| Prophets, predictions and phools |
| Read: 1 John 4:1
1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 Revelation 22:18-19 |
| Summary |
Could you make the distinction between someone who calls themselves a prophet from a person who is just making predictions, under the name of a prophet? You do not want to be phooled!
What is a prediction? Webster dictionary: It is statement about what will happen or might happen in the future. Webster defines a prophet as one who utters divinely inspired revelations: as one regarded by a group of followers as the final authoritative revealer of God’s will. The simplest way to maybe understand the difference would be with this week you will see a lot of people making predictions about the Super Bowl’s game next week, but these predictions are not coming from God, these are not prophetic. How do you keep yourself from being fooled by the likes of a Jim Jones and David Koresh?
The Bible warns that many will come claiming to be prophets and some will even claim to be the Lord Jesus himself (Matthew 24:24, Luke 2:18). Prophets were the foundation to the church (Ephesians 2:20). The job of the prophet was to proclaim a message from God to His followers. In the Old Testament and early Christian days there was no completed Bible. When the Book of Revelation was written, the Bible was completed. We are told not to add or take from God’s word. The punishment is severe and is found in Revelation 22:18-19. There cannot be a greater punishment for this punishment is of eternal judgement.
Are there true prophets today? If the purpose of a prophet was to reveal truth from God, why would we need prophets if we have the completed revelation from God in the Bible? If prophets were the “foundation” of the early church, are we still building the “foundation” today? Can God give someone a message to deliver to someone else? Absolutely! Does God reveal truth to someone in a supernatural way and enable that person to deliver that message to others? Absolutely! But is this the biblical gift of prophecy? No.
The “office” of prophet ceased with the completion of the New Testament, just as the Old Testament prophets disappeared when that testament was completed, some 400 years before Christ. The church was established upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone. Once the foundation was laid, the work of the apostles and prophets was finished.
We do not need prophets today, as we now have the Holy Spirit to guide us, but still people will try to fool us. Whenever a person claims to be speaking for God (the essence of prophecy) the key is to compare what is said with what the Bible says. If God were to speak through a person today, it would have to be in 100% complete agreement with what God has already said in the Bible. God does not contradict Himself.
God tells us to test the spirits and warns us of false teachers and prophets. Compare what is said to what the Word of God says. If it contradicts the Bible, throw it out. If it agrees with the Bible, pray for wisdom and discernment as to how to apply the message.