Bible Verses About Prophets
Now He said to them, These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.
The prophets are as wind,And the word is not in them.Thus it will be done to them!
Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead to battle or shall I refrain? And they said, Go up, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.
Her leaders pronounce judgment for a bribe,Her priests instruct for a priceAnd her prophets divine for money.Yet they lean on the Lord saying,Is not the Lord in our midst?Calamity will not come upon us.
For the Lord has poured over you a spirit of deep sleep,He has shut your eyes, the prophets;And He has covered your heads, the seers.
I have also spoken to the prophets,And I gave numerous visions,And through the prophets I gave parables.
Who say to the seers, You must not see visions;And to the prophets, You must not prophesy to us what is right,Speak to us pleasant words,Prophesy illusions.
A True Prophet Will Be Chosen By God From One Of The Tribes Of Israel
Verse 18 says he shall be from among their fellow Israelites. Moses was speaking to Israelites and it is clear that he said that God would raise up a prophet from among you . This same expression is found in Deuteronomy 3:18 and Deuteronomy 17:15 where God said that the future kings of Israel must be chosen from among their brethrenthey were not to set a foreigner over them as their king. Thus it is clear the prophet must be an Israelite.
Prophecy Isnt Always Clear
The future scenarios that the prophets see are presented in long poems, dramatic displays, and vivid dreams. Theyre not always direct, clear statements about whats going to happen. For example, Jesus, Peter, and Paul were convinced that the Old Testament prophets anticipated Jesus resurrection from the dead . But according to the accounts of Jesus life in the four gospels, Jesus closest followers didnt understand that the Messiah had to dielet alone rise againuntil after theyd already encountered the risen Jesus.
Beyond this, often times the prophets will blend those future scenarios we discussed above together. Because the Jews lived under the rule of foreign empires, prophecies about Israels restoration often coincide with prophecies about judgment for the kingdoms oppressing them.
Furthermore, while a prophecy might be uttered all at once, prophecy isnt always fulfilled all at once. For example, God promises David a son, a descendant who will rule Jerusalem forever. Parts of this prophecy are fulfilled in Davids literal immediate heir, Solomon. But other parts of this prophecy went unfulfilled for a long, long timewhile Christianity claims Jesus Christ was that promised king, Judaism still awaits a Messiah and deliverer.
You May Like: How To Teach The Bible To Preschoolers
A True Prophet Will Speak The Words Which Jehovah Puts Into His Mouth
Gods message is often rejected by sinful men because God demands obedience to His Word, but a true prophet will not try to make his message popular. A false prophet however appeals to popular enthusiasm. Notice the example in Isaiah 30:8-11 where the people ask the false prophets to prophesy nice thingsNow go, write it down on a tablet in their presence, inscribe it on a scroll, so that it might be saved for a future time as an enduring witness. For these are rebellious peoplethey are lying children, children unwilling to obey the Lords law. They say to the visionaries, See no more visions! and to the seers, Dont relate messages to us about what is right! Tell us nice things, relate deceptive messages. Turn aside from the way, stray off the path. Remove from our presence the sovereign king of Israel. Jeremiah shows us that a true prophet does not invent his messagehe is inspired by GodThen the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, I will most assuredly give you the words you are to speak for me..
The Prophecies Must Testify To Jesus
The second test is similar to the first. The Scripture is clear that prophecy should reveal truth about the Person and work of Jesus Christ. John wrote.
Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said, No, dont worship me. For I am a servant of God, just like you and other brothers and sisters who testify of their faith in Jesus. Worship God. For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus .
Jesus is the theme of all Bible prophecy.
Some People Were Cursing Christ with Their Prophecies
It seems that some were prophesying at Corinth and cursing Christ in the name of the Holy Spirit. Paul wrote.
So I want you to know how to discern what is truly from God: No one speaking by the Spirit of God can curse Jesus, and no one is able to say, Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit .
The Holy Spirit does not lead a prophet to curse Christ.
The Content of a Prophecy Is Crucial
The content of the prophets message is crucial. John again wrote.
Prophetic utterances should magnify Jesus Christ and Him alone. If the one giving the prophecy denies that Jesus was fully divine and fully human, then that person is a false prophet. Thus, the way the prophets view Jesus character and teaching is another test that can be applied.
