Attempting to gloss over the apparent absence of prophets within modern “Christianity,” most denominations suggest that the gift of prophecy can be represented merely by inspired preaching or teaching. 

On the other hand, at least two major denominations – the Mormons (“prophet” Joseph Smith) and the Seventh Day Adventists (“prophetess” Ellen G. White) – base their fundamental doctrines on beliefs in modern prophecy.

Was Joseph Smith a prophet of the Almighty Creator God?  Was Ellen G. White “the Lord’s messenger” – “more than [a] prophet,” as she claimed?  Or are these and other individuals imposters – false prophets?  How can we know?  Can prophets and prophetesses even exist in the Body of Christ today? 

Is “prophesying” in the modern Church limited to inspired teaching, or is that a diluting of God’s definition of the gift of prophecy?

What Distinguishes the Gift of Prophecy?

The Bible clearly and definitively differentiates prophets from teachers – or from evangelists, pastors, and teachers – in those Biblical passages which list the various spiritual roles within God’s Church. 

Of course, the role of a prophet or prophetess does include an aspect of instructing.  How then is the gift of prophecy distinct from other gifts of God’s Spirit?  How is prophesying diverse from evangelizing, pastoring, or teaching?  According to Almighty God, what are the elements which distinguish prophecy? 

He said, "Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, shall make Myself known to him in a vision. I shall speak with him in a dream.  (Numbers 12:6) 

But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you.  (1 Corinthians 14:24-25) 

For no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.  (2 Peter 1:21) 

Thus, we see that the gift of prophecy goes beyond inspiration.  Prophets receive direct communication from God (sometimes by means of dreams or visions). They receive divine disclosure of otherwise hidden information – such as future events, the secrets of someone’s heart, etc.  In both the Old and the New Testaments, one can find numerous examples of prophets and prophecy which support these Scriptural distinctions. 

What is the Purpose of Prophecy?

What is the purpose of prophecy?  The apostle Paul condenses the answer to this question into one simple statement: 

“But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation.”  (1 Corinthians 14:3) 

·        Edification – building:

Agabus prophesied of the coming famine.  (Acts 11:27-28)

The Holy Spirit spoke through prophets to direct the selection of Paul and Barnabas. (Acts 13:1-4)

·        Exhortation – urging toward obedience; warning away from sin, and warning of God’s punishments for sin:

The Bible is full of examples of this function, which is encapsulated by God’s descriptions, here in the book of 2 Kings and in the book of Jeremiah: 

Yet the LORD warned Israel and Judah, through all His prophets and every seer, saying, "Turn from your evil ways and keep My commandments, My statutes according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you through My servants the prophets."  (2 Kings 17:13) 

"I did not send these prophets, But they ran. I did not speak to them, But they prophesied.  "But if they had stood in My council, Then they would have announced My words to My people, And would have turned them back from their evil way And from the evil of their deeds.  (Jeremiah 23:21-22) 

·        Consolation – encouragement: 

How wonderfully encouraging it is to perseverant Christians in this faithless age, that God prophesies of the Elijah, who will come and restore all things before the return of His Son, Jesus Christ! (Malachi 4:5-6) 

Numerous Biblical passages speak of the coming Kingdom of God and all that it means for us and for all mankind.  The prophecy below offers particular comfort to Christians who suffer: 

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.  (Revelation 20:4)

These functions – edification, exhortation, and consolation – often, but not always, involve the foretelling of future events. 

Can Prophets and Prophetesses Exist in the Church Today?

Some readers may recall the comments of Worldwide Church of God founder Herbert W. Armstrong: 

"Let me say here that in about 99,999 times out of 100,000, when people think GOD is speaking to them in a dream or vision in this day and age, it is pure imagination or some sort of self-hypnotism or self-deception." (Armstrong, H.W. Mystery of the Ages; Dodd, Mead & Company; New York, NY; 1985, p. 17.)

This perspective, negating the existence of prophets and/or gifts of prophecy in the modern Church is further reflected by the fact that one descendent Church of God fellowship, in its governing Constitution, omits entirely prophets (and apostles) from the list of the Scriptural roles in the Church!  When we add the possibility of women being prophetesses, the negation typically becomes even stronger.

