To start off, we need to be clear, the canon of Scripture or the list of books considered to be authoritative is complete and closed. The canon being closed means that additional books cannot be added or existing books removed, which represents historic Protestant belief that revelation has ended and the text of Scripture is complete. In contrast, an open ended canon would permit the addition of books through continued or on-going revelation. This issue of a completed canon needs to be settled at the outset of this study because of what this means for any person or religion that claims continued revelation.

The following study in Section One will show that the not only is the canon of Scripture closed, but that God's revelation ceased in the First Century when the canon was completed. Today, God speaks to us in Christ, through the completed Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. This means for our present study that Mormon claims of the continuing prophetic office and on-going revelation in the church today are false.

The Scriptures are complete and divine revelation has ceased. In fact, the ceasing of divine revelation is seen right in the texts of Scripture. This is what is meant when theologians talk about the closing of the canon. Consider the biblical evidence for this:

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write
unto you of the common salvation, it was needful
for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye
should earnestly contend for the faith which was
once delivered unto the saints. (Jude 3)

Also, it should be noted how the New King James Version renders the last part of this verse:

Which was once for all delivered to the
saints. (NKJ)

This verse in Jude clearly anticipates the closing of the New Testament Canon. What does Jude mean by the phrase (the faith)? Simon J. Kistemaker in the New Testament Commentary of the book of Jude says the following:

What is this faith Jude mentions? In view of the
context, we understand the word faith to mean the
body of Christian beliefs. It is the gospel the apostles
proclaimed and therefore is equivalent to "the apostles
teaching (Acts 2:42).(1)

The phrase once [hapax] delivered is important. Hapax means once for all. In Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words we find this comment concerning hapax:

Once for all, of what is perpetual validity,
not requiring repetition.(2)

The following verse provides more important information concerning the completion of Scripture:

And are built upon the foundation of the
apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself
being the chief corner stone. (Ephesians 2:20)

This verse in Ephesians tells us that the apostles are part of the foundation of the church. There is only one foundation that the church has. The Scripture in John 14:26 teach that the apostles were taught "all things." Paul commanded Timothy to "guard the good deposit" of truth in II Timothy 1:14. Clearly this "deposit" was identifiable or else Paul's command to Timothy would not make sense. And furthermore, this deposit in order to guard it, could not have been a nebulous association of oral traditions. Written documents can be compared to forgeries whereas oral traditions as already shown (classroom exercise) by their very nature are open to endless differing accounts and interpretations.

Since the apostle's were taught all things, there would be no need for further revelation. What can you add to all things? The “good deposit” or the “all things” was tied to the apostolic period i.e., the foundation of the church. The authoritative apostolic writings became part of the New Testament canon. The biblical conclusion is that after their death apostolic revelation ceased. Why? On account of the fact that after the death of the apostles their special office in the church ceased. The church has only one foundation, not layers of foundations on top of each other, as the ongoing apostolic office view would require.

The next verse from Daniel cannot be disregarded in its importance for the subject of the closing of the canon:

Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people
and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression,
and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation
for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting
righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy,
and to anoint the most Holy. (Daniel 9:24)

The terminus or completion of this prophecy is clearly in the first century. Verses 25-27 make it clear that when the seventy-week period begins, it will continue uninterrupted till the seventy week period is over or complete. Christ's death and resurrection made an end of the sins of His people. He accomplished reconciliation for His people. Christ's people have experienced everlasting righteousness because of the fact that we are clothed in Christ's righteousness, which is everlasting. The destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. is clearly within the time frame of the seventy weeks, and is proved by verse twenty-six. The phrase "and to seal up the vision and prophecy" clearly sets forth the closing of the canon of Scripture.
E. J. Young in The Geneva Daniel Commentary makes the following observations concerning "vision" and "prophecy":

Vision was a technical name for revelation given
to the OT prophets (cf. Isa, 1:1, Amos 1:1, etc.)
The prophet was the one through whom this vision
was revealed to the people. The two words, vision
and prophet, therefore, serve to designate the prophetic
revelation of the OT period.... When Christ came, there
was no further need of prophetic revelation in the OT sense.(3)

Since there is no fundamental difference between Old and New Testament revelation, and the source of the revelation is identical and there is no reason to doubt that all giving of new revelation ceased in the first century.

