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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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.
Earnestly contending for the faith
55-0123E §3
Now, it could not apply to the Old Testament. It had to be to the New Testament, because the Old Testament was the law, and this side is grace. And it said, "The law and prophets (Luke 16:16), law and prophets were until John: since then the kingdom of heaven has been preached." So it had to be this side. Had to be this side for sanctification, 'cause saints ... the church is referred to as saints after... The word saint, means "the sanctified one." In other words, we must contend for the faith that once delivered...
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever
61-0516A §33
had been promised for four thousand years, since in Eden. The prophets had spoke of them. They lived by the law of Moses, and Moses (and if you'd like to refer to it, Deuteronomy 18:15 22), his words in quotation to Israel, he said, "The Lord your God shall raise up a Prophet liken unto me; it shall come to pass that whosoever will not hear this Prophet will be cut off from amongst the people." Now all Israel that was taught in the Word (now don't forget this, class), they knew that the Messiah was to be a prophet....
A Greater than Solomon is here
61-0515 §31
"Well," I said, "then you've read the New Testament. Jesus---as you called Him, the prophet---I call Him the Son of God." I said, "Truly He was a prophet. The Old Testament characters are to believe on their prophets, and He was the King-prophet, the God-prophet. And they were looking for Him. That's just what I brought in my message." She said, "Correctly, sir. Therefore I asked to be the one to come up." I said, "How many of you Mohammedans out there know this woman?" Many of them. I said, "Now, if Jesus, the Son...
Why it had to be shepherds
64-1221 §60
Now, the prophets of the Old Testament draped themselves in sheepskins (we know that, uh-huh), signifying their faith in His Word of the coming perfect Lamb. That's why the prophets. Now, the Word of God does not come to a theologian, there's no ... he's the one messes it up. That's right. There's no such a thing as ever saying... You saying, "Well, this guy's a theologian." That just puts him farther away from the Word than anything I know of. See? The Word of the Lord God, the unchanging God, never does change. A...
Daniel 9: The sixfold purpose of Gabriel's visitation
61-0730E §60
Number five: To seal up the vision and prophecy. The angel come to seal the vision and prophecy ... [Gap in the audio.] Oh, excuse me. I don't mean to say that. Forgive me. I don't mean that. I really didn't. No. A man without anointing, see. The man said, "You see here that visions and prophecy was always allowed to the Jewish church." And said, "From Daniel's time on, when Daniel come, it meant that they would have no more visions or no more prophecy"; that all these things today that they talk about having visio...