What does the Bible have to say about prophets and their ministry? Is it essential for the edification of Christ’s church? How do we protect ourselves from false claims of people who call themselves prophets? What does the book of Revelation say about end-time prophets?

<p>What does the Bible have to say about prophets and their ministry? Is it essential for the edification of Christ’s church? How do we protect ourselves from false claims of people who call themselves prophets? What does the book of Revelation say about end-time prophets?</p>

<p>Free sharing permitted under the Creative Commons <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/">BY-NC-ND 3.0 (US)</a> license.</p>

Warren Seventh Day Adventist Church

Jesus on Prophecy

Giancarlo De Miranda

02 Prophecy’s Final World Superpower

03 Jesus’ Answer to Evil

04 Prophecy’s Final Judgment Hour

05 Jesus on the Anti-Christ

08 Jesus Solves Death’s Mystery

09 Revelation’s 1,000 Years and Hell

10 The Mark of the Beast

11 The United States in Bible Prophecy

13 How to Observe the Day of Worship?

12 Which Church Will Jesus Join?

14 Jesus on Revelation’s Rapture

01 Prophecy Unfolds Today

16 Jesus on Earth’s Final Deception

17 Prophecy’s Final Destination

18 Jesus on End-Time Prophets

19 Jesus on Burying The Past

15 Jesus on Faith, Fitness and Health

20 Jesus on Armageddon

21 Jesus on Living Free and Forgiven

This morning we are going to talk about Jesus on...

So, a lot of people are looking for answers.

People want to know what's going to take place in the near future things doesn't seem to be as usual and people want answer and people's you know look for answers even from supernatural sources and the Bible has a lot to say, a lot of answers to provide concerning what is going to take place as well as what the Bible says about prophets I want to take you to the book of Matthew for a moment the book of Matthew chapter 7 As I said, as people are looking for answers, it becomes very easy for the enemy of souls to provide counterfeits and to provide ways to deceive people and notice what the Bible says here this these are the words of Jesus in Matthew 7 verse 15 he said be aware of what kind of prophets false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly they are what kind of wolves?

Wolves notice in chapter 24 what it says here let's go to Matthew chapter 24 and here Jesus prophesies concerning the end of the world and his second coming and I want you to see what he said would be 1 of the signs of his coming he said in verse 24 for false Christ and false whatever you want prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to what is the next word deceive I want to highlight that word for you the words false prophets and the word deceive so that's what Jesus said would be 1 of the signs of the end of time of his second coming false prophets So I have a question for you before we move on.

Ok, the answer that I heard was false, 1 person in my lab said it looks real this is actually a real $1000 bill ok, And it's no longer in circulation, but it's a real $1, 000 bill.

Now, let me show you another bill here, and you can tell me if it is real or false.

But, you know, the first 1, most of you, I heard you saying, oh, they are false, because maybe you were not aware that $1, 000 bill actually existed in the past, okay?

And perhaps you said that it was false, okay?

But in reality, it existed in the past, but the $100 bill, some of you said it's false, and the reason you said it's false is because you know exists and you know people try to do what with a $100 bill?

They make counterfeits in order to deceive people let me ask a question, have you ever seen a $200 fake bill?

Why don't people make $200 bills in order to deceive people?

No friends so the point I'm trying to make is in order to deceive people you need to make a counterfeit of something that actually exists does that make sense if I come up with a seven-dollar bill here would you be deceived with that you wouldn't because you know it doesn't exist so when Jesus said in Matthew 24 and verse 24 false Christ and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to do what everyone to deceive he has to be a counterfeit otherwise people wouldn't be deceived we ought to expect in the last days to have true profits and also false profits otherwise people wouldn't be deceived but Christ is telling people that yes in the last days there will be false prophets and it must be a counterfeit otherwise you know why would people fall for it so notice what it says here if it is in the Bible I what I believe it if it disagrees with the Bible it's not for me so that's our basis here for our studies we've been studying the Bible using the Bible and the Bible only and this morning we want to do the same for this topic I want to take you to 1st John chapter 4 that's not the gospel of John but more toward the end of the Bible 1st John chapter 4 and I want you to see what the apostle John said about false prophets as well he said in 1st John chapter 4 beginning verse 1 actually only verse 1 we're going to read beloved do not believe every spirit but do what with the spirits test the spirits where they are of God because many false prophets have gone out into the world did John dismiss any kind of claims of someone to be a prophet?

