Posted on 02/18/2021 8:05:51 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Turn on your T.V., and you are bound to come across a religious show with someone declaring they speak for God. Go to your local bookstore, and there I'm sure you will find several books written by people who say they have received divine revelations from God. Jump on YouTube, and you will definitely see videos of preachers proclaiming, "Thus saith the Lord."
This barrage of "prophetic words" from thousands of voices has undoubtedly caused many Christians to become confused. In one camp, you have Christians who get caught up in the sensationalism of prophetic words espoused by the Word of Faith movement. In another camp, you have Christians who doubt prophecy altogether because they lack the faith to understand its intended purpose in the body of Christ. While still, some don't know what to believe.
Therefore, let's turn to the Bible to see what it has to say about prophets.
The first thing we notice from Paul is that there are prophets in the church today. Recorded in Ephesians 4:11-13, Paul mentions the prophet's office in the church. And not only that, but Paul also describes the gift of prophecy in 1 Corinthians 12:10. As a matter of fact, the gift of prophecy is mentioned more than any of the other spiritual gifts. You can find it in these passages: Romans 12:6, 1 Corinthians 12:27-29; 13:1-3, 8; 14:6, and in Ephesians 4:11.
That said, it's vital to understand that the prophet's office in modern times is not the same as Old Testament prophets. Before Jesus came to earth, God raised up prophets (Hebrew, nabi, "to utter") or seers (spokesmen) as national leaders who spoke with specificity and with 100% accuracy in their prophecies (Deut. 18:20-22; Jer. 23:28, 31-33). But after the ascension of Christ to heaven and the completion of the written Word, God utilizes his modern prophets in different ways than he did with Samuel, Daniel, and Isaiah. The writer of Hebrews clears this up when he opened his letter with these words: "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world" (1:1-2).
Furthermore, according to 1 Corinthians 14:3-4, a prophet's primary role now is to edify, comfort, and uplift the church. However, that does not mean predictive prophecy is not exercised among some prophets of God. Like Agabus (in Acts 11:27-28), there are times when a prophet will give a prophetic word from God about the future. That is why we are not to neglect prophecy in the church (1 Thessalonians 5:19-21). But again, the primary purpose of the gift of prophecy in the church age is to encourage and exhort one another (1 Cor. 14:31). Prophets are not called by God to generate visions that others in the church cannot judge (1 Corinthians 14:29).
Therefore, we are not to look to prophets for new revelation but for exhortation according to Scripture's illumination.
In closing, here are six indicators to help you distinguish between a true prophet and a false prophet.
Jason Jimenez is president of Stand Strong Ministries (www.standstrongministries.org), a faculty member at Summit Ministries, and a best-selling author who specializes in apologetics and biblical worldview training.
Yes but the office label is highly abused. There are many false prophets in these latter days.
Either way, that person is a prophet.
“The first thing we notice from Paul is that there are prophets in the church today.”
No.
RE: No.
Depends on how you understand the term “prophet”.
A prophet is anyone who speaks Truth. That truth may be in the form of a prediction, or it may be the Gospel.
Either way, that person is a prophet.
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Yes. People we call prophets today are not what was meant in the past.
Same word but the meaning is different. It’s related, but no one speaks for God today the way the prophets did in the past.
No one is going to add to the Word of God, which is what would happen if true prophets were still operating.
Your reply to me contradicts your post #4.
False prophets abound these days.
Indicator #3 is particularly telling. Most TV “prophets” link their messages to contributions. “When I was a young man G-d told me to give my church my last $1000. And the very next week I got the job of my dreams. This will work for you, too. Call the number below. Do it now!”
(Unfortunately, I’m not exaggerating here.)
The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls, and tenement halls
“Your reply to me contradicts your post #4.”
Thanks for the comment, Ace.
No.
We use prophet today in a different way.
Same word different meaning.
There are no prophets today as in the past in biblical times. These people were used by God to speak directly for God. Their experiences, actions, writings etc... were so important and revelatory that they were incorporated in to the written Word of God. This is one mark of a prophet.
We know that the Word of God is complete and we are not to add to it or take away from it.
Thus the age of the prophet is over. We need no prophet. We have the Word if God and direct access to God in Jesus Christ and The Holy Spirit in that they are one.
But we don't know that.
It *is* sufficient for us at this time, but we do not know if it complete since we cannot foretell the future or what God may do then.
As far as adding or taking away from it, I assume you are talking about Rev. 22:19. That verse is talking strictly about that book--not Scriptures as a whole. The Bible as we know it did not exist in any form when that was written.
Adding new scripture is not off the table--as long as it agrees with existing scripture 100%. I don't think it will happen, mind you, but there is nothing in Scripture that prohibits it or denies modern day prophets (using the OT meaning).
Malachi:
Behold I will send you EliYah the Prophet before the great and terrible Day of YHWH.
And he shall turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with cursing.
That EliYah was John.
Six months before the Passover Lamb came on the scene, he was sent. To prepare the way.
Since He changes not, it would seem that there is a potential for EliYah the Prophet to be sent.
To prepare the way.
Not for the Lamb, but for the Lion.
Will that EliYah the Prophet be received the same way as EliYah the Prophet, John, was received?
Will he be imprisoned? Beheaded?
We have yet to reach the Day of YHWH. He says He will send EliYah the Prophet before that day.
To restore hearts.
The world seems to need that. It seems that is even needed within the Body of Christ itself.
After about 2,000 swine years, the world may need a refresher and restoration to prepare His Way.
Nevertheless, when He returns will He find faith on the earth?
“We know that the Word of God is complete and we are not to add to it or take away from it.”
**But we don’t know that.**
Why would you say that. Book of Revelation states this clearly.
.
“As far as adding or taking away from it, I assume you are talking about Rev. 22:19. That verse is talking strictly about that book—not Scriptures as a whole. The Bible as we know it did not exist in any form when that was written.”
Yes I am talking about that.
Are you Mormon?
We know that the Word of God is complete and we are not to add to it or take away from it.
We do? How do we know the Word of God is complete? Who told us that? If Jesus is God and Jesus is supposed to have a second coming, would that mean the Word of God is incomplete? Can’t have a second-coming of Jesus if God’s Word is complete for when Jesus arrives, assuming you believe he is god, then surely he will say more to add to what he has already said. God’s Word is never complete. To think so you might as well be wearing a tinfoil hat and rubbing your forefinger up and down your lips as you say buh-buh-buh.
How does your comment address the question of are there prophets today?
Real actual prophets who speak for God of future events? No.
Actually the entire Bible had been written by the time Revelation was penned. While the various books were not compiled under one cover, each book was used in certain churches.
No. I am not mormon. Did you read my reasoning? The Bible did not exist at the time that was written, so it was not talking about Scripture in general.
Agreed. But they were not compiled into one tome. They were letters (NT) or existing books (OT), and were viewed as such.
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