The Decline of the Prophets

The prophets played a huge role in the Church at its inception. They led in congregations along with the apostles during the Church’s initial decades. Men like Agabus were renowned and respected among believers—and believers took their prophesies seriously, acting upon them immediately!

… some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world... The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help... (Acts 11:27-29)

So, men who were prophets had great leadership and authority in the Church. Likewise, women who were prophetesses had great influence that extended out of their homes.

… we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.

After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles’” (Acts 21:8-11).

The prophets were always important Church leaders just as they were important leaders during the Old Testament. But their role in the Christian Church diminished as the centuries marched on. And here we are today.

A Future for Prophets?

Here we are in modern times, and we have to ask: “Where are the Christian prophets?” It's hard to find them. It's hard to find prophets who love the Scriptures and who are true to them.

Are there any promises in Scriptures to indicate that the prophetic role will be restored in the Church? We have a warning from Jesus stating that many false prophets will rise up, but what of the true prophets?

…many false prophets will rise up and deceive many (Matthew 24:11; NKJV).

Jesus assured us that false prophets would multiply, leading the Church to its downfall. Instead of sound doctrine, we’re told that there will be false doctrine. Instead of a revival, we’re promised an apostasy. This is not good!

… the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

Two Prophets vs. the World

Times have already become quite bleak for the Church. Are there any true prophets still among us? As we move closer and closer to the Apostasy, will there be any left? Will any prophets of God remain? Or, as the Antichrist comes to power, will the Church be completely divested of its prophets?

Well, we won’t lose them all. At least two will remain: the Two Witnesses.

These heroes of the Last Times will be extremely unpopular because they will call the whole World to repentance, proclaim the Kingdom of God, and warn people of God’s judgment. They will also invoke God’s punishments upon unrepentant nations!

These guys are powerful! The Two Witnesses will use fire to destroy their enemies and draught to bring recalcitrant nations low.

Now when they [the Two Witnesses] have finished their testimony, the Beast [the Antichrist]… will attack them, and overpower and kill them. Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city [Jerusalem] … The inhabitants of the Earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the Earth.

But after the three and a half days the Breath of Life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from Heaven saying to them, ‘Come up here.’ And they went up to Heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on (Revelation 11:7-12).

So, although the Antichrist will eventually kill them, God will vindicate the Two Witnesses in the presence of their foes. He will resurrect them and rapture them to Heaven as their opponents watch. God will demonstrate the honor and regard he has for his prophets.

The Rise of Last Times Prophets

Variations of the word prophecy (such as prophesy and prophet) appear 21 times in Revelation, proving that it is a very prevalent phenomenon during the Last Times. Through the Book of Revelation, we know that Christian prophets will play an important role of the Church’s ministry at the End.

Another hint that the prophetic ministry will bounce back during the Last Times is from the Book of Daniel. It demonstrates that the Church will intensify its evangelistic efforts and that we will declare the wisdom of God. We will shine like the stars and like the glow of the firmament!

Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever (Daniel 12:3; NKJV).

Up until God’s final judgments descend upon the Earth, Christian prophets are listed right alongside the apostles and the rest of God’s people (called his saints) as key figures of the Last Times. Here are four of the passages where the prophets are mentioned:

… the time came… to reward your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear your name, the small and the great (Revelation 11:18; NASB).

… they poured out the blood of saints and prophets (Revelation 16:6; NASB).

Rejoice over her, O Heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced judgment for you against her (Revelation 18:20; NASB).

And in her [Great Babylon, Jerusalem] was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all who have been slain on the Earth (Revelation 18:24; NASB).

Feel Fraternity

Is your heart prepared to receive the words of the Church’s prophets? Their future in the life of the Church will only grow, so are you ready to hear them now? How do you feel about prophets? Can you handle their declarations, proclamations, and judgments? Do you know how to judge what they say—because you must.

What is your baseline attitude towards someone who makes a true prophetic declaration in church? Do you know what your attitude should be? Fraternity. Brotherhood.

[An angel said to John] ‘… I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who heed the words of this book’ (Revelation 22:9; NASB).

The prophets are our brothers! That’s what the Bible calls them. Do you feel that way about the prophets God has sent to the Church? Do you treat them with fraternal love? You should.

Or maybe you have never met one. Do you know any prophets? If you don’t yet know a prophet, will you make an effort to find one, and to befriend them? The prophets are our brethren—and we should honor them as leaders of the Church.

The Greatest Gift

Be certain of this: Prophecy was considered by the Early Church to be the greatest spiritual gift. It was so highly valued that a great number of believers pursued it, and got it. Lots of people in the Early Church sought the gifts, so Paul made it clear to them that prophecy was the greatest gift—even greater than tongues. What was Paul’s explanation? He said it was because prophecy is especially useful for evangelization while the gift of tongues tends to scare newcomers away.

… desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy… one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation… one who prophesies edifies the church… prophecy is for a sign… to those who believe…

Therefore, if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad? 

But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you (1 Corinthians 14:1, 3-4, 22-25; NASB).

From this passage, you see that the Holy Spirit distributes the gift of prophecy as a sign—a sign to new converts that God is really among us. Paul encouraged all Christians to prophesy in church meetings. He trusted that if we do, then prophecy would act powerfully upon the hearts of the unbelievers who are visiting with us, and bring them to repentance!

Prophecy is more than the greatest gift, it's the second-greatest ministry after the ministry of apostle. And although the ministry of prophecy has seen a decline, it will rise from the ashes! Wait for it.