According to this verse did he, you know, discarded any possibility of true prophets?

Just looking at this verse he said to do what with the spirits?

So we have a responsibility to test the Spirit on this topic of prophets now what does the Bible teach about the genuine gift of prophecy so we're going to see what the Bible has to say and let's begin by understanding a little bit about the gifts of the Spirit because He gives several gifts for the church and I want to invite you to go with me to the book of Ephesians okay, Ephesians chapter 4 there is another chapter in the Bible that shows the gifts of the Spirit even a longer list of gifts which is found in 1st Corinthians chapter 12 you find more about it in chapter 14 as well and I want you to see what we find in Ephesians chapter 4 this is you know Jesus providing gifts to the church after he ascended up to heaven and sent the Holy Spirit so that we could have gifts it says here in verse 11 and he himself gave some to be apostles some to be what everyone?

Prophets some evangelists and some pastors and what?

And teachers so we see here some of the gifts of the Spirit in Ephesians chapter 4 verse 11 apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers ok, apostle, the word apostle means the 1 who is sent the 1 that proclaims the gospel in new territories ok, so the prophets are the ones that receive dreams and visions and not only that a lot of prophets in the Bible never had a vision like for instance I give you the example of John the Baptist we just don't hear about John the Baptist having visions and dreams but yet he was considered a prophet because he was you know pointing the people of God back to the scriptures, back to obedience to God and the worship of the true God.

Then you have the evangelists, those that have the gift of sharing the gospel, sharing the good news of the gospel, pastors, the 1 that is supposed to shepherd the flock and nurture the flock, you have teachers as well supposed to teach, the Christian education is a form of that manifestation, the manifestation of that gift.

Notice in verse 12 it tells us the reason God gives gifts to the church for the what is next word equipping of the Saints for the work of ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ so you find here 2 primary reasons okay to equip the saints for ministry and also to build up the Church of God the body of Christ is his church Jesus gave these gifts to the church to strengthen it to accomplish its mission of proclaiming the gospel to the world so that's why he gave us gifts okay and the reality is he has given a gift to each 1 of us no exception everyone has a gift from the spirit they are different and we need all of them ok so we say that the prophets in the Old Testament was called the seer it was like the vision for the church ok notice what we find here how long with these gifts remain in the church go to verse 13 the very next verse of Ephesians 4 verse 13 what's the first word that you find there?

Till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God to a perfect man to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ so Christ is expecting to build his church to have his church going from a militant stage to a triumphant stage mature church and the gifts of the Spirit is there for that reason to help the church now go with me to first Corinthians chapter 1 ok first Corinthians chapter 1 I want to take you there quickly and I want you to see that for those who are waiting for the 2nd coming of Jesus the gifts of the Spirit must be manifested including the gift of prophets and I want to show you that here in verse 6 1st Corinthians chapter 1 verse 6 notice what it says here even as the what does it say next there is highlighted for you the testimony of Christ and we are going to explore more this expression the testimony of Christ or the testimony of Jesus even as a testimony of Christ was confirmed in you and then it says so that you come short in how many gifts?

No gifts, you have all the gifts including the testimony of Christ or the testimony of Jesus eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

What event is it talking about the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ?

