Prophets are people signally honored by God. In Revelation, an angel twice told John that he considered the prophets his brothers. A dozen times Revelation mentions either false or true prophets.
Old Testament prophets bring to mind dramatic miracle workers of great courage and power. Daniel, the prophet, was Prime Minister of two notable world-wide empires. Moses, a very outstanding prophet, was leader of a nation. Isaiah’s message was so forceful and convincing that an evil king had him sawed asunder.
Paul, a New Testament prophet, who received many visions, 2 Corinthians 12:7, could face down an opponent no matter how brilliant. John was so convincing and influential in presenting Jesus that his enemies tried to kill him by placing him in boiling oil. When the oil failed to harm him, he was banished to the island of Patmos, a prison fortress, where he was forced to work in the mines. But, there, Jesus gave Him the precious book of Revelation.
The Scripture, itself, came to us from prophets who were guided by the Holy Ghost. The church is indebted to prophets to a degree almost impossible to calculate.
Have you ever wondered why, in these challenging and crucial days for God’s people – just before the second coming of Jesus – we no longer have prophets? Is John the last prophet that Jesus has spoken through? Why did God quit speaking through prophets or DID HE? If you met someone who claimed to be a prophet, how would you react? Does God, indeed, still speak through prophets today? Are psychics and astrologers prophets?
This is a most stimulating and challenging subject. As we get into it, please pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit who guided the prophets of old.
HOW GOD COMMUNICATES
1. The book of Revelation is a prime example of how the prophetic gift operates. The first few verses explain the steps which are utilized in bringing a prophetic message from God to man. What are these steps? Revelation 1:1-4
Ans: a. God gave the message to ____________ (verse 1)
Ans: b. Jesus gave it to His ________________ (verse 1)
Ans: c. His angel gave it to _______________ (verse 1)
Ans: d. John gave it to the _______________ (verse 4)
2. To whom will God reveal His plans for the future? Amos 3:7
Ans: ______________________________________________________________
3. Where do true prophets get their information? 2 Peter 1:21
Ans: “Holy ___________ of God _________ as they were _______ by the ____________”.
4. Must a prophet write a book of the Bible in order to be authoritative and true?
Ans: _______________________________________________________________
NOTE: At least twelve true prophets, who did not write a book of the Bible, are mentioned in the Scripture. Among them is John the Baptist, of whom Jesus said there was no one greater, Matthew 11:11.
5. Does God ever prophesy through women?
Ans: ______________________________________________________________
NOTE: Several women were mentioned as prophetesses in Scripture: Anna, Luke 2:36-38; Miriam, Exodus 15:20; Deborah, Judges 4:4; Huldah, 2 Kings 22:14; and the four daughters of Phillip, Acts 21:8-9.
6. Does God promise to speak through prophets in the last days? Joel 2:28-31
Ans: ________________________________________________________
NOTE: God promises to speak through both men and women.
SPIRITUAL GIFTS TODAY
7. When Jesus ascended to heaven, He left gifts for the church. What are these gifts? Ephesians 4:7-8,11
Ans: “And He gave some, _________; and some, _________; and some, ________; and some, _________ and _________________”.
NOTE: Jesus listed prophets as second in importance.
8. Why were these gifts given? Ephesians 4:12
Ans: “For the _____________________ of the saints, for the _________________ of the ministry, for the __________________________ of the body of Christ”.
9. How long were these gifts to remain in the church? Ephesians 4:13
Ans: “Till we _________________ come in the ______________ of the ______________, and of the ____________ of the ____________ of God, unto a _______________ man, unto the _______________ of the ____________ of the ___________ of ___________”.
NOTE: These gifts, including prophets, remain in the church until all become completely like Christ, which means they remain until the end of the world.
GOD’s CHURCH TODAY
10. When you find and enter the church with all these gifts what will it do for you? Ephesians 4:14
Ans: “That we henceforth be ___________ ______________ children, _________ to and ___________ and _________ about with ___________ ____________ of doctrine”.
NOTE: When one enters the church with all the gifts, he is immediately anchored and no longer flounders around aimlessly. Satan’s objective is to remove at least one of these spiritual gifts from the church, knowing that the result will be to send Christian people into a spin.
11. Did God’s New Testament church have the gift of prophecy? 1 Corinthians 1:6
Ans: “Even as the _____________ of __________ was ____________________ in you”.
NOTE: 1 Corinthians 1:7 says they had ALL the gifts and verse six specifically mentions the testimony of Christ, which is the spirit or gift of prophecy, Revelation 19:10.
12. Does Revelation teach that God’s true church for the last days will have the gift of prophecy? Revelation 12:17; Revelation 19:10
Ans: ________________________________________________
NOTE: In our next lesson, we study God’s true church, which is pictured in Revelation, chapter 12, under the symbolism of a woman. The dragon is the devil, Revelation 12:9. Verse 17 clearly says God’s last day church will keep His commandments and have the testimony of Jesus, which is the spirit or gift of prophecy, Revelation 19:10 cf Revelation 22:9.
TRUE PROPHETS OF GOD
13. What three things does Paul command regarding prophets? 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21
Ans: a. “Despite not ____________________________________”.
Ans: b. “______________________________________ all things”.
Ans: c. “Hold fast that which is ____________________________”.
Test a prophet by the Bible.
14. How do I test, or prove, what a prophet says, to see if the prophet is true? Isaiah 8:19-20
Ans: “If they __________ not __________ to this ___________ it is _________ there is _______________ ____________ in them”.