However, upon a detailed Biblical examination of this question, the following becomes clear from the Word of God:

(1)  Christ specifically promised that the Holy Spirit would impart predictive prophecy: 

"But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.  (John 16:13)

Considering Christ’s guarantee here, how can we rationally suggest that we are a Spirit-filled Body, in the absence of the gift of prophecy?

That said, it nevertheless remains important to recognize that there might be periods of time when, for various reasons, God withholds prophetic revelation.  We find that to have been the case more than once in the history of ancient Israel: 

Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD before Eli. And word from the LORD was rare in those days, visions were infrequent.  (I Samuel 3:1) 

Her [Jerusalem’s] gates have sunk into the ground, He has destroyed and broken her bars. Her king and her princes are among the nations; The law is no more; Also, her prophets find No vision from the LORD. (Lamentations 2:9)

(2)  The gift of prophecy is listed among the distributed manifestations of God's Holy Spirit. 

But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.  But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. (1 Corinthians 12:7-11)

(3)  Prophets are found in both Biblical lists of spiritual roles in God's Church. 

Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it.  And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. (1 Corinthians 12:27-28) 

And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-13)

Have we perhaps outgrown – matured beyond – the need for apostles, for prophets, or for pastors?  Let’s resolve this question Biblically.

God says that He has given these various functions within the Church until we have satisfied both of two criteria: 

Have we all already come to the unity of the faith?  Do we see God’s Church united as never before, pressing forward as one closely-knit, loving Body, united in doing His Work? 

Tragically,we do not.  Instead, we see God’s sheep scattered to the winds.  One would have to be blind to suggest otherwise.

Have we all already attained to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Jesus Christ?  Have even any of us attained to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Jesus Christ?

Given the current disarray of the Church, it seems inconceivable that any would make such a brash claim. Yet, alarmingly, there are those who do.  To these, the Word of God warns: 

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.  (1 Corinthians 10:12) 

'Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich, and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see.  'Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; be zealous therefore, and repent. (Revelation 3:17-19)

(4)  Prophets/prophetesses within the Apostolic Church are specifically mentioned several times in Acts.  We find Agabus and his fellows (Acts 11:27); more than one prophet who sent out Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:1); Judas and Silas, who were sent out to explain the Acts 15 conference (Acts 15:32); Philip's four daughters (Acts 21:9); and Agabus again (Acts 21:10).

(5)  Paul exhorted the Corinthians, immediately following 1 Corinthians 13, "Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy" (1 Corinthians 14:1).  It should also be noted that this is a general exhortation; it is not gender-specific. 

(6)  There have also been female prophets – "prophetesses."  We know of Miriam (Exodus 15:20); Deborah (Judges 4:4); Isaiah's wife (Isaiah 8:3); Huldah (2 Chronicles 34:33); Anna (Luke 2:36); Philip's four daughters (Acts 21:8-9); and apparently more than one prophetess at Corinth (1 Corinthians 11:5).  Also, the book of Joel prophesies of other prophetesses:  “… And your sons and daughters will prophesy … And even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.” (Joel 2:28-29)

In the context of appropriate hair length, the fact that Christian women prophesy is mentioned in passing, along with their praying: 

But every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying, disgraces her head; for she is one and the same with her whose head is shaved ... but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her? For her hair is given to her for a covering.  (1 Corinthians 11:5)

This suggests that for Christian women to prophesy is an expected occurrence -- deserving no more attention than the fact that men were commonly prophesying: 

Every man who has something on his head while praying or prophesying, disgraces his head.  (1 Corinthians 11:4) 

And let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment. But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, let the first keep silent.  For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted;  (1 Corinthians 14:29-31)

(7)  We in the modern Church have read the verses all around 1 Thessalonians 5:20, apparently without ever focusing on this specific verse: "do not despise prophetic utterances."  Our lack of focus seems all the more striking when considering the immediate context:  "Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:19-21).

(8)  "And it will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions." (Joel 2:28).  It is significant to note that even those who men consider to be of the most "inferior status" are included in this promise:  "And even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days" (Joel 2:29).  The apostle Peter applied this passage to the Church. 

But this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel: 'AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,' God says, 'THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT UPON ALL MANKIND; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS; EVEN UPON MY BONDSLAVES, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, I WILL IN THOSE DAYS POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT And they shall prophesy.  (Acts 2:16-18)

(9)  Two very notable prophets will carry the bulk of the public load for preaching the witness during the coming great tribulation. 