So for those who are waiting the second coming of Jesus the Apostle Paul says that no gift will be missing including the testimony of Christ or the testimony of Jesus so come with me quickly to the book of Revelation I don't have that that verse in the slide so if you have a Bible available I invite you to go to Revelation chapter 19 and notice in verse 10 what we find about the testimony of Jesus or the testimony of Christ and the definition of that because Paul was commanding the church was waiting for the second coming of Jesus and he says I'm surprised that even the testimony of Jesus was confirmed in you who are eagerly waiting for the second coming of Jesus notice what we find here in verse 10 and I that's the Apostle John fell at his feet the feet of the angel he was about to break the commandments of God to worship Him but he said to me see thou see that you do not do that I am your fellow servant and of your brothering who have what everyone the testimony of Jesus worship God for the testimony of Jesus or the testimony of Christ is what everyone?

Is the spirit of prophecy in other words when Paul says in verse 6 in 1st Corinthians 1 verse 6 even as a testimony of Christ or the testimony of Jesus was confirming you meaning the gift of prophecy the spirit of prophecy was confirming you for what reason so that you come short in no gift eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ Jesus promised the gift of prophecy would be revived in the last days ok so and we are going to see more of that this is just a review of our study about the true church we already had this study and here are 7 characteristics of God's true church we saw that in the last days by the way we saw that it would become a worldwide mission driven movement it rolls after 1798 starts in the new in the new world more precisely in the United States of America keep the commandments of God worship the Creator by keeping the Sabbath and then we saw this 1 on number 6 I have highlighted for you have the manifestation of what everyone the gift of prophecy and we're going to revisit that prophecy this morning and then proclaim the 3 angels message but I want to make this point friends that the Word of God mentions about the gift of prophecy, the ministry of prophets and the Word of God says that in the last days God's remnant people will have the manifestation of the gift of profit so 2 dangers here number 1 is accept the counterfeit is that a dangerous yes or no most definitely the second 1 is reject the what?

The genuine so that's another danger and how can we tell the difference between the true and the false there is no other way than what?

The word of God is the basis for all our beliefs including in the subject of prophets in the last days ok so if it's not according to the Word of God friends remember it's not for me but if it is I believe it prophets receive message in 2 basic ways I already mentioned that for you number 1 an angel brings them a vision or a dream you know through visions and dreams we see that a lot especially in the book of Daniel in the book of Revelation and then the other way is the Holy Spirit impresses the prophets mind and God has his way of confirming the ministry of the Prophet as we are going to see today so let me just read quickly here for the sake of time what it says in the book of Numbers 12 or 6 it says if there is a prophet among you I the Lord make myself known to him in what everyone?

In vision I speak to him in a in a dream so that's very clear that that's 1 of the ways God communicate with his people through his prophets dreams and visions and the second Peter 121 we find for prophecy never came by the will of man but holy man of God or the prophets spoke as they were moved by what everyone the Holy Spirit So that's the impression of the Holy Spirit upon the mind of the prophets.

And by the way, not all prophets are Bible writers.

And you see that throughout the Old Testament and you see it in the New Testament as well.

1 example already mentioned in the New Testament is John the Baptist do you have any book in the Bible that John the Baptist actually wrote?

You don't find and yet Jesus says that among women there was no greater prophet than John the Baptist ok, so that's number 1 that we need to understand that not all prophets actually wrote the Bible and in the New Testament in the book of Acts you find also the daughters of I think it was Philip right?

The daughters of Philip so he had 4 daughters all of them were prophets so notice here what's the difference between the Bible writers and these other true prophets that didn't write the Bible that's simple friends, when the prophet ruled and the Lord through his providence preserved their writings it meant that the message was not only for their time but the message would be a benefit for God's people throughout the ages for those that are not included in the canon or in the Bible their message was specifically for the people at that time does that make sense everyone so let's move on here I want to show this that God has no respect of people for that gift of woman prophets in the Bible you can find the Deborah, the daughters of Philip that I just mentioned, the 4 daughters, so God does not have respect of people when it comes to giving the gifts to his church.

