Prophet - Who Can Be?

Bible Questions Answered:

“Who can be a prophet?...”

Shelby/ England United Kingdom

Bible Answer:

Bible Texts:

Old Testament

Genesis 20:7 KJV (Abimelech, Abraham and Sarah)

Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet*, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.

*Prophet-Hebrew: Nabiy (Naw-bee): Inspired man.

New Testament

Matthew 1:22 KJV

Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of The Lord by the prophet*, saying,

*Prophet-Greek: Prophetes (Prof-ay-tace: A foreteller, and inspired speaker, a prophet.

Prophet:

A person who speaks for God ... by divine inspiration.

A person chosen (by God) to speak for God and to guide the people of Israel:

(Dictionary.com)

Spiritual office, not chosen by men, but are "gifts," from The Lord

Prophecy:

 

Romans 12:4-8 KJV

4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:

5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

I Corinthians 12:10,28-30 NLT

10 He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy.

He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from The Spirit Of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said.

28 Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church:

first are apostles,

second are prophets,

third are teachers,

then those who do miracles,

those who have the gift of healing,

those who can help others,

those who have the gift of leadership,

those who speak in unknown languages.

29 Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles?

30 Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages?

Of course not!

I Corinthians 13:2 NLT

If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.

I Corinthians 14:1-7 NLT

1 Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities The Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy.

2 For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of The Spirit, but it will all be mysterious.

3 But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them.

4 A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church.

5 I wish you could all speak in tongues, but even more I wish you could all prophesy. For prophecy is greater than speaking in tongues, unless someone interprets what you are saying so that the whole church will be strengthened.

6 Dear brothers and sisters, if I should come to you speaking in an unknown language, how would that help you? But if I bring you a revelation or some special knowledge or prophecy or teaching, that will be helpful.

7 Even lifeless instruments like the flute or the harp must play the notes clearly, or no one will recognize the melody.

Ephesians 2:19,20 KJV

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

Ephesians 4:10-12 KJV

10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things.)

11 And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Prophets warn of present sins and judgment, and future sins and judgment.

Moses

Exodus 4:22 KJV

And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith The Lord, Israel is My son, even My firstborn:

Isaiah:

Isaiah 1:4 KJV

Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken The Lord, they have provoked The Holy One Of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.

The first man listed as a prophet was Abraham (above text), the last Old Testament prophet, John The Baptist.

Matthew 3:1-3 KJV

1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,

2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of The Lord; Make His paths straight.’”

In the Bible there are many, many prophets, the total varies dependent upon whom you talk to, but suffice it to say well over 100 prophets (of which include no less than some 16 women).

All of them speaking “thus saith The Lord.”

Now The Word Of God, also mentions other prophets, “false prophets.”

Test Of The Prophets:

Deuteronomy 18:17-22 NLT

17 “Then The Lord said to me (Moses), ‘What they have said is right.

18 I will raise up a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites. I will put My words in his mouth, and he will tell the people everything I command him.

19 I will personally deal with anyone who will not listen to the messages the prophet proclaims on My behalf.

20 But any prophet who falsely claims to speak in My name or who speaks in the name of another god must die.’

21 “But you may wonder, ‘How will we know whether or not a prophecy is from the Lord?’

22 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.

The Apostle Paul (in his day) warned, the Corinthians, and Timothy...

II Corinthians 11:13-15 KJV

13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

II Timothy 4:1-4 NLT

1 I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when He comes to set up His Kingdom:

2 Preach The Word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.

3 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.

4 They will reject The Truth and chase after myths.

Our Lord's warnings...,

Matthew 7:15-20 KJV

15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Matthew 24:11,23-26 KJV

11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

24 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.

25 Behold, I have told you before.

26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.

Today, we are to test the test all things by The Word Of God.

I Thessalonians 5:20-21 KJV

20 Despise not prophesyings.

21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

Acts 17:10,11 KJV

10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.

11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica in that they received Th Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Are there Prophets today? Yes and No. There are not prophets that have new messages from The Lord.

Prophets today are forth-tellers.

In the Old Testament, Prophets were fore-tellers, that is they spoke “thus saith The Lord,” and delivered God's message to the people, whether that would be coming blessings or judgment.

Today, there are Prophets, but their forth-telling is inspired of God, preaching, teaching, exhorting, encouraging, warning etc. of The Word Of God.

Is a person who preaches, or teaches The Word Of God, a prophet? Yes, if they indeed are living for

The Lord, and are accurately teaching or preaching The Word Of God!

When a Pastor, Evangelist, Teacher states “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of The Lord shall be saved,” they are really saying as prophets of old “Thus saith The Lord,”

and this is indeed prophetic inspired preaching, or teaching.

Coming Tribulation Woes:

Revelation 16:13,14 KJV

13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.

14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

Revelation 19:20 KJV

And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

Revelation 20:10 KJV

And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and

the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Salvation Prayer:

Romans 10:9l, 10 KJV
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth The Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto Salvation.

II Corinthians 6:2 NKJV

For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

Dear Friend, today, is the day to call upon the name of The Lord. We have no promise of tomorrow!

Proverbs 27:1 KJV

Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.