How can I know a false prophet from a man of God?

This is an important question, because there are many people who distort the Gospel of Jesus. This has been the tactic of Satan since the beginning of time, where he was able to take something God said and twist it, thereby deceiving mankind. 
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Jesus promises that the gates of Hades will not be able to overcome the church, so if Satan can’t defeat the church, he will try to become a part of the church, to divide and weaken the church. 
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• Matthew 7:15 -- “15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”

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So the question is, how can we tell the difference between a false prophet and a man of God?
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Jesus gives us a warning as to how we can identify a false prophet in the Sermon on the Mount:

• Matthew 7:16-20 -- “16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.”

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Peter even warns us that they weren’t just during that time, but that they are still going to come: 
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• 2 Peter 2:1-2 -- “1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.”
  
• 1 Peter 2:12-13 -- “12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. 13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme,”
• ​‌1 Peter 2:18 -- “18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.”

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During the Tribulation, there is going to be the second beast that will be a deceiver, causing people to make an image to it. 
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• Revelation 13:13-4 -- “13 It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, 14 and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived.”

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So we know they are coming, and we know that we will know them by their fruit, but what kind of fruit is it that we will be able to recognize them by?
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• 2 Timothy 3:13-16 -- “13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,”

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Paul tells Timothy that they are going to come, and the way to know them by their fruit is to hold firm to what he was taught. What is it that he was taught?
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• 2 Timothy 3:16 -- “16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,”

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God’s Word is the litmus test as to whether a teaching is true or false. Therefore, we hold firm to God's Word.
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There is a time where people will give up on the Bible, seeking higher enlightenment. But what John and the writer of Hebrews tells us, is that it is all about Jesus. He will never change, and He will always be the source of truth. 
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• 1 John 1:1-4 -- “1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.” ‌
• Hebrews 13:8-9 -- “8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 9 Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.”

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We are to follow the Word of God over anything that man says, and Paul warns that we are to not follow manmade traditions. 

• ‌Ephesians 5:6 -- “6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.”
• Colossians 2:8 -- “8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”

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So how do we do this? We test what we hear, and make sure it lines up with God’s Word
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• 1 John 4:1-2 -- “1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,”
• 1 Timothy 6:3 -- “3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness,”

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Paul & John both tell us that even if an angel preaches something different, it is to be accursed
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• Galatians 1:8 -- “8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.”
• 2 John 1:7-11 -- “7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. 9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.”

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If you want to be able to tell a false prophet, study your Bible and know what it says. 

In the FBI, they are trained to be able to recognize a counterfeit bill. The problem is, there are hundreds of different counterfeits out there. Instead of studying each different counterfeit bill, they simply study the real bill so well that they know everything about it, so that when they see something that isn't right, they are able to know that it is a fake. ‌
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Are you studying your Bible well enough to be able to tell truth from a lie?
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When Jesus was tempted, He quoted Scripture, and knew Scripture even when the devil tried to manipulate it. This is why it is important to find a Bible believing and preaching church, in which you will be guided in the Word of God. This is why it is important to be a part of Biblical Community, so that you are able to receive Biblical guidance. And this is why it is important to daily be in God's Word, meditating on it daily so that you know what it has to say. 
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God's Word is what will direct you in the path that you are supposed to go, and anything that goes against God's Word should be thrown out as an imposter. ‌
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• Titus 1:9 -- “9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.”
• ‌2 Peter 1:19 -- “19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,”
• 1 Timothy 1:3-7 -- “3 As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. 5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.” ‌
• 2 John 1:9 -- “9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.”