Modern Day Prophets: Not What they Seem

The Modern Day Prophet Scam

Let’s make something perfectly clear.  There is a movement in the church today that is doing nothing more that sowing error, creating unmerited personal power; and cheating the Saints out of the truth and out of their money.  It’s the growing number of groups calling themselves “Prophets.”  Now, listen to me closely.  There is no Biblical basis for the office of a prophet in the likeness of an Old Testament Prophet for the era of the Church!  No Elijah’s, or Joel’s, or Isaiah’s…no Jeremiah’s in the cisterns, because there is no reason for them to exist. 

The whole purpose of the Old Testament prophet was the foretelling of the Messiah and the coming kingdom of God.  Both are come, so there is no more need to foretell it.  In fact, Jesus was the one that declared its end.  He said, “The law and the prophets were until John; since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.”[1]  And if you have been duped by those that say we’re waiting for Elijah to return, Jesus handled that one, too.  “For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.  And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.  He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”[2]

So, Jesus made it clear that there were no more “called prophets” to come after John.  The purpose of declaring the kingdom now becomes the responsibility of the Believers, as it is already here.  The Christ also said that the purpose of the law and the prophets was to testify of Him.[3] When the Christ had come, there was no need to prophesy of Him anymore.  Those who call themselves “prophets” in the Old Testament manner are liars and deceivers!

With Jesus, the prophets’ job was done.  With His coming, the kingdom of God had arrived.  With Him, the gospel of the kingdom was preached.  So, what is this “prophet” that Paul speaks of?[4]  Rest assured, it is not a new “Elijah” resounding with “thus saith the Lord.”  There are actually those today that have been convinced that the sign of a true prophet is based on whether he/she utters these words (thus saith the Lord) in their pronouncement.  Really!  In that case, Satan is a prophet.  Didn’t he use the same ploy in the wilderness when tempting Jesus?

The office of prophet in Ephesians is not this type of prophet.  It is simply one who opens the Word of God in such a way as to instill it into the hearts of the listeners.  In fact, the Greek used here means “anointed speaker”.  Preaching under the anointing is not Old Testament prophecy.  These organizations where men and women gather to spout garbage and call it prophecy so they can take your money in numerous and varied ways are a blight on the church.  Don’t fall for it!

[1] Luke 16:16  emphasis mine

[2] Matthew 11:13-15  emphasis mine

[3] John 5:39

[4] Ephesians 4:11