Suppose we observe all the signs listed earlier in the life and ministry of some man - could a false prophet do all of these things too?  Is it possible that the outward appearance of both the true and the false prophet are the same, that Satan can so closely mimic God's work at times that people can be deceived?  Consider the magicians at the court of pharaoh (Exodus 7-11) - they were able to copy the miracles God worked through Moses through their occultic powers -  but only up to a point.   This is a picture of the anti-Christ's deception in the End-Times.  We must also remember that it is not just the miracles that are counterfeited, but the appearance of godliness is also copied as far as possible, as the Apostle Paul warned:

14  And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.  15  Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their deeds. (2 Corinthians 11:14-15; cf. Matthew 7:15-23).

What are the qualifications for spiritual ministry?  What does God require of a man or woman to whom He commits the awesome task of speaking in His name?  The Apostle Paul wrote clearly under the inspiration of the Holy spirit to give clear and detailed instructions as to the nature and character of a true shepherd of God's flock.  In 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1:5-9 he declares, in the clearest terms possible, the standards that God requires in the life of an aspiring minister:

He must be the husband of only one wife; managing his own family well; having obedient, believing children; hospitable; above reproach; disciplined, self-controlled, upright, sincere; just, devout, one who loves what is good; gentle, sensible; having a good reputation with outsiders.

The true shepherd must not be:

a recent convert; addicted to wine; a lover of money; quarrelsome, quick-tempered or violent.

In these two lists the high-lighted attributes rapidly reveal deceivers who cannot keep up an unnatural front for long.  The Spirit led leader may slip occasionally, but his 'crucified with Christ' (Galatians 2:20; 5:24) life makes his spiritual walk first nature to him.

Paul lists these attributes as essential, not optional, requirements for those aspiring to positions of spiritual authority or leadership.  Similar qualities were required in the deacons as well as the elders (pastors, bishops or overseers) of the early church and the standards have not been changed in God's Word.  In order to qualify for the ministry of a deacon, the candidate had to 'keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience', and be 'tested and nothing found against him'.

Women are also mentioned, as either wives of leaders or as 'deaconesses' themselves.  These were women with spiritual responsibility in the churches and others would learn from them through their example and the word they shared with others while their work spoke entirely adequately of their beliefs.  Such women must be worthy of respect, temperate, and trustworthy in everything and not malicious gossipers (a serious fault in anyone, not just Christian women, and a trait that I have found is always present in men who are deceivers in positions of authority (see Case History I -  Section 10 - and Case History II - Section 36).

It is clear from these Scriptures that it is not the minister's education, nor how gifted a person he is  naturally and spiritually, but rather the kind of life he is living that is the important qualifying factor for ministry.  Is he exercising proper authority in his home?  Then he is likely to exercise his authority correctly over God's flock.  Is he honest in his business dealings?  Does he keep his word?  Does he handle the Scriptures with integrity?  If he is unfaithful to his wife, a lover of alcohol, cannot control his temper, or is a malicious gossip, what kind of standards will he set for others to follow?  Can a minister successfully challenge the powers of darkness in another persons life, when he is yielding to the temptations of Satan in his own?  There are leaders who 'talk the talk' but don't 'walk the walk.'   Paul admonished:  'Let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach.' (1 Timothy 3:10).

A second century Christian author in 'The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles' (the Didache) wrote: 'Not every one who speaks in the Spirit is a prophet unless he has the ways of the Lord.  By their ways, then, the false prophet and the true are to be distinguished. . . . And even if a prophet teaches the truth, he is a false prophet if he does not practise what he preaches'.  We would call such a man a 'hypocrite' today - but very few Christians would go so far as to label him a 'false prophet.'

The one who 'walks the walk and practices what he preaches', and whose life bears the fruit that only a 'good tree' can produce, is seen to be the one whose message is authenticated.  We should beware of placing too much emphasis on the apparent 'godly walk' of a Christian because deceivers such as cult leaders have a surface sheen of godliness which their followers will point to - only close inspection of their behavior 'behind the scenes' shows the real spirit leading them.  I have heard many liberal speakers in Cardiff recommend the 'saintly life' of 'Mother' Theresa - but the truth is that she refused to give the true gospel of Jesus Christ to dying Hindus, and those of other religions, preferring to make them comfortable, as they suffered 'for their sins,' and ready for their journey into Hell while she collected 'saintly points' that would enable her to work her way into heaven (a false  gospel!) and 'Saint-hood.'  Theresa also refused to let her nuns read the Bible (where they may have discovered they were being deceived by the false gospel of the Roman Catholic Church), claiming that she would read, and be,  the Word of God to them (anti-Christ doctrine!).  Those who stepped out of line were subject to the usual brand of Roman Catholic beatings!  The Apostle Paul warned clearly (1 Timothy 6:3-4):

3  If anyone advocates a different doctrine, and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness,  4  he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,  5  and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.   

