10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” ” (Revelation 19:10, NKJV)
In the simplest form a prophet is sent by God to Reveal Jesus Christ. The work of the prophet is always apocalyptic.
The element of prediction is incidental. Many prophecies contains future events because they are about Christ and Christ is past, present and future all the time. This does not make prophecy essentially about predicting the future. This distinction is critical for a biblical picture. That great prophecy called the Revelation of Jesus Christ will not make sense unless we understand that prophecy is not about the future per se, but about Christ in all His fulness and glory.
God loves prophesying and He prophesies all the time. Just after the fall God prophesied about Christ. God is a prophet and that is what He does.
15 And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her Seed;
He shall bruise your head,
And you shall bruise His heel.”
” (Genesis 3:15, NKJV)
7 Surely the Lord God does nothing,
Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.
8 A lion has roared!
Who will not fear?
The Lord God has spoken!
Who can but prophesy?
” (Amos 3:7–8, NKJV)
In the Old Testament the prophets often lived prophetic, symbolic lives and they spoke and wrote a lot, but it was always passionately and decisiveness focused on Christ.
10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.
” (1 Peter 1:10–12, NKJV)
16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. 19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
” (2 Peter 1:16–21, NKJV)
17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
” (Matthew 5:17–18, NKJV)
34 references in the New Testament of Christ fulfilling the prophets. Don’t miss the points, its still not primarily about predicting the future but still primarily and essentially all about Christ.
22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
” (Matthew 1:22–23, NKJV)
God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. ” (Hebrews 1:1–4, NKJV)
Not much, they still speak Christ and it still is, usually, a big confrontation with the culture.
The biggest problem in the western church is that Christian do not believe that Christ expects them to die with him on the cross. The idea that Christ died in your place so you can be forgiven and does not expect you to also really die to self and sin is prevalent. When a prophet now comes and preaches the most basic gospel message this is already rejected. Even the basic message of an evangelist would be prophetic in today’s climate and meet with rejection. Point is the prophets will again be telling people things they don’t not want to hear.
Doctrine about prophets only bringing edification, essentially feel-good messages are now popular.
I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. ” (2 Timothy 4:1–5, NKJV)
Paul says that we should all desire to prophecy and when we begin to see beyond the notion of “predicting the future” and actually comprehend that the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy then the relevance and power of prophesying will increase in our lives and the lives of our congregations.
Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may PROPHESY.2. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.3. But he who PROPHESIES speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.4. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who PROPHESIES edifies the church.5. I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you PROPHESIED; for he who PROPHESIES is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.
1 Corinthians 14:1-5
Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to PROPHESY, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.40. Let all things be done decently and in order.
1 Corinthians 14:39-40