You May Like: How To Read Through The Bible
Did The Prophet Read The Quran
Muhammads cousin, Ibn Abbas, describes the way in which the final version of the Quran was fixed: the prophet recited the book before Gabriel every year in the month of Ramadan, and in the month in which he died he recited it before him twice. It is believed that the term reciting the Quran twice means compiling
What Does The Bible Say About Them
In Deuteronomy 18:9-20, God warns His people not to engage in divination, cast spells, or consult mediums, nor listen to anyone who speaks in the name of other gods. These false prophets should be put to death, He says.
God expresses His displeasure even more fiercely in Jeremiah both about the false prophets and those who listen to them.
Therefore this is what the Lord says about the prophets who are prophesying in My name: I did not send them, yet they are saying, No sword or famine will touch this land. Those same prophets will perish by sword and famine. And the people they are prophesying to will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and sword. There will be no one to bury them, their wives, their sons and their daughters. I will pour out on them the calamity they deserve .
God notes in Jeremiah 23:30-32 that He is against false prophets, and in Zechariah 13:3 says they must be stabbed to death by their own parents.
Don’t Miss: How To Pray Using The Bible
New Testament And Early Christianity
Prophecy in the New Testament is seen as both a continuation of the prophecy in the Hebrew Bible, which Christians consider to be the Old Testament, as well as its fulfillment. For New Testament authors, the correct interpretation of Old Testament prophecy is that it speaks in toto of Jesus Christ. To prove their point, they often cite passages from the Hebrew prophets that are then elucidated as the words of God about Christ. New Testament writers follow Jesus himself in this matter, and Jesus is taken to be the prophet that was promised in Deuteronomy . Jesus regarded himself as a prophet, and so did some of his contemporaries. One special aspect of the prophetic image, however, is missing in Jesus: he was not an ecstatic, although supernatural revelations are found in connection with him; e.g., the Transfiguration of Jesus as witnessed by some of his Apostles on Mount Tabor. In those New Testament descriptions of the Transfiguration, Jesus is proclaimed to be the Son of God in words borrowed directly from the enthronement ritual mentioned in the Scriptures. As a prophet, Jesus predicted his own death, his return as the Son of Man at the end of the world, and the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple. At many points in New Testament writings, Jesus is compared with and interpreted through the classical prophets: his deathseen as the martyrdom of a prophethis sufferings, and even his identity.
What About Joel : 28
Joel 2:28-30 And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 29 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. 30 I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. In Joel 2, Joel is speaking to Israel. He prophetically states that in the future, Israel will prophesy, dream, and have visions. Some will read this passage and ask, does this mean we can do this today? The short answer is, No. How do we know this? Because Joel 2 is talking about the Day of the Lord during a period of history called the tribulation. If you look at the beginning of Joel 2, it says Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming. If you are wondering when is this Day of the Lord, Joel chapter 2 is quoted in Revelation 9:1-9. This passage is dealing with the tribulation. The event described in Joel 2 is a future event that is to be fulfilled in Revelation 9. Why is this event happening in Revelation 9? Well based on Joel 2 it is to bring Israel to God. If you remember Israel rejected God and God is using these signs to draw them back to him.
Read Also: What Does The Bible Say About Depression And Sadness
What Is The Meaning Of The Word Prophet
The word prophet comes from the Hebrew word nabi or nabiy, to bubble forth, like a fountain, or to utter, speak, or pour forth an announcement. Other words hozeh and roeh, meaning seer are also used for prophets. The term is meant to imply the person is receiving an announcement directly from God, and that word or vision then bubbles forth for others to receive, too.
Prophets In The New Testament
The tradition of prophecy continued in the New Testament. John the Baptist proclaimed the coming of Jesus and pronounced the start of His ministry.
Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet .
The Apostle John received and recorded visions from God about heaven and end-time events.
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near .
;Anna recognized and worshipped the Messiah when she saw Him in the temple.
There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher…Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child .
Agabus predicted an upcoming famine in the Roman world, and later foretold Pauls arrest.
After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea .
Note that;Jesus did speak prophetically during His earthly ministry, not just as a human man hearing from God, but as the Son of God. Prophecy was just one way He blessed the people, along with healings, teachings, and miraculous signs.
Don’t Miss: What Does Bible Say About Vaccines
Are There Any Of These In The New Testament
False prophets were not only a problem in the Old Testament; they also plagued the apostles in the New Testament. For example, the Book of Acts describes an occasion when Barnabas and Paul encountered a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet when the apostles were offering the word of God to the proconsul of Paphos. When the sorcerer tried to oppose their teaching, a Holy Spirit-filled Paul verbally lashed out at the man, causing him to go blind. Amazed, the proconsul believed.
