Do We Have Prophets in the New Testament?
1) Direct answer
Yes. The New Testament has prophets, and God still sets prophets in the Church today. They do not add new Scripture, but they call God’s people back to the written Word, reveal what is hidden, warn, and edify the Body.
2) Scriptural explanation
- God placed prophets in the Church: “God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets…” (1 Corinthians 12:28). “He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets… for the perfecting of the saints… till we all come… unto a perfect man” (Ephesians 4:11-13). We have not yet arrived at that global perfection, so the ministry remains.
- New Testament examples: Prophets and teachers in Antioch (Acts 13:1). Agabus who foretold famine and Paul’s bonds (Acts 11:27-28; 21:10-11). Judas and Silas, “being prophets also themselves” (Acts 15:32). Philip’s four daughters who prophesied (Acts 21:9).
- Order and testing: “Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge” (1 Corinthians 14:29). “Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21). The standard is the Word: “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20). If a thing is spoken in the Name of the Lord and does not come to pass, don’t fear it (Deuteronomy 18:21-22).
- End-time promise: “Elijah truly shall first come, and restore all things” (Matthew 17:11; see Malachi 4:5-6). That points to a prophetic ministry before the great and dreadful day of the Lord—a restoring call back to the original Word, not the writing of a new Bible. Revelation 10:7 shows that in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be finished—again, not adding Scripture, but bringing to light what God already gave.
3) Simple clarifying logic
- If Jesus “gave” prophets for the Church “till we all come” to full maturity, then prophets continue until that purpose is fulfilled.
- The same Holy Spirit who inspired prophecy in Acts has not changed. Therefore the gifts and offices He set remain, with the same Bible standard of judgment.
- True prophecy never contradicts Scripture, never leads to sin or pride, and always exalts Jesus Christ and holiness. False prophecy fails the Word test, the fruit test, and the fulfillment test.
4) Reinforcing statement
Now notice, the Bible does not tell us to reject prophecy; it tells us not to despise it, but to judge it by the Word. A true New Testament prophet will point the Bride back to the written Word, reveal the secrets of the heart, and prepare a people for the coming of the Lord.
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Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
Why many Christians struggle to live the Christian life
57-0303A §5
Now, we're speaking of Ezekiel, some eight or nine hundred years before the coming of the Messiah. In the Bible, the prophets... The Word came to the prophets in the days of old. In Hebrews, it said, "God, in sundry times and divers manners spake to the fathers by the prophets, but in this last day, has spoke to us through His Son, Christ Jesus." Now, the prophets were seers, divine seers. And at the change of the dispensations from law unto grace, did not change God's sending, still, prophets. For in the new Testa...
I perceive You are a prophet
53-0614E §24
But when the gift of prophesy is operating, it cannot be received unless two or three judge it, to see whether it's right or not. But a prophet (singular, p-r-o-p-h-e-t) is born a prophet, comes up a prophet. Everything he says in the name of the Lord is absolutely truth, if he is prophesying. Now, you say, "That was for the Old Testament." Oh, no. They had prophets in the New Testament. Agabus and many of them were prophets in the New Testament. But now, it doesn't come by laying on of hands. If you lay on of hand...
Discernment of Spirit
60-0308 §14
A New Testament prophet is a preacher. We all know that. Just any minister that's a preacher is a prophet, a New Testament prophet, if he's prophesying, preaching, not to try to edify himself to make a big name, or to edify his organization. Which, he should be in an organization. Here I am without one, but yet preaching you should be. That's right. Every man ought to have a church home. You ought to have a place. Not just to float about from pillar to post, but have somewhere that you go to church and you call it...
Demonology, religious realm, part 2
53-0609A §43
Now you said, "Well, the prophets are the Old Testament." Oh, no! The New Testament had prophets. Agabus was a New Testament prophet. Look at the spirit of prophecy falling down there and telling Paul about them. Here come Agabus down from Jerusalem, and found Paul and tied his girdle around him, and turned over and said, "Thus saith the Lord, the man that wore this will be bound in chains when he gets to Jerusalem." Agabus, who stood up and told ... foretold what would take place, he was a prophet, not a man with...
Hebrews, Chapter 1
57-0821 §28
God would send His prophet like Elijah, Jeremiah, Isaiah. And if you'll notice, never in all the history of the world, did ever the church produce a prophet. Search it in the Old Testament, New Testament, or in this day---in the latter day. Show me any prophet was ever raised out of the church in the last day. Show me one that ever come up out. And show me one time that a prophet, a real servant of God, that the ecclesiastical system of the world didn't condemn him. Just think of it. Jeremiah, Isaiah, all down thro...