What is Prophecy?
The meaning of words can change, and this seems particularly true in words with religious connotations. The word ‘believe’ was given a new meaning in Victorian times. Originally it meant following a person but it came to mean accepting an idea. ‘Worship’ has become associated with singing instead of being an attitude of life. The word ‘tongues’has changed from being a known intelligible language to being some unintelligible sounds that purport to have a divine origin. ‘Prophecy’ has also been given a new definition. Originally it meant ‘the proclamation of a divinely inspired utterance or revelation from God’. Yet today there are some, even in churches, who think it to be ‘the foretelling or prediction of what is to come under the direct inspiration of God’.
The correct understanding of the word is important as Paul longs for members of the Corinthian church ‘to be eager to prophesy’. Does he mean the proclamation of God’s given message or does he want church members to be hearing new words from God, particularly about the future? This has great significance as the Bible claims to be the completed revelation of God to men. If God has new things to say to mankind then the Scriptures are not complete and sufficient. Thus Paul warns the Corinthian church,
“Do not go beyond what is written.” 1 Corinthians 4:6
Scripture is so balanced. When Paul wrote his first letter to the Thessalonians church he wants there to be a strong concept of ‘every member ministry’ where all are seeking to apply what God has taught in their own life and that of the church community. He gives five commands, two negative and three positive,
“Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22
False ideas and false doctrines have come from those who claim to have a direct line to God. At my medical school, there was a lecturer who had been influenced by some who encouraged him to hear God speak directly to him as he prayed. God gave him new prophetic words that he shared with his friends. One day he put his bibles up for sale in the Union shop. When asked about this he replied,
“God now speaks to me directly so I do not need them!”
It wasn’t long after this that we learned that he had left his wife and young family for another woman. He claimed that God had told him that he would be able to serve him more effectively with this new, younger and physically attractive partner at his side! He was involved in a church that taught such doctrines. Group beliefs are very powerful. Most people’s belief’s reflect the group they are in, and this belief is not necessarily true or helpful. There was a group belief in Nationasl Socialism in Germany 80 years ago which was Hitler’s Nazi party!
When thinking about ‘Prophecy’ it is important to analyse all of the Bible’s teaching on the subject.
Old Testament Prophets
Prophets have always been those people who were given a specific responsibility of passing on God’s specific message to people. These are several examples,
Moses
“I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” Exodus 4:12
“I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account.” Deuteronomy 18:17-19
Jeremiah
“I have put my words in your mouth.” Jeremiah 1:9
Ezekiel
“You must speak my words to them” Ezekiel 2:7
Other prophets -
“The word of the Lord came to . . .” Hosea 1:1,Joel 1:1, Micah 1:1, Zeph 1:1 etc
This idea that the words of the prophets were specifically given to them by God is confirmed by the apostle Peter.
“Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Peter 1:20-21
In the Old Testament there were ‘schools of prophets’. Were these schools apprenticeships where people were learning how to deliver God’s message to people or were they places where students were learning to feel the presence of God and consequently deliver new messages from God? Psalm 19 gives a wonderful description of the vital centrality of the unique Word of God. It is no coincidence that Jesus claimed to be the ultimate ‘Word of God’.
“The word of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, waking wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring for ever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is a servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.” Psalm 19:7-11
The preheat Isaiah makes a clear distinction between those who try to foresee what will happen in the future, seers, and those who proclaim the will of God, prophets.
“They say to the seers, ‘See no more visions!’ and to the prophets, ‘Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions.” Isaiah 30:10
The Old Testament prophets proclaim what God wants people to know, how they should live.
New Testament Prophets
In the New Testament it is clear that God’s message to humanity is complete. Our role is to,
“. . . continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.” Colossians 1:23
Paul continues to say that he has become the church’s servant.
“I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness.”Colossians 1:25
This message has now been disclosed to all Christians, the saints who have been selected by God to pass on his good news.
“To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27
The business of the church is the forth telling or proclamation of the message about Jesus.
“We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labour, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.” Colossians 1:28-29
For Paul proclamation is the forth-telling of the gospel, and he appears to use the word prophecy to mean just this.
“Pray that I may proclaim it clearly as I should.” Colossians 4:4
The word ‘prophet’ is derived from the Greek ‘prophetes’ where ‘pro’ means either ‘earlier than’ or ‘projecting’ and ‘phanai’ to speak. Our word ‘proclaim’ is similar coming from the Latin, ‘pro’ meaning ‘before’ and ‘clamare’, to ‘cry out’. How we need more ‘prophets’ or ‘proclaimers’ in our churches today who have Paul’s understanding of the word.
