The thing about prophecy ministries is…
By Elizabeth Prata
I received the following question from a reader.
Q. Can you tell me if a group of speakers are false teachers? The Prophecy Watchers: Larry Ollison, Mondo Gonzales, Bill Koenig, Billy Crone, Randall Price, Ken Johnson, Tom Hughes, Lee Brainard.
A. Thank you for the inquiry! I am not familiar with the organization or the men behind it. I did a quick scan using 2 methods. I asked AI, and I read one of their recent essays- “More Blood Moon Hysteria?” from March 2026. I will give my opinion interspersed in bold, and then my conclusion at bottom from having studied this issue generally.
AI said:
PROS
Within conservative evangelicalism—specifically dispensational premillennialism—these men are viewed as mainstream, scholarly, and deeply committed to scripture.
[My note- If this is true, it’s good]
Literal Hermeneutics: They apply a strict, literal approach to interpreting biblical texts, treating prophecy as history written in advance.
[This is correct. Prophecy is about a third of the Bible and should taken seriously.]
Academic Credentials: Several of these speakers hold legitimate academic degrees. For example, Mondo Gonzales holds an M.A. in Near Eastern Archaeology, and Randall Price is a recognized archaeologist who has directed excavations at Qumran in Israel.
[Since many seminaries are liberal, earning advanced degrees may or may not be an indicator of solidity, but IMO having a degree in biblical Archaeology is interesting and a good basis for speaking to history in the Middle East.]
Cultural Relevance: For millions of Christians who believe in a literal End Times timeline (including the Rapture, Tribulation, and Second Coming), these teachers provide a valued framework for connecting daily headlines with ancient texts.
[Dispensationalism is under attack and looked upon as silly by MOST of the conservative quarters of the faith. I’m glad they hold to it, being the correct interpretation of end time events.]
CONS (still AI)
To secular observers, historians, and mainstream/progressive theologians, their teachings are often viewed as fringe, speculative, or sensationalist.
[This is typical of one-topic ministries but especially prevalent with end time ministries. Focusing so heavily on one topic in evangelicalism over time, seems to skew the person or people leading it. We have seen this with para-church ministries focusing on abortion, homosexuality conversions, purity ministries, even ones focusing on ‘good’ things like holiness, those tend to get Legalistic after a while. MANY, if not most, end time ministries skew speculative and sensationalist.]
Newspaper Exegesis: Critics argue that they engage in “newspaper exegesis”—the practice of taking current events (such as advancements in AI, Middle Eastern treaties, or global health crises) and forcing them into biblical verses to create a sense of urgency.
[The Bible should create the sense of urgency, not newspaper headlines. Many Prophecy watching ministries are upside down like this.]
[Newspaper eisegesis is not proper interpretation. We in our finite minds cannot detect what God may or may not be doing. He said in Hosea 5:12 he will be as a moth to Ephraim and like rot to Judah. Moths and rot work in secret, we cannot detect it. And when we do see something big like say, a tsunami, we can say it may be from God since He is sovereign but we do not know the reason. That’s speaking into His mind and we don’t know His mind. So we always have to be cautious.]
Back 20 years ago I briefly engaged in newspaper eisegesis and I know why- I was newly converted and excited and relieved to have found the common thread to the chaos of the world. But I am equally glad that the Holy Spirit grew me out of it. I believe it is important to focus on the WHOLE Bible, to stay diligent in my own responsibilities while maintaining a heavenly perspective under God’s sovereignty, with a sense of urgency knowing the Lord could return at any time.
Sensationalism: Topics such as the search for the Ark of the Covenant, speculating on the identity of the Antichrist, or warning of a looming “one-world government” can sound highly conspiratorial or far-fetched to those outside this specific theological subculture.
[The Bible says do not engage in speculations or foolish controversies. 2 Timothy 2:23. IMO it is not a good use of time to wonder about things we cannot know and in fact if we should know them the Lord would have revealed them. Conjecture is not profitable.]
When I read the Blood Moons article I was encouraged that the the author urged the same, i.e. do not speculate, BUT he came up to the edge of speculation himself. It’s not necessary to parse every global event, to examine newspaper headlines in the Middle East, or to debate who the antichrist may be. Settling in to live and rest in God’s provision, His word, and His timing is more important than these other speculations.
I’d suggest to anyone to go away from prophecy watching type of ministries, even though these particular guys seem to be more solid than many others. I think it is best to find a solid expository preacher who handles the WHOLE counsel of God, including the last days verses, in context and properly. If it is in context verse-by-verse, then we can be more sure the prophetic passages are handled correctly. (2 Timothy 2:15).
One such preacher I’d recommend in handling the prophetic passages correctly is John MacArthur. His book “Because the Time is Near” is breathtaking in its presentation of the events foretold in Revelation, while creating a lasting awe at the power and person of Jesus, which is as it should be. Other examples would be the general preaching in the series of Bible books when he comes to the pertinent passages.
The problem with prophecy watcher ministries is that they often take one’s attention away from the person of Jesus and unduly focus on events.
That is my take on it.
