Lessons
in the Prophetic: Judging Prophecy
The
other day I read an article of an interview with a nationally recognized
Christian leader. This leader is called an apostle, a pastor, a prophet, and an
intercessor all in the same article. In the interview, as this leader was
talking about prayer, they said prophetically that the bowls in heaven are
about to be poured out.
If
the bowls are ready to be poured out, if what he said is true, this is a huge
statement. Though I will with certainty say this apostolic pastor prophet
intercessor’s statement it is not accurate. If the bowls in
heaven are about to be poured out that means we are in the tribulation, and rapidly approaching the 16th chapter of Revelation. Chapters 1-15 are in the past.
heaven are about to be poured out that means we are in the tribulation, and rapidly approaching the 16th chapter of Revelation. Chapters 1-15 are in the past.
Here
is why his prophecy cannot be accurate:
1. The bowls which contain the prayers of the saints
are found Revelation 5:8. There are at least 28 golden bowls filled with
prayers (4 living creatures + 24 elders = 28 bowls) and they are never said to
be poured out:
Now
when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four
elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of
incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
Revelation 5:8
2. The bowls that are poured out are in the midst of
the days of the 7th (and last) trumpet blast. The Greeks means the
last of the last trumpets. Within the 7th trumpet blast the mystery
of God will also be finished:
…
but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to
sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the
prophets. Revelation 10:7
3. These
bowls are described as bowls of wrath:
Then one of the four living creatures
gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives
forever and ever… Then
I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour
out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth.” Revelation 15:7 and 16:1
Following this statement 7 bowls are poured out, all
occurring in Revelation 16.
This
is why it is so essential to know the Bible and not fall for everything you
hear. Don’t be afraid to make judgments about seemingly high-level prophetic
people’s prophecies. In fact, we are commanded to make judgments:
Let two or three prophets speak,
and let the others judge.
1 Corinthians 14:29
1 Corinthians 14:29
Do not quench the Spirit. Do not
despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good.
1 Thessalonians 5:19-21
1 Thessalonians 5:19-21
But he who is spiritual judges all
things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 1 Corinthians 2:15
These things I have written to you
concerning those who try to deceive you. But the anointing which you have
received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but
as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is
not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. 1 John 2:26-27