The Bible warns repeatedly that false prophets are real, dangerous, and will be judged by God. It also commands believers to be careful, test messages, and recognize false prophets by their teaching and their way of life.
What a false prophet is
A false prophet is someone who claims to speak for God but gives messages that God did not command, or points people toward other gods or away from the true gospel. In the Old Testament, God says such prophets speak “false visions” and the “delusions of their own minds,” not His true word.
Old Testament warnings
Books like Deuteronomy, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Micah condemn prophets who promise peace or blessing when God has not spoken, or who lead people into idolatry and disobedience. The law of Moses prescribed severe judgment for anyone who prophesied in God’s name what He had not said, or spoke in the name of other gods.
Jesus and the New Testament
Jesus warns, “Beware of false prophets,” saying they come in “sheep’s clothing” but inwardly are like dangerous wolves, and that they are known “by their fruits” – the results of their teaching and life. He also says that in the last days many false prophets will arise and deceive many, often using impressive signs and wonders.
How to recognize them
Across Scripture, false prophets and teachers are marked by things like: teaching that contradicts God’s revealed word, greed and exploitation, immorality, and a desire to please people rather than God. The New Testament urges believers to test every teaching against Scripture and to watch both doctrine and character, not just gifts or charisma.
Their ultimate outcome
The Bible teaches that false prophets bring spiritual ruin on themselves and those who follow them, but that God will ultimately expose and judge them. Apocalyptic passages, especially in Revelation, describe a final “false prophet” figure who deceives many and is eventually thrown into the “lake of fire,” emphasizing how serious this sin is before God.