Jude also speaks of the false teachers in their midst as 'loud mouthed boasters' (Jude 16), and Peter  describes them as speaking 'arrogant words of vanity' (2 Peter 2:18).  These men will appear everywhere and we will recognize their 'international' and local ministries easily - because when you see them they cannot help but brag, in different ways, about their great worth to their church or the Christian community!  This may come through the claim of a 'prophetic ministry' - or that 'Satan is afraid of them.'  In contrast, Jesus came into this world as a servant who humbled Himself, laid aside His own glory, and even accepted as His Father's will the humiliation of death on the despised cross (Philippians 2:5-11).  He never promoted Himself, although He eternally had equality with the Father (John 5:18-24), whereas the proud man follows the path of his father, the 'father of all lies' (John 8:44) - Satan!

The proud man speaks a lot about himself and his accomplishments, about his own experiences and victories.  If God has graciously worked through his ministry, he must let everyone know because he loves to be in the limelight where others can see his expertise. He promotes his own cause and will happily point out the faults in other men's ministries, or in other churches or other brothers and sisters.  Since he is now 'top dog', the 'captain of the ship,' at the head of 'the pecking order,' others must bow to his demands because their time and energy are much less valuable than his and their abilities are at his 'beck and call' regardless of the impracticalities of his requests.  Even God Himself has apparently become his slave in answering his prayers (demands!), obeying his commands, and supplying his every wish!

The proud man may not always be right - but he is never wrong!  He will seek to dominate others, dictating how they should run their lives, where they can work and minister and, sometimes, even how they should dress.  He will happily give his opinion on such delicate issues as when and who you marry, or what to do with your money (1 Timothy 4:1-3):

1  But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,  2  by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron,  3  men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods, which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.

8.  Beware the ego-centric ('pseudo-Messiah') leader

The deceiver will rarely fulfil all of the criteria below, but the majority will apply despite his attempts to hide them by outwardly conforming to the "Scriptural" pattern he attempts to counterfeit.  Because it is impossible for the "father of all lies" to fully counterfeit righteousness his darkness will often be exposed, but is often foolishly "forgiven" and tolerated by Christians who fail to accurately apply Scriptural tests:

(Ref.  Matthew  7v15-23; 24v23-26; John 8v44; 2 Corinthians. 11v1-4 and 12-15;  2 Peter 2:14; 2 Peter 3:16 etc.)
1.

• He is egocentric instead of Christo-centric;  John 13v34; 15v12 and 17; 1 Timothy 1v6-10; Titus 1v10-11; Galatians 5v22-24; James 4v6-7; Proverbs 16v18 and 18v12
  
• promotes himself; you see and hear him - Christ is secondary;
  
• the bigger or more important the audience the bigger the "show" he puts on;
  

• He lives under the delusion of grandeur;
  
• megalomaniac; (Jude 12)
  
• he must be first, best, and greatest; there is no place for the small and insignificant; James 2v1-7; Ephesians 6v9; Luke 7v7-14; 1 John 4v20; 1 Samuel 2v7-8
  
• if you oppose him you are put down or manipulated into submission - often by public humiliation disguised as "jokes"; James 4v11-12; Galatians 5v15; Proverbs 13v3; 21v23
  
• he uses authority as a weapon to control & reject others in the body - as opposed to the Scriptural description of the body of Christ: Romans 12; 1 Corinthians  12; Ephesians  4
  

• He has delusions of persecution;
  
• when plans, which are often grandiose, fail HE is never at fault or personally responsible;
  
• someone else is blamed;
  
• someone is always against him and opposing him;
  
• always has stories about people who have tried to hurt him or (or a pastor friend of his) move him (them) to a place he (they) didn't want to be while ignoring all the damage he (they) inflicted on others!
  

