There is a lot of confusion concerning this topic, and my goal is to remove that confusion and make things super clear. Are there prophets today, and what do they look like?
Old Testament vs. New Testament Prophets
Firstly, there is a significant difference between the function and message of prophets in the Old Testament and the New Testament. In the Old Testament, prophets primarily served as God’s spokesmen, delivering divine messages, calling people to repentance, warning of impending judgment, and foretelling the coming of the Messiah. They carried significant national and political influence, frequently confronting kings and leaders.
Examples include:
- Moses – acted as a lawgiver and mediator.
- Elijah – performed miracles and called Israel back to God.
- Isaiah and Jeremiah – spoke extensively about Israel’s future and exile.
In the New Testament, while prophets still revealed God’s will, their primary focus shifted to edifying the church and pointing to Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of prophecy.
- Agabus (Acts 11:27-28) provided specific guidance and warnings.
- Philip’s daughters (Acts 21:9) exercised the gift of prophecy within the Christian community.
The emphasis moved from national warnings to strengthening, encouraging, and comforting believers (1 Corinthians 14:3). Furthermore, prophecy became more widespread among believers, fulfilling Moses’ desire (Numbers 11:29) and Joel’s prophecy (Joel 2:28), which Peter affirmed in Acts 2:17-18. This transition shows that while Old Testament prophets prepared the way for Christ, New Testament prophecy functions within the completed work of salvation through Jesus.
The most important thing to understand is this: Jesus is THE Prophet. He is the fulcrum of all prophecy.
“The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” (Revelation 19:10, KJV)
John the Baptist – The Last Old Testament Prophet
John the Baptist was the greatest and the last of the Old Testament prophets.
“The Law and the Prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.” (Luke 16:16, NKJV)
“For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.” (Matthew 11:11-13, NIV)
“And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.” (Matthew 11:14, ESV)
John fulfilled Malachi 4:5-6, which prophesied Elijah’s coming before the “great and dreadful day of the Lord.”
As Hebrews 1:1-2 states, God has now spoken in the person of Jesus:
“God, who at various times spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son.”
Definition of a Prophet
The Greek word for prophet, prophētēs, means “one who speaks forth.” A prophet is someone (man or woman) who is a mouthpiece of God. This aligns with 1 Peter 4:11:
“If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God.”
A prophet speaks forth truth, including warnings, encouragement, or divine revelation. Prophets were also used by God to write the words of Scripture:
“For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:20-21, NIV)
However, prophecy is not just about foretelling (predicting the future) but also forth-telling—declaring God’s truth boldly in alignment with His Word.
Called to Be a Friend of God
Prophetic ministry is rooted in intimacy with God. The first person explicitly called a prophet in the Bible is Abraham, who is also described as the friend of God (Genesis 20:7, Isaiah 41:8, James 2:23). Likewise, Enoch walked so closely with God that Scripture says He took him (Genesis 5:24). His prophecy concerning the coming of the Lord is recorded in Jude 1:14.
The Call to Prophetic Ministry
While God does call some individuals to prophetic ministry, prophecy in the New Testament is for all believers. This fulfils Moses’ desire when Eldad and Medad prophesied outside the camp:
“I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets” (Numbers 11:29).
Even their names point to the New Testament prophetic message being rooted in love:
- Eldad – “God has loved” or “Beloved of God.”
- Medad – “Love” or “Affection.”
Joel 2:28-29, fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:17-18), confirms this:
“Your sons and daughters shall prophesy.”
Prophecy in the New Testament
In the Old Testament, only specific individuals prophesied. However, in the New Testament, after the baptism of the Holy Spirit, all believers can prophesy. This strongly refutes cessationism—if prophecy ceased, we would have something even inferior to the Old Testament!
To remove the hype, my definition of a prophet is simply someone who prophesies. It’s not a title or position it just describes what I do. For example: if I play the piano I am a pianist whether amateur or professional.
The Fivefold Ministries
In the New Testament, the prophet is one of the fivefold ministries described in Ephesians 4:
“And he gave some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry.” (Ephesians 4:11-13)
However, this should not be seen as a hierarchy or a special position to be attained. Ephesians 4:7 clarifies:
“But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”
Therefore, grace is given to the whole church, meaning all believers are equipped with maybe a mixture of these callings in different measures dependant on the grace given. Interestingly, the word for equipping means to furnish and so therefore the church without these five functions is like an empty room!
What is a False Prophet?
Now we have defined what a true prophet is its worth looking at what the Bible means by a false prophet.
1. Old Testament – שֶׁקֶר (Sheqer)
- Lies, deception, fraud, falsehood
- Deliberate misleading rather than an accidental mistake
“I am against those who prophesy false dreams… They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies.” (Jeremiah 23:32, NIV)
2. New Testament – Pseudoprophētēs (Ψευδοπροφήτης)
- Pseudo = False, fake, counterfeit
- Prophētēs = Prophet, one who speaks for God
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” (Matthew 7:15, NIV)
Am I a Prophet? – The Process of Prophetic Preparation
So, now we know what a prophet is – let’s apply this to ourselves. Are you a prophet and how would you know?
Prophets often endure seasons of testing, refinement, and waiting—the PIT (Prophet in Training) stage:
- Joseph had prophetic dreams but endured betrayal and imprisonment (Genesis 37, 39-41).
- Moses spent 40 years in the wilderness before leading Israel (Exodus 2-3).
- David was anointed king but spent years fleeing before his reign (1 Samuel 16-30).
- Elisha served Elijah before receiving his prophetic mantle (2 Kings 2).
If you feel drawn to prophetic ministry, ask yourself:
- Do I hear God’s voice and long to share His truth?
- Am I willing to undergo seasons of preparation and refining?
- Does my prophetic gifting align with biblical truth and point people to Jesus?
The journey of a prophet is one of deep relationship with God, faithfulness in trials, and boldness in delivering His message. Whether or not you have a specific prophetic calling, all believers are called to hear and respond to God’s voice.
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