THE WITCHCRAFT OF FALSE PROPHETS

There are two types of witches mentioned in spiritual teachings:

1. Ordinary witches

These are the well known practitioners of witchcraft who engage in physical acts of sorcery casting spells, flying on broomsticks or other mystical objects, invoking spirits, and causing harm primarily to a person’s physical body or circumstances. Their influence is generally limited to physical afflictions or misfortunes.

2. False Prophets

This second group is far more dangerous and spiritually destructive. Unlike ordinary witches who affect the body, false prophets work spiritually to deceive and lead people away from faith in Jesus Christ, ultimately causing them to forfeit eternal life.

This aligns with the Apostle Paul’s warning in the Book of Galatians, where he describes those who have been “bewitched” away from the gospel of grace.

Galatians 3:1-3 (NIV):
“You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?”

Here, Paul condemns false teachers who tried to bring believers back under the law after they had embraced the freedom of faith in Christ. The spiritual “witchcraft” is the deceit that leads believers away from grace back into bondage to legalism or other false teachings.

Jesus also warns us explicitly about false prophets:
Matthew 7:15 (KJV):
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”

False prophets appear harmless or even holy but inwardly are destructive. They are like wolves disguised as sheep, aiming to devour the flock.

The Nature of False Prophets as Spiritual Witches

False prophets can appear very spiritual, often using Christian terminology and practices anointing, preaching, casting out demons but their purpose is to lead people away from the true gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. They do not envy your earthly success or blessings; rather, their chief aim is to keep your soul from inheriting eternal life.

This is the core of their “witchcraft”: spiritual deception that kills the soul.

Biblical Example: Elymas the Sorcerer

In Acts 13:6-8 (NIV), we see a prime example of a false prophet described as a sorcerer and false prophet:
“When they arrived at Paphos on the island, they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar Jesus. He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. The proconsul called for Barnabas and Saul and wanted to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.”

Elymas represents those who use spiritual deception to block people from coming to faith, working against God’s kingdom from within religious contexts.

The Deceptive Comfort of False Teachers

Beware of any preacher or teacher who encourages complacency in sin by telling you that you are loved and accepted by God while you continue living in ongoing unrepentant sin.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (NIV) warns:
“Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”

False teachers often distort God’s grace to excuse sin rather than calling for genuine repentance and transformation by the Holy Spirit.

The Works of the Flesh

The Apostle Paul in Galatians 5:19-21 (NIV) lists the “works of the flesh,” which are evident sinful behaviors that prevent inheriting God’s kingdom:
“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

False prophets either live in these sins themselves or tolerate them in their followers, denying the call to holiness.

Call to Discernment and Faithfulness

We are called to study God’s Word deeply, test every spirit (1 John 4:1), and remain faithful to the gospel of grace. False prophets exploit ignorance and spiritual immaturity to mislead many.

Jesus Christ is coming again, and these are the last days. We must be vigilant, rooted in the truth of Scripture, and live holy lives in obedience to God.

Maranatha!

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