>>Luke 16:16 ...
>>I think the scripture speaks for itself. THE kingdom is
>>not of this world, but can be pressed into here and now
>>for Christ is the presense of God, continually.
Did you read the rest of the chapter? The scriptures when firs written by the Apostles were not divided into verse, but in paragraph form in letters, the Catholic Church centuries later divided them into scriptures, and numbered them. If you read from 1 to 16 you see that Christ was teaching that the law of Moses was fulfilled in him (which is why we Christians do not keep it today).
This reference does not address the calling of a prophet, unless you meant there were to be no other prophets called? Is that your point?
Even John the Baptist had a last-minute doubt as to the function of his office, wondering if they should look to one other than Jesus as the Messiah, as apparently Jesus was not performing to their expectations. Yes, the Baptist was the last prophet who spoke in the third person, by the Spirit.
Since then, God spoke/speaks to man face to face in the first person. Jesus never said, 'thus saith the Lord,' or 'thus sayeth the Spirit. He said, 'I say unto you . . .,' as the one with the authority of the Father.
Since the church has grown by the hundreds of thousands and millions since then, what is the need for prophets of God when we have God Himself? (Whosever will)
I thought the message of the Gospel was clear. Why emulate or imitate the practices of those who were under the law if you have been set free? Why substitute one form for another when the function does not require that form?
Of course, there is a distinction between a prophet and a teacher, as a teacher is also referred to as a prophet, but not in the same sense as the prophets of old who were the spokespersons of God on Earth in their day.
Again, my point is that God speaks for himself in, to, and through mankind. That was the reason for installing the mind of Christ in mankind. The mediator, the step-down transformer, if you will, between man and the Father within you. Immanuel -- God with us and in us!
A statement that will raise a few eyebrows, I'm sure, . . . and cause some to throw rocks at me. :)
Muhammud didn't understand it either, desiring to be the last prophet of God.