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Prophet: Difference between revisions
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A '''prophet''' is a person who speaks by divine inspiration, revealing the will of God. | A '''prophet''' is a person who speaks by divine inspiration, revealing the will of God. | ||
=What | |||
=What identifies of a prophet?= | |||
The Bible contains some very clear identifications of a true prophet. | The Bible contains some very clear identifications of a true prophet. | ||
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==A prophet does not point to himself== | ==A prophet does not point to himself== | ||
The Bible also indicates that a prophet cannot validate himself. In other words, no person becomes a prophet because he decides to be a prophet and neither can man appoint a prophet. God Himself decides who will speak for Him – and that person may prophesy once during his entire lifetime or he may prophesy many times. (1 Samuel 19) Paul wrote, “All these [gifts, including the gift of prophecy] are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he [the Spirit] gives them to each one, just as he determines.” | The Bible also indicates that a prophet cannot validate himself. In other words, no person becomes a prophet because he decides to be a prophet and neither can any man appoint a prophet. God Himself decides who will speak for Him – and that person may prophesy once during his entire lifetime or he may prophesy many times. (1 Samuel 19) | ||
Paul wrote, “All these [gifts, including the gift of prophecy] are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he [the Spirit] gives them to each one, just as he determines.”<ref>1 Corinthians 12:11, insertions and emphasis added</ref> | |||
Jesus said, “If I testify about myself about myself [claiming that I am the Messiah], my testimony is not valid. There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is valid. You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth [that I am the Messiah].”<ref>John 5:31-33, insertions added</ref> | |||
If a person is “gifted” with visions from God, this gift will become evident over time. Spiritually mature people will test and validate the gift and of course, time will prove whether the prophet spoke of God or out of his own imagination. | |||
Followers of [[The Message|William Branham's message]] state that William Branham never said he had the spirit of Elijah — but that he did point out many of the scriptures that the "end-time Elijah would fulfill. Unfortunately, this statement is the product of [[Cognitive Dissonance|cognitive dissonance]]. | Followers of [[The Message|William Branham's message]] state that William Branham never said he had the spirit of Elijah — but that he did point out many of the scriptures that the "end-time Elijah would fulfill. Unfortunately, this statement is the product of [[Cognitive Dissonance|cognitive dissonance]]. | ||
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William Branham pointed to himself repeatedly and often. Examples include: | William Branham pointed to himself repeatedly and often. Examples include: | ||
==Lack of popularity is not "proof"== | |||
True prophets are not popular during their lifetime because Almighty God does not trifle with man nor does God send trivial messages through His prophets. When God sends a message, His words cut like a double-edged sword. God condemns sin and exposes error. So, the message of a true prophet is usually hated, and historically, the life span of a true prophet is short and painful. Jesus acknowledged Israel’s customary treatment of the prophets saying, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.”<ref>Matthew 23:37</ref> | |||
However, being unpopular is not an indication that someone is a prophet. Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormons, was killed for his beliefs but this did not make his beliefs correct. | |||