The issue of prophecy is not very well understood among Christians--seeing that a lot of modern preachers aren't sincere. And sadly those that are sincere are somewhat ignorant.

We also are mindful of the fact that long posts are rarely favourable to nairalanders due to the nature of our jobs schedules etc. We pray that God help us make this issue as succinct as possible.

Straightaway prophecy isn't just predicting the future , A lot of pastors will soon start their yearly prophecy which isn't really different from predicting football matches, also it's so amazing that less than 50% come true. Then that violates what the Bible says in Deuteronomy that if a prophet prophecy and it doesn't come true, he is a false prophet and God never sent him.

Then one will ask, what then is prophecy?
The spiritual gift of prophecy is listed among the gifts of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12:10 and Romans 12:6 . The Greek word translated “prophesying” or “prophecy” in both passages properly means to “speak forth” or declare the divine will, to interpret the purposes of God, or to make known in any way the truth of God which is designed to influence people. Many people misunderstand the gift of prophecy to be the ability to predict the future. While knowing something about the future may sometimes have been an aspect of the gift of prophecy, [color=#990000]it was primarily a gift of proclamation (“forth-telling”), not prediction (“fore-telling”).[/color]

A pastor/preacher who declares the Bible can be considered a “prophesier” in that he is speaking forth the counsel of God . With the completion of the New Testament canon, prophesying changed from declaring new revelation to declaring the completed revelation God has already given. Jude 3 speaks of “the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (emphasis added). In other words, the faith to which we hold has been settled forever, and it does not need the addition or refinement that comes from extra-biblical revelations.

Also, note the transition from prophet to teacher in 2 Peter 2:1 : “There were false prophets among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you” (emphasis added). Peter indicates that the Old Testament age had prophets, whereas the church will have teachers. The spiritual gift of prophecy, in the sense of receiving new revelations from God to be proclaimed to others, ceased with the completion of the Bible. During the time that prophecy was a revelatory gift, it was to be used for the edification, exhortation, and comfort of men (1 Corinthians 14:3 ). The modern gift of prophecy, which is really more akin to teaching, still declares the truth of God. What has changed is that the truth of God today has already been fully revealed in His Word, while, in the early church, it had not yet been fully revealed.
Christians are to be very wary of those who claim to have a “new” message from God. It is one thing to say, “I had an interesting dream last night.” However, it is quite another matter to say, “God gave me a dream last night, and you must obey it.” No utterance of man should be considered equal to or above the written Word. We must hold to the Word that God has already given and commit ourselves to sola scriptura
—Scripture alone.

Also when the Bible says prophecy is for the church and not for the world 1cor14:22 makes it obvious that a prophet who prophecy that bomb blast will happen in kano, or Nigeria would split isn't consistent with scriptures (who am I to condemn)..
.. Also every part which talks about prophecy or prophesying in the epistles talks about teaching and expounding God's counsel..

GOD BLESS SHARE YOUR VIEWS TOO .

Cc 5solas , mrpresident1 ,

It's all about d past, present and future.

icybeth:
It's all about d past, present and future.

hmmm OK pls would you explain More

icybeth:
It's all about d past, present and future.

hmmm thanks can you explain more

Prediction is part of prophecy . But primarily , prophecy is forth telling .

But the fact that a man prophesies doesn’t make him a Prophet .

There’s difference between prophesying and the gift of prophecy and there’s diffeence between he that has the gift of prophecy and a PROPHET

petra1:

Prediction is part of prophecy . But primarily , prophecy is forth telling .

But the fact that a man prophesies doesn’t make him a Prophet .

There’s difference between prophesying and the gift of prophecy and there’s diffeence between he that has the gift of prophecy and a PROPHET

OK but pls can you tell us the difference in a way we'd understand more

Ferisidowu:
OK but pls can you tell us the difference in a way we'd understand more

Romans 12:6 (KJV)
whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

Anyone can prophesy , by making pronouncements or declaration of Gods word according to his faith . Another speaks by the gift of prophecy. He heard from God. But a prophet is someone who is called into the office of a prophet . He has and operates in certain gifts such as Word of knowledge, Word of Wisdom ,and gift of prophecy , .

