Modern Prophecy Measures
Many today are proclaiming that God has spoken to them.
It's a fair question to ask, "is there still prophecy today?"
Hebrews 1:1-2 says:
"Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son."
So we can see that God spoke many times and in many ways through the ancient prophets, but there was a shift in his plan to speak to us through his Son. Through the years since Christ walked this earth, we therefore have not experienced prophets speaking to us at many times and in many ways. But does that mean there are no longer prophets at all?
Ephesians informs us that the prophets are among the gifts Christ gave to the church and shows us how long this will continue:
"Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ." Ephesians 4:11-13
After Christ shed his blood for our sins, the New Testament church was established under this new covenant.
Here we read instructions given to the church at Corinth.
1 Corinthians 14:1-6 says:
"Pursue love and be eager for the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.
"For the one speaking in a tongue does not speak to people but to God, for no one understands; he is speaking mysteries by the Spirit. But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement, and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds himself up, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. I wish you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be strengthened. Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I help you unless I speak to you with a revelation or with knowledge or prophecy or teaching?"
This next scripture refers back to an Old Testament prophecy from Joel after the crowd had witnessed a supernatural event that occurred on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2. We are told in Acts 2:16-21:
""But this is what was spoken about through the prophet Joel:
‘And in the last days it will be,’ God says,
‘that I will pour out my Spirit on all people,
and your sons and your daughters will prophesy,
and your young men will see visions,
and your old men will dream dreams.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
And I will perform wonders in the sky above
and miraculous signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and clouds of smoke.
The sun will be changed to darkness
and the moon to blood before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
And then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’"
The Greek word for prophesy used in both passages above means to foretell events, divine, speak under inspiration, Strong's G4395. In the original prophecy from Joel, the Hebrew word for prophecy meant speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse), Strong's H5012.
Old Testament prophecy often had dual reference where it occurs twice--once in the near future and once again in the distant future. It's also apparent within the text in this passage that the timeline is inclusive of yet future events which seems to suggest this is an ongoing fulfillment that began at Pentecost. Although they are increasingly censored, if you do a search on YouTube, Rumble, Brighteon, etc. you can see for yourself how many are saying this is happening to them, men and women, young and old. There are also deceptive spirits and false prophets. Here are guidelines from scripture, both the Old and New Testament, to frame our response:
TEST THE SPIRITS
"Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses Jesus as the Christ who has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that refuses to confess Jesus, that spirit is not from God, and this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and now is already in the world."
1 John 4:1-3
AVOID COMMITTING BLASPHEMY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Even if you don't believe someone, be careful how you speak so as not to speak against the Holy Spirit:
"Then they brought to him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute. Jesus healed him so that he could speak and see. All the crowds were amazed and said, “Could this one be the Son of David?” But when the Pharisees heard this they said, “He does not cast out demons except by the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons!” Now when Jesus realized what they were thinking, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is destroyed, and no town or house divided against itself will stand. So if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? For this reason they will be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has already overtaken you. How else can someone enter a strong man’s house and steal his property, unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can thoroughly plunder the house. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. For this reason I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come." Matthew 12:22-32
Regarding Beelzebul, translator notes provide this information:
Or Beezebul; meaning uncertain, perhaps lord prince, referring to Satan" (ESV, NASB)
”Beelzebul is another name for Satan." (NET)
The NLT translates vs 27 this way: "And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said."
ANCIENT PROPHETS USUALLY WARNED, BE WARY OF PEACE PREDICTIONS
"But listen now to the solemn words I speak to you in the presence of all these people. The ancient prophets who preceded you and me spoke against many nations, always warning of war, disaster, and disease. So a prophet who predicts peace must show he is right. Only when his predictions come true can we know that he is really from the Lord.” Jeremiah 28:7-9
Old Testament prophets usually did not predict peace, and in this account, Jeremiah spoke after hearing the words of Hananiah whose message of peace was recorded to be a lie. The Lord had not sent him and sentenced him, taking his life two months later. There are exceptions. For example, Isaiah prophesied the coming of Jesus and after the days of Jeremiah, in the new testament, John prophecies in Revelation about the defeat of Satan, the new heaven and earth, and God living among his people removing sorrow forever. However this passage from Jeremiah issues warning because much of Bible prophecy contains warnings.
NOTE: In the opening verse from 2 Corinthians 14:1-6, we were told "the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement, and consolation."
