Serious Born-again Christians, can some1 prove BIBLICALLY that God allows the PROPHETIC ministry IN OUR DAY?

Question

Grace be multiplied to all you Saints.

The reason for this question is that a certain man known for teaching the bible says that God has stopped speaking His Word (prophetically), through PROPHETS in our generation based on this scripture:(Please read the whole thing to understand his logic)

1Cor 13:8-10 "Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away."

"For we know in part, and we prophesy in part."

"But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away."

What did Paul mean by this? Please, you are welcome to e-mail me.

The man maintains that God only speaks to our generation when one reads the bible and no longer does He speak a "a recent Word of prophecy through a prophets"

God bless you.

Hug!

Answer 1

I think you asked a great question, Hope Dollar!

You know that there has always been prophets among God's people. Well, actually not always. There was a time, when the Israelites were under the Greek rule, that there were not prophets among the Israelites. Why? Because they had left the Lord, and the prophets they were given previously had been rejected and even killed by the Israelites. Jesus testified that through this words: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" (Matthew 23:37). That period, in which no prophet was sent, was called a silent period, because God did not speak through His prophets.

The Bible says, "Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." (Amos 3:7). There has always been prophets among God's people. They were among the Israelites, and later on, among the early Christians:

"Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul." (Acts 13:1)

"And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." (Acts 21:8-13).

The gift of prophecy is one of the Spiritual gifts listed in Ephesians 4:11. "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:" (Ephesians 4:11,12). And these gifts were given to the Church: "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues." (1 Corinthians 12:28).

The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 1:7, that none of these gifts will be missing while we're waiting for Jesus' return: "So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:"

God promised us in His Word that the gift of prophecy would appear among God's people. Jesus tells us in Revelation 12:17, "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." And Revelation 19:10 tells us, "And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

There it is! The "testimony of Jesus" is the "spirit of prophecy", and the Bible tells us that the the remnant of the woman (in prophecy, a woman represents people, or a church) has this gift, those who "keep the commandments of God". Then, the spirit of prophecy would be given to God's people.

However, there are many people out there who claim to be prophets sent by God. Jesus warned us against false prophets, " For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." (Matthew 24:24). At this point, an obvious question arises, how can we identify a true prophet?. The Bible answers once more, "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." (Isaiah 8:20). A true prophet will direct people's attention to Christ rather than to himself. He will praise the Lord, and preach that Jesus is the Son of God. He will preach according to the Word of God; he will never go against the Scriptures. Actually, it sounds logic: if the Spirit of prophecy is by the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit was the One who inspired the Bible, He will never go against what He already inspired in the Scriptures. God never contradicts Himself. He's the same always, never changes, since the Lord is perfect.

Christ gives us more clues about a true prophet:

"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." (Matthew 7:15-20).

A true prophet will have the fruits of the Holy Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."

A true prophet must have all these characteristics. And, actually, every follower of Christ who let the Holy Spirit guide his or her life should show the fruits of the Sprit in his life. Jesus Christ says, "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (John 15:5).

For more information, you may see the following online book: http://www.amazingfacts.org/items/Read_Media.asp?ID=677&x=20&y=34

About 1 Corinthians 13, my Bible (a spanish version, Nueva Reina Valera 2000), says:

8 Las profecías terminarán. Cesarán las lenguas. La ciencia tendrá su fin. Pero el amor nunca se acaba.

9 Porque en parte conocemos, y en parte profetizamos;

10 pero cuando venga lo que es perfecto, desaparecerá lo imperfecto.

Verse 8 from this spanish version, literally says, Prophecies will end. Tonges will cease. Science will end. But love never ends.

Someday, when we get to Heaven, prophecies are not going to be needed, all of them shall be fulfilled and passed. Tonges will cease, because there's going to be one language. Science will end: at least as we know it, it will finish. But love never ends: love will remain forever, because God is love.

9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part

10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

Here, the Bible tells us that on this earth we know what has been revealed to us. We don't know everything as God does. Only when we get to Heaven we'll be able to understand better: "But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away". Because "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." (vers. 12).

You may ask your question, or any question you may have, at http://en.bibleinfo.com/ they may answer you in a couple of days.

Good question! May God teach us more from His Word, and help us to get to know Him more and be more like Him, with a perfect and beautiful character like His.

God bless you, my friend!

Answer 2

Read 1 Corinthians 12.

I don't think you can biblically prove the IN OUR DAY part of your question. I do know that as a new believer, before I even knew this was a debate, I was given words of knowledge and prophecy. I was given a prophetic vision for my church, and it has come to pass! I told the pastor about it, it's a very conservative church, and a few months later, the vision came alive, became real. I've never chased after things like this, it just happened. And it surprises me still, I mean, I'm still secretly praying AGAINST receiving the gift of tongues, lol.

So, I'm trying to figure out the previous posters comments about God's revelation coming to an end, compared with my experience. I don't think I can agree with that, because prophecy from a man for a man, had to get to the man first. So, if prophecy is from God, then wouldn't that be God's revelation?

Answer 3

I would maintain that this person is basing a lot on a couple verses without nothing else backing it up. The section he is reading is referring to "Love" and the importance of it. Another words it is more important to have love in our life than anything as a sign that God is with us. If we have the spiritual gifts of God, or we do good works in the name of "Christianity" without love in our life then what we do means nothing. Love is the basis and motivation for all we do in the name of God. The key to those verses is to read the verses in context by reading the surrounding verses:

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." (NIV)

When we come into Yahoo Answers to respond to questions and/or comments people make about Christianity, and love is not the motivation for doing so then we do not come in here in the name of God, but in our own name with pride as an underlying motive.