• Has a god-complex (he is his own authority);
  
• claims that he hears the voice of God;
  
• places himself beyond reason and Scripture; adds or subtracts from the Word of God as necessary
  
• hides behind the claim that "God told me";
  
• the voice he claims to hear is often contradictory and un-Scriptural; (2 Peter 3v16; James 1:8)
  

• Always projects and supports a credible cause;
  
• but his personal motives are usually carefully concealed and completely diverse;
  
• wolf in sheep's clothing; (Acts 20v28-30)
  
• Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (puts on front in public which he cannot keep up in private because it is not the Holy Spirit controlling him!);
  
• preys upon the wealthy naïve, physically sick, emotionally starved, low socio-economic;
  
• shows special interest in the elderly rich - especially women; (2 Timothy 3:6)   
  

• Engages in the sensational by claiming in God's name to perform signs and wonders and miracles (Matthew.  7v15-23; 2 Thessalonians.  2v9);
  
• in doing so he will clutch at events that support his views such as end-times catastrophes (earthquakes, wars, famines, global earth-warming, destruction of ozone-layer - which are spurious or have been thoroughly debunked by careful scientific & Christian research)
  
• thus he teaches God's people to fear the world instead of fearing God - a Scriptural teaching he cannot preach ( Psalms  34v11; 19v9; Malachi  2v16; 2 Corinthians 5:11; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Ephesians 5:21; Ephesians 6:5;  Philippians 2:12; 1 Thessalonians 3:5;  Hebrews 2:15; 1 Peter 1:17; 2:17;  3:6; Hebrews.  12v28-29; 1 John 4:18; Revelation 2:10) and this gives his ministry a worldly and casual flavour which carnal Christians find attractive (so he may quickly build up a church of people who like their 'ears tickled').
  

• Engages in great schemes for fund-raising - which is usually tax-free;
  
• these schemes are beyond the scrutiny of the church or any other authority other than himself;
  
• loves money; (Luke 3:14;16:14; John 12:6; 1 Timothy 3:3; 6:10,17; 2 Timothy 3:2; Hebrews 13:5)
  

• He regularly discredits the worldwide church and minimizes its influence;
  
• constantly points out its weaknesses and the damage it has done to him or his acquaintances;
  
• its loss of prestige and spiritual power; and
  
• elevates his own power by comparison;
  

• Subject to quick and drastic changes in his course of action without regard to principle, the teachings of Scripture, or responsibility to those who support his cause; (James 1v8)
  
• answerable only to his own super-ego which he carefully projects in public as the voice of God.
  

Whoever we are in Christian ministry, we must seek the Lord and rely on His saving grace to protect us from pride which so quickly leads the way to deception.  Before Edom's destruction the prophet Obadiah declared (Obadiah 1-4):

1  The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord GOD concerning Edom, 'We have heard a report from the LORD, And an envoy has been sent among the nations saying, "Arise and let us go against her for battle" 2  "Behold, I will make you small among the nations; You are greatly despised.  3  "The arrogance of your heart has deceived you, You who live in the clefts of the rock, In the loftiness of your dwelling place, Who say in your heart, 'Who will bring me down to earth?'  4  "Though you build high like the eagle, Though you set your nest among the stars, From there I will bring you down," declares the LORD.

Paul's warning against false teachers who are 'imagining that godliness is a means of gain' (1 Timothy 6:5), and who are 'teaching for base gain what they have no right to teach' (Titus 1: 11) is never more apt than today when Benny Hinn, the Copelands and other money-preachers and their minor minions seek to follow the love of Mammon rather than the love of God.  Peter is even more explicit when he says, 'They have their hearts trained in greed' and 'in their greed they will exploit you with fake words' (2 Peter 2:3, 14); and Jude tells us that they 'abandon themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam's error … flattering people to gain advantage (Jude 11, 16).  The apostles discerned the same problem in their day for "there is nothing new under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 1:9)

God blessed Abraham with 'flocks and herds, and silver and gold, and servants and maids, and camels and donkeys' (Genesis 24:35) and we need not imagine that God has stopped blessing some with wealth or that He wants everyone to be poor!  But His desire to bless encompasses every area of our lives, and His primary concern is always for our spiritual welfare.  When financial prosperity conflicts with our spiritual health it is no longer a true blessing, and we would be better off without it.

