False and True Prophets 400 Against 1

False and True Prophets 400 Against 1

What is the difference between them? There are many false prophets. In this case there were 400! There are few true prophets; here there was only one!

The false prophets spoke pleasantries; it would go well, so very well. The true prophet’s words were unpleasant; they spoke of misfortune.

The false prophets’ unanimous (verse 12) words that they spoke in the presence of pomp and ceremony (verse 9) were lies despite the sign that one of them had made (verse 10). What the one faithful and true prophet said was fulfilled, despite the vast majority who spoke against him.

The four hundred prophets were well regarded and liked, but about the one prophet the king of Israel said, “I hate him, because he never prophesies good concerning me . . . .” V. 7.

When this faithful man precisely, conscientiously, and unselfishly had spoken the unpleasant truth, he was first struck on the cheek (v. 23; Matt. 5:39), by the prophet among the four hundred who had unanimously confirmed their lies with a sign; next the king ordered him to be put in prison to be fed “with bread of affliction and water.” There he was supposed to stay until the king—in accordance with the four hundred prophets’ solemn, serious, and reverential words, and consistent with the sign—returned safely. V. 26.

Who would not believe the unanimous words of four hundred prophets??? The probability of this one “wretch” being right had to be excluded!!!

And yet, the king never returned!!! According to the one prophet’s word, the king never returned, and he died at about the time of sunset. V. 34.

Of what help was it then to have four hundred prophets prophesy good fortune and peace to him??? How foolish it was to hate the one prophet because his words were not that pleasant, though they were true? Wouldn’t it have been much better to pay heed to the one prophet and to have stayed home even though this would have been humbling for him? Is it not better to humble yourself first and be exalted afterwards rather than enjoy a brief and vain exaltation first and then be disappointed in the end? Was it not better to die first in order to live forever rather than enjoy life and end up in death forever? Is it not better to judge yourself now voluntarily and then be saved and be free after that, rather than have someone lie nicely for you, and then fall under the judgment in the end when nothing can be changed anymore???

The spirit in the false prophets’ words has always been: “Peace, Peace! Peace, Peace and safety! You are all God’s beloved children. Christ has done everything and we shall do nothing! A little injustice here, a little bit of lukewarmness there, and so on, doesn’t matter, because ‘under the blood’ we are all safe. Hallelujah! Let us sing and be happy, for the Lord is with us (in spite of all our ungodliness)!? Soon we will all be in that wonderful Millennium! Jesus is coming soon, and then we will all (whether we are lukewarm or hot, whether we live for ourselves or not, and so on) be with Him, and that will be glory without comparison!!! Our faithfulness will absolutely not be questioned; there will not be any talk about works at all; black, gray, or white are just as lovely, for God is good! Everything is alright! Peace, Peace, and safety!”

The reason people like this kind of message is first of all that it is so pleasant (as long as it lasts!); then it is so “reliable” because there are so very many people who are in unanimous agreement with it. We have concrete proof from the above-mentioned event about how great this reliability is. It is precisely as great in these days as it was in Ahab’s, Jehoshaphat’s, Zedekiah’s, and in Micaiah’s days! For “there is nothing new under the sun.” And everything that has been written is for our instruction.

Whether there had been ten or one hundred, four hundred or one thousand who had prophesied good fortune to Ahab, he would still have suffered misfortune just as Micaiah had said. The majority is of no help! They weigh absolutely nothing in the scales!!!

What did the majority do during the time of all the true prophets? They were always predominantly against. Remember Jesus’ words: Which of the [true] prophets did your fathers not kill?

What did the majority of worshipers do when Jesus Christ, the Master Himself, lived on this earth? Didn’t they all like Him and believe in Him? Alas, no! There were more than four hundred that were against Him! Do you think that the situation is any different in these days? In this connection, someone may possibly understand these words from Jesus’ mouth: “When the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

Why is it so difficult to believe the truth? Why do people hate the truth and those who speak it? It is because the truth does not predict anything good for our bad state. It predicts that the door will be closed to the five foolish virgins; that all the works will be judged at the judgment seat of Christ; that the lukewarm (who are almost all the “believers”) will be spewed out of Jesus’ mouth; that the lazy servants will be thrown out, as well as all those who have committed unrighteousness (Matt. 24:12), together with all those who have not used their pound, and so on. It is because the truth requires acknowledgment, confession, humiliation, and repentance from all folly, from all self-life!

Blessed is each and every one who loves the truth so that he obeys it! For they will really triumph in the end, even forever! Amen.