Do prophet's exist here on earth? How do I know if someone claims to be a real prophet of God? And are their apostles here on earth?

[Neighbor]

On 5/6/2024 at 12:23 AM, Kristina said:

I'm asking these questions as about seven or eight years ago, a man came to me claiming he was a prophet sent from God and I received a foot washing and almost immediately was given the gift of speaking in tongues. Was this man really a prophet of God...

Back to the original questions; what does the Bible state is said about a prophet?  A phrase out of a sentence needs to be read in context. That  is important of course, but what of this statement by Jesus that "no prophet is accepted in his own country." ?

No prophet, none, are accepted  in their own homeland. Fast forward to today, whom speaking  as though a prophet are rejected at their own homeland? Are any?

My Lord was speaking prophecy and was rejected, and is today too. He was speaking of himself and his fulfillment of God's word. He also stated  "this is not my kingdom if it were my servants would fight".  So is this ( the world) his homeland, or not?

Seems to me that those called out of this world to be servants of God do not have a home here, but are in it nonetheless. There is no need of new prophecy that tells of the need of Jesus. It has already been said by Jesus.

There may be need of witnesses to testify of Jesus  each having been turned about to Him by the comforter the Holy Spirit, but there is no new prophecy needed; only a removing of the scales before individual's eyes. That is not prophecy it is  a gift of sight and insight into the faith of Jesus that saves all those foreknown and predestined to be with God the father son and Holy Spirit for eternity  forward as has always been known to God.

[TrueFollowerOfChrist]

9 hours ago, Michael37 said:

Can you provide facts to substantiate that claim.

In all my years, 7 decades, prophecy has not been a synonym for prediction. There has been enough said on Worthy already about that misconception.

In the Old Testament, prophets proclaimed messages from God. I could be wrong but nearly every prophet in scripture foretold predictions of the future. Even the prophet in Acts was there to warn Paul about what would happen to him. Prophets spoke God's word and warned the people about coming judgement. 

 

Today we have a complete Bible with everything God wants humankind to know. It's illogical for there to be prophets when we already have a complete message from God. Plus even if there were prophets anything they would say would have to match what scripture already says, so it would be redundant anyway. There's no logical reason for a prophet to exist today. 

[RdJ]

3 hours ago, warrior12 said:

Ok. What about the second part of the verse of--

I Corinthians 13:9‭-‬10 NKJV

But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away

 

Yes that's at the end when we see Him as He is and God is all in all. Then they are not needed anymore. 

[RdJ]

2 hours ago, Starise said:

I think this is a stretch. At the meetings I have attended the words were edifying and accurate. 
 

That Dutch article said it. I thought it was weird too. I would say it depends very much on the church. I was in Toronto from the Toronto blessing and during the service people in the back gave whoever wanted one a very long prophecy. If 100 percent was not from God I'd believe it. The last time that I was in a service where whoever could go prophesy in a church was in the 90s. Then one woman had continually crazy stuff and rebuked people and they stopped it altogether.

Edited May 7, 2024 by RdJ

[Starise]

1 hour ago, RdJ said:

That Dutch article said it. I thought it was weird too. I would say it depends very much on the church. I was in Toronto from the Toronto blessing and during the service people in the back gave whoever wanted one a very long prophecy. If 100 percent was not from God I'd believe it. The last time that I was in a service where whoever could go prophesy in a church was in the 90s. Then one woman had continually crazy stuff and rebuked people and they stopped it altogether.

That kind of thing needs supervision for sure.

[warrior12]

 

Prophets and prophecy for today and in the past has to be defined or explained in context of the scripture verses quoted from, I think.   For lack of able to write or put in my own words as of now, I would use the following for a simple explanation of the prophet in the OT. 

Marathoner , I think explained this in his reply earlier. I also think that when believers hear of the those two words, they mostly think of the OT means of conveying God messages, and applying it to today NT meaning or method or conveying a discern or insightful message. Is it from God, or how are they receiving those messages.  OT prophets, clearly got their message directly or from other servants of God.

So, I guess what I am trying to understand, is how are modern day prophets receiving their message from God.   I have to get a grasp of this or I will be troubled for a while. 

