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.
God commissioning Moses
53-0603 §8
Now, tonight, God is still God. Now, when God led the children of Israel out, He brought down an angel. God has always used angels in His work. There's never been an angel of God worshipped, for He wouldn't stand for it. A true angel of God doesn't stand to be worshipped. But God has had angels through every dispensation. Recently, a man that belongs to a fine, full Gospel church, said to me, "Brother Branham," said, "you keep speaking of an angel that visited you. I read your books, and so forth ... an angel." Sai...
The Kinsman Redeemer
60-1002 §50
Now, I want you to notice, Naomi, the old church, begin to explain to Ruth all the laws about her religion; like the Old Testament is a shadow of the New. Now, I want you to get this story right here. Now, I want to show the shadows. The Old Testament explains the New, if you'll just read it, for it is a foreshadow of the New. Now if I was going towards that wall, and I had never seen myself, and I seen my shadow, I would know ... have some conception of what I'd look like. If you know what the New Testament is, re...
Church Ages, part 1: Revelation Chapter 1
60-1204M §80
I want you to notice the symbols of Christ also, in the Bible, and here on earth. On the earth He was a prophet. Do you believe that? A prophet is the Word. We know that. The word "prophet" means a divine interpreter of the Word. The divine Word is wrote, and the prophet has the divine Spirit of God within him. And you know, the prophet in the Old Testament was called "god." How many knew that? Jesus said, "If they called them gods... Isn't it written in your law, 'You are gods'? And if they called them gods who th...
What think ye of Christ?
54-0321 §28
I call Isaiah. He was one of the major prophets. Let's see what he'd say about Him. "Isaiah, what think ye of Christ? Whose Son is He?" Isaiah was a major prophet. He wrote a Bible in itself. There's sixty-six books in Isaiah ... sixty-six chapters in Isaiah; sixty-six books in the Bible. He starts off with creation, like Genesis. Right in the middle of the book, where the New Testament came, John the Baptist comes up. And then, in the end, he ends in the Millennium---built houses, and they had to plant vineyards,...
Divine Healing
54-1219M §73
And of this great storm of formality, a great storm of indifference, a great storm of denial of God. "O God, don't let me try to beat the light out. Let me use it to walk in. I believe it, Lord." There you are. Walk in the light. "As I see it in the Scripture, that's light. It's God's Word, and let me walk in it. Lord, Lord, let me walk in it; never, never try to deny it." And he shall send Jesus ... which was before preached unto you: Whom the heavens must receive, until the time of restoration of all things, whic...