Herbert Armstrong - Must Someone Hold a Title of Prophet to Qualify as a False Prophet

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The biblical concept of a prophet is more functional rather than institutional, referring fundamentally to one who claims to speak on God's behalf.

This observation carries into Jesus' warnings concerning false prophets. Jesus says that "many false prophets will arise" (Matt. 24:11, 24). He does not describe a formally appointed class of prophets, but rather individuals who come onto the affairs of the world and claim spiritual authority, influence others, and lead them astray.

The motives of such individuals may vary considerably. Some appear to have been sincere but mistaken. William Miller, for example, is generally regarded as an honest man whose predictions failed and who later expressed regret for the consequences.

Herbert Armstrong published prophetic interpretations for fifty years and when those expectations failed to materialize, he did not respond in a manner like William Miller. Instead, he justified their  postponement and then at a later time the argument that he had never claimed to be a prophet in the formal sense.

The following Post in Quora addresses what is a prophet, and what is a false prophet, by examining several main verses in the scriptures. See here:  It is titled: If Deuteronomy 13 calls a successful predictor a false prophet, and Jesus warns that many false prophets will arise, must someone hold the office of prophet to qualify as a false prophet?

Herbert Armstrong is assessed against the biblical revelation. 

Hello. My name is Bill. I live in Canberra, Australia. I retired from work some 5 years ago, I believe in Jesus as our Lord and Saviour by whom we are justified and sanctified by the miraculous workings of God. I don't attend a particular church but may go from time to time. I like to study the scriptures and I read quite widely generally. I had an experience over four decades ago with a church founded by Armstrong which claimed to be the one true church of this time. My wife (who passed away five years ago) and I left it a long time ago and one is grateful such bonds were broken.

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