THE PROPHETS OF GOD

Matthew 10:27

What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.

The prophet’s gift seems to be one of the most coveted gifts in the Body of Christ. Nevertheless, it is also one of the most abused and misunderstood gifts of the Spirit. This gift is used in error so much so in the churches of Christ simply because even pastors are not sure as to how it is to operate. In some cases, they are intimidated by the “so-called” prophets of today, even by those who are members of the churches they pastor. Therefore, there is tremendous error associated with the gift of prophecy.

Prophecy or Prophesying Prophecy is “a prediction.” It is the content of that which is spoken by the prophet regarding a futuristic event or state of being regarding the heart and will of God. Whereas prophecy is content inspired by God, prophesying is the speaking forth of that content.

1. To declare the heart, (How does God feel about a thing?); mind, (What is God’s intent?); and will of God, (What will God do?).

2. To speak of a futuristic event or state of being by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost.

3. To exercise the prophetic office. This is the Prophet’s gift. The great misconception in the Body of Christ is that the office of the prophet is only for the fore-telling of future events. This is just not true. Prophecy is also and quite primarily, the declaration

of that which cannot be known by natural means. It is a declaration of the heart, mind and will of the Father.

THE SPEAKING FORTH OF THE MIND AND COUNSEL OF GOD

Much of OT (spell out for the 1st time then use abbreviation) prophecy was purely predictive. Most of the prophets tell of events to come.

Example 1: Birth of Christ

In Micah 5:2, the prophet is prophesying; “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler Israel; whose goings forth have been from old, from everlasting.” This is a speaking forth of a future event that will impact the people of God and the world at large. The Messiah will be born in Bethlehem. This prophecy is given by a prophet, called of God to prophesy to the nation of Israel.

Example 2: Caiaphas, the corrupt High Priest

The following passages also reveal the operation of the prophetic word by inspiration given to one who is not a prophet, neither in right-standing with God.

John 11:49-51

49 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,

50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

51 And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation,...

Here we see divine inspiration at its best. Caiaphas, the High Priest, had no intention of saying anything that would remotely glorify Christ. But it was the Father who put the words into Caiaphas’ mouth, “And this spake he not of himself”. It was the heart and mind of God that Christ should die for the nation and the whole world. Take note of the fact that Caiaphas was also without belief in Christ. Therefore, it is possible for God to speak through those who do not believe and/or are not of the household of faith.

Darius to Daniel

Daniel 6:16

Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.

Here also we have a pagan king whom God puts words into his mouth to comfort Daniel just before he enters the lion’s den. Our take-away from the above examples should include the fact that:

•God can and will speak through whomever He chooses. He is God; and can open the mouth of a

jack-ass as well as that of a man.

•Secondarily, true prophecy is by divine inspiration. Let us look at one of the simplest forms of prophecy

expressed in the scriptures.

Matthew 26:67-68

67 Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,

68 Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?

There was no way for Jesus to know who it was that struck Him except it had been revealed to Him by the Father. Had He told them the name of the ones who struck Him, then this would be a form of prophesying, or speaking that which can only be revealed by God.

Abimelech and Abraham

Again, here is another case where God speaks a prophetic word to a heathen, idol worshipping, King.

Genesis 20:6-7,9

6 And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.

7 Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.

9 Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.

Abimelech speaks to Abraham of the deception regarding Sarah, not having been privy to their prior conversation in which Abraham insisted that Sarah say she was his sister. This information came to him in a dream, which was in fact a visitation of God. In his conversation with Abraham he is simply repeating the severity of the situation in the heart and mind of God. Again, this is what prophecy is. It is a declaration of the heart, mind, and will of God in any situation.

In the above situation, Abimelech was able to prophesy the will of God, after having encountered Him in a night vision. That which he could not have known through natural means was revealed to him by the personal visitation of the Father. However, this knowledge of the heart and mind of God did not make Abimelech a prophet. As mentioned previously, prophesying is the foretelling of the will of God. But keep in mind; this could be relative to the past, present or future.

Foretelling a future event

Deuteronomy 18:18

18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.

Revelation 10:11

11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

Revelation 11:3

3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

In each of the above passages there is a foretelling of a future event being told from one standing in the office of a prophet. In Deuteronomy, Moses spoke as a prophet standing in the room for the nation of Israel. In the book of Revelation, there was what appeared to be an angel who spoke and revealed all the visions and events to come. However, we see in the last chapter of the book, this was no angelic being.

Revelation 22:7-9

7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.

9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

John’s escort was a prophet. It was given to him to speak the words of the book as well as to reveal the meanings of its visions. John wrote the book of Revelation. The whole book is a book of prophecy. It contains all the elements of the prophetic gift. Therefore, is John also a prophet? Surely he was called by God to prophecy of these events as stated in the following passages.

Revelation 22:7-8

7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. He wrote that which he had heard and seen.

These things began in the early chapters of the book.

Revelation 1:1-2

1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

Revelation 1:19

Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; Here we have in this book of prophecy, a declaration of the things that are, (the present), and the things which are to come, (the future).

Let us also take note of a phrase in one of our original scriptures used in this section;

Revelation 10:11

And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

Now John was on the Isle of Patmos when he wrote the book of Revelation. We are not told that he ever departed from the island. In fact, history records his death to have taken place there. So how will the mandate or prophecy that spoke of him prophesying “…before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings,” be fulfilled? John wrote letters to the churches and smuggled them off the island.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ was sent to the church and is still being read in the churches of our Lord. It is spoken of in many nations, tongues, and by dignities. Now back to my question. Is John, the revelator, a prophet of the Lord? As always, scripture must be explained by scripture and in light of all scripture.

Luke 6:13-16

13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;

14 Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,

15 Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes,

16 And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.

As we can clearly see in the passage above, John was ordained as an apostle. However, we also see he was sent to prophesy concerning major futuristic events that would warn, guide, encourage and edify the Body of Christ and the world. But in the end of all things, he is as he was ordained, the apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb (Revelation 21:14). Therefore, we must conclude; though John was ordained in the office of the apostle, he was by that ordination, able to also stand in the ministry of the prophet.