The full article of the link below can be read, I just quoted a paragraph. 

From gotquestion.org

https://www.gotquestions.org/prophecy-prophesy.html 

According to Deuteronomy 13, there are two signs of a true prophet. First, he must not direct people to follow other gods. Second, whenever the prophet says something about future events, those events must come to pass. If the prophet promotes the worship of false gods, or if his predictions fail to come to pass, then he is a false prophet.

Edited May 7, 2024 by warrior12

[Marathoner]

4 hours ago, warrior12 said:

 

Prophets and prophecy for today and in the past has to be defined or explained in context of the scripture verses quoted from, I think.   For lack of able to write or put in my own words as of now, I would use the following for a simple explanation of the prophet in the OT. 

Marathoner , I think explained this in his reply earlier. I also think that when believers hear of the those two words, they mostly think of the OT means of conveying God messages, and applying it to today NT meaning or method or conveying a discern or insightful message. Is it from God, or how are they receiving those messages.  OT prophets, clearly got their message directly or from other servants of God.

So, I guess what I am trying to understand, is how are modern day prophets receiving their message from God.   I have to get a grasp of this or I will be troubled for a while. 

The full article of the link below can be read, I just quoted a paragraph. 

From gotquestion.org

https://www.gotquestions.org/prophecy-prophesy.html 

According to Deuteronomy 13, there are two signs of a true prophet. First, he must not direct people to follow other gods. Second, whenever the prophet says something about future events, those events must come to pass. If the prophet promotes the worship of false gods, or if his predictions fail to come to pass, then he is a false prophet.

If a word is good --- if it encourages and edifies --- then from whence those words come doesn't matter. I understand that it does matter to some but when we weigh this properly, how we are encouraged in Jesus Christ is of no importance. If our hearts and minds are pointed toward the Lord, then it is good.

As far as prophecy is concerned, I can only write from my own experience. The Lord has declared events before they started as it pertains to my engagement in them which is to say, His words equipped me according to His purpose. As for who benefits from the events in question, it is always about those whom I serve or support.

For a point of reference, something similar is recorded in Acts 9:10-19. When Ananias went to Paul as instructed by the Lord, this is an example of pprophecy. Prophecy is forth-telling or, speaking those words which the Lord gives us to say and doing those things that He instructs us to do. 

As for visions of things to come that affect the world and us all, these were recorded in scripture a long time ago. 

Edited May 7, 2024 by Marathoner
typo

[Michael37]

9 hours ago, TrueFollowerOfChrist said:

I could be wrong but nearly every prophet in scripture foretold predictions of the future.

Let's dispense with the tautology and say that OT prophecies foretold the future. 

The reason they do this is because God calls them to their ministry, and gifts them with their message.

1Pe 1:10-12  Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you,  (11)  searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.  (12)  To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.

2Pe 1:19-21  And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;  (20)  knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation,  (21)  for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

Admittedly there is a close association and shared usage of the terms prophecy and prediction, both in secular and ecclesiastical narratives, but a more accurate Biblical Theology doesn't confine prophecy to prediction.

 

[warrior12]

You know, with the varied many different denominations or  should I say different groups of believers, there are those who are convinced that prophecy is  closed, in that the cannon is closed.   For instance the Baptist Church does not practice this in their chruch and they are whole lot of people. I mean they are belivers too and how come they are not given those gifts too.  Surely, if one receives those gifts, they cannot deny it and would speak out on it.

This is such an important topic, as we know of many in the past who proclaim certain events ect and it did not come to past.  Now, I am not denying that the body are given gifts as scripture clearly outlines them.   How they are interpreted and practiced is another thing to comprehend.   For instance , tongues and prophecy, healing and others are practiced and performed in the pentecostal Church plainly.  Ever been to one of those, they are dynamic in worship and the way they do church service and outreach.  

I personally today is saying as a witness that the spiritual world of supernatural entities exist and all kind of things goes on that I sometime think I am alone in those experiences.  I have been through so much, that I sometime wonder how I exist. Grace of God, has to be.

[Daniel Marsh]

Did you intevestigate him by talking with his neighbors?