Some years ago an elderly Christian contacted us regarding the spiritual heath of his wife who had apparently been seduced into the Jehovah's Witnesses by her daughter.  It turned out that he was on his third marriage and the daughter was his 'new' wife's natural daughter.  He wanted me to point out the errors of the Jehovah's Witnesses and bring his wife back into the faith that he claimed they shared together.  Apparently they had become Christians together some years ago and had even started a Christian magazine. He regaled me with accounts of the struggles they had from month to month in keeping the magazine going, and how God had miraculously intervened many times over their financial needs as they had to face deadlines for printing with no money coming in until the last minute.  But all that had now failed and he had returned to his old job in Cardiff.  I eventually drove with him to meet with his wife at her house (they were separated) where she had arranged for two Jehovah's Witnesses to give their point of view.  As I prepared to discuss the difference between the true gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ while incorporating the 'prophetic record' of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, as they had requested, it quickly became clear that the arrogance of the Witnesses was exceeded by the man who was so full of his Christian witness through his, now failed, magazine. 

The Witnesses attempted their usual re-interpretation of the 'tests for a false prophet' (see Section 4 above) and made it clear that they saw no need to meet again after that evening.  Despite the fact that they had failed to reply to my rebuttal of their doctrinal position they also refused to allow examination of photo-reprints from their 'Awake!'  and 'Watchtower' magazines which I had brought with me.  This was no surprise as I know they are trained to keep their eyes from 'apostate' literature (their own material in this case!)  and treat it as 'pornography'!  However, a greater problem quickly emerged.  The husband was a bully who attempted to butt into the discussion at every opportunity.  When he first 'phoned me I invited him to one of the meetings which we regularly hold in Cardiff to pray for evangelization worldwide and the Christian witness to those trapped in deception.  We prayed for about  40 minutes that night and he informed us that we prayed too much!  Brian obviously had his own ideas of how things should be done and it quickly became clear that he wasn't one to readily listen to another opinion. 

Although his wife agreed to meet with me again on another occasion, I held out little hope for further progress because of her equally angry and self-righteous reaction which matched her husband's aggressive stance.  I wanted to meet her with the Witnesses again in the absence of Brian but he insisted on coming and, once they were alone with me, it became apparent that their problems were deep-seated and serious Biblical counseling was needed.  Sadly, between Brian's ranting, which was matched by his wife's retaliation, a more serious problem arose.  Neither held an absolute view on Scripture and it quickly became clear that she had been thoroughly indoctrinated by her daughter, although she claimed that she was not a Jehovah's Witness.  Every question on the nature of the human soul, for example, was met by a copybook answer from the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society 'Reasoning' book.  All of the Scriptures they use to present 'soul sleep' (the un-biblical 'annihilationist' view that when we die the soul goes into non-existence until Jehovah re-creates us from His memory for eternal life or eternal annihilation) were trotted out by her.  When I questioned the origin of the arguments she presented she insisted that she had found them herself in the Bible.  When the two Witnesses had been with her at the first meeting they had also brought out one of their favorite chestnuts, which insists that they know (usually personally) someone who has read the Bible alone until the Jehovah's Witnesses came to their door and then, amazingly, they find that they believed exactly the same thing!  So this proves that their doctrines must be found in the Bible and not from their books as I insisted.  They had no answer when I told them that Charles Taze Russell held a different opinion and had insisted that anyone who believed in the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society view and had known it through reading his volumes of 'Studies In The Scriptures,' for even 10 years, could then go back to reading the Bible on its own and, incredibly, would fall 'back' into darkness and believe the doctrines of Christendom (i.e. the orthodox  Christian view) within 2 years!  It is amazing that reading the Bible on its own will lead you into the orthodox truth and this fact speaks volumes about the origin of the Jehovah's Witnesses beliefs.

On closer probing Brian's wife exploded: 'Why can't I have my own view of what the Bible means!'  I pointed out three reasons:

1. Because the Bible specifically  tells us through the words of the Lord Jesus Christ: "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.' (John 16:13).  If the Holy Spirit will not speak on His own initiative but only gives what He hears from the Father and Son, who are we to seek our own truth?  We cannot all have different truths - that would be foolishness;
   
2. Scripture specifically warns us about following our own interpretation: 'But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation'  (2 Peter 1:20);
   
3. 'But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons' (1 Timothy 4:1).