15. What other things will be ture of a prophet of God?
Ans:
a. Prophesies as he is moved by the Holy Spirit, not by man’s will, 2 Peter 1:21.
b. Doesn’t give his own interpretation of prophecy, 2 Peter 1:20.
c. Points out sins of people against God, Isaiah 58:1.
d. Warns of coming judgment, Isaiah 24:20-21, Revelation 14:6-7.
e. Edifies, exhorts, comforts, in religious matters, 1 Corinthians 14:3.
f. Recognizes the incarnation, or deity, of Jesus, 1 John 4:1-3.
g. Works and lives in harmony with Bible, Matthew 7:15-20.
h. Will not be an astrologer, magician, witch, medium, or clairvoyant, Deuteronomy 18:9-12.
16. In 1 Corinthians 12:1, 11, 12-18 Paul likens the gifts of the church to parts of the body. What part of the body would best represent prophets? 1 Samuel 9:9
Ans: ______________________________________________________
NOTE: Since a prophet is often called a seer, because he can see into the future, prophecy would best be represented by the eyes.
17. In what condition then would a church be which did not have the gift of prophecy? Matthew 15:14
Ans: _________________________________________________
ARE MIRACLES A TEST?
18. Do miracles prove that a prophet is true? Deuteronomy 13:1-5, Revelation 16:14
Ans: No! Because the _______________ can also work miracles.
NOTE: Miracles prove only one thing – supernatural power. But such power comes from both Satan and God. The magicians of Egypt turned walking sticks into serpents and water to blood, but they were false “prophets” who were empowered by Satan, Exodus 7:10-12, 19-22. The TEACHINGS of a prophet must be tested by Scripture. This is our only safety. CONDUCT may appear to be very spiritual, but this proves nothing in itself, 2 Corinthians 11:13-15. Unless a prophet’s TEACHINGS square with Scripture, he is an imposter.
19. God promises to speak to a prophet in one of three ways. What are these three ways? Numbers 12:6,8
Ans:
- ______________________
- ______________________
- ______________________
NOTE: Crystal balls, palm reading, tea leaf deciphering, star gazing and talking with the dead are NOT God’s methods of communicating with a prophet.
GOD SOMETIMES SPOKE TO PROPHETS THROUGH VISIONS. NOTICE HOW THE BIBLE DESCRIBES A PROPHET IN VISION.
a. Will lose physical strength, Daniel 10:8.
b. Then receives SUPERNATURAL strength, Daniel 10:18-19.
c. No breath in his body, Daniel 10:17.
d. Will be able to speak, Daniel 10:16.
e. Will not be conscious of his surroundings, Daniel 10:5-8, 2 Corinthians 12:2-4.
f. His eyes will be open, Numbers 24:4.
20. What happens to a person who believes and obeys true prophets? 2 Chronicles 20:20
Ans: “Believe His _________________, so shall ye ______________”.
NOTE: There is no chance for a person to prosper spiritually if he refuses to believe a true prophet. John, in Revelation 1:3, says we must READ, HEAR and KEEP the things in his prophecy.
God sometimes speaks to prophets through visions.
A PROPHETs MINISTRY
21. Are prophets called primarily to serve the church or unbelievers? 1 Corinthians 14:22
Ans: “Prophesying serveth … for them which ________________________”.
22. What is prophecy called in Revelation 12:17?
Ans: “The _________________ of _________________ Christ”.
NOTE: In light of Revelation 19:10 the “testimony of Jesus” means the “testimony or message FROM Jesus”. When the Holy Spirit inspires a prophet with a message, we are to regard it as a message from Jesus. To undermine a true prophet is thus a VERY SERIOUS matter. It amounts to calling Jesus a liar, Revelation 3:14, Revelation 21:5.
23. Whom did Jesus say would have very great influence in the last days? Matthew 24:24
Ans: “______________ Christs, and false _______________”.
NOTE: Peter also warns against the powerful but evil influence of false prophets. 2 Peter 2:1-2.
24. What types of false prophets does the Bible specifically condemn? Deuteronomy 18:9-12, Revelation 22:15, Revelation 21:8
Ans:
a. “Diviner” – Fortune teller
b. “Observer of times” – Astrologer
c. “Enchanter” – Magician
d. “Witch/wizard” – Female/male psychic
e. “Consulter with familiar spirits” – Sprit medium
f. “Necromancer” – One who supposedly consults with the dead
g. “Sorcerer” – The modern counterpart of sorcery is spiritism
h. “Charmer” – One who casts spells or uses charms
NOTE: The Lord says that all who do the above things are an abomination, Deuteronomy 18:12.
25. John the Baptist did not write a book of the Bible but he was a true prophet. Whose counsel does the Bible say people rejected when they rejected John’s counsel? Luke 7:28-30
Ans: They “rejected the ___________________ of ___________________”.
NOTE: The counsel of a true prophet is always the counsel of God. To reject is, whether the prophet be a Bible writer or not, amounts to rejecting the Lord’s counsel. Such rejection is fatal to a person unless he reconsiders.
Notice some of the titles given to prophets in Scripture:
a. Prophet – 1 Samuel 9:9
b. Son of man – Ezekiel 4:1, 5:1
c. Seer – 2 Chronicles 16:7
d. Messenger – Malachi 3:1
e. Fellow servant – Revelation 19:10, 22:9
f. Servant of God – 1 Chronicles 6:49
g. Man of God – 2 Kings 4:21-22
h. Watchman – Ezekiel 3:17
i. Voice of one crying in the wilderness – Matthew 3:3
26. Since God still speaks through prophets today, and since the word of a true prophet is the personal “testimony of Jesus” to you, are you willing to test modern prophets by the Bible and obey those who agree with Scripture?
Ans: ____________________________________________________
Jesus in love still speaks to us, today.