COVID 19 exposed some serious issues with the claim that the Gift of Prophecy and every historic pandemic for that matter. But before we dive into testing the modern gift of prophecy, we need to first understand that God is sovereign.
Avoid Worldly Tribalism
All gifts have not ceased for the simple fact that God is God and can and will gift whomever he so chooses, whenever he so chooses, wherever he so chooses. To make the definite and ultimate statement that “The gift of prophecy has ceased” is to claim to know for a fact that God absolutely does not and will not gift it to someone presently or in the future. Of course at the end of time, all these gifts would cease rendering them moot since we will be in the presence of God himself; this is not what is the common argument. Since this is not explicitly stated in Holy Scripture, it is impossible for a cencessionist to stand on this claim without self-contradiction. How would they know this if it is not revealed in scripture? Their assumption would be an assumed belief from how extra biblical facts are interpretated – just like continuationists.
The specific primary question here is are the gifts of Prophecy still being given to the church just as liberally and freely as in the 1st century church?
What is “Prophecy”
A massive issue is the concept or idea of what “Prophecy” is. Charismatics, Pentecostals, traditional Church of Christ, and others all claim that God literally speaks to someone, who then feels compelled to speak forth what God told them. They then claim that THIS is THE gift of Prophecy, and they are exercising it. But is it? And if so, since those are words spoken by God, why aren’t they writing his words in their bibles?
ALWAYS, always, test EVERYTHING to Holy Scripture.
The Greek word translated “prophesying” or “prophecy” properly means: to “speak forth” or declare the divine will, to interpret the purposes of God, or to make known in any way the truth of God. Predictive prophesy has been used in scripture on several occasions, most notably, all the prophecies about the coming messiah.
Who Claims to PropheSy
Anyone and everyone can claim to prophesy AND false prophesying and false prophets exist too. Ezekiel 13:1-7 tells us they “prophesy out of their own imagination” and “who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!.. Even though the Lord has not sent them, they say, “The Lord declares,” and expect him to fulfill their words.”
The Scriptures tell us that people can/have/do FAKE prophecies. Do these people know they are not really receiving information from God but from their own “imagination” and “their own spirit.” How would they know the difference? Their “feelings” tell them its different? That’s a scary assumption, walking a fine line of blasphemy.
Numbers 12:6 makes it clear that God will prove him true and anything the prophet claims will be in perfect alignment with the nature and character of God and His will. A true prophet does not validate himself, but will be validated by God. If a prophet claims that they “decided” to become one, or was “appointed by man” to be one, they are false (1 Corinthians 12:11; John 5:31-33). God alone decides who will speak for him and how (1 Samuel 19). To validate them and their message, God empowered them to do miracles (Acts 14:3), BUT the miracles are not to be solely relied on but the consistency and unity of the message with God’s nature, character, and will.
A false prophet will be known by their contradictions to Holy Scripture (Revelation 2:20-21). Which is why they HATE being questioned or tested. But, this also reveals them as false too because we are commanded, by God, to “test everything, hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22) and “do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1). They WILL produce spiritual fruit, good or bad. THEY will produce a fruit that is rotten and stinks of hypocrisy and contradictions. A fruit of disunity with God’s Word and will. And we CAN see it if we look (Matthew 7:19-20).
If the “prophesy” fails, the prophet is false. That means if the claim falls short in ANY WAY, its a lie, and the person is a liar (Deuteronomy 18:20-22). Signs and Wonders do NOT prove a prophet to be of God, even false prophets will be able to do them (Revelation 13:13-14; Matthew 7:22-23). We also look at the examples in scripture. They are specific. Very specific locations, persons, events, in such detail, they are undeniably true. Like, the birth place of the messiah, Micah 5:2. The virgin birth, Isaiah 7:14. Jesus’ return from Egypt to Nazareth as a child, Hosea 11:1. He will be betrayed by a friend for 30 pieces of silver! (Psalm 41:9; Zechariah 11:12).
