False Prophets and the New Covenant:
The Apostle Peter As A Case Example

Recently, Mishpachah Lev-Tsiyon has been under attack due to some false prophecies Mr. Christopher Warren has had in the past (of which he publicly confessed and apologized for). One particular prophecy that seemed to be a miss was a prophecy regarding an economic collapse in November 1998 in the land of Norway -- not that the prophecy itself was false, but the dating was false. I can imagine Mr. Warren's embarassment when said prophecy did not occur on the date desired. However, I am arguing that just because the prophecy failed does not mean that Mr. Warren is a false prophet.

One particular incident in the New Testament should drive my point home. In Mark 14:66-72 NKJV, we read the following:

Now as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came. And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, "You also were with Yah'shua (Jesus) of Nazareth."

But he denied it, saying, "I neither know nor understand what you are saying." And he went out on the porch, and a rooster crowed.

And the servant girl saw him again, and began to say to those who stood by, "This is one of them." But he denied it again.

And a little later those who stood by said to Peter again, "Surely you are one of them; for you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it."

Then he began to curse and swear, "I do not know this Man of whom you speak!"

A second time the rooster crowed. Then Peter called to mind the word that Yah'shua (Jesus) had said to him, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times." And when he thought about it, he wept.

I want to make a point from the words I bolded and italicized above. First, the Greek word for "curse" is "anathematizo" (Strong's #332) and means "to devote one's self to destruction". It is used both in Joshua 6:21 and 1 Maccabees 5:5 in the Septuagint where it means to make an oath to destroy something. It is likewise used in this sense in Acts 23:12,14,21 where the mob vows destruction upon themselves if they do not destroy the apostle Paul.

Second, the Greek word for "swear" is "omnuo" (Strong's #3660) and literally means "to make an oath". It is used this way in several places in the New Testament, but notably in Matthew 5:34,36, 23:16,18,20,21,22 and in Hebrews 6:13,16. Given in those verses Messiah says to "swear not", we can understand the predicament Peter was in. Not only that, Peter was very likely invoking the name of Yahweh in his oath, something that is commanded by Torah when making oaths (Lev. 19:12). Even though the New Testament gives only an abbreviated account, we can imagine his words:

"By the Name of Yahweh, I do not know the man of whom you speak!"

If we were to follow Mr. Concern's (a well-known NCCG critic) criteria of a false prophet, then we should disregard everything Peter has ever said and written in the New Testament canon and stone him, as the Old Covenant Torah requires (Leviticus 24:10-16). Because not only did he use Yahweh's Name in vain in his denial of Messiah, but anathemised either himself or Messiah to destruction (the Scripture isn't clear). So why aren't their websites like "Peter Concern"? Because if there were, people would be turned off. They know Peter's repentance, they know the man he came to be . . . this is why Peter wept.

From my personal acquaintance with Mr. Warren (I have had numerous e-mail, phone and PM conversations, not to mention I spent three months at his residence), I know him to be a sincere man of Yahweh who is trying to do his best to fulfill the Two Great Commandments (Matthew 22:37-40). I've seen him spend countless hours ministering to people. Likewise, I can attest to the number of true prophecies he has had which far outweighs the number of false ones (which are only a handful and many of them are only "false" because they are a misunderstanding of TRUE ones). There are things that he has repeated about me personally that he would have no other way of knowing unless SOMETHING told him. And while miracles in and of themselves don't prove a true prophet (as Mr. Concern correctly states), I can see the fruit. The fruit I see is a man who does not seek to draw others to himself, but the truth and holiness that resides in Yahweh-Elohim and in His Son, Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ).

We can take into account many of the true prophecies from Mr. Warren. For example, just recently OB [Olive Branch] 267:2, which was received on 23 July 1990, was fulfilled which prophesied that "[t]he nation of Yugoslavia shall cease to exist and be divided up". This occured on 4 June 2006 when Monte Negro declared independence from Yugoslavia. Likewise, OB 119, which was received on 17 March 1989, was fulfilled when the nation of Germany was reunified just as the prophecy said. There are many other such prophecies that have been fulfilled, which this ministry will seek to publish in a seperate publication and append to this article post haste. How a false prophet can have so many true prophecies is beyond me! My question for our critics, especially Mr. Concern, is whether or not there is grace for those who sincerely repent? The Bible teaches that the only sin that can't be forgiven is blasphemy against the Ruach haQodesh [Holy Spirit] (Matthew 12:31; Mark 3:29; Luke 12:10). Obviously, if this is the only sin that can't be forgiven, then others can, including taking Yahweh's Name in vain (as Peter did) and prophecying falsely (as Mr. Warren has admitted publically and repented with sackcloth and ashes, so to speak). The believing critic then is forced to look at us objectively inspite of our mistakes or to reject Peter and then shun us. Which will it be? You can't have it both ways. The same criteria you are using to shun us, you should use to shun Peter.