At the beginning of his Pentecost sermon, Peter quotes from the Old Testament prophecy of Joel. He is explaining the phenomenon of all Christians ‘declaring the wonders of God’ in peoples’ own languages (Acts 2:11).
“In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.” Acts 2:17-18
As a result of this sermon three thousand joined the church that day. After being baptised they ‘devoted themselves to the apostles teaching’ (Acts 2:42). It is therefore most likely that Peter understood the passage from Joel to mean an entrepreneurial vision where individual Christians will have ideas and see opportunities, which they act on, so that the message about the kingdom of God is passed on.
All churches should have this prophetic ministry, to proclaim what God has completed in Christ to our world, both to those inside the church and those outside. We are to teach God’s word as this has an innate power within it to strike at men’s consciences.
“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any two edged sword, it penetrates . . ; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12
The urgent prophetic ministry of the church is to train up able men and women who can pass on God’s message effectively. Timothy had been well trained in the school of prophecy of his day. He was told,
“As for you, continue in what you have learned and have been convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God- breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:14-17
How the church needs more people who will urgently share this message about Jesus with others. Paul recognised that such prophetic ministry would diminish both in churches and in the world, so he gives Timothy, and us who follow, the following urgent divine charge,
“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will nor put up with sound doctrine.. Instead, to suit their own desires they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2 Timothy 4:1-4
The word ‘preach’ is similar in meaning to proclaim and prophesy. It is derived from the Latin ‘praedicare’, which meansto proclaim publicly. Prae or pre means ‘in front of’ and ‘dicare’ ‘to proclaim’.
At the beginning of Luke’s account of the gospel about Jesus, he tells us about an eighty four year old lady who lived in the temple.
“There was a prophetess, Anna . . .” Luke 2:36
It is most unlikely that this meant she was a divine future-teller or fortune-teller. Luke finishes this paragraph by describing the sort of activities this lady undertook - she loved to share God’s message with others.
“Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.” Luke 2:38
False Prophets
The religious world has been plagued by those who claim to be prophets with a new word from God for today, from Marcion, Mani, and Mohammed down to Joseph Smith who founded the Mormons and John Taze Russell who started the Jehovah’s Witnesses. All these religions claim a connection with Jesus but have deviated from his message, which was primarily about himself. Such people invented new messages, claiming that they come from God. However none can substantiate their bold claims by producing objective evidence in the way that Jesus did again and again. It is a lethal heresy to go beyond what is given us in the Scriptures. At the end of the book of Revelation, John writes about the danger of new prophets coming along who either add or subtract from the apostolic Word of God,
“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.” Revelation 22:18-19
We must therefore beware of the shift in meaning of the word ‘prophecy’. Let the last word on this be those of the angel who said to the apostle John when he tried to worship someone other than Jesus,
“Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!” Revelation 22:9
The Bible is outspoken in its warnings against false prophets. What we need in our churches is a rediscovery of the prophetic ministry, where God’s word is clearly and well explained to those around us.
Today there are some, even in our churches, who say that God has spoken to them in a new way. If what they claim to be a new Word from God is not in accord with Scripture or does not prove to be true, such false prophets should be denounced. In the Old Testament the penalty was severe,
“But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded him to say, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, must be put to death.” Deuteronomy 18:20
The Supremacy of Scripture
Jesus spent three years teaching his disciples and then promised them the gift of the Holy Spirit so that they could remember all that he had taught them. He said to the twelve,
“But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:26
“I have much more to say to you, more than you now can bear. but when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.” John 16:12-15
It would therefore be very strange if the prophets in the early church should become a completely independent source of divine inspiration that was separate from the teaching Jesus had given his apostles. Other passages in the New Testament reject the independency of New Testament prophets. Their role was to teach the apostolic truths and apply them to different situations.
Ephesians
In his letter to the Ephesians Paul recognises that the church is,
“. . . built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ himself as the chief cornerstone.” Ephesians 2:20
It is doubtful that Paul is here referring to the Old Testament prophets as a little later in this letter he states that the prophets were leaders within the church.
“It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ be built up until we reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fulness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:11-13
This passage is important as clearly the prophets are, together with the other leaders within the churches, proclaiming the truths about Jesus, so that the churches all have a unified teaching about the Lord Jesus, serve him and become like him in a unified way. In other words all these church leaders are to be teachers of God’s truth as found in Christ. In contrast to those outside the church, who are ‘darkened in their understanding’ (Ephesians 4:18) the church is based on the teaching of God’s truth as found in his word.
