Introduction to Prophecy
What is Prophecy?
Greek word προφητεία (prophéteia)
pro - before and phēmí - telling (clarifying)
divinely-empowered foretelling
Prophesy - verb form, to declare prophecy
Approximately 27% of the Bible contains prophecy
80% completed with 100% accuracy
20% remains to be completed
Todd Hampson: The Statistics of Bible Prophecy
What is a Prophet?
One who is divinely-empowered to foretell
One who receives revelation of Bible prophecy
Amos 3:7 “Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.”
Who determines a Prophet?
“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,” Ephesians 4:11
“And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions.” Joel 2:28
What is the mission of a Prophet?
“The thing that God asks of the prophet is that he would stand before the Lord, stand in the council of the Lord, hear the message of the Lord and then take it and deliver it as he is directed when and where and to whom the Lord directs.” - Derek Prince (Ministry of a Prophet)
How do we know TRUE from FALSE Prophets?
Jeremiah 23:9-40 tell us
“Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.” 1 Corinthians 14:29
Everything must be discerned through the Holy Spirit
No one man can be a dictator - there is a safe guard through confirmation
What is their character like?
What is their motivation?
Is there a financial benefit involved? Selling books, charging for seminars, etc…
Never let anybody dictate to you their own revelation.
If someone has this desire, there is a demonic spirit behind it.
It must be confirmed
What is the Prophet’s relationship to the church?
To bring fresh revelation to the body
“Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint (they run wild) Proverbs 29:18a
God inspires them to warn the world about what the Bible says is to come as they see events unfold.
Why do Pastors avoid relating prophecy to current events?
What examples of Prophet’s are there in the Bible?
Who were the Old Testament Prophets?
Abraham – Genesis 20:1, 7
Aaron – Exodus 7:1
Moses – Deuteronomy 34:10
Barak – Judges 4:6; Hebrews 11:32
Gideon – Judges 6:11; Hebrews 11:32
Jephthah – Judges 11:1; Hebrews 11:32
Samson – Judges 13:24; Hebrews 11:32
Samuel – 1 Samuel 3:20; Hebrews 11:32
David – 1 Samuel 16:13; Hebrews 11:32
Gad – 1 Samuel 22:5
Nathan – 2 Samuel 7:2
Ahijah – 1 Kings 11:29
Jehu – 1 Kings 16:7
Elijah – 1 Kings 18:22
Elisha – 1 Kings 19:16
Isaiah – 2 Kings 19:2; Isaiah 1:1
Jonah – 2 Kings 14:25; Jonah 1:1; Matthew 12:39
Shemiah – 2 Chronicles 12:5
Hanani – 2 Chronicles 16:7
Iddo – 2 Chronicles 13:22
Azariah – 2 Chronicles 15:11-8
Obed – 2 Chronicles 28:9
Jeremiah – 2 Chronicles 36:12; Jeremiah 20:2
Haggai – Ezra 5:1; Haggai 1:1
Uriah – Jeremiah 26:20
Hananiah – Jeremiah 28:1
Ezekiel – Ezekiel 1:1
Daniel – Daniel 1:1; Matthew 24:15
Hosea – Hosea 1:1
Joel – Joel 1:1; Acts 2:16
Amos – Amos 1:1
Obadiah – Obadiah 1:1
Micah – Micah 1:1
Nahum – Nahum 1:1
Habakkuk Habakkuk 1:1
Zephaniah – Zephaniah 1:1
Zechariah – Zechariah 1:1
Malachi – Malachi 1:1
Who were the New Testament Prophets?
John the Baptist – Matthew 11:9-11
Jesus Christ – Luke 24:19; John 6:14
Barnabas – Acts 13:1
Simeon – Acts 13:1
Lucius – Acts 13:1
Manaen – Acts 13:1
Judas – Acts 16:32
Silas – Acts 16:32
John, the apostle – Revelation 1:1-3
Two Witnesses – Revelation 11:2-3
What is Prophecy?
Greek word προφητεία (prophéteia)
pro - before and phēmí - telling (clarifying)
divinely-empowered foretelling
Prophesy - verb form, to declare prophecy
Approximately 27% of the Bible contains prophecy
80% completed with 100% accuracy
20% remains to be completed
Todd Hampson: The Statistics of Bible Prophecy
What is a Prophet?