When you read the verse in context you see that what this verse pertains to is not the lack of prophecy given to man by God, but what things we do mean nothing if they are not done without God.

As far as wether or not we are given prophecy I say look at 1 Corinthians Ch. 12 & 14, 2 Thessalonians Ch. 2, 2 Peter Ch.1 as well as other chapters in the bible and I think you will see that God still uses prophecy today just as He did in days past. He is unchanging.

Answer 4

The scripture he used in 1 Corinthians is out of context. 1 Cor 12:2 says in the New International version, "If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing." You can also read it in King James version, but read the whole chapter of 1 cor 13 for yourself. The scripture is therefore NOT disclaiming prophecy but it's saying that you need to possess love along with the gifts God has given you. Also in Acts 2:17-18 it says, "In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
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.

Answer 5

I think that there is truth in both what he is saying and in what you are asking. Poblem with his interpretation is that he has not gone on to the 14th chapter of 1 Corinthians. "29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment. 30 But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted; 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; 33 for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints."

The real problem here is a misinterpretation of words. Prophesy in its basis meaning means 'to proclaim God's truth'. Today that has not ended and so prophets and prophesy still exist. The problem is that many incorporate into the word prophesy what God calls revelation. Revelaton is God speaking to men, prophesy is man speaking to man. Now the Bible does not say that prophesy has ended but that revelation has ended. The last few verses of the Bible close the issue of revelation. God has given His complete Word and does not speak in revelation to a man any more. Man is to accept the word of God by faith and as Peter says in the Word is "everything that we need for life and godliness." Today God has sent the Holy Spirit who resides in the heart of the Christian and guides him into the truth through the written word of God. (See John 14 - 15) Revelation today is really the Holy Spirit working with the Word of God to give you insight into truth. So prophets today proclaim God's truth just as prophets of old did, but they do not get it by drect revelation from God as they did, but from study of the Scriptures through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Answer 6

hmm, I would love to have a chat with this person, because clearly the scripture is again taken out of context.

if we are to believe that this scripture is correct in speaking about our times, then we have to go back and deny the scripture where Paul is speaking about tounges and spiritual gifts in the church.

This scripture that you quoted is when Jesus comes back,
" But when that which is PERFECT ( JESUS) IS COME, ( HAS COME BACK_ SECOND COMING) then that wich is in part shall be done away" ( which is in part, HOLY SPIRIT, is done away, NO LONGER NEEDED- The Holy spirit is the one who prophesies, and works spiritual gifts thru us... ) This passage is clearly speaking of the end times, yes something we are going through, but this part hasn't happend yet...
cus, we will be raptured by that time.

We could make a bible study out of this... don't have my bible handy, so I'll leave it at that, email me if you wish.
Bible study is a good way to grow...

God Bless,
Shannon

Answer 7

This is a great question and it really only proves the confusion people have of it's speculative interpretation of it's meaning. Christ said there would be many false prophets that will come after him and I believe that is what we are experiencing today, to me this is exactly what Paul is saying. There is only one true prophet and that was Christ our lord and Savior spoken through him by God. all the rest in my view have done nothing but caused confusion and chaos in the religious world today. Blessed be God for ever.

Answer 8

There is nothing in the bible saying prophesy ended in the bible days. I personally have been prophesied over a few times and was told things only God and I knew. I believe in prophets in our days, but if their word goes against the bible, stay away.

Answer 9

I have often heard contention over these words in 1 Corinthians.

"But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away."

What is that, "which is perfect"? Answer this and you answer question.

I'll answer for my own benefit.

The moment that we do not need prophecies, tongues or knowledge will be when God reigns on Earth.

You can debate this subject for years. I implore you to look for the fruits of the spirit on the believer first and then listen to their words.
Sincerely,
OSirLucas

Answer 10

Apparently, Joel believed that prophesy would still be around:

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
Joel 2:28-31

Paul gave no indications that the gifts of the Spirit would end before Jesus came again.

So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:7,8

Jesus said to beware of false prophets in Matthew 24. Why would He have caution against only false prophets? If prophecy is no more then all prophets are false.

1 Thessalonians 5:20,21 states: Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

Revelation 12:17 describes the remnant church:
And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

This church or group of people have the testimony of Jesus. Revelation 19:10 states that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy

This is further clarified in Revelation 22:9 where the angel identifies his work with John's:

See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets

Thus, God will not leave his remnant people to go through the time of the mark of the beast without instruction from His prophet. God's final church will keep the commandments of God and have the spirit of prophecy in it.

Answer 11

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints fervently believe in modern revelation through God's prophets. We have had constant prophets for our instruction and edification since Joseph Smith first received the Holy Priesthood ordination at the hands of Peter, James, and John on 15 May 1829.

We have a prophet today named Gordon B. Hinckley, 96 years old and still going strong. He speaks at every General Conference by satellite every April and October and publishes his messages in our Church magazines. Please tune in when you can.

Added note: My faith is unshakable and not open to debate. I will supply answers to sincere questions, but will not be contentious with anyone.