So let's see some biblical tests of true prophets number 1 prophetic what everyone accuracy and other words a prophet cannot contradict the other profit ok so they must proclaim the same message and let me take you here to Jeremiah 28 verse 9 notice what it says as for the prophet who prophesies of peace when the word of the prophet comes to pass comes to what everyone come to pass the prophet will be known as 1 whom the Lord has truly sent okay so before we actually talk about being harmony with the other prophets is actually the word of the prophet must come to pass okay so the second 1 before we go to the second 1 let me let me share about 1 prophet that actually prophesied and his word didn't come to pass and he is a true prophet and that was the prophet Jonah okay if you remember the story of Jonah he prophesied that the city of Nineveh would be what everyone?

Destroyed he preached for 40 days and then after 40 days was the city destroyed?

No, because the message was if the people didn't repent.

So there are conditional prophecies in the Bible and you have prophecies that are not conditional.

Okay, so you know you have to make that differentiation.

The context will tell you when the prophecy is conditional and when the prophecy is not conditional so Jonah was a prophet that prophesied about the destruction of Nineveh and it didn't get destroyed the way he prophesied and that was because it was a conditional prophecy.

God's true prophets are accurate because God does not confuse the message.

The book of Daniel and the book of Revelation have apocalyptic prophecies and they are not conditional ok so we can study those prophecies and have the assurance that they are going to be fulfilled as we analyze the context we see that here we go now we go with biblical what everyone faithfulness so that's when the prophecy of a particular prophet has to be in harmony with the rest of the Bible and the teachings of the Word of God if there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams and he gives you signs or wonders so can't, by the way, can false prophets make signs and wonders?

Can true prophets not make any signs and wonders?

That was the accusation against John the Baptist if you read the Gospels the people were saying he makes no sign and wonders so let's go on here so if someone appears you know, professing to be a prophet making signs and wonders and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying let us go after what kind of gods?

Other gods which you have not known and let us serve them and then it says you shall not listen to the word of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams you shall walk after the Lord your God and fear him and keep his what everyone his commandments and obey whose voice his voice ok so here we find a clear sign how to identify a true prophet or false prophet if it is in disharmony with the rest of the Bible the other prophets of the Bible we shouldn't accept and you shall serve him the Lord and hold fast to him if the so-called prophet is not leading a person to the Word of God to be faithful to scripture they are bluntly what everyone?

False okay so remember that another characteristic of a true prophet is a must exalt who?

And I want to show that in the book of John, come with me to the book of John chapter 5 quickly here and we are going to see that Jesus was speaking to the religious leaders concerning the scriptures, that they were searching the scriptures but they were missing the point what all the prophets were saying and and they were rejecting the 1 who the prophets were pointing to so in chapter 5 and verse 39 Jesus says you search the scriptures for in them you think you have eternal life and these are they which does what everyone Testify of me.

So that's why it's called the testimony of Jesus the 1 who has a gift of prophecy he testifies of Jesus the Messiah okay the Savior in the book of Luke chapter 24 verse 25 through 27 I want to take you there we have 3 verses there that I want to read with you the book of Luke and that's the last chapter of that book and that's Jesus again after his resurrection as he's talking to 2 of his followers and they were discouraged not understanding what had happened with Jesus who they thought was the Messiah and then Jesus said in verse 25 then he said to them all foolish ones and slow at heart to believe in all that who the prophets have spoken and then he goes on to say verse 26 are not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into his glory have you not believe what the prophet has said and then he goes on to say and beginning at Moses was Moses a prophet yes or no oh yes you better believe he was he wrote to the 5 first books of the Bible and beginning at Moses and all the prophets he expounded as Jesus he expounded to them in all the scriptures the things concerning who himself and other words all the prophets including Moses they were all pointing to 1 person and that person was who everyone?

Again, as I said, that's why the testimony of Jesus and the spirit prophecy in the Bible is the same thing because that's the role of a prophet to exalt Jesus now another 1 is the prophet must obey the commandments of God they are commandment keeping people in fact we see this relationship between the prophets and the law throughout the Old Testament every time the people would go astray from the law of God and disregard the commandments of God the visions disappeared for a moment and then God would have to raise eventually another prophet to bring the people back to the law of God so there is this relationship between the prophets and the law so let me show you Isaiah 820 to the law and to the testimony if they do not speak according to this word it is because there is what in them?

