Posted on 11/18/2020 7:28:17 AM PST by SeekAndFind
There is a tremendous focus on prophetic words today. Did charismatic prophets really predict a Trump victory in 2016, even before he had announced his run for the White House? Should these prophets be trusted today when, virtually, to a person, they assure us that Trump really did win the 2020 election and that the final results will prove it? And beyond these specific questions, what is the primary purpose of prophecy?
It is this last question I want to focus on – and I will do so later in this article – but it’s important we clarify some things up front.
To be perfectly clear, none of us who believe in prophetic ministry today believe that anyone can add to the Bible. Perish the thought. That is rank heresy of the highest order. Anyone who makes such a claim or wants his or her words to be received on the level of Scripture should be openly and clearly rejected.
The Bible stands alone as God’s Word – the Word of God – and that alone is our infallible guide to salvation and godly living.
But that doesn’t mean that the Spirit is no longer speaking. Why would that follow? The Scriptures have a unique and irreplaceable function. Nothing challenges their role.
At the same time, we have a personal relationship with a personal God, and Jesus Himself said that we, His sheep, hear His voice (see John 10:27; the Greek speaks of an active, ongoing hearing and obeying).
The Spirit may direct us to go into a certain career. Or to embark on a particular ministry endeavor. Or to encourage our faith in a dark time. How does that compete with Scripture?
In the same way, the Spirit continues to speak to us through prophetically gifted people.
But hear this clearly: Prophets are not glorified fortune tellers. Their role is not to give us abstract information about tomorrow. Instead, if they give us information about tomorrow, there will always be a practical reason for it.
It could be to prepare us for difficult times (see Luke 22:31-32; Acts 11:27-30; 20:22-24). It could be to build our faith, helping us to hold on until the answer came (see Acts 27 and Paul’s role during the shipwreck). It could be to bring something unexpected to our attention, causing us to change our planned course (see Acts 16:6-10).
When it comes to Trump, it is possible that, because he was such an unlikely candidate, God revealed to a number of prophetic ministers that he would be used to accomplish good for America and for Israel.
In the same way, it’s possible that these same prophetic ministers have been declaring that Trump will serve a second, consecutive term because of a massive attempt to steal the election from him. The prophets would then be saying, “Don’t lose heart! It will happen.”
Or they could be wrong. All of them. It has happened before. (Note the striking account in 1 Kings 22, where all the king’s prophets gave patriotic prophecies. Only an outsider had the real word, and it was a bad one.)
But before you pick up stones to stone them (yes, I’m speaking metaphorically), let’s wait until the final verdict is rendered.
Either way, though, whether they are right or wrong (some of them are my colleagues and friends), there are several things we can say for sure.
First, prophesying about political outcomes is not the primary purpose of prophecy. Rather, as rendered in the NLT, “the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus” (Revelation 19:10). In the end, He must be central.
Second, the Church is not led by prophets. They do not give national or international directives to the Body of Christ. They are fellow-ministers, along with others who are gifted and called. That’s also why it’s inappropriate for contemporary prophets to point to 2 Chronicles 20:20 (where the king of Israel tells the people to believe a specific prophetic word), in order to tell people today, “Believe our message!”
Third, the words of contemporary prophets must be tested and evaluated (1 Corinthians 14:29; 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21), since, according to Paul, “we prophesy in part” (1 Corinthians 13:9). Plus, in this New Testament era, every believer can potentially prophesy (Acts 2:17-18; 1 Corinthians 14:39). That’s why we do not stone them to death if they get something wrong, as was mandated in Old Testament times. But that’s also why we do not lend them the same authority that was given to Old Testament prophets.
So, to every contemporary prophet who wants to speak with Old Testament authority: remember the penalty for missing it.
Fourth, and most importantly, one of the central functions of prophets is to expose idolatry and warn against leading on the arm of the flesh. Only God is to be worshiped!
