The danger from false prophets is so great that the Apostle John gives us further information about them. First of all, he tells us, “They are of the world: therefore speak they as of the world,” (1 John 4:5 ASV)
No matter how they tried to disguise their message, the basic message of the “many false prophets” (1 John 4:1), who are also called “anti-Christs” (1 John 2:18), shows them to be of the world. Christ is not the epicenter of their teaching. Their most fundamental commitments are those which are in harmony with the basic commitments of the world. Those basic commitments are, “the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vainglory of life.” (1 John 2:16 ASV) False prophets speak in harmony with these base values which are the most fundamental principles upon which the general society and popular philosophy of the world are based.
The basic message of the “many false prophets” (1 John 4:1), of the “many antichrists” (1 John 2:18), no matter what its trappings, shows that the ‘prophets’ themselves, the ‘antichrists’ “are of the world: therefore speak they as of the world,” (1 John 4:5 ASV).
Christ is not the epicenter of their teaching. Their most fundamental commitments are in harmony with, “the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vainglory of life.” (1 John 2:16 ASV) Naturally, they speak in harmony with their most basic commitments, which are one and the same as those upon which the society, philosophy and learning of the world is based.
Even though false prophets have a corrupt message, “the world heareth them” (1 John 4:5). The reason their message is eagerly received by the world is quite clear. That society whose fundamental commitments are “the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vainglory of life,” is very perceptive. It recognizes any message, no matter how obtuse or obscure, which in reality is in harmony with its own selfish and sensuous creedal assumptions.
Naturally, the world rewards any bearer of a message which is harmonious with its own views. The world is constantly looking for corroboration, approbation and commendation. It will, therefore, reward with adulation (popularity or admiration), and often with money, those who give worldly society the caress of approval it so constantly seeks.
Conversely (on the other hand), the world will show its hostility to anyone who challenges its assumptions or principles. Jesus said, “The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil.” (John 7:7 NIV)
When the apostle John says “the world heareth them,” he may indicate that the false prophets had been gaining a large hearing since they broke their connections with the church. However, the followers of Christ will not be dismayed because they understand the basis upon which the false prophets’ acceptance had been gained.
In chapter 4 verse 6 John presents the second test by which we may determine the validity of a prophet that is one who claims to speak on behalf of God. He tells us, “We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he who is not of God heareth us not.” (1 John 4:6 ASV) The first test of a prophet is what he teaches about Christ. The second test is the ‘prophet’s’ response to the teaching given by Christ’s Apostles. Eight verses later John identifies the pronoun ‘we’ which he uses here. He tells us, “And we have beheld and bear witness that the Father hath sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.” (1 John 4:14 ASV)
Those apostolic witnesses were in a vitally unique position. The apostle Peter tells us, “Him [i.e. Christ] God raised up the third day, and gave him to be made manifest, not to all the people, but unto witnesses that were chosen before of God, even to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. And he charged us to preach unto the people, and testify that this is he who is ordained of God to be the Judge of the living and the dead.” (Acts 10:40-42 ASV) It was this message which served as a touchstone to determine those ‘prophets’ who know God. Anyone who teaches but who rejects the divinely authenticated testimony which was proclaimed by the apostles cannot have God’s approval. Such a ‘prophet’ is not of God.
Truth is established by testimony of eye witnesses. In the case of Christ the witnesses were, “witnesses that were chosen before of God” (Acts 10:41 ASV) Thus, God gave them the invaluable opportunity to have three-and-a-half years’ intimate association and fellowship with the one about whom they were to testify. The possibility of the witnesses giving testimony based on mistaken identity in such circumstances is extremely remote. The spirit which animates a ‘prophet’ who rejects such an authenticated message is not the Spirit of God but “the spirit of error,” the spirit of the antichrist. Thus, “By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.” (1 John 4:6 ASV)