It is not always when people say thus says the Lord that it is prophecy; prophecy is not prediction. Prophecy is not calculating the numbers in the bible and linking them with human calendar. It is not insinuating or promising God’s interventions based on human assimilations.
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Prophecy is supernatural utterance in the native tongue. He that prophesies speaks unto men for their edification, exhortation and comfort (1 Cor. 14: 3). The gift of prophecy is a miracle of divine utterance, not conceived by human thought or reasoning; it is inspired message revealing God’s divine promise, purpose or covenant of deliverance, blessing, protection or punishment.
Prophecy must bring edification, exhortation and comfort. A prophecy can rebuke but it cannot condemn: if it condemns then it is not from God.
Prophecy in the O.T was in a form of foretelling but now in the N.T it is in form of forth-telling. God reveals His plans to people so that men may know and partake of it. Many Old Testament prophets foretold God’s salvation agenda through Jesus.
Declaring the word of God is different from prophecy. Declaration is speaking the word of promise while prophecy is uttering divine mysteries and secrets to reveal God’s present and future plans. Prophecy is the verbal revelation of God’s past present and future plans for man and creation and it is subject to verification by time. Word declaration is speaking these revelations into existence in our lives. Either the gift of word of Knowledge or word of wisdom must accompany the office of a prophet.
Every believer can prophecy as led by the Holy Spirit but there are people who operate in it as a gift.
Moses prophesied the time of restitution of all things by raising a prophet who is Jesus (Dt. 18: 15-19). Agabus stood up among the brethren in the church at Jerusalem and prophesied that there will be a great famine all over the world in those days and it came to pass under Claudius Caesar (Acts 11:27).
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Daniel was able to prophecy that during the ending generation before the seven years tribulation that knowledge will increase. Daniel saw the development of science and technology in this our present world (Dan. 12:4).
John the beloved received the word of prophecy concerning the events that will take place after the rapture of the saints and he recorded them in the book of revelation.
God is still speaking to His children but the problem is that there are many who claim to be prophets and because of this, many are deceived to believe false prophecies. We were warned not to believe all prophecy and we should test all spirits. Many are being deceived to believe lies and deceptive doctrines of man’s ignorance. We are a product of what we believe and the deceiver and the deceived will receive equal punishment.
The gift of prophecy requires serious caution to operate because it is easy to tell a lie and confuse people. Some people can prophecy out of pity and say it is coming from God. Prophecies do not come from the mind of men; it comes from God.
In order to escape telling lie against God, it is better to make proclamations or declarations based on the word of God over the congregation instead of converting your own preconceived thoughts into prophecies. No one can just begin to prophecy except it is divinely inspired.
Wish you a happy new month and victorious Easter celebration.