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.
Ask a Follow-up Question
What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
Proof of His resurrection
55-0410M §53
I know it sounds excitable. No wonder: We're living in an exciting time. Yes, it is. We're living in the last days. When God, through every holy prophet, through all the Old Testament, through the New Testament, has prophesied, that in the end time, the same things that took place in the beginning would happen in the end time, and as the darkness would flee away, and the Gospel light would shine across the corridors of the earth, once more, before the coming of the Lord Jesus. He has risen from the dead. He is the...
Marriage and Divorce
65-0221M §103
And in I Corinthians the seventh chapter, the twelfth and fifteenth verse, in the New Testament prophet, Paul, who met the same thing in the church, and spoke this: "This is I, not the Lord." Is that right? Because of the divorce condition. It wasn't so from the beginning. But Moses was permitted it, and God recognized it righteousness! And Paul also had a right when he found his church in that condition. Now, you believe this to be true and believe it to come from God. And by the vindication of His cloud and His m...
Calling Jesus on the scene
63-0804E §47
Did you ever think you was at the end of the road? About eight months ago when I saw a vision at home (and you know about it), " Sirs, What Time is It?"... When I seen that, heard that blast go off in a vision, seen seven angels come [unclear word]... I told you all this was probably the end of the road. I went to my wife and I said, "Honey, this may be my end. I don't know." How many's ever heard the tape? Why, sure, you know, see. I said, "It's thus saith the Lord, something's fixing to happen. I know not." And t...
Hebrews, Chapter 4
57-0901E §3
Then we find out the real supreme deity of Jesus Christ. The whole Book here is just a revelation of Jesus Christ, and He come... We find that "in sundry times and in divers manners, God spoke to the fathers through the prophets; in this last days through His Son, Christ Jesus." He has revealed Himself. And the Book from Genesis to Revelation is nothing but one constant, perpetual revelation of the Lord Jesus. And we find out that He was the One that was in the burning bush. We find out that He was the One that was...
The Seal of God and the Mark of the Beast, part 2
61-0217 §50
And when they got there, they give them these New Testaments. Ask Lewi Pethrus. They read this New Testament, about what Jesus was. They never heard about Him. They said, "If this be the Messiah, then he's not dead. Then let us see him do the sign of the Messiah and we will believe him. Let us see him prove. We believe our prophets, and the Messiah will be a prophet. Let us see him do the sign of the Messiah, a prophet, and we'll believe he is the Messiah." Oh, what a perfect set-up, just perfect. I said, "Lord, le...