So under the new covenant through Christ, we see that prophecy is also marked by these three characteristics which means even with a warning that some form of edification should be present for the body of Christ. The word strengthening from that verse, for example, is partly defined (Strong's G3619) as "the act of one who promotes another's growth in Christian wisdom, piety, happiness, holiness. A message promoting holiness may include even strong correction and warning, but based on this verse, I would therefore expect it to also include the encouragement of what holiness accomplishes in our lives and as you'll see next, also point to Jesus Christ.
TESTIMONY OF JESUS IS THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY
"Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." Revelation 19:10
SPIRIT OF DIVINATION
"As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour." Acts 16:16-19
FALSE PROPHETS
“Watch out for false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are voracious wolves. You will recognize them by their fruit. Grapes are not gathered from thorns or figs from thistles, are they? In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree is not able to bear bad fruit, nor a bad tree to bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
So then, you will recognize them by their fruit." Matthew 7:15-27
IT COMES TO PASS
"If the prophet speaks in the Lord’s name but his prediction does not happen or come true, you will know that the Lord did not give that message. That prophet has spoken without my authority and need not be feared." Deuteronomy 18:22
"Two or three prophets should speak and the others should evaluate what is said." 1 Corinthians 14:29
DO NOT SCOFF
"Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil." 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22
RECEIVE A PROPHET
"If you receive a prophet as one who speaks for God, you will be given the same reward as a prophet. And if you receive righteous people because of their righteousness, you will be given a reward like theirs. And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.” Matthew 10:41-42
CHECK THE SCRIPTURES
"And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul's message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth." Acts 17:11
MEASURE THE MESSAGE, NOT THE MESSENGER
In the account below from 1 Kings, a man of God disobeyed instructions he had received directly from God by instead following opposing instructions from an old prophet who lied to him. Yet, when God informed the man of God of the punishment for his defiance, He delivered the message through the old prophet who had lied!
Key Point: God speaks through whomever he chooses
1 Kings 13:11-30
11 As it happened, there was an old prophet living in Bethel, and his sons came home and told him what the man of God had done in Bethel that day. They also told their father what the man had said to the king. 12 The old prophet asked them, “Which way did he go?” So they showed their father which road the man of God had taken. 13 “Quick, saddle the donkey,” the old man said. So they saddled the donkey for him, and he mounted it.
14 Then he rode after the man of God and found him sitting under a great tree. The old prophet asked him, “Are you the man of God who came from Judah?” “Yes, I am,” he replied.
15 Then he said to the man of God, “Come home with me and eat some food.”
16 “No, I cannot,” he replied. “I am not allowed to eat or drink anything here in this place. 17 For the Lord gave me this command: ‘You must not eat or drink anything while you are there, and do not return to Judah by the same way you came.’”
18 But the old prophet answered, “I am a prophet, too, just as you are. And an angel gave me this command from the Lord: ‘Bring him home with you so he can have something to eat and drink.’” But the old man was lying to him. 19 So they went back together, and the man of God ate and drank at the prophet’s home.
20 Then while they were sitting at the table, a command from the Lord came to the old prophet. 21 He cried out to the man of God from Judah, “This is what the Lord says: You have defied the word of the Lord and have disobeyed the command the Lord your God gave you. 22 You came back to this place and ate and drank where he told you not to eat or drink. Because of this, your body will not be buried in the grave of your ancestors.”
23 After the man of God had finished eating and drinking, the old prophet saddled his own donkey for him, 24 and the man of God started off again. But as he was traveling along, a lion came out and killed him. His body lay there on the road, with the donkey and the lion standing beside it. 25 People who passed by saw the body lying in the road and the lion standing beside it, and they went and reported it in Bethel, where the old prophet lived.
26 When the prophet heard the report, he said, “It is the man of God who disobeyed the Lord’s command. The Lord has fulfilled his word by causing the lion to attack and kill him.”
27 Then the prophet said to his sons, “Saddle a donkey for me.” So they saddled a donkey, 28 and he went out and found the body lying in the road. The donkey and lion were still standing there beside it, for the lion had not eaten the body nor attacked the donkey. 29 So the prophet laid the body of the man of God on the donkey and took it back to the town to mourn over him and bury him. 30 He laid the body in his own grave, crying out in grief, “Oh, my brother!”