The Office of Prophet

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;” (Ephesians 4:11)

The second office of ministry mentioned is that of prophets.  The Greek word translated “prophesy means “foretell”, “divine”, or “to speak under inspiration.”  Like the apostles, the prophets received direct revelations from God, as we learn from Ephesians 3:5.  “Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;”

I Corinthians 14:22-25 declares, “Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.  If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?  But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.”

Telling people what God wants them to know and do was not primarily to get the attention of unbelievers, but to strengthen the church.  Outsiders who heard it would be convinced and convicted of their sin and become believers.

I Corinthians 13:8-10 states, “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.”

The office of prophet was a temporary office to bridge the gap until the word of God was complete. It would provide a complete and dependable source of prophecy, minimizing the opportunities for false prophets.   II Peter 1:19-21 tells us, “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”  Like the gifts of tongues and special knowledge, the office of prophet would no longer be needed once the scripture was complete.

While the office of prophet has ended, the principle of telling people what God has said has not.  Revelation 19:10 states, “… for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”  Every preacher who preaches the word of God does the job originally done by the prophets.  In essence he is prophesying, although he does not receive special revelations.

Using Paul’s analogy of building construction, the prophets would function much as the forms for the foundation, temporarily holding the foundation materials in place until the foundation hardens in it’s permanent form.  Once the concrete has set, the forms are removed.  If allowed to remain, the forms provide easy access for termites to attack and destroy the building.  Groups which insist on keeping the office of prophet provide easy entrance for false doctrine.