We actually see this right in Revelation 19:10, where John, the author of the book, is about to worship the angel who had spoken to him: “Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, ‘You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.’ For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (ESV).
This mighty, awe-inspiring angelic being is telling John, “Don’t worship me! I’m a servant of God just like you are. Worship Him only! The ultimate purpose of the prophetic spirit – the very Spirit that inspired you to write this book of Revelation – is to testify about Jesus. All eyes are to be on Him!”
To the extent that contemporary prophets have not consistently exposed our exaggerated trust in Trump as some sort of political messiah, they have failed to bring the full message of God. That is a serious error that must be addressed.
And, in all candor, it makes no sense to me that, with a massive stream of pro-Trump prophetic pronouncements, there were so few warnings about our idolatrous trust in a very strong but very flawed man. Something has been sadly missing.
We have often shouted MAGA more loudly than we have proclaimed the gospel, and we have sometimes focused on Trump as much as we have focused on Jesus (in some cases, even more so). Where were the all prophetic warnings about this?
So, whether or not the Trump prophecies prove true for the 2020 election, it’s clear that we have some major housecleaning to do.
GLENDA JACKSON was a guest on Sid Roth’s Supernatural Show on 12/2/2014. Her testimony was supernatural to say the least and a real faith builder.
At the conclusion of the program, Sid asked Glenda about the future. This is what she said:
SID: Glenda, there’s time slipping away. What has God shown you that will happen in the future?
GLENDA: He showed me that if Christians don’t start praying more than they ever have, even the churches, become the house of prayer, this next election.
SID: Presidential election.
GLENDA: Election is not going to take place. That it’s going to be suspended because evil is going to arise and some disasters are going to happen, and some things are going to be put in place, and the president is not going to be removed. He’s going to stay in. And these things are going to happen, and they’re going to be very bad if we don’t get a hold of God.
https://sidroth.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/IS775Transcript_Jackson.pdf
Woooo! Did the electoral college already vote in the winner?
An illegally selected President cannot issue lawful orders or sign lawful
legislation. It is incumbent on patriots to resist, sabotage and disobey such orders.
Of course, that require Americans to get up from their lazy boys and turn off the TV before taking action.
If there were true prophets around, books of the Bible would be added.
False argument. Not all prophecies end up as scripture. See 1 Cor 14, where two or three prophets speak and the others judge. Those prophecies didn't end up as scripture.
RE: Not all prophecies end up as scripture. See 1 Cor 14, where two or three prophets speak and the others judge. Those prophecies didn’t end up as scripture.
I think both of you are somewhat right in his own way.
If what you’re saying is — Scripture is SUFFICIENT to guide us in our faith and how we should live, then you are correct, we don’t need additional scripture.
What jjotto is trying to say ( I think ) is that there are many modern day “Prophets” ( note the quotes ) who claim that God has given new commandments and guidance PUBLICLY on how we ought to live, vote, etc. in the 21st century, and they are the bearers of God’s message. If this claims were true (which they’re not), then these would have been added to scripture.
The Bible has some rather clear things to do to false prophets.
It starts with stoning.
Which is why I don’t trust any of the evangelical prophets. They do a quick “let’s pretend” dance and continue on.
The election isn’t settled yet.
It remains to be seen if Trump wins and the prophecies prove true.
Chris Reed had a vision he posted on FB on Aug. 20th about President Trump and George Washington and Philadelphia/PA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EPPgBq1AwM
Read Isaiah 59.
For years I have looked at the world as the Tower of Babel. We should be able to recognize that mixing the settled cultures across the globe and how they are being mixed at an alarming rate, and the resulting negative outcome. God will have to end it as He did the first time He broke up the party. Get ready, It’s coming.
Agreed. False teachers not preaching righteousness but rather a greasy grace social gospel. False prophets too speaking what God has not shown them
2020 Has Wrecked The Charismatic Prophetic Movement
From Justin Peters - one of the speakers at the Strange Fire conference
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