what is the true definition of Prophecy?

Question

Some people think prophecy is telling the future! but i dont think so. Prophecy to me is not soothsaying or divination or tarot reading. but it is a man Whom God chooses to speak for him. and what God says or speaks through the still small voice, what God tell such a man to speak to his people that is what true prophecy is. Do you agree or disagree? why?

http://scriptures.lds.org/en/bd/p/61
http://scriptures.lds.org/en/rev/19/10#10
http://scriptures.lds.org/en/num/11/25-29#25
http://scriptures.lds.org/en/1_cor/14/1_cor/14/1#1 desire prophecy

Answer 1

You both asked and answered your own question.

I'm not sure if I agree or not. I thought that prophecy entailed interpreting signs.

I also notice that you listed lds links for support of your answer. Is that the Church of Latter day Saints, aka Mormons? If so, will you answer a question for me? Is it true that the only way for a female to go to heaven in your religion is through her husband? I'm not trying to start an argument or anything, I'm truly curious. You can click on my avatar and email me at the address listed.

Answer 2

I'm just laughing to myself. Everyone wants to be a prophet, and Paul says everyone SHOULD want to be a prophet! So what do people do? Rather than do the work and develop the skill, they change the definition to fit whatever they are and --badda bing-- they're a prophet.

All righty then...back to the planet we live on...

Human beings do not have any ability to tell the future or read someone's mind or channel God or anything else. And when you see someone mumbling in a strange language and they call it tongues, don't be sad just because you can't understand them, because God can't understand them either. It's fake.

God is the one with the ability to tell the future, and he will pick people to do the talking for him. That's what prophets are.

If you want an expanded definition, there are some people who have developed a skill of reading the language of creation. This is not the same as the gift of prophecy, but it has the same affect. God has already told us most of his plan within the framework of creation, and you simply learn how to read it and you can predict the future too. You don't even have to be born again. This is a learned skill that anyone can have.

(It's a lot like learning how to read blue prints. If you can skim the pages, you can predict the future: the kitchen will be here, the outlets will be along these walls, the light in the hall will be a three-way switch, etc...)

Answer 3

There is the office of a prophet and the gift of prophecy. You may all prophecy". Like tongues, which is not fake, prophecy actually operates in some realms of the church. Many don't have it so they throw everything out, saying it all ended with the book of Acts. Why would God give a gift so powerful and rescind it? He didn't. The Church today has many people making predictions about the future. If it is really God it will come to pass, period. I see many people making predictions that are faithful, that do manifest themselves. As for tarot or divination -they are occult powers. They get their power from Satan, whether they are aware of it or not. As for the gift in the church- it is typically a word of wisdom, or knowledge, a vision, or simply an impression: for edifying, exhorting or comfort.

Answer 4

I fully agree with you, with a little variation.
The teachings of a Messenger of God in the Holy Books compose law, commentary, admonition, planning and prophecy.
So prophecies concern more about future events which no men can understand. The next Messenger or the return of that Messenger Himself fulfils these prophecies by His own life, words and deeds. That is why now we see all Mosaic prophecies fulfilled in Christ, but the Jews couldn't believe because they refused to listen to the interpretation of Christ and in Christ. The same problem occured again among the Christians with the prophecies about His return.

Answer 5

Peace be unto you.

There are 3 types of prophets
1. An interpreter of scripture
2. A messenger of men, those who predict future events
3. A messenger of God, those who God sends with a message.

All three have the same problem, starting with 3, prophets of God get frustrated when no one wants to hear the message God gave to them, so they add their own words, to make the message more God-like.

In 2 many of these are from men of men to deceive men. and include 3

In 1, These prophets interprets scripture, so as to keep their place and nation, they will interpret scripture in away that promotes their beliefs and the beliefs of those they serve.

I am a prophet of scripture, but I am a follower and disciple of Jesus Christ. I do not come in my own name, I come in the name of Jesus Christ, I preach not my words, but the words spoken by Jesus Christ, therefore, the Glory is not mine nor the riches thereof, they belong to God, I am nothing without God, and all praise and Glory goes to God.

Jesus said for this is my body take and eat, for this is my blood, take and drink, for it is the blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for many, for the remission of sins.

Jesus gave us the bread from heaven, the bread of the new covenant, the Word of God, the Commandments of God, Jesus gave us more then 75 of them, but we choose to follow Moses and the 10 Commandments, because we are ashamed of the words spoken by Jesus.

We are not willing to turn the other cheek, We are not willing to give to all that ask, We are not willing to Lay Down our lives, but most of all we are not willing to serve God, we would rather serve mammon, the beast, and build up our treasures on earth.

Because I have preached the gospel unto you, I must also remenber Mary, for she anointed the Feet of Jesus at the hour of his death.

Answer 6

As the term is used in mystical theology, it applies both to the prophecies of canonical Scripture and to private prophecies. Understood in its strict sense, it means the foreknowledge of future events, though it may sometimes apply to past events of which there is no memory, and to present hidden things which cannot be known by the natural light of reason. St. Paul, speaking of prophecy in 1 Corinthians 14, does not confine its meaning to predictions of future events, but includes under it Divine inspirations concerning what is secret, whether future or not. As, however, the manifestation of hidden present mysteries or past events comes under revelation, we have here to understand by prophecy what is in its strict and proper sense, namely the revelation of future events. Prophecy consists in knowledge and in the manifestation of what is known. The knowledge must be supernatural and infused by God because it concerns things beyond the natural power of created intelligence; and the knowledge must be manifested either by words or signs, because the gift of prophecy is given primarily for the good of others, and hence needs to be manifested. It is a Divine light by which God reveals things concerning the unknown future and by which these things are in some way represented to the mind of the prophet, whose duty it is to manifest them to others.

Peace and every blessing!

Answer 7

Prophecy is a gift for predicting the future.

I don't care how you do it...if you can predict the future, you have the gift of prophecy.

The Bible seems reasonably clear on that.

Answer 8

In bible history prophets help fulfill prophecy. Like John the Baptist preparing the way for Christ.

Answer 9

Are the only true prophets from the bible?
Are there modern day prophets.
The adventsts have E. G white
LDS have Joseph smith

Are they true prophets

Answer 10

1