"If a prophet or someone who has dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you,

do not listen to that prophet's words or to that dreamer. For the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and all your soul.

That prophet or dreamer must be put to death, because he has urged rebellion against the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the place of slavery, to turn you from the way the LORD your God has commanded you to walk. You must purge the evil from you.

The inexperienced believe anything, but the sensible watch their steps.

The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own authority. My people love it like this. But what will you do at the end of it?

For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: "Don't let your prophets who are among you and your diviners deceive you, and don't listen to the dreams you elicit from them,

for they are prophesying falsely to you in My name. I have not sent them." [This is] the LORD's declaration.

"Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves.

You'll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles?

Then Jesus replied to them: "Watch out that no one deceives you.

For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Messiah,' and they will deceive many.

for such people do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattering words they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, and will bring swift destruction on themselves.

"Why don't you judge for yourselves what is right?

The people here were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, since they welcomed the message with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

The report of your obedience has reached everyone. Therefore I rejoice over you. But I want you to be wise about what is good, yet innocent about what is evil.

Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should evaluate.

but test all things. Hold on to what is good.

I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars.

Children, it is the last hour. And as you have heard, "Antichrist is coming," even now many antichrists have come. We know from this that it is the last hour.

For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Messiah,' and they will deceive many.

"If anyone tells you then, 'Look, here is the Messiah!' or, 'Over here!' do not believe it!

Take note: I have told you in advance.

"Then if anyone tells you, 'Look, here is the Messiah! Look-- there!' do not believe it!

Then He said, "Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time is near.' Don't follow them.

I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.

Now the Spirit explicitly says that in the latter times some will depart from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,

Evil people and imposters will become worse, deceiving and being deceived.

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, and will bring swift destruction on themselves.

Many deceivers have gone out into the world; they do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.