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.
A Greater than Solomon is here
61-0412 §19
And I said, "Then, if you've read the New Testament, if Jesus Christ is that prophet that was spoke of, that should come by ... Moses spoke of the prophet that should come, would He be a prophet?" She said, "He would be." I said, "Then if he died and rose again... Your god, your prophet, is dead and buried. And at his grave, for two thousand years, changing guards every four hours [I've been there], a white horse ---expecting him to come and ride the world down." But I said, "He's dead, his grave is there, and he's...
An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages
CAB 5:E-134
If we are going to understand what the doctrine of Balaam is in the New Testament church we had better go back and see what it was in the Old Testament church and apply it to that third age and then bring it up to the present.
He that is in you
63-1110E §17
Now there it is, scientifically, proof that it is the truth. So therefore we don't worry about whether it's truth. Both scientifically and spiritually; and what was said come to pass. So the message of the seven seals, in their closing, that's the message of the entire Bible. The seven seals closes the New Testament and sealed it up, that is true. Now, we know that that is by prophetic utterance, by scientific, and by the Word. Three has give the witness to it, that it's the truth.
Daniel 9: Gabriel's instructions to Daniel
61-0730M §100
Another thing, when Billy, my son, and I, and Brother Ern Baxter was on our road to Palestine, after we'd met the Jews at Brother Arganbright's, and they seen the meeting... Lewi Pethrus had sent these Bibles over there, and he said, "These Jews come, said, 'If you will call up a bunch of the leaders of Israel---I mean, not these new rabbis with all their ceremonies---but call the real Israelite leaders together... And we have read this New Testament, and we know that when the Messiah cometh, He'll tell us these th...
Discernment of Spirit
60-0308 §15
Now, if we will notice the motives and objectives of the Old Testament prophets, them men had one objective: that was Jesus Christ. They had one thing that their whole theme of the Old Testament was built around, the coming Messiah. They did not go out and do things just for money or for fame. They had one thing. They were anointed with the Spirit of God, and they predicted the coming Messiah. And those men were so anointed with the Spirit until they sometimes acted like the Spirit that was within them. They spoke...