In Adam Clarke’s commentary concerning this same phrase we read:

To put an end to the necessity of any farther revelations, by completing
the canon of Scriptures, and fulfilling the prophecies which related to his
person, sacrifice and the glory that should follow.(4)

A passage in I Corinthians sheds even more light on the completion of Scripture:

For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is
come, then that which is in part shall be done away. (I Corinthians 13:9,10)

The passage says that something that is "in part" will be done away with when "that which is perfect is come." What is the apostle referring to when he says that something perfect is coming? Theologian Gordon H. Clark comments on this:

There is one phase, not so far mentioned: "When the completion comes," or "when that
which is perfect comes." This raises the question: Completion of what? It could be the completion
of the canon. Miracles and tongues were for the purpose of guaranteeing the divine origin of
apostolic doctrine. They cease when the revelation was completed. Even the word knowledge
is better understood this way. Instead of comparing present-day extensive study of the New
Testament with Justin's [Martyr] painfully inadequate understanding of the Atonement, it would
be better to take knowledge as the apostolic process of revealing new knowledge. This was
completed when revelation ceased.(5)

Clark is right on track when connecting the coming perfection with the completion of the Scriptures. The tongues and prophecy of the apostolic era confirmed and bore witness to the truthfulness of that message. These tongues, prophecy, and revelatory knowledge were lacking when compared with the written Scripture. The written Scriptures are far superior to spoken words. Dr. Leonard Coppes also has relevant comments regarding this section of Scripture:

This is a clear statement that when the knowledge being given through the apostles and prophets
is complete, tongues and prophecy shall cease. Tongues, prophecy, and knowledge (gnosis)
constitute partial, incomplete stages. Some may stumble over the idea that "knowledge"
represents a partial and incomplete (revelational) stage. But is rightly remarked that Paul
distinguishes between sophia and gnosis in I Cor. 12:8 All three terms (tongues, prophecy,
knowledge) involve divine disclosure of verbal revelation and all three on that basis alone
ceased when the foundation (i.e., the perfect) came (10). Verse 11 speaks of the partial
as childlike (cf., 14:20) and the perfect as manly (the apostolic is "manly," too, cf., 14:20).
Paul reflecting on those who are limited to these childlike things describes this limitation as
seeing in a mirror darkly (12). When the perfect (the apostolic depositum) is come, full
knowledge is present.(6)

Coppes, like Clark connects the perfection with the completion of the canon. The next passage of Scripture cited contains a strong warning not to tamper with God's Word. This verse is particularly relevant for the closing of canon at this point in redemptive history:

For I testify unto every man that heareth the
words of the prophecy of this book, If any man
shall add unto these things, God shall add unto
him the plagues that are written in this book:
And if any man shall take away from the words of
the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his
part out of the book of life, and out of the holy
city, and from the things which are written in
this book. (Rev. 22:18-19)

The book of Revelation for good reasons is believed to be the last book written. It was completed prior to 70 A.D. The passages in chapter 1:3 and 22:6, 12 are time indicators that point to an early date to this book. Why, someone may ask? The wording in these texts such as "for the time is at hand" and "which must shortly be done" provide convincing evidence for an early date prior to 70 A.D. for John’s revelation. This is because, the First Century fulfillment of the prophecies within the book are relevant to dating of Revelation prior to 70 A.D. The time texts previously mentioned become important indicators pointing towards dating the book in the Firs Century.

In addition, the temple in chapter eleven shown to be still in existence also supports this early date prior to 70A.D. If an early date for the book of Revelation is accurate (which it is) then it allows the book to fit into the time frame of Daniel's prophecy. Accordingly, the book of Revelation fits into the time frame and purview of Daniel's "seventy weeks." Therefore, those who argue for continued revelation do so at the peril of their souls since they are urging men to violate this Scriptural warning recorded in the last book of the canon.

