A psychic is an individual with access to details outside the normal sphere of physical science or knowledge. Such a person is mysteriously sensitive to nonphysical or supernatural forces and influences. The source is actually the powers of darkness, but since the information provided is often uncannily accurate, it might impress those eager to pull aside the curtain of the future, so they often clamor for more—and the path gets darker.

The economically-challenged year 2020 brought a booming $2,020,000,000 to entrepreneurs in the astrology business. But let’s face reality: The notion that your day will go a certain way based on the alignment of inanimate stars at the time you were born really is a hoax. It certainly is a ploy for the desperate.

The biblical book of Daniel has six references to the embarrassing futility of astrological prediction, and in Isaiah 47:12–14, the God of heaven gives a plain message of warning with regard to the final outcome of its practitioners: “Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail. Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee. Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame.”

Some famous psychics in recent years have even attributed their powers to God. But how serious are they about that? Talk is cheap. Yet none—that is, not a single one—has been able to produce a 100% success rate. That makes them liars. Do you really want to listen to liars? What sobering message does a perfect God warn us about their ultimate outcome?

“The fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8).

Wizardry is often thought of a positive thing today, and the myth has been perpetuated that there are good witches as well as bad. Others who typically claim to have the extrasensory psychic gift also include clairvoyants, mediums, clairaudients, palmists, crystal gazers, telepathists, and more. But the warning echoes down to all:

“Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19:31).

“There shall not be found among you any one . . . that useth divination [fortune teller], or an observer of times [astrologer], or an enchanter [magician], or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer [one who claims to communicate with the dead]. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord” (Deuteronomy 18:10–12).

Sometimes such practices are cloaked in modern terms such as “channeling,” but there is no new thing under the sun, and the Lord is not fooled by it; He sees it all and calls it an abomination.

What should we think if the one predicting the future is not a psychic, a witch, or a sorcerer blatantly in contact with the powers of evil? Such a person might instead be referred to as a prophet. After all, that word perhaps sounds more palatable and politically correct to the Judeo-Christian ear.

In fact, one of the signs of the true people of God just before the return of Christ relates to the issue of prophecy. As the enemy of souls knows that his time is short, he makes war with the remnant of Bible-believing Christians “which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 12:17). What is the testimony of Jesus Christ? The Bible itself responds: “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10).

So, the faithful remnant will have genuine prophecy as a characteristic in their midst.

A serious warning given by Jesus resonates powerfully to us today, reminiscent of when His disciples privately asked, “What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. . . . And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many” (Matthew 24:3–5, 11).

“If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him” (Deuteronomy 13:1–3).

One might assume the above is only referring to those who do not profess to follow God. But is it possible to be claiming to follow the Lord and speak words of prophecy in His name while denying Him in heart? Sadly, yes, this does occur. Jesus tells it straight: “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:22, 23).

“And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him” (Deuteronomy 18:21, 22). [Emphasis added.]

That means 100% success rate is necessary. Anything less is not an option, period!

False prophets are clearly on the rise—and their track record is not only flawed, in reality they do not fulfill the characteristics of true prophecy in other necessary requirements as well.

Trustworthy, reliable prophets cannot violate Bible principles nor act in contradiction to the biblical norms for a true prophet, for example:

1. To bear an honest and accurate message. Jeremiah 28:8, 9.

2. To recognize the incarnation of Jesus Christ. 1 John 4:1–3.

3. To prophesy in the name of the Lord, not in one’s own name, and to reflect Christian virtues. Matthew 7:16–20; 2 Peter 1:21.

4. To not issue private interpretations. 2 Peter 1:20.

5. To harmonize completely with preceding prophets. Isaiah 8:20.

6. To be courageous to point out the sins and transgressions that have been committed against God. Isaiah 58:1.

7. To warn the people of God’s impending judgment. Isaiah 24:20, 21; Revelation 14:7.

8. To edify the church to a higher consecration to God and to support and strengthen biblical doctrines and precepts. 1 Corinthians 14:3, 4.

9. The normal breath of the prophet is taken away, but life is nonetheless sustained by miraculous divine intervention. Daniel 10:17.