Now I am not sure if Mr. Concern is a believer or not, since he will not publish his credentials. However, our credentials are available for all to see -- all one has to do is read our huge website thoroughly to note our successes and failures. We do not hide those sorts of things (as the Mormons do, by editing their own prophecies and neglecting -- and denying -- to mention the false ones they and their founder had). We are not trying to present ourselves off as a perfect church. However, we do ask that you relate to us as people, fellow believers, who are in need of Yahweh's grace. Romans 3:23 states ". . . all have sinned, and come short of the glory of Elohim (God)" and if you judge us because of some errors (real or percieved), the judgment falls back on yourself. What fruit are we bearing? Are we bearing fruits in meet with repentance (Matthew 3:8)? If so, why must we continue to relive something we've sincerely repented of? Now let's extend this further. Mr. Concern said in a private e-mail to me (which was originally at http://www.geocities.com/nccg_concern/email-for-d.html but has since been removed) the following:

Deuteronomy 13:5 - "And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. SO SHALT THOU PUT THE EVIL AWAY FROM THE MIDST OF THEE." ...but I am guessing the death sentence was canceled by the New Testament, and I would not tend to recommend that as part of the solution. We still do have the phrase "SO SHALT THOU PUT THE EVIL AWAY FROM THE MIDST OF THEE". This says to me: if it's a false prophet, get them away from you and don't associate with them any more. Not to mention, in Old Testament times, the false prophet would not have been associating with ANYTHING except the business end of a thrown rock and the bottom of a grave. That fact is certainly indicative of the level of involvement you are supposed to retain with a false prophet.


It doesn't say that you would be allowed to continue studying spiritually with the false prophet because you believe, even though he was a false prophet and he was wrong several times, he was *honestly* wrong and meant no harm. It doesn't tell you that you could stick with him because you believe some of his doctrinal conclusions are correct. It does not tell you that you can try to counsel the false prophet in an effort to fix his problematic ways. The applicable Bible verse makes no provision whatsoever for continuing to associate with the false prophet (or presumably read his web page updates). You might miss him because you would have removed him from your life, but the Bible has nothing to say about that. I guess that means "Tough cookies" about any unpleasant feelings you might have to endure as a result of the decision to exclude the false prophet from your life. You would be required to pick up the pieces and move on without him.

This e-mail will be reproduced shortly, since I do not believe it falls under applicable U.S. copyright laws. Nonetheless, if we were to apply Mr. Concern's "prophetic test" to its logical conclusion, we should stop associating with the adulterer (Leviticus 20:10), the blasphemer (Leviticus 25:16), the strikers of mothers and fathers (Exodus 21:15) and anyone else who was put to death in the Old Covenant for certain sins. This inspite of the fact that Yah'shua (Jesus) Himself forgave the woman taken in adultery (John 8:3-11). Is Mr. Concern really sure he wants to make this argument? It'll alienate a large part of his audience!

Now some will make the accusation that we should stop prophesying. This is not for even us to decide! If Yahweh continues to pour down visions, revelations and prophecies on us, are we to say, "No more Yahweh! I do not want to be a false prophet!"? Of course not! Yahweh is the one who decides who receives what gift, not man! The fact that in the New Covenant that prophecies had to be discerned (1 Corinthians 14:29) is evidence that prophecy is a gift that is to be learned. Also, since Jeremiah 31:31-34 states that the New Covenant is the Torah written on the heart, all people must expect to prophecy at some point. You cannot have the Torah written on your heart and escape that responsibility! You must learn to listen to Yahweh's voice or be unsaved! Otherwise, you are not in the New Covenant!

If our critics want to continue to use Old Covenant criteria for determining false prophets, that is their perogative. The fact is, that covenant only existed until the promised Seed was born (Galatians 3:19). But now, it is abolished and we lived under a covenant of grace. When someone sincerely repents, the matter is then closed. Those who choose to hold it over their head can then expected to be judged by Yahweh. It is my hope that those who were swayed by Mr. Concern's and others' criticisms will meet us at our level -- sincere Christians trying to serve Yahweh with all that we have. We do not preach you need to even belong to our body to be saved. You can disbelieve our prophecies all you want to -- they are not held over your head unless you are a member of our covenant. The only thing that is required in the New Covenant is faith in Messiah expressing itself in love (Galatians 5:6) and evidenced by good works (James 2) which is commandment-keeping (John 15:10). It is these things that will make one the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 5:17-20).

Feel free to write or e-mail us if you have questions regarding any of our criticisms. We will seek to be honest while addressing your needs.