Evangelist, pastor and teacher have become the acceptable roles in the Ecclesia, but on whose authority was the role of apostle and prophet denied? Was it the same "authority" that determined the church replaced Israel? Was it the church leaders who denied the validity of God’s Holy Days? Are we to believe anything from those who dismiss “the law” even though Yeshua (Jesus) said, “If you love me, then keep my commandments?
There is no clear declaration in the Word that the prophetic would come to an end in fact instructions are given for continued practice of the 5 fold ministry. This absurd notion that “the time” for apostles and prophets has ceased is found only in the minds of men—men who are frightened by the mistaken definition of a false prophet. Jonah prophesied destruction to Nineveh:
Jonah 3: 1-4 And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying, Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey. And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.
Yet God spared Nineveh and Jonah was ticked! Even though he knew God would spare Nineveh, he preached defeat as God had told him to do. Today’s religious leaders wouldn’t let Jonah mope they’d be ready to run him out of town on a rail as a false prophet!! Why bother stoning him, let’s just destroy him with our criticism… You see, the penalty for stoning a false prophet is not when the end result does not occur. The stoning is for teaching against Torah—to stray away from God’s instruction:
Deut 13:2-5 And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods …And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God.
The penalty was carried out even if the prophetic word was accurate. It’s not a requirement to be "100% accurate" as is often claimed, AND it was applicable to anyone.... even if they were not a prophet. There is actually a scriptural reference to cover inaccuracy:
Deut 18:22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.
So be careful when you mock prophecy, because here’s what God’s Word has to say about it:
Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. KJV Revelation 19:7-10
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith KJV Romans 12:3-6
Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same LORD. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit To another faith by the same Spirit to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit To another the working of miracles to another prophecy to another discerning of spirits to another divers kinds of tongues to another the interpretation of tongues: KJV 1 Corinthians 12:4-10
Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that, miracles. Then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. KJV 1 Corinthians 12:27-31
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing. Love suffereth long, and is kind love envieth not love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Love never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail whether there be tongues, they shall cease whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly but then face to face: now I know in part but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three but the greatest of these is love. KJV 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
(Has “that which is perfect” come again? Ohhh, I guess it’s NOT done away yet!!!)
Follow after love, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. KJV 1 Corinthians 14:1-5
Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy... KJV 1 Corinthians 14:39
For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. KJV 1 Corinthians 14:31
Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things give thyself wholly to them that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. KJV 1 Timothy 4:13-16
For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. KJV 2 Peter 1:16-21
And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. KJV Numbers 12:6
After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Carchemish by Euphrates: and Josiah went out against him. But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? I come not against thee this day, but against the house wherewith I have war: for God commanded me to make haste: forbear thee from meddling with God, who is with me, that he destroy thee not. Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and hearkened not unto the words of Necho from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo. And the archers shot at king Josiah and the king said to his servants, Have me away for I am sore wounded. KJV 2 Chronicles 35:20-23
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: KJV Joel 3:1
