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.
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...
Birth Pains
65-0124 §30
We are told by God's prophets that we are to have a new earth, a new heaven and a new earth. If you want scripture for that, it's Revelation 21. I could quote it for you. I have it here. John said: I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and ... first earth were passed away." (It was gone.) Now, if we're to have a new earth, the old earth and the new earth cannot exist at the same time---or, the new world and the old world cannot exist at the same time. There can't be two world orders together at t...
The Queen of Sheba
59-0405E §6
And we find out that it was just as He said. And He was speaking there, and said, "Thou, Capernaum, which are exalted into heavens, shall be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works had been done in Sodom and Gomorrah that has been done in you, it would've remained until this day." A degraded, polluted city as Sodom was, and yet Jesus said if them signs would've been done in Sodom, it would've remained. And we find last night that the sign that He was doing was done by an Angel that was later called God, just...
Hebrews, Chapter 3
57-0901M §26
But as on the road down to Damascus, Paul didn't want to preach it. So he found out whether it was right or not. So he goes down into Arabia for three years and studies the Scripture. When he come out, he said, "Now, shake it out of me!" He knew he had to face Pharisees. He had to face Sadducees. He had to face the world, and the Gentile world. And so Paul... This Bible is written ... this book of Hebrews is written for that purpose. He's shaking those Hebrews, and taking that Old Testament and showing it over here...