Another passage that sheds important light on the penalty for giving false revelation is in Zechariah thirteen. The context of this section of Zechariah places it in the First Century. See Zechariah 11:13; 12:10; 13:1; 13:7 for proof of this First Century setting. Consider this warning not to add to God's word:

It shall come to pass that if anyone still
prophesies, then his father and mother who begot
him will say to him, You shall not live, because
you have spoken lies in the name of the Lord. And
his father and mother who begot him shall thrust
him through when he prophesies. (Zechariah 13:3) (NKJ)

This passage supports the view that prophecy has ended in light of the fact that the death penalty is still to be carried out for false prophetic utterances and is in harmony with Daniel 9:24. The phrase "If anyone still prophesies" makes it clear that prophecy has ended. The death penalty is required for those who give new revelation. Why? On account of the fact that it is false revelation since God has ceased giving revelation. This is the consistent theme of Scripture. Again, see Rev. 22:18, 19; Gal. 1:8, 9; Deut. 13:5 for the penalties and curses associated with violating this prohibition.
Consider the important fact that Jesus is the incarnate word of God:

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory,
the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

Because of the incarnation, the next passage may be most important verse in our study regarding the completion of the Scriptures:

God, Who at sundry times and in divers manners
spake in times past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son,
whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom
he also made the worlds. (Heb. 1:1,2)

This passage in Hebrews makes it clear that Christ Jesus is the final and complete revelation of God. God in times past spoke through the prophets. Now, He speaks through Christ. God speaks to us in and through the Scriptures which Jesus said “testify of me” (John 5:39). Jesus also admonished his disciples saying “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27). Christ is the head corner stone of the church’s foundation. He is the head of the church.

Jesus as the head of the church commissioned the twelve apostles to speak in His name with His authority and power:

And When he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power
against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and
all manner of disease…. These twelve Jesus sent forth… (Matthew 10:1-5)

These apostles whom Jesus commissioned, spoke in His name, 2 Peter 3:2, they wrote in His name, 1st Corinthians 14:37. God confirmed the words of the apostles with power:

Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders,
and mighty deeds. (2 Corinthians 12:12)

The words of the apostles were the words of Christ and as shown earlier the words of the apostles that God intended to preserve for His Church were committed to writing. Beyond the words of Christ and His apostles, new alleged revelations are nothing more than an attempt to rebuild or add to the foundation of the church. Any attempt to add to Scripture is a direct attack upon the person and work of Christ. How is this so? The Scriptures are so connected to Christ e.g., Luke 24:27, and John 5:39 that any attempt to undermine them is an attack upon Christ himself. In the book of Colossians we see Christ's preeminence over all of creation:

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were
all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether
they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him
and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (Col. 1:15-17)

The Father declared concerning Jesus in Matthew 17:5 "…This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him." Where do we hear the words of Christ? It has been abundantly demonstrated that we hear Christ speaking in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. In addition, when we read "the Scriptures hath said" and "God hath said" we see how the Scriptures and God speaking are equated in such a way as to be identical. Therefore, the testimony of Christ is so connected with and interwoven into the very fabric of Scripture that to deny the authority of Scripture in any fashion is to deny Christ Himself.

In conclusion, in light of the closing of the canon, new revelations no matter who gives them are false revelations. Therefore, alleged spiritual experiences, new revelations, must not guide man, only the Scriptures where God has spoken. For those whom disagree with this conclusion, the burden of proof is upon them. In a very real sense, the question about Joseph Smith, the alleged Mormon prophet is already settled. As has been shown, the canon of Scripture is closed. Therefore, Smith's claims to on-going revelations are false. Even so, we will look at additional proof from Scripture that Joseph Smith and the Mormon Church's claims are invalid.

Considering the Biblical tests to determine if someone is a prophet:

God has given His covenant people some very clear guidelines on how to evaluate or test an individual who claims to be a prophet. We will look at the Scriptural teachings relevant to this test under several different headings and examine Joseph Smith's teachings, character and prophecies in light of the Scriptures.

In the book The Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith we have Mormon founder Joseph Smith's view concerning God. For example, we have Smith teaching the following:

God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens! . . . for I am going to tell you how God came to be God. We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea, and take away the veil, so that you may see.... It is the first principle of the Gospel to know for a certainty the Character of God, and to know that we may converse with him as one man converses with another, and that he was once a man like us; yea that God himself, the Father of us all dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ himself did; and I will show it from the Bible. Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Arranged by Joseph F. Smith, (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1976), pp. 345, 346.

According to Smith, God is limited or finite corporeal being (with a body) who progressed to godhood and will ever be learning and increasing in knowledge. Men today are fundamentally no different than Smith's god, just not as far up the scale of being as the Mormon deity.

In contrast, the doctrine of God as set forth in Scripture:

Hear, O Israel the LORD our God is one LORD: (Deut. 6:4)

This is called the Shema, the central confession of faith of the Old Testament covenant people. This was a distinctive belief of the people of Israel, setting them apart from all pagan concepts of god.