10. The prophet’s eyes remain open (not blinking). Numbers 24:4, 16; Acts 22:17, 18.

The names of modern-day false prophets are too numerous even to mention. Despite what they may profess to be, their fruits of character are inconsistent, their philosophies unbiblical, their predictions of fail—and regardless of what they may claim, at least a part-time occult connection can typically be traced to their work.

We have been warned against false prophets for a reason: The biblical standard as shown above is indeed high—but if true prophets did not exist, the archdeceiver would not bother to make counterfeits. This fact in itself reminds us that the genuine does indeed exist!

The God of heaven assures us: “I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit” (Joel 2:28, 29).

Let us consider for a moment the case of Ellen Gould White (née Harmon), a humble Christian who lived from 1827–1915. The remarkable gift that was bestowed upon this individual beginning at age of 17 was nothing short of extraordinary. During a period of more than 70 years, she received:

I. Visions given in public before witnesses, accompanied by marked physical phenomena.

II. Visions given during periods of prayer or writing unaccompanied by physical phenomena.

III. Visions given at night during the hours of sleep, often referred to as prophetic dreams.

James White testifies:

“1. She is utterly unconscious of everything transpiring around her, as has been proved by the most rigid tests, but views herself as removed from this world, and in the presence of heavenly beings.

“2. She does not breathefrom fifteen minutes to three hours, there is no breath, as has been repeatedly proved by pressing upon the chest, and by closing the mouth and nostrils. During the entire period of her continuance in vision, which has at different times ranged .

“3. Immediately on entering vision, her muscles become rigid, and joints fixed, so far as any external force can influence them. At the same time her movements and gestures, which are frequent, are free and graceful, and cannot be hindered nor controlled by the strongest person.

“4. On coming out of vision, whether in the day-time or a well-lighted room at night, all is total darkness. Her power to distinguish even the most brilliant objects, held within a few inches of the eyes, returns but gradually, sometimes not being fully established for three hours. This has continued for the past twenty years; yet her eyesight is not in the least impaired, few persons having better than she now possesses.

“She has probably had, during the past twenty-three years, between one and two hundred visions. These have been given under almost every variety of circumstance, yet maintaining a wonderful similarity; the most apparent change being, that of late years they have grown less frequent, but more comprehensive. She has been taken off in vision most frequently when bowed in prayer. Several times, while earnestly addressing the congregation, unexpectedly to herself and to all around her, she has been instantly prostrated in vision. This was the case June 12, 1868, in the presence of not less than two hundred Sabbath-keepers, in the house of worship, in Battle Creek, Mich. On receiving baptism at my hands, at an early period of her experience, as I raised her up out of the water, immediately she was in vision. Several times, when prostrated by sickness, she has been relieved in answer to the prayer of faith, and taken off in vision. At such times her restoration to usual health has been wonderful. At another time, when walking with friends, in conversation upon the glories of the kingdom of God, as she was passing through the gate before her father’s house, the Spirit of God came upon her, and she was instantly taken off in vision.”1

“Every test which can be brought to bear upon such manifestations, proves these genuine. The evidence which supports them, internal and external, is conclusive. They agree with the word of God, and with themselves. They are given, unless those best qualified to judge are invariably deceived, when the Spirit of God is especially present. They are free from the disgusting contortions and grimaces which attend the counterfeit manifestations of Spiritualism. Calm, dignified, impressive, they commend themselves to every beholder, as the very opposite of that which is false or fanatical. The instrument is herself above jugglery or deceit.

“The influence is not mesmeric; for this people, reprobating the use of that agency, studiously refuse to learn the principles of its application, or to have aught to do with its practical workings; besides, the hallucinations of a mesmerized subject embrace only such facts and scenes as previously exist in the mind of the mesmerizing power; but the visions take cognizance of persons and things, and bring to light facts known, not only by no person present, but not even by the one through whom the visions are given.

