The Gift of Prophecy
All throughout the Bible, we read of prophets and prophetesses. Some notable men and women with the prophetic gift were Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Elijah, Elisha, Ezekiel, Malachi, John the Baptist, Miriam, Deborah, Huldah and Anna. Today, do God’s people still have the prophetic gift?
Jesus Christ has given gifts
Ephesians 4:7-12 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Answer: At Jesus Christ’s ascension, He gave gifts to His church. One of the gifts that Jesus has graciously given to His people is the gift of prophecy. Verse 12 tells us that these five gifts, including the gift of prophecy, are for the perfecting of God’s end-time church.
WILL GOD’S END-TIME CHURCH HAVE ALL GIFTS?
1Corinthians 1:5-8 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Answer: Yes! The Bible teaches that God’s remnant church will fall behind in no spiritual gift. The true church will have apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.
GOD’S END-TIME CHURCH IDENTIFIED
Revelation 12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:
Answer: Revelation 12:1 gives the characteristics of God’s church. In Bible prophecy, a pure woman represents a pure church (see: Jeremiah 6:2, Isaiah 51:16, 2 Corinthians 11:2, Ephesians 5:22,23 & Revelation 19:7,8). The church’s platform of truth is rooted in the Scriptures with a special emphasis on the heavenly Sanctuary. As a lesser light, merely reflecting the light of heavenly things, the earthly Sanctuary and all the services pointed to the Lamb of God, the Great Light- the Sun of Righteousness (see: Hebrews 10:1, Malachi 4:2 & John 8:12). The church is crowned with twelve stars. Stars represent the people of God found all throughout time and even to this present day that worship God in spirit and in truth with all sincerity (see: Deuteronomy 10:22, Daniel 12:3, 1 Kings 4:7, Matthew 10:1).
A SPECIAL GIFT FOR THE REMNANT
Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Revelation 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Answer: That old serpent Satan hates God’s people with a fiery passion. Satan specifically hates commandment keepers who have the testimony of Jesus Christ which is the spirit of prophecy. God’s end-time church keeps the whole law of God, including the 4th commandment, and has the prophetic gift. The testimony of Jesus signifies that the words of a prophet are from Jesus Christ. To cast reproach upon a true prophet is to do the same to Jesus who sends and guides true prophets. It is wise to do God’s prophets no harm (Psalm 105:15).
WHO HAS THE GIFT OF PROPHECY?
Answer: As mentioned earlier in this article, both men and women were given the prophetic gift. The gift of prophecy is not limited by gender. Two examples of women having the prophetic gift in the New Testament are Anna (Luke 2:36-38) and the four daughters of Philip (Acts 21:8,9).
HOW LONG WILL THE PROPHETIC GIFT LAST?
Ephesians 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Answer: The gift of prophecy will last until all in the church become unified mature Christians.
WHERE DO PROPHETS GET THEIR INFORMATION FROM?
2Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Answer: Their source of information is the Holy Spirit. They get their thoughts from Jesus Christ through the Holy Ghost.
HOW DOES GOD SPEAK TO HIS PROPHETS?
Numbers 12:6,8 And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?
Answer: God communicates information to His servants through visions, dreams and face to face encounters.
WHAT ARE THE SIX PHYSICAL EVIDENCES?
| Physical Evidence | Scripture |
| Initially lose physical strength | Daniel 10:8 |
| May later receive supernatural strength | Daniel 10:18,19 |
| No breath in the body | Daniel 10:17 |
| Able to speak | Daniel 10:16 |
| Not aware of earthly surroundings | Daniel 10:5-8
2 Corinthians 12:2-4 |
| Eyes will be open | Numbers 24:4 |
A prophet in vision may not manifest all six evidences at the same time. We determine a true prophet from a false prophet by examining their teachings and conduct. If they behave and teach contrary to Scripture then the Bible declares that “there is no light in them”. (Isaiah 8:20)
ARE GREAT MIRACLES PROOF THAT A PROPHET IS OF GOD?
Revelation 16:14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Answer: Satan’s agents can perform miracles too. Miracles are outward manifestations of supernatural power that come from either God or Satan. False prophets will be very convincing. They will be so effective in their work of deception that billions will be deceived and lost.
WHO DOES A PROPHET’S WORK IMPACT THE MOST?
1Corinthians 14:22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
Answer: Prophets primarily serve and impact the church the most.
WHICH PART OF THE BODY DOES THE GIFT OF PROPHECY REPRESENT?
1Samuel 9:8-9 And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way. (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)
Answer: Prophets were also called seers. Eyes would best represent the gift of prophecy.
WHAT HAPPENS TO A BLIND CHURCH?
Matthew 15:14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
Proverbs 23:27 For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.
Answer: A church that is blind will experience a major downfall. Those that do not heed the counsels set forth by a true prophet will swiftly find themselves in the clutches of an impure woman. They will not fall into the hands of a literal prostitute, but will find themselves immersed in the doctrines and works of an unfaithful, paganized, professedly Christian church (see Revelation 17).
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE JOIN GOD’S REMNANT CHURCH?
Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Answer: Those that join God’s end-time church and study the counsels given by the true prophet will find themselves spiritually anchored. They will be certain and settled in their beliefs.