In addition, the following verses will clearly demonstrate that the God of the Bible is completely different from the Mormon god, who changes and is essentially nothing more than a big man. The following verses prove God's eternal existence which set him apart from finite or limited men. I will cite a few of the many passages in Scripture that prove God is not a man. God sets himself apart from sinful men by clear declarations. How many verses does it take to prove that God is not a man who changes? Consider carefully the passages in this section to see if the quotations by Joseph Smith is in harmony with the Bible.

God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent:... (Num. 23:19)

Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he. (Isaiah 41:4)

Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. (Isaiah 43:10)

...I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. (Isaiah 44:6)

I am the LORD , and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me, I am the LORD, and there is none else. (Isaiah 45:5 6)

Does Mormon teachings speak "according to this word?" The above citations from Joseph Smith makes it clear that Smith did not believe in the God of the Bible.

Joseph Smith and humility:

These bizarre assertions on Smith's part seem more like the ravings of a mad-man rather than a prophet of God. There is certainly no humility in these assertions. Remember the words of Christ, "For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." Luke 14:11 It is interesting to note that less than of year from some of these ravings, Smith was killed in a gun battle that happened when angry citizens stormed the jail where Smith was being held for destroying a newspaper printing press that was critical of him.

What is Joseph Smith's place in Mormonism?

These teachings about Joseph Smith show the shockingly un-biblical nature of the Mormon religion. Rather than Christ being exalted, Smith is set forth as indispensable for salvation.

In 1887, Mormon historian Andrew Jensen recorded in the publication the Historical Record Volume 6 on page 233 the marriages of Joseph Smith to Louisa Beman, Zina D. Huntington, Prescinda L. Huntington, Eliza Roxey Snow, Sarah Ann Witney, Desdemona W. Fuller, Eliza M. Partridge, Emily D. Partridge, Lucy Walker, and Almera W. Johnson during the years of 1841 thru 1843.

Joseph Smith and the early Mormons were denying the practice of polygamy publicly and even went so far as to excommunicate one of their elders for this practice all the while Joseph Smith was secretly practicing polygamy himself. This is what the Scripture call bearing a false witness, a violation of the 9th Commandment Exodus 20:16."Ye shall know them by their fruits..." Matthew 7: 16 Lying is bad fruit!

Prophecies of Joseph Smith:

Mormon founder Joseph Smith certainly tried to prophesy. Let's consider his tract record.

This so-called prophesy is false because Jesus did not return within fifty-six years or by 1891. The outside time frame for this prophesy to be fulfilled was in 1891, which arrived without Christ's return.

The Mormons were driven out of Jackson County in 1833. They were not gathered there in accordance to this prophecy dealing with building the temple. The prophecy clearly states that the generation present when the prophecy was given would not pass away until the temple was built at the western boundaries of the state of Missouri which is in Independence. Therefore, this prophesy is false!

Smith prophesied on December 25th 1832 that All Nations would be involved in the War Between the states:

"Verily, thus saith the Lord concerning the wars that will shortly come to pass, beginning at the rebellion of South Carolina, which will eventually terminate in the death and misery of many souls; And the time will come that war will be poured out upon all nations, beginning at this place. For behold, the Southern States shall be divided against the Northern States, and the Southern States will call on other nations, even the nation of Great Britain, as it is called, and they shall also call upon other nations, in order to defend themselves against other nations; and then war shall be poured out upon all nations" Doctrine and Covenants 87:1-3.

Consider some historical details: Is this really a prophesy or just common knowledge that was in the newspapers of the day? Smith gave this so-called prophesy on December, 25th in 1832. On July 14th in 1832 Congress passed a tariff act that South Carolina thought was so bad it declared it null and void. Andrew Jackson alerted the U.S. Troops and the nation expected war. And, on December 10th 1832 The Boston Daily Advertiser and Patriot printed extracts from the message of the Governor of South Carolina at the opening of the Legislature in Boston on November 27th 1832 and "His message warned that South Carolina was prepared to resit the U.S. Government by force, if necessary." The same day, December 10th 1832, Orson Hyde (Mormon apostle) left Boston. On December 22nd 1832 he arrived in Kirkland, Ohio where Smith was. Three days later Smith gave his civil war prophesy on the rebellion of South Carolina. This in reality was no big deal, because they had already rebelled on July 14th. The fact that Smith predicted the Civil War is not incredible or an indicator that he had special revelatory knowledge. This was a common belief among many people who read the newspapers of the day.

