Prologue:
“But these persons blaspheme all that they do not understand, and all that they understand by instinct like the irrational animals, by these things they are being destroyed. Woe to them! For they have traveled in the way of Cain, and have given themselves up to the error of Balaam for gain, and have perished in the rebellion of Korah.
These are the ones feasting together without reverence, hidden reefs at your love feasts, caring for themselves, waterless clouds carried away by winds, late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, uprooted, wild waves of the sea foaming up their own shameful deeds, wandering stars, for whom the deep gloom of darkness has been reserved for eternity. And Enoch, the seventh from Adam, also prophesied about these people, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with tens of thousands of his holy ones to execute judgment against all, and to convict all the ungodly concerning all their ungodly deeds that they have committed in an ungodly way, and concerning all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
These people are grumblers, discontented, proceeding according to their desires, and their mouths speaking pompous words, showing partiality to gain an advantage. But you, dear friends, remember the words proclaimed beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, for they said to you, “In the end time there will be scoffers following according to their own ungodly desires.” These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly, not having the Spirit.” –Jude 1:10-19 LEB
“By leaving the straight path, they have gone astray, because they followed the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness, but received a rebuke for his own lawlessness: a speechless donkey, speaking with a human voice, restrained the prophet’s madness. These people are waterless springs and mists driven by a hurricane, for whom the gloom of darkness has been reserved.
For by speaking high-sounding but empty words, they entice with desires of the flesh and with licentiousness those who are scarcely escaping from those who live in error, promising them freedom although they themselves are slaves of depravity. For to whatever someone succumbs, by this he is also enslaved.” -2 Peter 2:15-19 LEB
A Sonnet For The Prophets
Listen
Gather ‘round
Take a seat
The Prophet is about to speak
To take the stage
Gather ‘round
Listen
They’ve had a dream
They’ve seen a vision
They’ve received a word
Shhh
Quiet
They’re about to speak
A timely word
A word that expands their influence
A word that gains them followers
A word that enlarges their platform
A word that says just what the People want to hear
A good word
A favorable word
A word that scratches the itching ear
But not My Word
Send in your contributions
Send in your love-offerings
And they will tell you a word
The word of the Lord
But not My Word
Comfort, comfort
Everything will be fine
Just do as they say
But not as they do
Pay no attention to what’s behind the curtain
That doesn’t need to be revealed
No
No
Don’t ask anymore questions
It may not be what they said but…
Wait
Shhh
Listen
The Prophet is getting another word
They’ve seen another vision
They’ve had another dream
Deep
Vivid
Complex
Distracting
Suddenly the questions fade
What’s behind the curtain no longer matters
The Prophet has spoken
A new word
A fresh word
A timely word
Just in time, in fact
No revenue decrease
Zero net loss
In the black
Viewership retained
Status and influence preserved
The word did not return void
But it is not My Word
The Prophets prophesy
The Seers foretell
The Prognosticators predict
Words
Visions
Future events
The will of the Lord
The Decrees of Heaven
Forecasts from on High
But not My Will
Not what I have decreed
Nor what I have foretold
They speak what suits their ends
Their pocketbooks and platforms
Their lavish lifestyles
Their engorged egos
They manipulate and maneuver their hearers
Promising bright and wonderful futures
For those who do as they say
And more so for those who give
Who sow a seed
Who pay their fee
The Prophets have sold out
Prostituted themselves
Like their father
These sons of Bilʿām
Of Balaam
Have betrayed their kinsmen
For good and silver
Pockets full of cash
Expensive clothing and jewelry
Trinkets of the temporal
Fuel
Chaff that will be burned up
Along with their works
Wandering stars they have become
False guides leading their followers astray
As they saunter headlong into disaster
Should they not be cautioned?
Should they be left unwarned?
No
But they will not heed it
Even a talking Jack would not dissuade them
So they must be brought down
With the sword of My Mouth I will lay them low
With the sword of My Mouth I will reprove them
With the sword of My Mouth I will contend against them
It must be so
They refuse to repent
To relent from their treachery
To humble themselves before Me
A costly mistake this will prove to be
Prophets for profit
Just like their forebear
They have fallen into error
Listen
Gather ‘round
The time for the Prophets evaluation has come
To the sons of Bilʿām I say:
Mene Mene Tekel
I have numbered the days of your kingdoms
I AM about to bring them to an end
You have been weighed
You have been measured
And you have been found lacking
Repent
Be zealous and repent
Consider your ways
For should you persist in them
They will lead you where you do not wish to go
You have been warned
Epilogue:
“But I have a few things against you: that you have there those who hold fast to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat food sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality. So likewise you also have those who hold fast to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.” -Revelation 2:14-15 LEB