No light in them so no prophet will say that it is fine to commit adultery it is fine and to bear false witness it is fine to have other gods or to worship image no prophet no true prophet will lead people astray from obedience to God's commandment of course through God's grace through the power of the Holy Spirit but they will not lead people into disobedience because sin is a transgression of God's law 1st John 4 3 or 3 4 excuse me another 1 we have also physical tests of a true prophet in the Bible I will just make reference here of the passages for you but you're welcome to take notes and see for yourself but in the book of Numbers chapter 24 verse 4 prophets experience visions with their eyes what does it say there open their eyes remain open throughout the vision so we find that in Numbers 24 verse 4.

Number 2 in Daniel 10 verse 8 in vision prophets have no physical, what everyone?

Ok, so Daniel said that concerning his prophetic ministry and then the same chapter in verse 17 we find that prophets in vision do not what everyone breathe okay so God gives also physical test of of a true prophet that receives dreams and visions notice what we find here number 6 spiritual what everyone fruit in life in other words you need to see that the ministry and the life of that prophet is fruitful according to God's principles ok so notice what we find let's go to the book of Matthew here in Matthew chapter 7 let's go there to Matthew chapter 7 for a moment I want to share with you 2 verses here that is part of the same paragraph part of the same what everyone paragraph ok I'm saying this so you don't think it's talking about something differently here because I'm going to share verse 15 and I'm going to share verse 20 with you but if you were to analyze a manuscript of the book of Matthew you would see the same paragraph so verse 15, let me see here if my Bible does that in verse 15, no it doesn't, ok?

But some Bibles they actually mark when a paragraph starts it looks like more like a P turning the opposite side to P's and then when you see it again and that's when another paragraph starts my Bible doesn't show that but anyway in verse 15 all the way through verse 20 is the same paragraph and I want you to see what it says in verse 15 be aware of what everyone false prophets and then if you jump to verse 20 which is the same paragraph he's still talking about false prophets he says therefore by their what everyone their fruits you will know them so the fruits of the life and the ministry of the Prophet you don't want to follow a prophet who is having an affair or have you know like it's in a adulterous relationship so there is no fruit of righteousness there and you want to see also the fruit of the ministry the blessing that he is impact Impacting those who are under his influence.

Okay, so notice what we find now in Revelation 12 let's go there to Revelation 12 and I want to explore and dwell a little bit on this verse over here we already studied Revelation 12 chapter 12 it showed the history of God's Church throughout the ages and then it shows God's people all the way to the end of time it shows that they will rise after the period of 1260 years of persecution in the Dark Ages and then it shows the people of God in verse 17 with 2 remarkable characteristics that are undeniable and we cannot avoid them we cannot what everyone avoid them even though it may be sensitive we need to look at them and be fair and see what the scriptures has to say and that's Revelation 12 verse 17 and we are going to afterwards apply all the 6 principles that we learn about a true prophet to see how that gift has been manifested in the last days sometime after 1798 after the 1260 years that we see prophesied in this chapter here then verse 17 we show God's people after she was helped by the earth which is a symbol of the new world we already studied about that, but notice verse 17 what it says and the dragon was enraged with the woman what is the woman here, friends?

Is a symbol of the church, we have already seen this both in the Old and the New Testament, often God represents his people as a woman and then he shows here, and went to make war with...

The rest, some translations says the remnant, what is left over of the church the rest of her offspring, who...

Notice the 2 characteristics there it's undeniable, friends, it says keep the commandments of God and that's all the 10 Commandments because James says if we obey the whole law and transgress in 1 we are guilt of how much?

Of all and then it says it keep the commandments of God and have what everyone?

