The book of Ezekiel is one of the major prophets in the Old Testament. It was authored by Ezekiel who was set as a watchman to the house of Israel.
Ezek 3:17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me:
The thirteenth chapter of Ezekiel is about false prophets.
False Prophets
Ezek 13:1-9 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy out of their own heart, ‘Hear the word of the LORD!’ ” Thus says the Lord GOD: “Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing! “O Israel, your prophets are like foxes in the deserts. You have not gone up into the gaps to build a wall for the house of Israel to stand in battle on the day of the LORD. They have envisioned futility and false divination, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD!’ But the LORD has not sent them; yet they hope that the word may be confirmed. “Have you not seen a futile vision, and have you not spoken false divination? You say, ‘The LORD says,’ but I have not spoken.” Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “Because you have spoken nonsense and envisioned lies, therefore I am indeed against you,” says the Lord GOD. My hand will be against the prophets who envision futility and who divine lies; they shall not be in the assembly of My people, nor be written in the record of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter into the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the Lord GOD.
What do the false prophets do?
Prophesy out of their own heart
Follow their own spirit and have seen nothing
Envision futility and false divination
They hope that the word they speak may be confirmed
Speak nonsense and envisioned lies
Who are these false prophets?
The LORD has not sent them
These are foxes in the deserts
The LORD is against these false prophets. Their punishments include,
shall not be in the assembly of My people
shall not be written in the record of the house of Israel
shall not enter into the land of Israel
Jesus Christ also warned us about false prophets.
Matt 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
Matt 24:24 “For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
False prophets will also arise before His second coming and deceive even the elect.
Matt 7:16-20 “You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? “Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
We need to be careful in identifying them by their fruits.
Wall & Untempered Mortar
Ezek 13:10-16 “Because, indeed, because they have seduced My people, saying, ‘Peace!’ when there is no peace–and one builds a wall, and they plaster it with untempered mortar– say to those who plaster it with untempered mortar, that it will fall. There will be flooding rain, and you, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall tear it down. Surely, when the wall has fallen, will it not be said to you, ‘Where is the mortar with which you plastered it?’ Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “I will cause a stormy wind to break forth in My fury; and there shall be a flooding rain in My anger, and great hailstones in fury to consume it. So I will break down the wall you have plastered with untempered mortar, and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation will be uncovered; it will fall, and you shall be consumed in the midst of it. Then you shall know that I am the LORD. Thus will I accomplish My wrath on the wall and on those who have plastered it with untempered mortar; and I will say to you, ‘The wall is no more, nor those who plastered it, that is, the prophets of Israel who prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and who see visions of peace for her when there is no peace,’ says the Lord GOD.
What is God speaking about the wall and untempered mortar?
Ps 122:7 Peace be within your walls, Prosperity within your palaces.”
Prov 25:28 Whoever has no rule over his own spirit Is like a city broken down, without walls.
Wall is a separation between the enemy and people who took refuge within the wall and are safe.
Job 1:10 “Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.
In Christian life, we also have a wall around us just like God put a hedge around Job. This wall can only be broken only from within by us if we are rebellious against God and His rule, just like the counsel of Balaam who found no way to defeat Israelite people except my intermarriage and introducing sin from within through non-Israelite women. Untempered mortar refers to a message that is not from God and does not hold the walls. This can be a false gospel, lies and false prophecies to avoid obeying God’s instructions that does not protect Christians but bring destruction.
What are the untempered mortars of today? Any teaching that Christ did not teach. These include,
Faith only – Paul refers as “works” to “works of the law” that does not save, modern preachers include the righteous requirement to enter kingdom of Heaven preached by Christ also as “works that does not save” – leading many to be without fruits that lead to destruction.
Hyper Grace – It is interesting to note, Christ never preached about grace but always about His Kingdom where grace is only part of it. It is explained well in, Deception of Grace
There are many untempered mortar these days but the above two are most common. The easiest way to find an untempered mortar is to see what a particular preaching leads to. If it leads to righteousness, holiness or self-control and a sinless life because of the fear of Judgment, then yes, it is from God for it is the faith in Christ as Paul explained in Acts 24:24-25. If a preaching suggests even a very little, that we can be saved without being righteous, holy or sinless, then that is an untempered mortar.
Prophetesses & their Charms
Ezek 13:17-23 “Likewise, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people, who prophesy out of their own heart; prophesy against them, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Woe to the women who sew magic charms on their sleeves and make veils for the heads of people of every height to hunt souls! Will you hunt the souls of My people, and keep yourselves alive? And will you profane Me among My people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, killing people who should not die, and keeping people alive who should not live, by your lying to My people who listen to lies?” Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I am against your magic charms by which you hunt souls there like birds. I will tear them from your arms, and let the souls go, the souls you hunt like birds. I will also tear off your veils and deliver My people out of your hand, and they shall no longer be as prey in your hand. Then you shall know that I am the LORD. Because with lies you have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and you have strengthened the hands of the wicked, so that he does not turn from his wicked way to save his life. Therefore you shall no longer envision futility nor practice divination; for I will deliver My people out of your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD.”
Many false prophets of today are like these ancient Israelite false prophetesses who strengthen the hands of the wicked with their lies and they are not turned from their sins. We need to test every spirit.
1John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Therefore, let us be careful and warned of false prophets in this world who use untempered mortars which are their lies, that does not strengthen the protection from God around us but lead us into destruction.
Ezekiel 35 – Prophecy Against Edom The thirty-fifth chapter of Ezekiel is about a prophecy against Edom or mount Seir. A prophecy of perpetual desolation of…