"And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth."   (Revelation 11:3)

(10)  The Church is pictured in the Bible as a woman – the betrothed bride of Jesus Christ: 

For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. (2 Corinthians 11:2) 

For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.  (Ephesians 5:31-32) 

"Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready."  And it was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. (Revelation 19:7-8)

Nowhere does the Bible overtly attach the label “prophetess” to God’s Church. However, when we consider the Biblical function of a prophet, along with the duties and function of the Church, it becomes instantly apparent that a primary role in which the Church serves is that of a prophetess.  A few pertinent verses include: 

 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:  And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:  (Acts 2:17-18 KJV) 

"And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth." These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.

And if anyone desires to harm them, fire proceeds out of their mouth and devours their enemies; and if anyone would desire to harm them, in this manner he must be killed. These have the power to shut up the sky, in order that rain may not fall during the days of their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to smite the earth with every plague, as often as they desire.  (Revelation 11:3-6) 

"But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.  (John 16:13) 

Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and He said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and rise again from the dead the third day; and that repentance for forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

"You are witnesses of these things.  "And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."  (Luke 24:45-49)

Why then would God intend that there no longer be prophets or prophetesses within the Church, when the Church herself is a prophetess?  That would certainly seem contradictory!

In this regard, it also merits mention that just as individual prophetesses do not have an enforcing role in the government in God’s Church (as differentiated from apostles or pastors), the Church, as a collective prophetess, does not attempt to take part in the governance of this world. 

Inescapable Conclusions

Reading the above and numerous other Biblical passages mentioning and/or regarding prophets, we reach the following unavoidable conclusions:

(1)  It is incorrect to state that there are/will be no prophets in the modern Church.

(2)  A prophet of God may be an individual of “low status,” male or female, and his/her recorded contributions may be very limited – for example, a number of prophets in the Bible have only one recorded duty, and/or are not even mentioned by name.

(3)  Prophets perform a necessary and beneficial role within the Body of Christ. We may find prophets and/or prophetesses in God's Church at any time in history.  In fact, Biblically, it is almost as abnormal for there to be no prophets in the Church as for there to be no pastors!

(4)  The number and visibility of God’s prophets may vary from time to time, as God inspires and directs.

(5)  God’s prophets seem to be the most visible and evident when God is about to act with particular strength, whether to assist a people or to punish. 

The Christian Response

In what manner should we as Christians respond to this knowledge, to this understanding from God’s Word?  Paul succinctly summarizes the positivity of the Christian response: 

Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances [prophesyings KJV].  (1 Thessalonians 5:19-20) 

Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.  (1 Corinthians 14:1) 

Thus, we see clearly from the Bible that we are to earnestly desire and to embrace this very beneficial manifestation of the Holy Spirit – the gift of prophecy – within the Church of God.

Yet Christ admonishes us to “beware of the false prophets,” warning that “many false prophets will arise, and will mislead many” (Matthew 7:15; 24:11).  Therefore, it is crucial for us to be spiritually astute in our discernment.  Here again, we are instructed by the apostle Paul, continuing on from the verses in 1 Thessalonians, which we just read: 

But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.  (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22)

How then do we go about carefully examining prophetic gifts or utterances?  What of the claims of the Mormon Joseph Smith – servant of God or false prophet?  What of the claims of the Seventh Day Adventist Ellen G. White – servant of God or “Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess”?  What of the similar claims of any number of other lesser known persons? 

How, too, will we recognize that great false prophet, spoken of in Revelation, who is yet to arise?  How do we hold fast to genuine prophecy, yet discern the deceptions of falsehood?  What criteria does the Bible give us for evaluating, so that we can be assured?

For the vital answers to these aspects of the question, see the article Spiritual Gifts – True or False? available on the www.BelovedofGod.org Web site at:           

www.BelovedofGod.org/paper-spiritualgifts.html

Indeed, let us be certain that we do not quench the Holy Spirit of Almighty God within His Church.  Let us heed God’s command to not despise genuine prophetic utterances.  As we are admonished, let us evaluate prophesyings carefully and Biblically, rejecting the false, and holding fast to that which is good. 

"Would that all the LORD'S people were prophets,
that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them!"
– Numbers 11:29