Arsenal of the King
By Chaplain Johnson
A Call to Biblical Precepts: Discernment, Integrity, and the Fear of the Lord
Grief for False Words — Not Entertainment
The prophetic gift is real, and God still speaks. But when prophecy loses accountability, the church becomes vulnerable, and the name of Christ is dishonored. In a generation hungry for the supernatural, believers must return to Scripture, test what is spoken, and hold fast to what is truly from the Lord.
Many believers today feel confused, wounded, and even fearful after hearing prophetic words that later proved false. This article is not written to mock the prophetic, but to call the church back to biblical discernment, accountability, and the fear of the Lord.
In recent years, many believers have become burdened by the growing number of scandals and exposures within modern prophetic ministry. For those who love the church, this is not entertainment. It is grief. The body of Christ has watched leaders fall, victims come forward, and prophetic words collapse under the weight of deception, manipulation, and moral failure.
Let All Prophesy, But Let Every Word Be Tested
Not every prophetic voice is from God, even when it sounds spiritual. The Bible commands believers to test what is spoken and judge prophecy carefully. If the church refuses accountability, deception will grow unchecked, and the flock will suffer.
Let all prophesy, but let every word be tested. Scripture teaches, “Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge” (1 Cor 14:29). True prophetic ministry is not rejected, but it is examined.
Scripture does not teach believers to accept prophecy blindly. Paul commands, “Despise not prophesyings,” but immediately adds, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thess 5:20–21). Prophecy is not meant to be untouchable. It is meant to be tested.
A Wider Prophetic Culture Under Scrutiny
One church that has become central in many of these conversations is Bethel Church in Redding, California. Because of its broad influence through conferences, worship music, and prophetic training, its impact reaches far beyond one congregation. When serious allegations arise involving prophetic leaders and the handling of misconduct, the ripple effect is felt across the wider church.
In that same wider prophetic culture, other well-known voices have also faced public scrutiny. For example, concerns raised in recent years regarding certain prophetic practices associated with Shawn Bolz, particularly questions about whether some “words of knowledge” may have involved publicly accessible information rather than direct revelation, have unsettled many in the body of Christ. Regardless of one’s conclusions about specific cases, these situations collectively call the church to sober reflection. If what is presented as prophecy is not wholly dependent upon the Spirit of God, then the integrity of prophetic ministry itself is at stake.
However, while Bethel has become a major example in these public discussions, the deeper issue is larger than any one ministry. Many churches today are unknowingly hosting false prophets, and many believers are receiving “prophetic words” that are not from the Holy Spirit at all, but from the imagination, emotions, or personal opinions of the one speaking. These words may sound spiritual, but they are often rooted in the mind and heart of man rather than in the voice of God.
The Biblical Purpose of Prophecy
The Bible provides clear guidance concerning the purpose of prophecy. Paul writes that “he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort” (1 Cor 14:3). True prophecy builds the church. It strengthens believers. It warns, convicts, and points people to Christ. It does not exist to impress crowds, produce spiritual dependency, or elevate the speaker.
When Words Are Not From the Spirit
A growing concern in many modern prophetic scandals is the accusation that some “words of knowledge” were not received through divine revelation at all, but were instead produced through research, social media activity, or personal investigation. If this is true, then what is being called prophecy is not prophecy. It becomes spiritual deception, and deception is especially dangerous when it is presented as the voice of God.
The Danger of Unaccountable Leadership
Even more alarming is the repeated lack of accountability that often follows. In many modern church systems, prophetic figures are protected rather than corrected. When accusations arise, leadership may respond slowly, privately, or defensively. Instead of clear repentance and transparency, churches sometimes offer vague statements or quiet restoration processes. The result is that the congregation is left confused, the wounded are left unheard, and trust in the church is weakened.
Scripture does not treat leadership lightly. James warns that teachers will be judged more strictly (James 3:1). Paul instructs that accusations against elders should not be received without witnesses (1 Tim 5:19), but he also commands that those who persist in sin are to be rebuked openly, “that the rest also may fear” (1 Tim 5:20). This is not cruelty. It is protection. Public accountability guards the flock and restores reverence for holiness.
What Happens When Prophecy Is Untested
When prophetic ministry operates without testing and correction, several dangers follow.
First, believers become vulnerable to manipulation. When a prophet is treated as untouchable, the sheep are exposed.
Second, confusion replaces confidence. Many sincere Christians begin to doubt whether God speaks at all because they have been wounded by false words.
Third, victims are often silenced. When institutions protect leaders at all costs, those harmed by abuse or spiritual intimidation may feel abandoned not only by the church, but even by God.
Refinement, Not Rejection
The prophetic gift was never meant to draw attention to man. It is not a crown and it is not a license. It is a stewardship. Biblical prophecy is always subject to testing, always measured by Scripture, and always accountable to godly leadership. The Holy Spirit will never contradict the Word of God, because He is the Spirit of truth and He leads God’s people into truth (John 16:13).
The answer is not to reject prophecy, but to refine it. God does not remove His gifts because of human corruption. Instead, He purifies what belongs to Him. The church must return to biblical discernment, biblical discipline, and the fear of the Lord. We must stop protecting platforms and start protecting people.
This is not written with hostility, but with grief. The church does not rejoice when leaders are questioned. We grieve. We pray. And we ask whether our structures of accountability have been strong enough to protect both the flock and the credibility of Christ’s name. May God raise up shepherds who guard the flock, and prophets who tremble at His Word. May He cleanse His house, so that what is truly prophetic remains pure, truthful, and Christ-exalting.
Arsenal Of The King 