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.
We would see Jesus
62-0727 §18
Some of you brethren, remember in the Old Testament they had a way of finding out whether a prophet was telling the truth, or a dreamer was dreaming right, his dream was from God. They taken him to the temple where the breastplate of Aaron was hanging, and it was called Urim Thummim. Many of you people know about it, reading in the Bible. And when this prophet begin to prophesy, and those supernatural lights didn't register back off of that, like a rainbow across that... , making the Urim Thummim from that breastpl...
A Greater than Solomon is here
62-0725 §5
A prophet is a seer who sees the people's hearts, and foretells the things that's coming to pass. And now, there's a gift of prophecy. That's in the church with the local members. It falls upon any of them. They give a prophecy. Then it cannot be received to the church until it's been judged by two or three witnesses. And then, they have to put their seal on that, to say it's of God. Then they have to watch to see if it happens. Then it may never fall on that brother or sister again. It may be on another one the ne...
Church Ages, part 2: The Patmos Vision
60-1204E §25
you see? Each message waits for its time. If there be one who speaks with tongues, there be no interpreter, let him hold his peace until there be an interpreter, see. And these messages are given usually just before the meeting. Then the prophet, or the preacher---which is a New Testament prophet, a preacher---when he comes forth, God begins to move through him, see. Then when he's finished, then messages begin, another ... then just before... It's always in order, always. But a woman does have the right.
Why many Christians struggle to live the Christian life
57-0303A §6
But a prophet is a office of the church. Not a gift in the church, but an office of the church---a prophet. They are not... They are ordained, predestined, by God's foreknowledge, to be what they are. They're born prophets. Prophets are not made; they are born prophets. And a prophet---or a seer---in one word, is considered in the Old Testament, as eagles. And how I love to think of it in that way, as an eagle. I put much of my life in conservation, as you know, and studying wildlife, studying birds, wild birds, wi...
The God who is rich in mercy
65-0119 §57
Notice, with his back turned to the tent. Sarah laughed, and said, "How could these things be? I'm old. How could I have pleasure with my husband as a young married woman? Why, he's a hundred years old. Our family relationship had ceased many, many years ago. How could this be?" And she laughed about it. And the angel with ... the Son of man with his back turned to the tent said, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying how can these things be?" What was it? Jesus said, in St. Luke 17:30, that, and the days ... like it was in...