Herbert W Armstrong

Plain Truth Staff  

In a recent magazine issue (Reader's Digest) is an article about a woman named Jeane Dixon. She has prophesied many detailed events which have come true, In the Bible I read where the prophet whose prophecies come true is a prophet of God. How else can we know if a person is a prophet of God? — A reader from North Carolina.

   The article on Jeane Dixon in the Reader's Digest — entitled "The Crystal Ball" — has stirred wide interest. People, it seems, are curious about the future. They go to crystal-ball gazers, fortune tellers, mediums, astrologers, and — especially in Britain — even witches.
   Just what is the test of a prophet of God? How does one know the difference between one who speaks with divine authority and someone who utters prognostications out of his, or her, own mind?
   People assume — as has our reader from North Carolina — that anyone whose predictions come true must be a messenger of God. That is not what your Bible says! Open your Bible and see what it does say:
   "If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder come to pass" does that prove the person is sent by God? Suppose the person whose predictions came true also says to disobey the plain statements of your Bible — or to believe what the Bible does not teach-what should you do? Read God's answer — out of your own Bible: "Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul" (Deut. 13:1-3).
   Here is the true test of a servant of God-he tells the people to obey the Word of God. God's servant will tell them to believe exactly what the Bible says. The Bible commands us to LOVE GOD.... How do you love God? By keeping His commandments "If ye love me, keep my commandments," so says John 14:15 In your Bible. Further: "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar and the truth is not in him" (I John 2:4).
   If one is against the commandments of God, he is not of God. It is as simple as that.
   God's servants may foretell the future. But that is not the proof that they are God's servants. Sometimes even Satan's servants predict the future-as much as Almighty God allows. The witch of Endor predicted the fate of King Saul. This witch communicated with a demon spirit-a fallen angel — which already knew that Saul was to die in the coming battle with the Philistines. (I Sam. 28:7-20.)
   In the New Testament Book of Acts, we read of a woman who had a familiar spirit, and who revealed secrets and foretold the future. The Apostle Paul ordered the demon out of the woman (Acts 16:16-18). Here, then, is an example of where "occult power" comes from. Demons-fallen angels — are responsible for many of the visions, prognostications, and revelations of crystal-ball gazers and mediums. Those people need not wonder where they get such revelations. The Bible tells them.
   If you wish to understand more about the truth behind crystal-ball gazing and spiritism, be sure to read our free article on Spiritism by Herbert W Armstrong.

SPIRITISM - Truth, or Fraud? by Herman L Hoeh

Plain Truth Magazine

September 1965

Vol XXX, No.9