The Apostle Peter warned about false teachers, much like false prophets, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies .
These evildoers will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done .
Most Prophets Were Sent To Inspire Action Or Change
Its easy to think of prophets as individuals propped up on an elevated step, rock, platform, etc., proclaiming a big, grand message to the crowd. Many prophets, however, had an intended audience of ten, three, or even one. It depended on where the motivation and inspiration was needed most.
Moses was an early Old Testament prophet and leader called by God to save the entire Israelite nation from slavery in Egypt. To start that process, however, he and his brother, Aaron, had to confront one person, the Pharaoh, to convince him to release the Israelites.;
Pharaoh refused, so God used Moses to perform miracles , demonstrating that Pharaoh was up against more than a couple strong-willed humans. Nope, he was messing with Gods people. Yet it still took many confrontations with Moses, as well as several more plagues, to get Pharaoh to relent .;
The prophet Jonah was sent to the city-state of Nineveh to warn them of impending destruction if they continued in their wickedness. Fortunately, they whole city listened, and they repented of their sins.;
During the time of King David, God sent the prophet Nathan to him to tell him a parable, effectively convincing King David of his guilt from his recent actions in murder and adultery. The king repented and accepted his consequences .;
Even with a divinely inspired call to action, the choice to follow Gods way or their own way still belongs to the human being.;
You May Like: What Is Pride According To The Bible
What Is A Prophet
Christians vary in their characterizations of a prophet. This article will abide by this definition:
A prophet receives messages from God, mainly concerning events that will take place in the future, and conveys them to a certain group of people or singular person, whom God intends to hear the delivered message.
In some ways, a prophet is an advocate or mediator between God and a group of people.
Use By Conservative Christians
Biblical prophecy is believed to be literally true by a number of conservative Christians, such as Norman Geisler and Young Earth Creationists. Interpreters uphold this principle by providing details of prophecies that have been fulfilled. Interpreters also dispute the legitimacy of non-biblical prophets and psychics. Professor Peter Stoner and Dr. Hawley O. Taylor, for example, believed the Bible prophecies were too remarkable and detailed to occur by chance.Arthur C. Custance maintained that the Ezekiel Tyre prophecy was remarkable.
These interpretive issues are related to the more general idea of how passages should be read or interpreteda concept known as Biblical hermeneutics. Bible prophecy is an area which is often discussed in regard to Christian apologetics. Traditional Jewish readings of the Bible do not generally reflect the same attention to the details of prophecies. Maimonides stated that Moses was the greatest of the prophets and only he experienced direct revelation. Concern with Moses’ revelation involves law and ethical teaching more than predictive prophecy. According to Maimonides’ Guide for the Perplexed the prophets used metaphors and analogies and, except for Moses, their words are not to be taken literally.
According to the Talmud, prophecy ceased in Israel following the rebuilding of the second temple. Nonetheless Maimonides held that a prophet can be identified if his or her predictions come true.
You May Like: What The Bible Says About Divorce And Remarriage
Some Prophets Did Prophesy About The Future
Even though the foretelling of future events is not even the primary function of a prophet, theres a reason its common for people to think this is the defining characteristics of prophets. Several of the most famous prophets of the Bible revealed important aspects of the future to their intended audiences.
Daniel, a Hebrew prophet during the time the entire nation Israel was held captive by Babylon, prophesied directly to several kings of Babylon their reigns were coming to an end . He proclaimed to everyone in Israel and Babylon that God had very specific plans for Israelplans that would restore their independence and break them free from oppressive rule.
Daniel also was given prophecies that had to do with the distant future of the earth , similar to John of Patmos, often nicknamed John the Revelator, who wrote most of the prophetic words in the book of Revelation.;
Divination And Prophecy In The Hellenistic World
The problem of false prophets that occurred during the period of classical Hebrew prophecy also occurred in the early Christian communities. Prophets and diviners were widespread throughout the Hellenistic world. The Greekprophts was not only a forthteller but also an interpreter of divine messages. In addition, there were mantics i.e., visionary seerswhose visions were interpreted by prophets, soothsayers, diviners of all kinds, and especially astrologers. The impetus for much of that activity came from Babylonia. The influx of new religions from the East brought a profusion of astrologers and prophets. Many schools of astrology were founded throughout the Hellenistic world, and old schools of philosophy became very much occupied with astrology.
Don’t Miss: What Is Romans About In The Bible