This is clearly another false prophecy since all nations did not get involved in the American Civil War.

Smith prophesied on December 27th 1832:

"For not many days hence and the earth shall tremble and reel to and fro as a drunken man; and the sun shall hide his face, and shall refuse to give light; and the moon shall be bathed in blood; and the stars shall become exceedingly angry, and shall cast themselves down as a fig that falleth from off a fig-tree," Doctrine and Covenants Section 88:87.

The sun has not yet been hidden nor has the moon hidden its face. And it should be noted that this prophecy was given on December 27th 1832. Smith's prophesy failed because the time frame of prophesy when he said "Not many days hence."

In this case, Smith had prophesied that God would allow him to "triumph" over "all" his enemies. However, less than two years later, his enemies attacked the Carthage, Illinois jail where Smith was being held prisoner for inciting his fellow Mormons to destroy the printing press of a newspaper that was critical of him. A group of angry citizens attacked the jail and Smith was killed. Smith fought back with a gun that had been smuggled into him and it should be noted that because of this (fighting back) he did not die as a martyr which the Mormons claim he was. Martyr do not die in blazing gun battles. Moreover, it is clear that Smith's "enemies" did "triumph" over him. Therefore, this is a false prophecy.

Smith prophesied about David W. Patten on April 17, 1838:

This so-called revelation was concerning early Mormon leader David W. Patten, telling him to settle his business up so that he could go on a mission "next spring...to testify of my name and bear glad tidings unto all the world." Doctrine and Covenants Section 114:1.

However, before Patten could settle his business, eight months after receiving this so-called prophesy, Patten was killed leading Mormons in the Battle of Crooked River on October 25, 1838. He never went on the mission as prophesied. History of the Church Volume 3 page 171. Therefore, this is also a false prophesy.

The problem is that Mormons today do not know anything about Oliver Granger let alone keep his name in sacred remembrance as the so-called prophesy in the Doctrine and Covenants asserts. As far as the Mormon people are concerned, Oliver Granger has been forgotten rather than keeping his name in "sacred remembrance." This clearly a failed prophesy!

The United States rejected the Mormon petitions, nor were their wrongs redressed and they were not protected from their enemies. The United States government was not overthrown as Smith predicted. This is another example of a false prophesy!

Smith prophesied on Apr 23, 1834 that The United Order would be Everlasting:

This is another so-called revelation to establish a separate United Order in Missouri, which was to be "everlasting," "immutable and unchangeable," and to benefit the church "until I come," "This is the way that I, the Lord, have decreed to provide for my saints..." Doctrine and Covenants, Section 104:1.

The United Order (a form of theocratic communism) failed, even though the Latter-day Saints tried to make it work. It was clearly not everlasting, nor was it immutable or unchangeable and it did not provided for the Latter-day Saints. Therefore this another false prophesy!

In closing, I would challenge any Mormon to supply me just one example of a prophesy of Joseph Smith that was fulfilled. I've made this challenge repeatedly over the years and have never received even one example. Remember, the Scriptures require 100 percent prophetic accuracy. "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: 22.

Other Mormons leaders tried their hand at prophesy with about as much success. For example, Mormon apostle Heber C. Kimball is recorded in the Journal of Discourses Volume 5 on page 219 on September 6th 1856 prophesying: "The Church and kingdom to which we belong will become the kingdom of our God and his Christ, and brother Brigham Young (second so-called prophet of the Utah Mormon Church) will become President of the United States." Does anything more need to be said?

2. W. E. Vine, Vine’s Expository Dictionary Of New Testament Words, (Iowa Falls: Riverside, 1952), p. 809.

3. E. J. Young, Daniel, (Oxford: The Banner Of Truth Trust, 1988), p. 200.

4. Adam Clarke, Clarke’s Commentary Vol. 4, (Nashville: Abingdom Press, 1956), p. 602.

5. Gordon H. Clark, First Corinthians, (Jefferson, Maryland: The Trinity Foundation, 1991), pp. 212, 213.

6. Leonard J. Coppes, Whatever Happened to Biblical Tongues?, (Chattanooga, Tennessee: Pilgrim Publishing Company, 1977), pp. 59,60.