deuteronomy 18:20-22 we find a second test to determine whether a prophet was of God or not. Every prediction a professed prophet made had to come to pass if the prophet was to be regarded as a true prophet – he had to have a record of 100% accuracy in all of his predictions.

Now the question before us is not about false prophets, but about sincere Christians who have a history of failed predictions. We may well ask, “Why should a sincere Christian have a history of failed predictions? When His disciples asked the Lord Jesus, just before His ascension to heaven, whether He would at that time restore the kingdom to Israel, He answered: “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority” (Acts 1:7 nkjv). In view of this word from the Lord, it would seem very strange that a sincere Christian would venture to make a prediction about times and seasons. Yet down through the centuries there are those who have ventured to do so, and this has normally been to their embarrassment and shame. Are there really sincere Christians who are wiser than their Lord?

Our Hope As Christians
When we look ahead, Scripture shows us that we are to be waiting for our Lord to come back to take us to be with Himself. What a joy His coming (which we often term “the Rapture”) will be! We can and should look forward to it with eager anticipation! There is absolutely nothing that needs to happen before He comes. The events, such as the Tribulation, that Scripture associates with dates and time length are all events associated with this earth and God’s earthly people, Israel. God wants us to be looking for His Son to come from heaven (1 Th. 1:10), not for the Antichrist or for some dread event tied in with the number 666 or coming catastrophe.

A Scriptural Example
When the apostle Paul wrote his final letter, Second Timothy, to his son in the faith, Timothy, he mentioned not only a general condition of departure but very specifically two men, Hymenaeus and Philetus (2 Tim. 2:16-18). He tells Timothy to shun profane and idle babblings, like those of these two men who were making wrong assertions and predictions. They had “strayed concerning the truth, saying the resurrection is already past.” This was resulting in their overthrowing the faith of some. Paul is warning Timothy against these two men. He should not be associating with them, but should rather “pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Tim. 2:22).

What Should My Attitude Be?
The rest of this chapter shows that a true servant of the Lord must not get himself embroiled in arguments about all the false predictions. He should in humility correct those in opposition, but God alone can bring them to repentance and acknowledgment of the truth. In short, patiently point out from God’s Word that he is wrong in making predictions, that his prediction is wrong, that many of his past predictions have been wrong, and that Scripture shows you should not be associating with him while he is walking in this way and even leading others astray. Pray for him. Don’t treat a “sincere Christian” as an enemy, but if he is making unfounded predictions, make it plain to him that God in His Word has said very clearly that you should stay away from him. Such a person needs to be taught rather than to teach or to take the place of a prophet. Do not lend him your ears, lest he lead you astray also.

Answered by Eugene P. Vedder, Jr.