Prophesying according to scripture is more than just telling the future but allowing yourself as a tool for God to speak tru u. It is simply declaring the words of God.

1. Jesus and d samarithan woman at d well,2. Jesus read from d scroll in d tample,after reading he said 'this prophesy had just been fulfill right now.3. One of d many prophesy recorded in d Bible we are all expecting is 'new heaven and new earth where righteousness will dwell.

Ferisidowu:
hmmm thanks can you explain more

The greatest of all the prophets I have studied from the Bible is prophet Isaiah.
Prophecy is not an entertainment but a revelation of the mind of God on things to come. Prophecies are given to draw men closer to God not to wait till the fulfilment. A prophecy can be given concerning a man getting a job in a big business organization, he activate such prophecy by praying,applying for the job and studying to pass aptitude test. He doesn't wait for manna to fall from the Skye before reacting. There are prophecies that are not palatable to the hear. What do you? Sit and watch the manifestation or rain curses on the messenger or pray to advert such prophecy? The choice is yours.
There are some prophecies that are good but many call it prediction, guess work e.t.c ,such prophecies takes time to manifest compare to evil prophecies. That is the more reason evil prophecies are given to draw men closer to God. If a prophet tells an unmarried lady that she will get married soon, it is normal because that was her expectation at that state. But if she was told that she will die in few days time, she will panic a bit and would want to cancel such prophecy. She might reject it instantly or fast and pray against it. This prophecy had draw her closer to God than ever that is what prophecy does.
The manifestation of prophecies are not immediate but it will come to pass.it doesn't have to be that year( Hab 2:3, Isaiah 7:4, Matthew 1:22-23)
Prophecy can be changed, altered by man if they choose to ( 2 king 20:1-6,Isaiah 38:1-5)

petra1:


Romans 12:6 (KJV)
whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

Anyone can prophesy , by making pronouncements or declaration of Gods word according to his faith . Another speaks by the gift of prophecy. He heard from God. But a prophet is someone who is called into the office of a prophet . He has and operates in certain gifts such as Word of knowledge, Word of Wisdom ,and gift of prophecy , .

May God bless you will wisdom.

petra1:


Romans 12:6 (KJV)
whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

Anyone can prophesy , by making pronouncements or declaration of Gods word according to his faith . Another speaks by the gift of prophecy. He heard from God. But a prophet is someone who is called into the office of a prophet . He has and operates in certain gifts such as Word of knowledge, Word of Wisdom ,and gift of prophecy , .

now more comprehensive I get your point thanks God bless

salvation101:
Prophesying according to scripture is more than just telling the future but allowing yourself as a tool for God to speak tru u. It is simply declaring the words of God.

God bless you

so who's a prophet

petra1:

Prediction is part of prophecy . But primarily , prophecy is forth telling .

But the fact that a man prophesies doesn’t make him a Prophet .

There’s difference between prophesying and the gift of prophecy and there’s diffeence between he that has the gift of prophecy and a PROPHET

Only within the context of old testament you'll see prohesy to be fortelling the future. Prophesy in the new testament doesn't foretell like these Nigerian pastors.

Goshen360:


Only within the context of old testament you'll see prohesy to be fortelling the future. Prophesy in the new testament doesn't foretell like these Nigerian pastors.

u r wrong sir. Prophecy both in old and new testament involves speaking the words of God wch could also involve telling the future... In d book of acts21 from 11 there is the mention of the name of a prophet called Agabus who warned Paul of the fate dat await him in Jerusalem. In Acts 11 he also warned the church about imminent famine dat was gonna befall d entire Roman empire wch made d church prepare ahead.. The same Holy Spirit who was upon prophets in d old testament dwells in new testament saints today

Goshen360:


Only within the context of old testament you'll see prohesy to be fortelling the future. Prophesy in the new testament doesn't foretell like these Nigerian pastors.

