It is necessary for the faithful to discern those false prophets that go camouflaged as people of prayer, evangelisers and visionaries. Such false prophets pour out threats and curses and exploit the weak-minded for their own selfish purposes.

To discern whether someone is truly anointed or not, it is good to know the short history of the Biblical Prophets chosen by God.
 
 

The Prophet is a term we see throughout the Bible. The Old Testament was written in the Hebrew language. To indicate a prophet the word used in the Old Testament was the Hebrew word 'Nabi,' the meaning of the word being 'the chosen one,' 'one who proclaims ".

The New Testament was first written in Greek. The word used to indicate the prophet was 'Prophetes'. The meaning of the root word pro-Phemi is 'to speak for'. Putting all that is said above together, we understand that by prophet was meant one who is called to speak out.

There is an idea among common people that a prophet means one who predicts the future. That concept is not based on the Bible.
 
 

No prophet can of himself claim the title, rather, he has to be called by God. God called Moses in a clear manner and appointed him leader (cf Ex :3). Samuel was called in a dramatic way (cf 1 Sam 3). We see Isaiah being called against the background of a vision (cf Is 6). Jeremiah ,who was comparatively young, made some objections, but eventually acknowledged the call and answered it (cf Jer 1). Similarly God called other prophets like Ezekiel and Daniel. Those who pose as prophets without being called are false prophets.
 
 

If God calls and the prophet accepts the call, God places a special seal (mark) on him and through particular actions and observances, strengthens and fills him with the power of his Spirit. This can be seen in the Bible. "...Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched my mouth with it..." (Is 6:6-7). In the case of Jeremiah something also happened. "Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the Lord said to me, 'Now I have put my words in your mouth'"(Jer 1:9).

The anointing of Ezekiel was more dramatic. God gave him a scroll and said, "Mortal, eat this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it. Then I ate it; and in my mouth it was as sweet as honey" (Eze 3:3).
 
 

God calls one to the status of a prophet in order to carry out a mandate. He appointed Moses to deliver the Israelite people from the slavery of Egypt. Amos was called to protest against the injustice and corruption of society. Jonah had to preach to the people of the great city of Niniveh and lead them to repentance. Thus beginning from Elijah, Nathan and Isaiah until Malachi, the prophets fulfilled their mandate. The chief mission of the prophets was to exhort the people who had gone astray to believe in the one true God and to lead them to righteousness and goodness. The prophets interpreted the events of history in the light of faith and made the people understand God's plans, his providence and love.
 
 

The Bible gives evidence of false prophets appearing from time to time, in imitation of those prophets who were appointed as such by God. The false prophets are not chosen by God. They have not seen God. Nor heard him. God asked about false prophets: " Who has stood in the council of the Lord so as to see and to hear his word? Who has given heed to his word so as to proclaim it?" (Jer 23:18).

The utterances of these false prophets are not God's words but their own imagination. They act as if seized by the Spirit and pretend to have visions and utter oracles. "See, I am against the prophets, says the Lord, who use their own tongues and say, 'Says the Lord.' See, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams, says the Lord, and who tell them, and who lead my people astray by their lies and their recklessness, when I did not send them or appoint them; so they do not profit this people at all, says the Lord" (Jer 23:31-32); "And the Lord said to me: The prophets are prophesying lies in my name; I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds"(Jer 14:14).

False prophets do not tell the truth but run about, greedy for wealth and gifts, "Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who cry 'Peace' when they have something to eat, but declare war against those who put nothing into their mouths" (Micah 3:5). "Its rulers give judgment for a bribe, its priests teach for a price, its prophets give oracles for money; yet they lean upon the Lord and say, 'Surely the Lord is with us! No harm shall come upon us"( Micah 3:11), God has ordained a severe punishment for them . They are merely diviners, dreamers soothsayers and sorcerers ( cf Jer 2 7:9). "...they are confused with wine, they stagger with strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in giving judgment"(Is 28:7).

False prophets may at times perform miracles and signs (cf Mk 13:22). The book of Revelation states that foul spirits like frogs come out of their mouth (16:13). Is this an indication that false prophets can work wonders with diabolic power?

Jesus did not reject the prophetic role. He only said that caution must be exercised against false prophets: "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles?" (Mt 7:15-16).

What is the criterion to discern the true prophet?The true prophet is one who promotes the love, patience, truth, justice ,spirit of prayer and fear of God that Jesus taught."If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith ,so as to remove mountains, but do not have love I gain nothing " (1 Cor 13:1-2).