One who is divinely-empowered to foretell
One who receives revelation of Bible prophecy
Amos 3:7 “Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.”
Who determines a Prophet?
“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,” Ephesians 4:11
“And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions.” Joel 2:28
What is the mission of a Prophet?
“The thing that God asks of the prophet is that he would stand before the Lord, stand in the council of the Lord, hear the message of the Lord and then take it and deliver it as he is directed when and where and to whom the Lord directs.” - Derek Prince (Ministry of a Prophet)
How do we know TRUE from FALSE Prophets?
Jeremiah 23:9-40 tell us
- false profits “speak a vision of their own heart, Not from the mouth of the Lord.”
- It also infers true profits have “stood in the counsel of the Lord (been in the Lord’s presence), And has perceived and heard His word”
- True profits “turn my people from their evil ways and deeds”Prophets minister in teams - not alone
“Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.” 1 Corinthians 14:29
Everything must be discerned through the Holy Spirit
No one man can be a dictator - there is a safe guard through confirmation
What is their character like?
What is their motivation?
Is there a financial benefit involved? Selling books, charging for seminars, etc…
Never let anybody dictate to you their own revelation.
If someone has this desire, there is a demonic spirit behind it.
It must be confirmed
What is the Prophet’s relationship to the church?
To bring fresh revelation to the body
“Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint (they run wild) Proverbs 29:18a
God inspires them to warn the world about what the Bible says is to come as they see events unfold.
Why do Pastors avoid relating prophecy to current events?
- It requires much study to understand. A lot of prophecy is hidden and scattered across many different places in the Bible. It also requires attention and time in following current events.
- They don’t want to mislead their flock and risk being labeled as a false prophet. There have been many false ‘date setters’ in the past.
- It is a separate function in the church as stated in Ephesians 4:11 “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,”
What examples of Prophet’s are there in the Bible?
- Elijah - led the Jewish people back to the true God
- John the Baptist - announced the ministry of Jesus
- Jesus - the most well known prophet of all
- The wisemen - interpreted scripture and were led to Christ’s first coming
Who were the Old Testament Prophets?
Abraham – Genesis 20:1, 7
Aaron – Exodus 7:1
Moses – Deuteronomy 34:10
Barak – Judges 4:6; Hebrews 11:32
Gideon – Judges 6:11; Hebrews 11:32
Jephthah – Judges 11:1; Hebrews 11:32
Samson – Judges 13:24; Hebrews 11:32
Samuel – 1 Samuel 3:20; Hebrews 11:32
David – 1 Samuel 16:13; Hebrews 11:32
Gad – 1 Samuel 22:5
Nathan – 2 Samuel 7:2
Ahijah – 1 Kings 11:29
Jehu – 1 Kings 16:7
Elijah – 1 Kings 18:22
Elisha – 1 Kings 19:16
Isaiah – 2 Kings 19:2; Isaiah 1:1
Jonah – 2 Kings 14:25; Jonah 1:1; Matthew 12:39
Shemiah – 2 Chronicles 12:5
Hanani – 2 Chronicles 16:7
Iddo – 2 Chronicles 13:22
Azariah – 2 Chronicles 15:11-8
Obed – 2 Chronicles 28:9
Jeremiah – 2 Chronicles 36:12; Jeremiah 20:2
Haggai – Ezra 5:1; Haggai 1:1
Uriah – Jeremiah 26:20
Hananiah – Jeremiah 28:1
Ezekiel – Ezekiel 1:1
Daniel – Daniel 1:1; Matthew 24:15
Hosea – Hosea 1:1
Joel – Joel 1:1; Acts 2:16
Amos – Amos 1:1
Obadiah – Obadiah 1:1
Micah – Micah 1:1
Nahum – Nahum 1:1
Habakkuk Habakkuk 1:1
Zephaniah – Zephaniah 1:1
Zechariah – Zechariah 1:1
Malachi – Malachi 1:1
Who were the New Testament Prophets?
John the Baptist – Matthew 11:9-11
Jesus Christ – Luke 24:19; John 6:14
Barnabas – Acts 13:1
Simeon – Acts 13:1
Lucius – Acts 13:1
Manaen – Acts 13:1
Judas – Acts 16:32
Silas – Acts 16:32
John, the apostle – Revelation 1:1-3
Two Witnesses – Revelation 11:2-3