Jesus warned His disciples to beware of false prophets who come in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. He said many would arise, and would even show great signs and wonders to mislead the elect. The apostles gave the same warning: test the spirits, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. We tell a counterfeit from the real thing by measuring it against a standard, and for the church that standard is the Word of God. It warns against a different gospel and against teachers who tickle the ears instead of teaching sound doctrine.
The lesson used the story of Micaiah and the prophets of King Ahab in the divided kingdom to set out the marks of false prophets. They use God’s name carelessly, appoint themselves, make predictions that fail, speak visions from their own imagination, bring a different gospel, and offer false hope. The failed end-time predictions of Harold Camping were given as a modern example.