The testimony of Jesus Christ and we already explored a little bit about what the testimony of Jesus Christ is but we're going to see it again but here you have the 2 characteristics of God's last day people in verse 17 is that they are commandment-keeping people and they also have the testimony of Jesus is that clear so far now go with me again to verse 19 of Revelation we already read that 1 but I want to read 1 more time with you chapter 19 and verse 10 and that will help us to understand what the testimony of Jesus which is identifying characteristic of God's people in the last days actually is it says and I fell at his feet that's John falling by the feet of the angel to worship him but he said to me see that you do not do that I am your fellow servant and of your brother aim who have the testimony of Jesus worship God for the testimony of Jesus is what everyone is the spirit of prophecy therefore 1 of the identifying characteristics of God's people in the last days is that they will have the manifestation of the spirit of prophecy are we together so far?

Now in this verse and I want you to look carefully in this verse and I'm going to ask a question according to this verse don't give me good answers give me biblical answers according to this verse and this verse alone who receives the spirit of prophecy the testimony of Jesus I know you are really tempted to say prophets but the verse doesn't say that doesn't use that word I know that I want you to read the verse and tell me according to the verse who have the testimony of Jesus or the spirit of prophecy huh okay here it says the brothering notice care I highlighted here for you it says it's in blue and of your brothering who have the testimony of Jesus now the natural question would be what next who are the brothering of John right?

Who have the testimony of Jesus so let's see in chapter 22 of Revelation and verse 9 let's go to Revelation chapter 22 and verse 9 and I want you to see what it says here John again in verse 8 that was about to break the 10 Commandments to worship the angel the angel rebuked him say don't do that worship God and then in verse 9 notice what it says here verse 9 then he said to me see that you do not do that for I am your fellow servant and of your brodering the who?

The prophets who are the brodering according to the scriptures?

The prophets and who receives the testimony of Jesus or the spirit of prophecy?

The prophets therefore friends if we are fair with the text when we go back to Revelation 12 and go there with me if you will Revelation 12 verse 17 when you read Revelation 12 17 which says that God's people they keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus it is impossible friends to have the testimony of Jesus without having a what everyone a prophet because they are the ones who receive or have the testimony of Jesus so when we look for God's people in the last days friends we must look for a people that keep the commandments of God we have all the other characteristics which I will not go back now but another 1 is a church that has the manifestation of the gift of prophecy given to a prophet and that's undeniable it may be sensitive and yet is undeniable notice what we find here if we believe that we have found God's church it must have the biblical what everyone gift of prophecy and friends I must say this morning and answer this question has God blessed the Seventh-day Adventist Church with the gift of prophecy in other words with the testimony of Jesus through the ministry of a prophet and the answer is yes friends and I'm going to introduce Ellen White for you And I want to give you some information about her and then put her under the test of scriptures.

The most translated woman writer in the entire history of literature.

So we see that her work was fruitful and impactful.

Another information that you find about her, the most translated American author of either gender.

Another 1 that we find is wrote more than 40 books and more than 5000 articles in a broad range of the including religion education health social relationships parenting evangelism prophecy publishing nutrition and management We're going to explore some of those themes that she talked about in a little bit.

But I want to show for you here this morning what George Wharton James, who was a historian and he wrote a book about California back in the days.

And I want you to see what he wrote about Ellen White, because she lived in California part of her life.

Series

Jesus on Prophecy

18 Jesus on End-Time Prophets

Transcript

Description

Parent Series

Sponsor

Recorded

Unlocking the Mysteries of the Sanctuary

24 The Sanctuary and the Testimony of Jesus

1h 2m

Encounters With Jesus

Jesus’ Encounter with the First Disciples

43m

Unlocking Prophecy

16- Messages from Beyond the Stars

1h 13m

Designer gods

47m

Revival Plan-The Elijah Solution

The Elijah Solution - Part 1

1h

A Sure Foundation

31m

Eyes of the Church

53m

Faithful Talks

2. The Bridegroom is Coming

1h 10m

The Spirit of Prophecy Matters

1h 5m

Prophetic Movement at End Time

1h 3m

Keys of Revelation

20. The Testimony of Jesus- Part A&B

1h 23m

Why am I a Seventh-Day Adventist?

04 What Makes the Devil Angry?

57m

Sound Doctrine