Is God confusing his people?

As Malawi was gearing for the May 20 Tripartite Elections, five people claiming to be prophets from different churches thronged Nation Publications Limited (NPL) offices on separate occasions to ask for the publication of their prophesies on who would form the next government.

What was interesting though, was the fact that all of them seemed to have a preferred presidential candidate.

Prophet Damiano Kapenda of Thyolo brought a book resembling a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) manifesto, complete with the portrait of its president Peter Mutharika on the cover.

His ‘prophecy’ on Mutharika becoming the next president did not come as a surprise to anyone who cared to listen.

Founder and leader of Blantyre-based ministry who sought anonymity prophesied that God was determined to use the May 20 Tripartite Elections to bring His heavenly kingdom on earth.

The self-acclaimed apostle held a series of media conferences selling his prophesy, which he said was a “direct communication from God”.

“God has told me that the next president will come from the Central Region and he is a born-again Christian,” he said.

Obviously, this referred to Dr. Lazarus Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) since he was one of the main four contenders, from the Central Region and formerly a pastor.

Another renowned prophet told his congregation at Chemusa in Blantyre that former president Joyce Banda would sail through because “God was pleased with how she had dealt with the social and economic difficulties Malawians were subjected to in the previous regime”.

Christians need not be surprised with the confusion arising from people claiming to be anointed vessels of God.

During his ministry on earth, Jesus Christ foretold that there would be a proliferation of false prophets in the last days.

“Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming: “I am the Christ” and will deceive many. Many will turn away from their faith, betray and hate each other.

“Because of increased wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come,” says Jesus in Matthew 24:4-14.

Matthew 24: 24-25 reads: “For false anointed ones and false prophets will arise and will give great signs and wonders so as to mislead. I have forewarned you.”

Principal of the Last Church of God in Mzimba, Mtumbuka Chisambi, said that the proliferation of the false prophets across the globe was a fulfilment of what Jesus had foretold.

Chisambi warned believers to guard against trusting every prophet, saying some are servants of the devil.

“Some prophets we have in Malawi have simply forced themselves into the trade to make money. How does one explain four different prophecies on one election?” he wondered.

He attributed the love of money to the confusion arising.