Biblical Prophets vs. Psychics: Dangerous Deception Exposed

Excerpt from “Biblical Truth about Psychics” by Doreen Virtue — available at https://a.co/d/5EN8MOQ

What does the Bible say about prophets and psychics? In this article, Doreen Virtue contrasts true biblical prophets with the deceptive practices of modern psychics.

God’s True Prophets vs. Today’s False Voices

Some people try to justify psychic readings, by claiming they are similar to God’s prophets in the Bible.

Yet, when we compare psychics with biblical prophets, we can see they are vastly different. Biblical prophets called people to repent and turn back to God. Psychics tend to stroke people’s egos.

Some modern-day people call themselves “prophets.” There are even so-called supernatural schools where people pay money to become a “certified prophet” unlike the Bible’s teachings that spiritual gifts are the prerogative of the Holy Spirit and that spiritual gifts cannot be purchased. The story of Simon the sorcerer in Acts 8:9-24 who tried to purchase spiritual gifts from the apostles is a perfect example.

The modern-day “prophets” stand on stage and give random messages to people in the congregation. Yet, these messages are shockingly similar to the messages that psychics convey in their readings. Modern-day prophets may throw in some Bible verses, but they aren’t like the Biblical prophets who were often persecuted or killed because they told people to repent.

God warned about false prophets through His prophet Jeremiah:
“An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?” (Jeremiah 5:30-31)

Jesus warned about false prophets:
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” (Matthew 7:15)

“For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.” (Matthew 24:24)

I was going to become a “prophetess” when I was being called out of the new age in the 2015–2017 era. I was attending a liberal progressive Episcopalian church and I thought I could combine Christianity with my old psychic abilities. I was ready to pay tuition to enroll in a “certified prophecy school.”

Praise the Lord that I studied the Bible, especially in Deuteronomy where God says that his prophets must be 100% accurate, or they are a false prophet. In seminary, we were required to write a research paper about every Biblical prophet. This helped me to see God’s clear design amongst His prophets.

The prophets that we see in the Bible were accountable to God, and their messages were tested according to God’s standards. False prophets were put to death.

“And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?’—when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.” (Deuteronomy 18:21-22)

I think it’s possible for God to raise up a modern-day prophet, as God can do whatever He wants. Yet, God doesn’t contradict Himself. So, the modern prophet would need to follow the parameters that God gave for true prophets. I’ve never seen a modern-day prophet who was 100% accurate, have you?

Biblical prophets weren’t self-appointed. Many were reluctant. We can see Jeremiah and Jonah wrestling with God when they were called to be prophets. It wasn’t a popular occupation, because people didn’t want to hear warnings about the coming judgment—just like today. Yet, the modern-day “prophets” are extremely popular because they tickle people’s ears with what they want to hear instead of with God’s truth.

“The Lord has spoken to me; I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame.” (Isaiah 50:7)

Hebrews 1:1–2 makes it clear that God the Father used His prophets to speak to our ancestors, but then when Jesus the Son arrived in the flesh, God the Father spoke through Jesus:

“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds.”

The Holy Spirit speaks to us today when we read the Bible, and also by giving us wisdom in our inner hidden part (Psalm 51:6).

In contrast, psychic predictions come from her imagination, her desire to please her clients, and also from demonic influences. Psychic predictions often run through the filter of the psychic’s own biases. She’s not neutral like a telephone which delivers messages without narrating them. The psychic may worry that if she offends her client, that she’ll lose the client and their payments.

Psychics often give vague messages, and the client interprets the messages through a desire to hear what she wants to hear. Biblical prophets, in contrast, gave amazingly specific details that all came true.

Biblical prophets were God’s earthly mouthpieces. God’s authority was behind every prophetic word recorded in the Bible. Psychics are the devil’s mouthpieces, even when they seem loving and kind and may have the best intentions.

“For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:21)

The Biblical prophets were God’s way of reaching lost people who had turned away from Him. These prophets cried and wept because they knew that terrible consequences awaited those who didn’t repent.

Psychics never tell their clients to repent or study the Bible. On the contrary, psychics encourage their clients to follow their hearts and do what makes them happy. This is dangerous advice! It’s not that God doesn’t want us to be happy. It’s that we truly can’t be joyful unless we give our lives to Jesus and prayerfully do our best to walk His straight and narrow path. A wild life outside of Jesus may bring temporary ecstatic highs, but it can’t bring true fulfillment or peace.

So, if a psychic claims to have the same gift as a Biblical prophet, this means that she hasn’t studied the Bible. God never contradicts Himself. Jesus died on the cross for the sins of divination, idolatry, witchcraft, and sorcery. There is no way that God would bless a psychic reading practice.

“Do not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.” (Leviticus 19:31)

Some psychics claim that they were born with this “gift,” so God must want them to be a professional psychic or medium. Yet, as I mentioned previously, almost every one of the thousands of students who I taught in my psychic-development and mediumship classes were able to give an accurate reading to a stranger. The ability to give a psychic or mediumship reading isn’t a “gift.” It’s certainly not a “gift from God.” It’s a demonic curse, and one that they should repent from.

If you meet someone who calls himself or herself a psychic, please pray for that person’s repentance and salvation. Please pray for the boldness to share the Gospel with her, as the Gospel is the power of God for salvation (Romans 1:16).

Excerpted from “Biblical Truth about Psychics” — available at https://a.co/d/5EN8MOQ

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