Covid Prophecies, Prophetic Lies

Reflecting on the the many excited, ‘prophetic’ utterances coming from charismatic leaders back in May 2020 in response to the national lockdowns, I wrote:

The charlatans and ear-ticklers have leapt onto this virus with all the enthusiasm and confidence of teens at the dodgems. There are the usual declarations of healing:

“Under the priestly anointing, I release healing to the entire world, particularly where the disease is ravaging so much, let there be healing, let there be sunray always, which is one of the antidotes to the disease. God release drug (sic) that will cure it in Jesus name.” (Rev. Father Ejike Mbaka, The Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry, Nigeria).

The virus will probably go of its own volition, though the Lord may well hasten its demise. It won’t go on account of Mr Mbaka’s releasing anything, either commands, visions or wind.

Other calls are more daring. This will be the year of great revival and outpouring starting at this year’s Passover. Lana Vawser, member of the ‘The Australian Prophetic Council’ has been busy in this regard, eagerly endorsed by Jarrod Cooper, Hull’s leading prophet. She utters:

"Friends, the crossover HAS happened. The Lord showed me very clearly that the FRUIT of this SELAH TIME is going to be VERY evident when we come out of this time. This divine SELAH moment was a time of significant alignment, a time of purification, a time of repentance, a time of going deep."

I’ve watched others describing themselves as ‘apostolic pastors’ and prophets declare that the virus is divinely refining the church and preparing the world for a wonderful outpouring of God’s Spirit. I hope they are right. I hope Rev. Father Mbaka is right. Unfortunately, I’ve heard prophetic predictions about revival before. The voice quivers, the eyelids shut, the bowels clench, the palms rise. The revival is coming and coming soon. Down in the audience, throats gasp, tears stream, faces beam. It’s just what we’ve been waiting for all these years. Then it doesn’t come, but no-one seems to mind. The next prophetic conference starts afresh and the cycle continues.

Golly gosh, I guess I have been proved correct. That time of lockdown and international fear did not turn out to be a time of revival, awakening or 'realignment', whatever that means. Ms Vawser said the fruit would be very evident when we came out of that time. Well, we are out of it- so where’s the fruit? Where are the bursting churches, the thousands converted, the denominations revitalised? Answer- nowhere to be seen.

False prophets always tell you want you want to hear. True prophets in the Bible usually told the opposite, often paying for it with their popularity and lives. Yet false prophets and real prophets do have one thing in common: neither apologises when they get it wrong.

Image by mohamed matar from Pixabay