Prediction is part of prophecy. a prophet is a seer

The Testimony of Jesus is The Spirit of Prophecy-Rev. 19:10.

orisa37:
The Testimony of Jesus is The Spirit of Prophecy-Rev. 19:10.

explain further pls

Beloved Nairalanders,

You need to see the secret arts taking place in our own boarding schools of today revealed in this book titled, Early Birds for N100 plus a FREE GIFT FOR EVERY READER. Our schoolkids and initiation, homosexuality, hardcore bullies, demonic appearances, proven power of prayer, etc., it's a must-see! To get it now, SMS book title to 08162152631 (pls take down this number for the sake of our loved ones). God help us! It's important to spread this message...
Here's a grim extract:
'Bode could not believe his ears. He prayed for the ground to just crack open and swallow him up. His own dormitory? It can't be happening.
Urgently, they (Bode and fellows) who were members of the same house...hurried down to their dwelling...only to find the great disciplinarian, Dr Raji; one of three deputies! The man, only just moved to the discipline and wearing his greying beard, dark splodge on the forehead and full-length clothing, had been there for an unexpected tour of inspection. And now he was freely sweating as he thrashed every senior with his last reserves of might, tearing into that lordly flesh. He was doing that so hard that the juniors could hear the crashing sounds and screams from the outside of the building.
On sight now, inside, they were able to see the raised marks on the victims' backs peppered with visible bleeding dots; the exact type they themselves usually received...
Can get the complete story.

gbodiman:
Beloved Nairalanders,

You need to see the secret arts taking place in our own boarding schools of today revealed in this book titled, Early Birds for N100 plus a FREE GIFT FOR EVERY READER. Our schoolkids and initiation, homosexuality, hardcore bullies, demonic appearances, proven power of prayer, etc., it's a must-see! To get it now, SMS book title to 08162152631 (pls take down this number for the sake of our loved ones). God help us! It's important to spread this message...
Here's a grim extract:
'Bode could not believe his ears. He prayed for the ground to just crack open and swallow him up. His own dormitory? It can't be happening.
Urgently, they (Bode and fellows) who were members of the same house...hurried down to their dwelling...only to find the great disciplinarian, Dr Raji; one of three deputies! The man, only just moved to the discipline and wearing his greying beard, dark splodge on the forehead and full-length clothing, had been there for an unexpected tour of inspection. And now he was freely sweating as he thrashed every senior with his last reserves of might, tearing into that lordly flesh. He was doing that so hard that the juniors could hear the crashing sounds and screams from the outside of the building.
On sight now, inside, they were able to see the raised marks on the victims' backs peppered with visible bleeding dots; the exact type they themselves usually received...
Can get the complete story.

hello what's this?

I'm confirming that Prediction is Prophecy, that is, Foretelling The Future. And you need Faith in Christ, "The Faith", to foretell The Future.

orisa37:
I'm confirming that Prediction is Prophecy, that is, Foretelling The Future.
And you need Faith in Christ, "The Faith", to foretell The Future.

but that's not true!

Please what is true? I know Jesus is The Way, The Truth and The Life. When you see Him, you get The Spirit to foretell The Future.

orisa37:
Please what is true?
I know Jesus is The Way, The Truth and The Life.
When you see Him, you get The Spirit to foretell The Future.

hmm that's not what he promised all saints... ability to predict the future?? are all apostles?

Not all He promised but what you as His reliable friend will get additionally from seeing Him

@Ferisidowu
I agree, prophesy is more than foretelling. It certainly is not a guess or guesses based on probability or observed facts. A true prophesy must come to pass or the 'prophet' did not hear from God.

5solas:
@Ferisidowu
I agree, prophesy is more than foretelling. It certainly is not a guess or guesses based on probability or observed facts. A true prophesy must come to pass or the 'prophet' did not hear from God.

Exactly sir.... Thanks a lot ... If a prophecy fail by one word the prophecy isn't from God