Prophets One that foretells future events; a predictor, a foreteller; a person illuminated, inspired, instructed by God to announce future

events (Moses, Elijah, David, Isaiah, etc.); an interpreter; one who explains sentiments; one who pretends to foretell, an imposter is a false prophet. Among the prophets in the Hebrew culture (the Israelites) there was a school or a college in which young men were educated and qualified for public teachers. These students were called the sons of the prophets (Websters Dictionary, e-sword). The biblical understanding of prophet comes from the root nabi which means to bubble forth, as a fountain, to utter. My heart is overflowing with good news. I will direct my song to the king. My tongue is a pen for a skillful writer.-Psalm 45:1 Nabi is the first and most common word used for prophet. In the time of Samuel the term seer was used (I Samuel 9:9, II Samuel 24:11, I Chronicles 29:29). The false prophet was identified by a completely different term, kosem which meant a diviner, referring to someone who was into witchcraft (the black arts). God gave the vision. The prophet proclaimed the message of that vision (Numbers 12:6, 8). The Prophet was Gods spokesperson who spoke in Gods Name under Gods authority (Exodus 7:1, Jeremiah 1:9, Isaiah 51:6, II Peter 1:20 21, Hebrews 3:7, Acts 4:25; 28:25). The prophet was the first one available to share Gods thoughts and desires with the people (Deuteronomy 18:18-19). The whole Word of God is a prophetic work. God gave the vision to various men throughout the generations and they communicated those visions through the written word that has been seen and heard through the ages. The prophets first and foremost task was to correct moral and religious errors and connect the disconnected hearts of the people back to the heart of God. The foretelling of future events was not necessary, only incidental. It was one way God used to bring the people back to Him. The earliest known prophets of Israel are Enoch, Abraham, the Patriarchs, and Moses. In Numbers chapter 11 the seventy elders of Israel are seen prophesying when Gods Spirit comes upon them. Asaph and Jeduthun prophesied with their music as they played their harps, as David did. Miriam and Deborah, well known women in Israels leadership, were also prophetesses. The term prophet could be generally applied to anyone who had a message from God to the people. Israels political mess provided the context for the writings of the prophets. 750 BC, the rise of the Assyrians, produced the ministries of Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Micah and Nahum. The Babylonian threat provided material for Jeremiah, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Obadiah and Ezekiel. The Persians in 540 BC set the stage for Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi. Hosea, Amos, Joel and Jonah ministered to Israel, the northern kingdom while Isaiah, Jeremiah, Obadiah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah ministered to Judah, the southern kingdom. Ezekiel and Daniel were prophets to the people in captivity and Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi ministered in the Restoration period. The prophets did not have an easy time delivering Gods messages. The people did not receive Gods Word so eagerly. The prophets were locked up, persecuted and ignored. In spite of the difficulties they continued to serve the institutions of Israel; speaking to judges and kings, criticizing the shallow worship of the people just going through the motions, the failures of the religious leaders, speaking publicly in worship services, using the law to remind the people of

the covenantal promise between them and God and how God was faithfully upholding his part, but they were not. In the time of Samuel colleges and schools for prophets were instituted and continued to the end of the Old Testament. They were established in Ramah, Bethel, Gilgal, Gibeah and Jericho. Young men lived together in the schools and learned the basics of secular knowledge and were raised up to operate in the office of the prophet. The men were taught how to preach moral purity and direct the hearts of the people toward God as well as work alongside the priests and kings to help keep check legal matters and keeping peace among the people. These schools also played a great part in collecting and preserving the books of prophecy. Prophets were defined by their experiences and common characteristics that began with the call from God; to operate as a prophet without the call was heresy. Gods purpose in calling them was for them to deliver a word he had for people. The messages of God usually came in the form of direct declarations, visions, dreams or God himself directly appearing to them. The prophets primary purpose was to speak in a way that brought the people back into obedience (right relationship) with God. Their method primarily consisted of reminding them of past experiences (good and bad) as well as drawing attention to the hope promised to them in the future. God often chose these men to be living illustrations of the messages by performing symbolic acts. Miracles confirmed the message. They wrote Gods Word. They ministered to the people by testing their lives and watching for moral compromise. They interceded in prayer and often encountered Gods Presence in ecstatic experiences that empowered and enabled them to keep moving forward. The difficulty was being able to differentiate between true and false prophets. The true prophet is loyal to the worship of YHWH and YHWH alone. The words the prophet speaks does become reality, but often with long time lapses in between and some of those words are conditional, depending on the response of the one/ones spoken to. It was not uncommon for prophets to act inappropriately, contrary to what the majority of society was doing. Moses was criticized for marrying a woman outside of his race and disobeyed God when he struck the rock instead of speaking to it, as well as not giving the credit of the miraculous provision to God. Jeremiah was the total opposite of the society that surrounded him, to the degree they locked him up to shut him up, telling him what to say. Prophets also seemed to be walking contradictions having conflicting feelings towards a person, place or object within them, causing them to feel as if they were being torn in two different directions, wrestling with uncertainty, indecision, and doubt. Accurately predicting events was not the only proof of their calling; a person could make accurate predictions and still be disloyal to YHWH. A prophets words were also backed up by the words of those before him, by his good character (practicing what he preached), and being willing to suffer because they were faithful. The office of prophet is not limited to the Old Testament. Prophets played a foundational role in the early church. Mary and Zechariah are both seen prophesying in Luke chapter 1. John the Baptist predicted Jesus baptizing people in the spirit and of course, Jesus himself was a prophet. His miracles and discernment were of prophetic nature. Acts 2, the outpouring in the upper room was viewed as the fulfillment of Joels prediction that ALL people, young and old, male or female would / could prophesy. Anyone may be able to prophesy occasionally, there are some who seem to be especially gifted in this area. They predict and announce judgments; they act symbolically and receive visions. Prophetic insight has led to missionary efforts. Teaching and prophecy can be related and many have preached lengthy messages giving exposition to biblical texts.

The office of the prophet is not extinct, nor is it limited to the definitions of the Old Testament. The New Testament prophet is different in that he or she is Christ-centered, teaching the people with Christs teachings as their basis in the same manner as Christ taught.

The power

Of The Prophet Anything else just isnt right.