I (Lars Gunther, a Swedish pastor) rarely write in English on this web site. However, I believe I have a message of prophetic value and need to have it recorded before the US presidential election this year (2024.
A quick background. I have researched the apostolic-prophetic movement for hundreds of hours. I am a Bible believing charismatic Christian myself, but it does not follow automatically that I should believe every word that is supposedly from God. In addition, I am writing columns for the main Christian Swedish newspaper, Dagen (The Day). And my last one was a word of hopefully sobering warning. The subject is these American so-called prophets. They have a following on our side of the Atlantic as well. Here is my column:
A warning has increasingly echoed within me this year: “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.” (Exodus 20:7b, NASB2020). This warning has grown stronger over the past year, particularly after hearing those who prophesied in support of Donald Trump. In 2016, I read for the first time a supposed prophecy claimed that Trump’s victory would spark a major revival. It would be one thing to suggest a political improvement, but a revival! How did they come to that conclusion?
These so-called prophets declare it a Christian duty to stand behind the prophets as if they were right, despite being wrong. They predicted Trump would win the 2020 election, that Biden would never become president, and, later, that he would soon be removed. It was proclaimed with certainty as the truth. According to the prophets, Trump was “unstoppable,” and neither spiritual resistance nor voter fraud would prevent him. Many of these so-called prophets elevated their desires to the status of the Lord’s word.
Among these prophetic figures, it has become a dogma that God chose Trump as the vehicle for every conceivable blessing. Voting against Trump was said to be opposition to God. Johnny Enlow, a Pentecostal pastor in California, called the acknowledgment of Biden’s presidency a “serious transgression,” foretelling that Christian leaders would lose their spiritual authority, and their names would be erased—a disturbing form of spiritual abuse.
The problem isn’t that this comes from the right. A similar exaltation of political leaders from the left or center would be equally serious. The gravity lies in proclaiming that God’s kingdom stands or falls with a single person. Messages are being presented that everything is at stake in the election, and Trump is de facto elevated to a messianic figure.
I have previously written about how God allows false prophets to emerge, leading their followers astray to test us. But God does not let them remain unpunished forever.
“Behold, I am against those who have prophesied false dreams,” declares the LORD, “and reported them and led My people astray by their lies and reckless boasting; yet I did not send them nor command them, nor do they provide this people the slightest benefit,” declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 23:32), NASB2020
A loss for Trump in the election could be an eye-opener for some of them. However, if Trump wins, they will likely become even more entrenched in their delusion. The punishment may be delayed—but risks becoming more severe. And how will they be judged? By their own words (Matthew 12:37). And “in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:2).