With Jesus being seen as the fulfillment of many prophecies, what does the Bible say about prophets who came after Him? Does scripture leave room for new prophets, or was Jesus the last? Let’s take a look at how the Bible addresses prophecy after the time of Christ.
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What Does The Bible Say About Prophets After Jesus
Acts 2:17
“In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.”
This verse highlights the prophetic role of believers after Jesus’ ascension. It emphasizes that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit enables individuals of all ages and genders to receive and proclaim divine messages.
Ephesians 4:11-12
“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”
After Jesus’ time on earth, He appointed apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to equip and empower believers for service in the body of Christ. These individuals continue to play a prophetic role in guiding and edifying the church.
1 Corinthians 14:29
“Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.”
Even in the post-Jesus era, the gift of prophecy operates within the Christian community. This verse emphasizes the importance of discernment and evaluation of prophetic messages, encouraging believers to test the words of prophets against the truth of God’s Word.
1 Corinthians 12:10
“To another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.”
This verse highlights prophecy as one of the diverse spiritual gifts given to believers by the Holy Spirit. It affirms that even after Jesus’ time, individuals can receive the supernatural ability to hear and communicate God’s messages to His people.
Revelation 19:10
“For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
This verse in the book of Revelation affirms the integral connection between Jesus and prophecy. It emphasizes that all true prophecies bear witness to Jesus and His redemptive work, pointing others to Him.
1 Thessalonians 5:20-21
“Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good.”
This verse encourages believers to recognize and honor the gift of prophecy. While exercising discernment, it emphasizes the importance of embracing and holding on to the prophecies that align with the truth of God’s Word.
Joel 2:28
“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.”
Similar to Acts 2:17, this verse from the book of Joel emphasizes that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit would result in prophetic giftings among believers. It highlights that individuals of different age groups would be vessels for divine revelation and communication.
Amos 3:7
“Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.”
This verse highlights the important role of prophets in God’s plan. It emphasizes that, throughout history, God has chosen to reveal His intentions and purposes to His prophets, ensuring His people are informed and prepared.
Hebrews 1:1-2
“In the past, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.”
This verse acknowledges the significance of the prophetic ministry during the Old Testament era. However, it also highlights Jesus Christ as the ultimate revelation of God’s will and character, surpassing any previous prophetic messages.
1 Peter 1:10-11
“Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow.”
This verse emphasizes the foretelling nature of the prophetic ministry. It reveals that the prophets of old, inspired by the Holy Spirit, diligently searched for understanding about the timing and context of the Messiah’s coming and the redemptive purpose behind His suffering and subsequent glory.
2 Peter 1:20-21
“Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
This verse emphasizes the divine inspiration behind prophetic messages. It affirms that the prophets of Scripture did not speak on their own accord, but rather under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, ensuring the reliability and authority of their prophetic utterances.
Matthew 7:15-16
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit, you will recognize them.”
This verse warns believers about the presence of false prophets. It highlights the importance of discerning the character and teachings of those who claim to speak on behalf of God, emphasizing that their true nature will be revealed by the fruit of their lives and ministry.
Mark 13:22
“For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”
Jesus’ words in this verse caution against the rise of false messiahs and prophets who use signs and wonders to deceive people, emphasizing the need for believers to remain steadfast in their faith and discern the true nature of these pretenders.
Deuteronomy 18:20-22
“But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death. You may say to yourselves, ‘How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?’ If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken.”
This passage from the Old Testament emphasizes the seriousness of false prophecy. It commands that those who speak falsely in the name of God or other gods face severe consequences. The authenticity of a prophet’s message is validated by its accurate fulfillment.
Jeremiah 23:16
“This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord.”
In this verse, God warns His people not to listen to prophets who deceive with false visions, giving false hope. He distinguishes between true prophets who speak His words and false prophets who speak from their own imaginations.
Jeremiah 23:21
“I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied.”
God declares that some prophets speak falsely, claiming to have a divine message when He never sent them. This passage highlights the importance of discerning the source and validity of prophetic messages before accepting them as true.
Jeremiah 29:8-9
“Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,’ declares the Lord.”
In this verse, God warns against false prophets and diviners who deceive people with dreams and false prophecies. He affirms that He has not sent them and urges His people not to place their trust in their deceptive words.
Zechariah 13:3
“And if anyone still prophesies, their father and mother, to whom they were born, will say to them, ‘You must die because you have told lies in the Lord’s name.’ Then their own parents will stab the one who prophesies.”
This verse from Zechariah emphasizes the seriousness of false prophecy. It illustrates the extreme consequences that false prophets may face, even from their own parents, for spreading lies in the name of the Lord.
Matthew 24:11
“And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.”
Jesus warns His disciples of the rise of false prophets who will deceive and mislead many people. This verse underscores the need for discernment and vigilance within the Christian community to avoid being led astray by false teachings.
2 Timothy 4:3-4
“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”
Paul’s words in this verse anticipate a time when people will prefer teachings that align with their own desires rather than sound biblical doctrine. This warning indirectly acknowledges the presence of false prophets who cater to these distorted preferences.
Matthew 24:24
“For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”
In this verse, Jesus emphasizes that false messiahs and prophets are capable of performing extraordinary signs and wonders as a means of deception. This underscores the importance of discernment and anchored faith to avoid being misled.
2 Peter 2:1
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.”
Peter warns of false prophets and teachers who introduce destructive beliefs and teachings, leading others astray. He highlights the severity of their deception by noting that they even deny the Lord, ultimately facing their own destruction.
1 John 4:1
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they are from God because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
John encourages believers not to blindly accept every spirit or prophet but rather to test them to discern their origin. He acknowledges the proliferation of false prophets and emphasizes the necessity of discernment to identify true and false spiritual influences.
Jeremiah 14:14
“Then the Lord said to me, ‘The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds.”
Jeremiah recounts the Lord’s message concerning false prophets who speak lies in His name. God declares that He has not sent these prophets and exposes their messages as false, originating from their own imaginations and false practices.
Jeremiah 23:26
“How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions of their own minds?”
This verse reiterates the presence of lying prophets who prophesy products of their own imaginations. It questions the persistence of their deception and highlights the danger they pose to those who heed their false messages.
Lamentations 2:14
“The visions of your prophets were false and worthless; they did not expose your sin to ward off your captivity. The prophecies they gave you were false and misleading.”
These verses reflect on the unfaithfulness of the false prophets during the time of Israel’s captivity. Their visions and prophecies were devoid of divine truth and failed to warn the people of their sins, ultimately leading to their downfall.