How to tell if someone is a false prophet or an apostate and how to view them

The sacred scriptures give us much information, in this regard.

This would include "independent" thinkers. Jesus was certainly an "independent" thinker, when viewed from the crooked religious leader's viewpoint in the first century.

Deuteronomy 18:20-22: Sayings of prophets - how to view - false prophets to die

Psalms 139:21,22 "Do I not hate those who are intensely hating you, O Jehovah, And do I not feel a loathing for those revolting against you? (vs.22) With a complete hatred I do hate them. They have become to me real enemies."

1.  It is important to realize that this is stated by a true follower of Jehovah and it is speaking about those "who are intensely hating" Jehovah and about "those revolting against" him.
2. Individuals today can state that it is O.K. to hate others that intensely hate Jehovah. But they have to be very careful that they themselves are serving Jehovah in true worship. (I heard this stated 10/24/2010 by a traveling representative of the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses in the Belvidere, Illinois congregation. The problem with this is that he did not do his biblical research to see that it is Jehovah's Witnesses (as a group) that are revolting against Jehovah by protecting the false theory of "1914".) // See Isaiah 9:16,17 comments below.

Isaiah 9:16-17 God's people as "all apostates" - showing need of correction

1.  Compare Isaiah 14:1-7; Ezekiel 16:62,63 to see how Jehovah forgives his repentant people who have apostatized against him. This is ample proof to those who think that apostasy is an "unforgivable" sin - Good thing, because all of God's people are considered apostates, in this passage!

Jeremiah 9:24: Good to boast about insight of Jehovah - delightful to Jehovah

Jeremiah 17:13: ones leaving Jehovah as apostates

Jeremiah 23 : Jehovah against false prophets

Jeremiah 28:9b When the word of the prophet comes true the prophet whom Jehovah has sent in truth will become known

Jeremiah 28:11-17  Hananiah's false prophesy meant her death - she caused Jehovah's people to trust in a falsehood

Ezekiel 3:7 Israel (as an apostate) will not want to listen to Jehovah's prophets (in principle)

Ezekiel 3:18 Prophet blood-guilty if does not warn

Amos 3:7: Jehovah will not do anything until he reveals matters to his prophets

Amos 7:14: Amos warned of consequences if he did not prophesy: His wife would "become a prostitute", his children would die "by the sword", his land would be sold, and he would die "on unclean ground".

1.  Amos was "commissioned" by Jehovah to do this work.
2. This passage does not mean Jehovah would bring this calamity upon Amos, if he did not prophesy. It could be that Jehovah was protecting him and his family at that time - as long as Amos served Jehovah.

Luke 21:8 referring to Jesus speaking to his disciples; "He said: Look out that YOU are not misled; for many will come on the basis of my name, saying, 'I am he,' and, 'the due time has approached.' Do not go after them." The phrase "the due time has approached" could be referred to by anyone using different methods, including brother Russell or even myself. The key here is to know what God's word supports and what it does not. God's word is 100% true and no false scriptural teaching can stand up to it. Remember what Daniel 11:32b says about those who prevail for our day: "But as regards the people who are knowing their God, they will prevail and act effectively."

Acts 17:11 "Now the later were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so." // Only by carefully examining the sacred scriptures and using sound reason, can one tell if what they hear is actually based upon God's word or not.

Acts 20:29,30 "I know that after my going away oppressive wolves will enter in among YOU and will not treat the flock with tenderness, and from among YOU yourselves men will rise and speak twisted things to draw away the disciples after themselves." // Here is recorded what the apostle Paul mentioned to true worshippers of Jehovah in his day. He told them to watch out for these "oppressive wolves". How can one tell who these are today? - By checking what they say against the sacred scriptures. Even the apostle Paul had his teachings checked by the Boreans and their actions were considered "noble" (Acts 17:11)

Romans 16:17 "Now I exhort YOU, brothers, to keep your eye on those who cause divisions and occasions for stumbling contrary to the teaching that YOU have learned, and avoid them." // The key thought here is "contrary to the teaching" of what they had learned from the sacred scriptures. - See Acts 17:11; 20:29,30

2 John 9,10 "Everyone that pushes ahead and does not remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God. He that does remain in this teaching is the one that has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to YOU and does not bring this teaching, never receive him into YOUR homes or say a greeting to him." // THE EMPHATIC DIAGLOTT translates verses 9 and 10 as : "EVERY ONE who GOES BEYOND, and does not abide in the DOCTRINE of the ANOINTED one, has not God. He who ABIDES in the DOCTRINE, has both the FATHER and the SON. If any one come to you and bring not this DOCTRINE, do not receive him into your House, nor wish Him success;" // By examining these two renderings, one can see that John is talking about those who go beyond what the sacred scriptures state and also that they try to teach others their unscriptural teachings and that true worshippers need to avoid them. The key here is being able to tell what is scripturally based - see Acts 17:11