Prophet, False Prophet, Or Something Else?

You've no doubt by now seen, heard, and read about Gerald Celente from other prophecy sources.

However, you'd probably be shocked to learn that this man and his dire predictions for this nation appeared on Fox Business in a 5-minute segment recently.

Here's the entire video clip:



Do you believe him? Can he be trusted? Is he right? Well, for those of us who study Biblical Prophecy this kind of prediction makes sense and would fit with our own understanding of what could transpire here in America in the very near future.

Still, is the fact that it's plausible any cause for concern?

To answer that question, we need to take a quick look at who this man is as well as what it is he's predicted over the years that has come true.

He's billed as "The World's #1 Trends Forecaster," which is 21st century's way of calling him a prophet. Remember, when you remove any and all traces to God in the public square you can no longer give the impression that you still believe in any of Christianity's tenets let alone use the religion's terminology when describing people, places, or things. So, the use of "Trends Forecaster" is appropriate because it doesn't raise any suspicion.

Celente runs The Trends Research Institute, which describes itself as "a network of 25 experts, independent thinkers, unencumbered by rigid ideology, political persuasions, fixed agendas or conventional wisdom - that observes and analyzes the current events forming future trends for what they are - and not for the way they want them to be."

Founded in 1980, the purpose of trends research is to see where we are, understand how we got here, and forecast where we're going, and to provide insights and directions to help better prepare for what the future may bring.

Sounds like a secular definition of eschatology to me!

Ok, but who is Gerald Celente? Well, he calls himself a "political atheist" and seems to be a media darling as evidenced by this next clip.



From his own website,

"Unencumbered by political dogma, rigid ideology or conventional wisdom, Celente, whose motto is "think for yourself," observes and analyzes the current events forming future trends for what they are – not for the way he wants them to be. Like a doctor giving a diagnosis after gathering the facts, whether or not you like the prognosis doesn’t alter the outcome, make him an optimist or pessimist – it’s simply what is. And while Celente holds a US passport, he considers himself a citizen of the world."

Years before Starbucks was a household name, apparently it was Celente who forecast the popularity of gourmet coffee and decades before Pepsi and Coke got into the water business he predicted the "Big Boom in Bottled Water."

On the geopolitical and economic fronts, Celente and The Trends Research Institute are credited with forecasting many major trends, including the collapse of the Soviet Union, the last two recessions, the dot-com meltdown, the 1997 Asian currency crisis, the 1987 world stock market crash, increased terrorism against America, and the war in Iraq - before war began.

Celente has also accurately forecast many real estate trends, including the big move to vacation spots and small towns, the growth in the second home market, a real estate "fizz" in 2005 ... plus hundreds of other social, business, fashion, consumer and entertainment trends.

Admittedly, I haven't spent a lot of time researching all of the predictions he's made over the years although I should because we all know what the Bible tells us about how we can tell whether or not a prophet is from God.

The Bible never says to test a prophet by prayer, but by his message. Deuteronomy 13 warns that a prophet must teach correctly about God. Chapter 18 tells us the prophet's prophecies must come to pass. Paul tells us in Galatians 1:8-9 that even angels can appear with a wrong message. We are to compare the message with the teachings of the apostles. In Acts 17:10-12, when Paul went to Berea to proclaim Jesus as the Messiah to the Jews, we read "these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed..." Note, Paul did not tell them to go home and pray about it. They were praised for searching the scriptures, in other words, testing the message to see if it agreed with the prophecies of the Messiah.

I will say one thing though...As I did my own research and got past the first few pages of glowing reviews and endorsements on his website a different picture emerges of this man. What I found was someone who seems to have some pent up frustration and anger; feelings that seem to be specifically reserved for the United States as one New Zealand interview he gave demonstrates. You can find it on his website in the Biography section.


For weeks, there's been much talk of political figures as "saviors" and "messiahs" who can solve the world's problems. Then, just earlier this week, we read about the "Buddha Boy" who many believe is a god himself. Finally, the past few days have seen people like me discussing the possibility of being able to know the day of the Rapture of the Church.

