"...there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, ... I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets"

—1 Kings 22:21-22

PROPHECY and history repeat themselves. This is particularly so at significant times in the purposes of God such as the death of kings and the change of leadership—both good and bad. In BC 897 (date according to Thompson's Bible) when God had enough of wicked King Ahab, a lying spirit was commissioned to secure his demise, the destruction of his entire dynasty and the eventual captivity of Israel. History was about to change course.

Today in 1999 that same ancient evil spirit has once more been commissioned to prophesy lies in the mouths of Christendom's "prophets". Then the issue was the death of a king, which made room for a son almost as wicked as Ahab himself. Now the scene relates to the end of time, the great apostasy of the Church and the coming of anti-christ. History is repeating itself.

In this issue of CETF, among other things, we will show how the new "breed" of "prophets" in the Church, mentioned in considerable detail in Bill Randles ' excellent new book on the subject, are pre-figured in our study passage in 1 Kings 22, where the TRUE prophet Micaiah is seen in contrast to the 400 false establishment prophets of King Ahab. Before reading on please study 1 Kings chapters 20 to the end of chapter 22 preferably in the KJV of the Bible. Also please read 2 Chronicles chapters 18 and 19. God bless you.

Appeared in Volume 5.1 March/April 1999