“They are not the effect of disease; for no disease has ever yet been known to have the effect of repeatedly suspending the functions of the lungs, muscles, and every bodily sense, from fifteen to one hundred and eighty minutes, while in obedience to some influence which evidently has supreme possession of the mind, and in obedience to that alone, the eyes would see, the lips speak, and the limbs move.”2

These visions occurred both in the presence of witnesses and also in solitude. “What may be important to those who think the visions the result of mesmerism [i.e., hypnotism induced by another person], she has a number of times been taken off in vision, when in prayer alone in the grove or in the closet.”3

“Their fruit is such as to show that the source from which they spring is the opposite of evil.

“1. They tend to the purest morality. They discountenance every vice, and exhort to the practice of every virtue. They point out the perils through which we are to pass to the kingdom. They reveal the devices of Satan. They warn us against his snares. They have nipped in the bud scheme after scheme of fanaticism which the enemy has tried to foist into our midst. They have exposed hidden iniquity, brought to light concealed wrongs, and laid bare the evil motives of the false-hearted. They have warded off dangers from the cause of truth upon every hand. They have aroused and re-aroused us to greater consecration to God, move zealous efforts for holiness of heart, and greater diligence in the cause and service of our Master.

“2. They lead us to Christ. Like the Bible, they set him forth as the only hope and only Saviour of mankind. They portray before us in living characters his holy life and his godly example, and with irresistible appeals they urge us to follow in his steps.

“3. They lead us to the Bible. They set forth that book as the inspired and unalterable word of God. They exhort us to take that word as the man of our counsel, and the rule of our faith and practice. And with a compelling power, they entreat us to study long and diligently its pages, and become familiar with its teaching, for it is to judge us in the last day.

“4. They have brought comfort and consolation to many hearts. They have strengthened the weak, encouraged the feeble, raised up the despondent. They have brought order out of confusion, made crooked places straight, and thrown light on what was dark and obscure. And no person, with an unprejudiced mind, can read their stirring appeals for a pure and lofty morality, their exaltation of God and the Saviour, their denunciations of every evil, and their exhortations to everything that is holy and of good report, without being compelled to say, ‘These are not the words of him that hath a devil.’

“Negatively, they have never been known to counsel evil or devise wickedness. No instance can be found in which they have lowered the standard of morality. No one of their adherents has ever been led by them into paths of transgression and sin. They do not lead men to serve God less faithfully or to love him less fervently. They do not lead to any of the works of the flesh nor make less devoted and faithful Christians of those who believe them. In not a single instance can any of the charges here mentioned be sustained against them; and, concerning them, we may emphatically ask the question which Pilate put to the Jews in reference to the Saviour, ‘Why, what evil hath he done?’ ”4

The legacy of Ellen G. White as a human being is extraordinary. She penned over 50,000 pages of manuscript (including more than 5,000 periodical articles and 40 books) to become the most translated woman writer in the entire history of literature, and the most translated American of either gender. Her writings cover a broad range of topics, including religion, health and temperance, education, social relations, history, prophecy, and more. Although small in stature, her effectiveness as a speaker and her ability to project to audiences (of as many as 20,000) was remarkable. In 1875 it was reported that the sound of Ellen White’s voice carried without amplification a mile away.

Some of the best appreciated insights of Ellen G. White are in the field of health. Living as she did during a time when tobacco was considered to be good for health, as early as 1864, she warned about the dangers of its use, as well as of the liquor habit and its permanently damaging effects on the brain. Her understanding of the tremendous effects of prenatal influences on the unborn was nearly a century ahead of its time, as were her explanations of the most common causes of cancer and heart disease.

In the realm of prophecy, there is no question that the events foretold by her pen are indeed unfolding before our very eyes, besides those already fulfilled.

The very best way to appreciate Ellen G. White is to read her writings without prejudice or bias. The inspired words speak for themselves. Many who profess Christianity today seem to be alarmingly quick to label as inspired “prophets” various individuals having a mere fraction of the vital qualifications that Ellen G. White richly possessed.

Most who knew Ellen G. White remember her as a little old woman with white hair who always spoke so lovingly of Jesus. Evangelism and charity were deeply ingrained in her heart. She was well-loved and well-respected as a genuine Christian, a conscientious citizen, and a devoted wife and mother. The world is a far better, more hopeful, and more enlightened place for having had her presence in it. Do not hesitate to peruse prayerfully her writings! There is no question that your life will be richer for it.