This begs the question, Does it seem odd to you that suddenly - all at once - people are emerging on the world scene en masse that could easily accelerate our place on God's prophetic timeline just by being who they are and doing what they do? Let me rephrase that by saying that I don't mean that people can alter God's plan for humanity as if they are somehow in control, but that by they actions and what happens in this world we all might realize that we're suddenly A LOT CLOSER to the fulfillment of end times prophecy than even we think we are.

Are they just people, prophets, false prophets, or some something else?

Let's just take that in relation to the topic of this piece, and consider that Gerald Celeste could be a real, flesh-and-blood prophet of "doom-and-gloom" (someone God is using to get our attention so that we will repent now), a false prophet (just another in a long line of believable frauds) or, THE False Prophet (just a casual theory and nothing more).

Let me be clear: I don't particularly think he is either of those, and especially not one of the the False Prophet who will accompany the Antichrist's rule on earth, but was only trying to make a point by being dramatic. I do think that Celente is a definite precursor to what's coming.

Just like a President Barack Obama would help to lay the foundation for the future Antichrist to rise to power, Gerald Celente is laying the foundation for the future False Prophet and/or Two Witnesses to take their rightful place.

I mean, just look at all the attention this guy receives especially within the last few weeks and months following the global financial crisis! What's unique about all the attention is not that he's getting it, but that a vast majority of it is coming from the secular, mainstream media.

One can only imagine that this is EXACTLY how it will be in response to the False Prophet as the world gushes over anything and everything he says (and does in the form of "miracles" used to deceive many) because they will want someone - anyone - to give them answers to all the chaos that surrounds them.

The host of one of the above clips asks, "What do we have to do today to prevent chaos tomorrow?"

Chaos. Exactly. That's what's coming. We have a book that tells us EXACTLY how this story ends. It's called the Holy Bible. We know what's coming, and the question has always been, How close are we to this end time script "going live" so to speak?

A look around at the scenery tells me that we have to be close. These days are unlike any others in history!

"And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws near." Luke 21:28

Keep looking up!

***UPDATE 12/19/08: IMF Warns Of Economic Riots, Police Ready For Civil Unrest Paulson discussed worst-case scenario at bailout meeting – declare Martial Law***

***UPDATE 1/23/2009: CODE RED - Economy in Collapse - Drastic Actions Will Be Taken : Celeste is back in the news again and now he says President Barack Obama will use his poll shattering popularity to swiftly enact policies that will prove to be among the most costly and potentially destructive in America's history. "We are forecasting dramatic measures will soon be taken by the Obama Administration that will worsen the credit crisis and severely damage the nation's economic system," says Celente. According to The Trends Research Institute Director, the new President who swept into the White House on a tidal wave of unprecedented enthusiasm and the blessings of a strong majority, will have free reign to take whatever actions he deems necessary. "Whatever Obama wants, Obama gets. Desperate, scared and not knowing what to do to survive the economic storm, people are seeking a messiah to save them, and Obama is their man," said Celente. "When fear rules, reason and logic are ruled out."For example, Timothy Geithner, President Obama's nominee for Treasury Secretary, has pledged to expand and prolong government intervention in the financial markets. He said his economic team would take "forceful" and "substantial action" on a "very dramatic scale" to "forge an integrated strategy on how best to achieve currency realignment." Celente advises to closely read the signals that have been clearly telegraphed by Mr. Geithner. "From proclaiming a bank holiday, confiscating gold to backstop devaluing currencies, mega-bailouts for the too-big-to-fails...to nationalizing public firms and dollar devaluation...whichever of these or other actions are taken, the financial burden will fall on the American people," Celente forecasts. ***

RECOMMENDED READING:
Great Depression And Riots By 2012
How Do We Test A Prophet?

Posted in: How Close Are We?,Spiritual Deception,Truth From The Fringe