“You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in accordance with the truth that is in Christ Jesus. You were taught . . . to be made new in the attitude of your minds.” Ephesians 4:20-23
Here church prophets are a group within the church who share the responsibility of teaching God’s word with the apostles, yet do not have their authority as this was given to the apostles by the Lord Jesus himself.
The early church grew as the message the Lord Jesus brought about the Kingdom of God and forgiveness of sin was passed on to anyone who would listen. This was the work of both the apostles and prophets.
“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ alone as the chief cornerstone.” Ephesians 2:19-20
This could appear to mean the combination of the Old Testament message given through those prophets and the apostles’ message. However in the next chapter Paul says,
“In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together in one body, and sharers together in the promise of Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 3:4-6
Here the prophets share the ministry of the apostles in proclaiming the message of Jesus. Prophets did not have the same authority as the apostles but had the same purpose - their role was to proclaim the message about the Lord Jesus both to Christians and non-Christians. Perhaps some of them had been in that wider band of followers of Jesus or perhaps they had learned their message from the apostles or other original church authorities.
1 Corinthians 14
In this famous chapter Paul urges the Corinthians Christians not to look for gifts that make them look impressive but for gifts that build up others in the church. Thus the gift of languages, even in that cosmopolitan city is no use unless what people say becomes intelligible through translation. Paul longs that all Christians should aspire towards using higher gifts and especially the gift of prophecy. He then explains the effect of prophecy.
“But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.” 1 Corinthians 14:3
Note there is nothing about telling the future. These are the effects of good teaching of the word of God where the Christians’ minds are fed. However the effect of such prophecy is not limited to Christians. Paul continues to describe the effect prophecy will have on those who are uncertain or are unbelievers. They will be convicted of their sin and their need for a Saviour.
“But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand comes in while everyone is prophesying, he will be convicted by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare.” 1 Corinthians 14:24-25
Such prophesying or proclamation is a work of God as his message is being passed on. The effect will be that such people will say, ‘God is really among you.”
Paul continues to stress that the church services should be orderly.
“You can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.” 1 Corinthians14:31
However it would appear that what people said was to be checked by those who knew God’s truths.
“The spirit of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.” 1 Corinthians 14:32
Early church prophets
After Philip had taken the message about Jesus to the city of Samaria, he went down to Gaza to teach the message there. On the way he met the Ethiopian eunuch who committed his life to Christ after being told about him. After ministering in Gaza he went up to Caesarea but it would appear that there he fell in love and settled down. Over twenty years later, when Paul was returning from his third missionary journey, he passed through Caesarea and stayed in the home of Philip, who is now given the title, ‘the evangelist’. Luke continues,
“He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.” Acts 21:9
What a wonderful picture of a man whose family continue his work and pass on the message of Jesus to those around them.
We have seen that the role of prophets in the early church was primarily forth-telling, but occasionally there was fore-telling. For example Agabus appears, at first sight, to be a different type of prophet. We read about him on two occasions and in both he is revealing future events.
“During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, names Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world.” Acts 11:27-28
This is the first mention of prophets in the book of Acts. These prophets had clearly been part of the established church in Jerusalem where they would have mixed with and learned from the Apostles. This account does not deny that the main function of the prophets was to preach, exhort , explain and apply the teaching of Jesus delivered by his apostles. Agabus then returned to Judea.
The next time we meet Agabus was when he visited the church in Caesarea at the time of Paul’s return from his third missionary journey. Luke writes,
“After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, ‘The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.” Acts 21:10-11
Significantly Paul does not take this as a directive from God as he persists in his determination to travel on to Jerusalem. The question must therefore be asked why God delivered this message through Agabus. It can only have been to encourage God’s people to continue witnessing about Jesus, whatever the consequences in this life, as the Lord remains in control. The rest of the book of Acts confirms this.
Summary
The Bible is clear, it contains all we need to know about the spiritual world. It tells us how we can be put right with God and how God will enable us to live as his representatives, whatever the cost. However God has given his Holy Spirit to his church. The Spirit convicts the world of their need for Christ. Although he can work independently of his people, the norm is that he works through his people as they pass on the message about Christ. He enabled his apostles to record Christ’s message and apply it to different situations in the world and we have this record in the New Testament. But he is also at work in all his people, encouraging us to be a holy people who are set apart for his purposes.
We must therefore be careful not to put our own interpretations on the words of Scripture but to make its exposition the priority in all our churches.
BVP
