Contemporary ‘prophets’

In some churches and movements, you hear people who suddenly call themselves prophets. They claim to speak on behalf of God and receive specific messages for individuals or the congregation. I even saw a poster recently for an invitation to a “healing service by the great prophet xyz.”

We often encounter them on this side as well, and it always gives me the creeps. Today someone asked me if I am also a prophet? Uh, no! And by asking that question… I get the creeps, red lights go on, because what does that person really believe?

Because if we read the Bible carefully, it becomes clear that the prophetic office in its original form is no longer necessary and also looks very different from what we see happening around us now….

In the Old Testament, God spoke to His people through prophets. Think of people like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Hosea. They received words directly from God and passed them on. The prophet was an intermediary between God and people, especially in a time when the full revelation of God was not yet available.

What stands out, when you read the prophets in the Bible, is that their message was often unpopular and certainly not comfortable. They did not come with flattery or superficial encouragement, but with warnings: “Repent, or judgment follows.” Their words were often razor-sharp, very confronting, and intended to bring people back to God.

Think of Isaiah who said:

“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness” (Isaiah 5:20).

Or Jeremiah who constantly cried out:

“Turn now everyone from his evil way and from the evil of your deeds, and live on the land which the LORD has given to you and your forefathers forever” (Jeremiah 25:5).

Ezekiel also received the task of warning the people urgently:

“Say to them, ‘As I live!’ declares the Lord GOD, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways!’” (Ezekiel 33:11).

In short, the prophets usually did not speak about prosperity and blessing, but called for repentance and warned of judgment if one persisted stubbornly in sin.

How different that sounds from the so-called “prophets” of today, who almost exclusively pronounce prosperity, success, and personal blessing. The Biblical message of repentance and warning is often completely missing there. And that is strange, because that was precisely the core of the prophetic ministry in the Bible.

And furthermore, with the coming of Jesus Christ, something fundamental has changed.

“God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.” (Hebrews 1:1-2)

This text shows that the way God communicates has changed. Formerly He spoke through prophets, now He speaks through His Son. Jesus is the full and highest revelation of who God is. Nothing more needs to be added to that.

Another important point we find in Ephesians 2 verses 19 and 20:

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone.” (Ephesians 2:19-20)

Here we see that the apostles and prophets together form the foundation of the church. You only lay a foundation once. After that, you build further. That foundation was laid in the time of the first generation of Christians. Nowadays, the church no longer needs new prophets or apostles, because that foundation is already fixed in the Word of God.

That brings us to another important point: the Bible is complete and sufficient. In 2 Timothy 3 verses 16 and 17 it says:

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

The Bible provides everything a believer needs to know God and serve Him. No additional revelation is needed in the form of prophets. The Bible is enough.

In fact, the book of Revelation ends with a serious warning against adding to God’s Word. In Revelation 22 verses 18 and 19 we read:

“I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.” (Revelation 22:18-19)

This warning applies primarily to the book of Revelation, but the principle that you must not add to God’s revelation runs like a red thread through the entire Bible. See for example also Deuteronomy 4 verse 2:

“You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.” (Deuteronomy 4:2)

Now that we live in the time after the coming of Christ and after the completion of the Bible, we must be extra careful when people claim to have a new message from God. Jesus even warned that false prophets would arise, especially in the last days.

In Matthew 24 verse 11 Jesus says:

“Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.”

And in verse 24:

“For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.”

These words of Jesus are very clear. Instead of us having to expect new prophets, He warns specifically that false prophets will come. We are thus called to vigilance, not to openness for so-called new revelations by new prophets.

The apostles also confirm this. In 2 Peter 2 verse 1 Peter writes:

“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.” (2 Peter 2:1)

And Paul writes in Galaten 1 vers 8:

“But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!” (Galatians 1:8)

The message of the Bible is therefore: stay with the gospel. It is fixed. There is no room for new prophets who speak on behalf of God with authority.

If we walk in that, we are on safe ground and built on a divine foundation.