“Ye shall know them by their fruits.”
(Matthew 7:16)
Jesus warned us about false prophets. And in that warning was also a sure way to identify true prophets. He told us to look beyond outward appearances and to judge according to results, by their fruits.
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” (Matthew 7:15-20)
Someone who claims to be the return of Christ must bring forth the good fruits of God. What are some of these fruits? We can look at His person—does He demonstrate the fruits of the spirit in words and actions? We can consider His herald, who like John the Baptist lived a life of detachment and sacrifice as he prepared the way for Christ. We can look at His Revelation, and feel its impact in our world. We should also be able to see the effects of His words on His followers—do they also become bearers of the fruits of God? And finally, we can determine whether He has affirmed the bond between God and humanity in the form of a new testament, renewing that eternal covenant of God that has been established, upheld, and renewed by Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus.