What Is Prophecy?

The Greek noun propheteia means a prediction of future events. The prophet is the person who utters a prophetic word because he has the gift of prophecy. The prophet is able to utter that word because he is being inspired by the Spirit of God to do this. We have no prophets today. “But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (II Pet. 1:20, 21 NASB). The verb form propheteuo means to foretell future events, to predict, or to exercise the function of a prophet. “For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, ‘This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased’—and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain [the Mount of Transfiguration—Matt. 17:1-13]. And so we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts” (II Pet. 1:16-19 NASB).

As there have been (past tense) true prophets, there have been (past tense) and there are (present tense) false prophets. We do not have any prophets or apostles today. “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits…” (Matt. 7:15, 16a NASB). “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (I John 4:1 NASB). When you hear a man say that he has a word of prophecy or a prophetic word to give, listen closely to him. If what he says is contrary to the Scriptures, he is telling a lie. There are true prophets and false prophets. All the true prophets are dead. There is no need for them. The first and primary qualification for the prophets of the New Testament was to be one who had seen the Lord Jesus Christ in Person (I Cor. 9:1).

There are no true prophets now because the work or office of prophet or apostle has been fulfilled. With the completion of Scripture, there is no need for the extraordinary servants. Therefore, Jude was driven to hastily take his pen and write because of a dangerous heresy. He said, “Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3 NASB). The Bible is complete. No one is to add to it or take from it. In Jude 3, the Greek word for faith is pistis. It is used three different ways in the Scriptures. It is used in reference to Christ Himself, in reference to the Word of God which we have, and in reference to the faith that God gives us to embrace the system of faith or truth that God has committed to us and our trust.

Jude not only talks about God’s love in verse 1, but he manifested the love that had been poured out in his own heart for those to whom he was writing (Jude 1, 2). Furthermore, his love is displayed not only in his affectionate address in verses 3, 17, and 20, but it was also revealed in his serious warning and stern rebuke in verses 17-20: “But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, that they were saying to you, In the last time there shall be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts. These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith; praying in the Holy Spirit.”

Love is no sentimental acquiescence in what others are doing, and it is no substitute for conviction. Love springs from conviction of “the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3 NASB). Therefore, it must seek to destroy all impurities in the ones loved. That adds up to the fact that the true undershepherd is a watchman who knows what his responsibility is to the sheep.

Jude was driven to hastily take the pen and write because of a deadly heresy to which the beloved had been exposed. The Greek verb epagonidzomai means to contend strenuously in defense of truth. Giving up any aspect of truth that has been once for all delivered makes a Christian guilty of a breach of allegiance to Christ. When one gives up part of Scripture to please himself or in order to keep company with its opposers, he will give up other parts if it is in his interest. In this day of blasphemy, lukewarmness, compromise, and indifference, we are seeing how few want the completed revelation of truth.

The word “faith” in the statement “the faith once for all delivered” is objective rather than subjective. Paul said to the Philippians, “Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ; so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Phil. 1:27 NASB). Both faith in Christ (subjective) and His gospel message (objective) are God’s gifts to the elect.

The following is a quotation from The Lime Street Lectures which dates back to the middle of the eighteenth century—“They who give up any truth which the Scripture has revealed are guilty of a breach of allegiance to Christ. They are not exempt from this charge by retaining many things which God has made known and commanded. If a person gives up one thing which Christ has ordered to be retained, he is as guilty as one who throws up the whole of Christian doctrine. When men give up part of Christianity to please themselves or to keep company with its opposers, they will be always ready to give up other parts of it if it suits their interests. In this day of blasphemy, lukewarmness, and indifference, we may expect many to weaken our hands and cause us sorrow of heart. We know but little of the things among us, if we expect to have many to give us help when we are engaged in the cause of the Lord against the powers of Satan.”

Since the completion of Scripture, apostles and prophets are not needed any more than the Tabernacle, priesthood, and offerings of the Old Testament. Both extraordinary servants and types, as well as a shadow of good things to come, have served their purpose. The so-called “prophetic word from the Lord” we constantly hear today is purely subjective, and therefore cannot be proved.

There is nothing superfluous in the sphere of truth. Truth is God’s message once for all given, and it has been entrusted to the saints as God’s completed objective message. The Greek verb paradidomi means to hand over or to entrust, and it is used for handing down authorized tradition. This means that the Christian apostolic tradition is the norm for the people of God and not current theological fashion. Therefore, the once for all tradition is bound up in the once for all incarnation and death of Jesus Christ. We cannot get either behind or beyond the faith once for all delivered. It must be given to each successive generation—as it is. Therefore, “Any one who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son” (II John 9 NASB). Any religion that denies Jesus Christ is just a human religion. It is not of God. What about religionists and politicians who are afraid to use the name of Jesus Christ because it may be embarrassing to non-Christians? Anyone who refuses to speak of Christ has denied Him, and if there is no repentance, this person, too, must be treated as a non-Christian. We are told how to treat him in II John 10, 11—“If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching [the teaching of verse 9], do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds” (NASB).

Prophecy always points to the future. It never looks back. God is the Author of prophecy. This is self-evident. God alone knows the future. Therefore, He alone can foretell. Foreknowledge is necessary to foretelling. God sees future, present, and past simultaneously. He has a fixed and settled purpose. There are many scenes, but it is only one drama. There are many pages, but only one book. There are many rulers and provinces, but only one Lord of heaven and earth. Whatever God thinks He ever thought, and He always and does think. “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, watching the evil and the good” (Prov. 15:3 NASB).

The time in which a predicted event will occur is a part of the prediction itself. These events are realities. Therefore, they require real time in which to occur. For example, Christ predicted that He would be raised the third day (Matt. 16:21). In reference to Jerusalem, Christ said, “…Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” (Luke 21:24 NASB). Here the number of years is not given, but the time will last until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. The times of the Gentiles is not to be confused with the “fulness of the Gentiles” (Rom. 11:25). The “times of the Gentiles” refers to the period from Nebuchadnezzar to the establishment of the Kingdom. The “fulness of the Gentiles” speaks of Christ visiting the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name (Acts 15:13-17). Both are drawing to a close.

God’s honesty is pledged for the fulfillment of the time of the prophecy as it is for any other part. God knows the end from the beginning; therefore, He declares the end from the beginning. “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” (Num. 23:19 NASB). “…let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written, “THAT THOU MIGHTEST BE JUSTIFIED IN THY WORDS, AND MIGHTEST PREVAIL WHEN THOU ART JUDGED” (Rom. 3:4 NASB).

The order in which predicted events are given must be observed in the interpretation that one makes. Thus, the order of events of Matthew 24:15-31 must be interpreted as given. To change the order of these events is to change the prophecy.

Another example of order is the Book of Revelation. Observe the seven churches (Rev. 2-3), the seven seals, the seven trumpets, and the seven bowls of wrath. A false interpretation of prophecy is as bad as a false translation. However, when prophecy is correctly interpreted, it lights up the future (II Pet. 1:19-21). Apart from prophecy, we know nothing beyond the present time outside of the fixed laws of nature.

God is the God of order. There was order about God’s work of creation. Thus we have the numbering of the days. It is foolish to think there would be order at the beginning and no order at the conclusion. Furthermore, think of the order of the Tabernacle, Priesthood, and offerings! Consider the order in the science of soteriology—election, redemption, regeneration, conversion, progressive sanctification, and glorification. As there is order in salvation, there is order in your service for the Lord. God may be sought by the Christian and not be found, because the seeking is not in the way of Divine order which He has revealed as agreeable to Himself. He who does God’s will rightly, must do it uprightly. Command rather than comfort is the ground for duty. Abraham was commanded to offer up Isaac. Paul closed his instruction for the Corinthians by saying, “… let all things be done properly and in an orderly manner” (I Cor. 14:40 NASB).

No one is baptized in, with, or by the Holy Spirit today. There are only seven references to the baptism of the Holy Spirit in all the New Testament (Matt. 3:11, Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16, John 1:33, Acts 1:5, 11:16, and I Cor. 12:13). The first five references are prophetic—looking to the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). The last two look back to Pentecost which has been fulfilled. Baptism of the Holy Spirit does not come on individuals today. It came on the assembly at that time. The unscriptural Charismatics, who think they can prophesy and work miracles, say the only people who are judgmental of their doctrine are those who never had the experience. There is a very simple answer to that statement. An attorney is not required to break the law before he is permitted to deal with lawbreakers. What about a physician diagnosing a disease? The Christian minister has the Bible which he is responsible to handle accurately (II Tim. 2:15).

Prophecy is not given to enable us to prophesy. Peter gives the purpose of prophecy in II Peter 3:17—“You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest, being carried away by the error of unprincipled men, you fall from your own steadfastness” (NASB). To be forewarned is to be forearmed. The Scriptures are full of red lanterns warning of the dangers that lie in the path of God’s people. Paul gave us a warning, “Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision” (Phil. 3:2 NASB). Here we have character—Judaizers, conduct—deceitful, and mutilation—circumcision.

Plain speaking about Christian deviations is incumbent upon the minister who wants to lead his flock in the path of truth. The inspired apostles have given us the completed assembly Epistles. Therefore, “the faith once for all delivered” message has left us without excuse. Nothing is to be either taken from or added to what has been written.