A prophesy will cut so deep that it will effect the spirit of the hearers. We see all through scripture that true prophets were murdered because of the spiritual power of their words, from God. Jesus even points this out in Matthew 23:37. Jesus, himself, was murdered because his words are like a sword; and are divisive and offensive (Matthew 10:34-37). And we can go on and on about the amazing details of these prophesies, HUNDREDS of years before the events.
GODLY BIBLICAL prophecy is NOT cute fluffy “words of encouragement” or “words of spiritual affirmation” or superficial direction as to what fancy car or luxury boat to buy. That’s called “imagination” from the speaker and “bias confirmation” from the hearer since it only affirms the desires of their sinful hearts.
Just look at REAL Prophets and their prophecies in Holy Scripture:
Moses spoke forth God’s warnings about plagues (Exodus 9:14; 11:1; Leviticus 26:25). Deuteronomy 28:59 is brutal: “Then the Lord will bring on you and your offspring extraordinary afflictions, afflictions severe and lasting, and sicknesses grievous and lasting.” Another predictive prophesy from Moses. Ezekiel 14:21, Jeremiah 14:12, 19:8, 24:10, 49:17; 2 Chronicles 7:13, all predictive prophesy about plagues.
Isaiah prophesied in 700 BC that the Kingdom of Babylon will be overthrown and never recover (Isaiah 13:19). This happened in 539 BC, and Babylon never recovered. But, he didn’t stop there. He also revealed it would be reduced not nothing more than a swampland (Isaiah 14:23). When archaeologists excavated Babylon during the 1800s, they discovered that some parts of the city could not be dug up because they were under a water table that had risen over the years.
Ezekiel prophesied in 587 BC that the city of Tyre will be sacked AND that it will be completely destroyed, dissembled, and thrown into the sea (Ezekiel 26:12). Alexander The Great, did exactly that. He took the rubble from Tyre’s mainland ruins and tossed it – stones, timber and soil – into the sea, to build the land bridge so he could attacked in 333-332 BC.
One of the greatest prophesies of all time; Daniel 9:25. This gives the literal time frame from a certain point all the way to the appearance of The Messiah. Beginning year of the prophesy is 444 BC. Now, we must keep in mind that the Jewish prophetic year was composed of twelve 30 day months; that means the Jewish prophetic year had 360 days, not 365 days. Daniel states 69 weeks of seven years each, and each year has 360 days, the equation is as follows: 69 x 7 x 360 = 173,880 days. So, 173,880 days, or 476 years, from 444 BC brings us to… 33 AD… when Jesus publicly begins his ministry… Now THAT is a divine validation!
HELP ME UNDERSTAND
Message from God?
The word of the Lord lasts forever, yet those who have given and received a “prophetic word” don’t even remember what they were days, weeks, years later. Are they less memorable, less important? Do they add God’s words to their bible? Why not? Are these words of God worth less than other of his words? If the “prophetic word” was just God’s words for that individual, who was the Bible written for then?
The whole concept of attributing words to God as God’s own and NEW revelations in this world is extremely problematic and already on the high way to blasphemy. If these “revelations” are not new, and have already been stated in Holy Scripture, than the “revelation” is useless and pointless; sorta like using the Lord’s name in vain.
Power of God?
History isn’t changed when given and received a “prophetic word.” Their lives aren’t spiritually transformed or forever impacted. They get some sort of dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin and endorphin rush that gives them that “good feeling” but that’s it. Their spirit isn’t forever edified and matured for the rest of their life from it. Why not? Are these words from God less powerful?
The Mind of God?
Where is God’s divine perfect wisdom in the “prophetic word”? God condescends his divine truths to us out of his grace, but he still blows our little fleshly minds none-the-less; if it was from God.
Clarity of God?
Why are these “prophetic words” no more better than Ms. Cleo and her fortune telling hotline back in the 90s? Why are they generally applicable to anyone and everyone? Are fortune Cookies written by Prophets too?
Hide God?
Why do these people who claim to have the ability to prophesy so quite when attending churches that don’t practice that. Does God not compel them? Are God’s words not pre-emanate to them? Are they ashamed or embarrassed when God speaks to them in those different environments?
Let us know what you think!