Prophecy is a complex subject of Judeo-Christian faith and there is much confusion and suspicion
of the nature of prophecy and of anyone who speaks with authority the Word of God, especially as
regards any predictive words.

There are three scriptures that are very important for understanding the nature of prophecy. These are:

        Amos 3:7 "Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his
                                plan to his servants the prophets."
  
        Joel 2:28 & Acts 2:7 "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."
  
         1 Thessalonians 5:19-21 "Don't stifle the Spirit. Don't despise prophecies,
                                                        but test all things. Hold on to what is good."

The nature of prophecy is where finite man "sees" something from the Infinite and recounts, as best as humanly possible, that "word" from the LORD. Throughout history, men have sought to understand God and His intentions for our lives as well as His movements among us. This, of course, allows for error and can even bring about a total deception by the enemy of our souls (for an example of a lying spirit allowed by God, see 1 Kings 22). So how are we to view modern-day prophecy?

For an analysis of this subject, the following organization is applied in the next pages:

Preface
The approach of one to the prophetic gifting of the Holy Spirit must be borne of one's humble desire for the Glory of the Lord to be displayed among us. This humility is in recognition that God works through our weaknesses to display His great Power (2 Corinthians 12:9).

 have read a number of websites and articles about how to identify a prophet, and so many of them focus on one's conformist lifestyle and non-sinful behaviors, and while that is certainly important (such as not advocating blatant sin), it is also not consistent with many of those God chose to be His voice among man. When one considers the life of Samson, King David, and the bizarre behaviors (by human standards) of numerous "great prophets" of antiquity, it is inescapable that God demonstrated His Power in the lives of some very flawed people (according to human judgment).

Specifically Regarding Israel

As noted above in the "Canonized Prophecies Applicable to Our Time", there is a specific sequence of biblical prophecies that have to take place before the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. We have witnessed the first part of these prophecies already, namely the re-establishment of the nation of Israel in 1948 and the beginning of a re-gathering of the Jews into the land of Israel since the Diaspora of 70 A.D./C.E. and the recapture of the city of Jerusalem in 1967.

Still awaiting fulfillment is the massive migration of Jews from the north noted in Jeremiah 16:14-15, the destruction of the Aswan dam as punishment for Egypt's undermining of the re-established nation of Israel, and the ultimate coalesced alliance of Russia, Iran, Libya, Sudan-Somalia, select eastern European territories, Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey into an axis of destruction intent on the elimination of Israel.

Scripture tells us these things will happen. We must be prepared and watchful, praying for God's will to be achieved.

The Apostle Paul gave, what seems to me, the key critique of any "prophet" in Galatians 1:8 and that is this: "But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God's curse!" So the truly critical element is the nature of the gospel preached by the prophet. If the prophet preaches the finished work of Christ on the Cross for the redemption of mankind, consistent with the teachings of the Apostle Paul, then we move on to the test of the prophet found in 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21 and in Deuteronomy 18:22.

A Prophet's Explanation

Many Charismatic Christians believe a man named Kim Clement was a modern-day prophet. He explains something at the beginning of the video about the discernment of what the Holy Spirit may be showing us and how our imperfections can complicate our understanding. This is a very interesting video. Click here.

Important Note: In the Deuteronomy 18:22 passage we should take note of the words given by Moses to the people of God. He specifically states: "If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed." He does NOT say the person is a FALSE PROPHET. In fact, he continues to call the person a prophet and indicates that it is possible a real prophet may speak "presumptuously". This is also found in the writings of the Apostle Paul when referring to a prophet's "control" of the Spirit within them (1 Corinthians 14:32).

May a prophet speak presumptuously committing the error of failing to control the Spirit within him? Certainly. In discerning the Spirit's groans and urges (Romans 8:26), one may in fact speak when it was not appropriate to do so. A prophet is, after all, human and it is in the weakness of human form that God's great Power is demonstrated. In fact, the Apostle Peter recognized the deep desire to fully comprehend the prophetic gifting and wrote the following:

1 Peter 1:10-12 "Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things."

This passage of Peter tells us a number of things. Sometimes prophets did not understand the timing of the things spoken through them, and they diligently searched other scriptures, examined evidence of the timing of things, and seriously considered the circumstances which would give rise to fulfillment of their words. In some cases, the prophets came to understand that their words were for a distant future. In other cases, they recognized the words were for their contemporaneous situations.

Peter also tells us that the angels also are very curious about these matters. The angels do not have the same insight as the Holy Spirit within us. In fact, they are curious and expectant of the fulfillment of the Word of the Lord spoken through the Lord's prophets. We are told very little about the realm in which the angels operate, but in this passage, we can see that they have limited knowledge of the plan of God. Why is that? I believe a possible explanation exists in something written by the Apostle Paul. I have discussed that here.

Additionally, I have explained how a prophet arranged his writings in the best manner he could as he understood his prophecies (click here). In this case, it is a series of DIFFERENT prophecies received by Ezekiel regarding the nation of Egypt, and in his personal deliberations about those prophecies, he assembled his writings in the order it seemed appropriate to him at the time, yet in one particular prophecy there was no way for him to know when or what circumstances would bring about fulfillment. However, in our time we can see the circumstances and thus know fulfillment is imminent (though some "Christians" reject this, claiming part of Ezekiel 29 is actually a false prophecy since it was not fulfilled at the time of Ezekiel). For a better understanding, see the section Canonization of Prophetic Writings below.

What I have noticed in scripture is that there are revelations of God for every period of time: before the Law of Moses, during the time of Moses, throughout the nation of Israel, and in the Christian era.

I was raised in a tradition that taught the Holy Spirit was basically a retired author. I know many serious Christians believe this, thinking the Bible to be the "perfect" to which Paul referred in 1 Corinthians 13:10. Additionally, many serious Christians believe the Holy Spirit "woos and urges" us but no longer "inspires" in the way He did during "biblical times". Further, many other serious Christians believe the Holy Spirit very active in both urging and modern-day inspiration (and these "charismatic" Christians advocate varying degrees of interaction of the Spirit of God within us depending on their own denominational perspectives).

In this examination, I believe we will see that God (being the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow) continues to inspire, urge, and lead those who are willing and such leading, and associated gifts of the Spirit, occurs consistent with the canonized scriptures and what has been bound on earth (Matthew 18:18). So let us begin this examination and learn to what degree God not only wishes to act among us, but the gifting available to the willing as well.

The analysis begins on the next page (click here to continue)

Pre-Israel and Israel Prophecy | Early Church Prophecy | Canonization of Prophetic Writings | Admonitions of the Apostle Paul | Conclusion