With increased advancement we have at our disposal many more resources that were not available a while back. We have computers that enable us to expand our knowledge in many areas that we desire to learn about. What may have taken decades to learn then can now be learned within days or months. This is the beauty of mankind when we work together and align on a common goal to improve the lives of everyone. We flourish as a civilization and everyone has the ability to experience greater things in life.
While we have advanced technologically at a rapid rate, we have also created new problems. We have advanced faster in creating information and knowledge than the average human being can comprehend. We simply have too much information that is not trust worthy. Some of the information is good and some of it is bad. The problem is, we are just learning to sift through all the information and its hard to separate the good and the bad. We are still learning and this we will also master with time.
Unless we are grounded in truth and we take a measured approach to verifying all information, we are prone to being misinformed and ultimately led astray. I believe today the information wars are at an all time high filled with propaganda, misinformation, and lies. The people who seek to profit from this opportunity to further their agenda are many and they are working overtime. We need to be careful on who we take information from and especially what we do with that information.
The Quran has instructed mankind to verify our source of truth before we share it with others. This is the first step that we human beings need to take to get rid of bad information. We need to have personal accountability and integrity with these matters. In Surah 49, verse 6, God instructs mankind to investigate any information from doubtful sources before we share that information with others and become regretful of the harm we may have done without intention. It is thus very important that we do not add fuel to the misinformation campaign that is fueled by the evil schemers whose goal is lead many people astray and for personal gain, which is to have more wealth, fame, and power.
Among many trends that are in the works, one common trend that is prevalent and mainstream today is the gift of prophecy. This practice of receiving personal information from God about future events and sharing it with others as a warning or for education or for other ulterior motives. This practice is not new but has become more problematic with the advent of the internet. People of many backgrounds whose character is not rooted in Gods truth claim to hear from God about future events. They create daily content claiming to have heard from God in topics that are mainstream. As a result many people are being deceived and their lives are being ruined. That's why its important that we discuss the topic of modern day prophecy to better inform others so they can be rightly guided.
Prophecy is not new. It has existed since God created man and it has a specific purpose. Prophecy deals with foretelling or prediction of what is to come. Its a desirable hobby that many people wish to engage in while I warn you its not a hobby but a mighty responsibility that requires a very righteous and sound individual. While not all people who engage in prophecy have evil plans, most self proclaimed prophets are charlatans whose aim is feel superior to you, or to validate themselves as Gods chosen people. These people thrive when they are at the center of respect and glory. The more people they attract, the greater their ego becomes. They wish to continue on this journey for as long as they live while preying on peoples fear and emotions and taking advantage of them financially.
We must stop all false prophets. We must arm ourselves with knowledge and truth so we do not become victims to their game. We must learn their tricks so we can identify them. If you identify common patterns that false prophets share, you will be able to spot them all, and its very easy.
Let us reflect on what God has to say about prophecy and whom God chooses as Prophets. According to the Quran and other scriptures, God has sent many prophets to many nations at different times to guide them with wisdom and truth. The role of the prophet has been to guide people with wisdom from the almighty and to provide a guide to determine good from bad. The prophets were often people of that community who spoke the same language and lived the same culture. Their goal was to warn people who are misguided and to give glad tidings to those who are living according to Gods commandments. Prophecy was never the main purpose of the prophet. Prophecy served as a divine wisdom to validate the message, the sender, and the messenger. It was never sent to test the messenger because God does not test man with the unseen. God does not change his mind about things to come. What God states always happens exactly as told. If we ponder on this last sentence, we will learn that God does not engage in future telling or second guessing. God does not reveal the future to the general public and have people ty to change the future by living in the future and being actively engaged in it. For most people, the knowledge of the future simply provides no value and it goes against Gods word.
In the Quran in Surah 31, verse 34, God says No soul knows what it will reap tomorrow, and no soul knows in what place it will die. Surely God is All-Knowing, All-Aware. This message is very clear that human beings do not have fore knowledge of the future. Had we had advance knowledge, we would benefit with abundant wealth and avoid adversity. God further states in the Quran about the final hour which is a future event. That knowledge is with him alone. He keeps it hidden so all of us will strive with current knowledge that is at our disposal and be rewarded accordingly for our efforts. Therefore, advance knowledge defeats Gods purpose of our creation which is to test us with adversity and misfortunes.
Since we have established that God does not typically reveal the future to us we can also establish that Prophets are chosen for very specific purpose which carries a mighty task of shaping the behavior of generations to come. It is not something that everyone is engaged in. According to the Quran, Prophet Muhammad was the last of the prophets and there are no more prophets to come after him. Therefore, we shall not expect any more prophets. The message about the way of life is clear. The commandments of how to life a good life have been clearly established. We will however have teachers who God chooses as messengers to guide and help us. They will be knowledgeable and have a high moral conduct. They will also do Gods will.
We must be very careful not to entertain people who label themselves as prophets and who give us messages and timelines of things to come. Often times, these people engage in prophecies that are about mainstream events that have a very high chance of happening and that bring a lot of attention to the self proclaimed prophets. These people do not know the future as the claim. They simply seek to gain as many followers as possible and jump on the opportunity. In the early stages, they start by making prophecies of things that are certain to happen to build their reputation. Afterwards, they engage in bigger prophecies where they will gain more followers than they will lose even when they are wrong. Therefore, we must study their past to establish truth.
God simply does not need to provide people with knowledge of the future. When God wills to do something, he simply does it. It is not fruitful for his creation to be engaged with future events and neglect the present where we can be working on ourselves to earn good deeds and have fun with our friends and families. Often times, people take these prophecies seriously and are harmed in the way. They become the center of mockery from people who have a discerning spirit and are grounded in reality. The victims image is destroyed and it may never be recovered.
While I do not claim to know the mind of God and surely cannot dictate the will of God, I believe that God reveals his will to his chosen people who need special knowledge for a special purpose. God seldom provides exact timelines because He is a God of seasons and his people are never out of season, unprepared. Gods people are grounded in truth and know that with God, all things are possible. Regardless if we have advance knowledge of events to come or not, God is sovereign at all times and he speaks via actions now, not unfound prophecy. He can use anyone for any purpose and nothing can interrupt his absolute will!
Many people claim to be engaged in prophecy and choose dream interpretation as their communication channel with God. Prophecy via dreams is not an avenue that God would likely communicate to his chosen people, however God may if he so desires. In the Bible in Jermiah 25-28, God warns us against people who use dreams as prophecy and labels their prophecies as delusions of their mind. God is not in the business of confusing people by allowing their minds to interpret dreams as they see fit and deceive others. When God reveals his will to His people, its accurate, its authoritative, and it confirmed. It is not repeated unnecessary with too many details too frequent. It is not prone to error and confusion. It does not cause fear and chaos into the hearts of believers. It always comes to pass.
I want you to understand that I do not claim to dictate how God speaks, rather I want inform people of how God has spoken in the past and what purpose it has served. I want you to understand that God does not need prophecy to do things, although he may chose to do so if He wills. Prophecy is not required. Prophecy can be used by God to prove to people that the individuals that speak on his behalf are trustworthy and are who they claim to be. If the prophecy does not come to pass as it is stated, that person has spoken of their own accord and you can ignore any further messages from that individual. You should not fear them.
Know that prophecy is for strengthening, encouraging and comforting others. It always lines up with God’s Word. The fruits of prophecy provide Gods people with promises and understanding of events that are unfolding. Prophecy should not provide confusion and anxiety for those who are close to God. The prophecy is often wrapped up with a message of hope and a warning for people who need to pay attention.
-F.D
-F.D