Prophecy, Prophet

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The scriptural use of the term “prophecy” is in no way confined to foretelling events, nor is that its primary significance. It included any communication which God saw fit to make either to His own people or to any of the nations. God said to Abimelech concerning Abraham, “He is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee” (Gen. 20:77Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine. (Genesis 20:7)). Aaron was called the prophet of Moses (Ex. 7:11And the Lord said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet. (Exodus 7:1)). God’s power came at times upon individuals who were not recognized as prophets, and they prophesied, as for instance Saul in 1 Samuel 10:10-1110And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them. 11And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets? (1 Samuel 10:10‑11). Prophecy became in Israel the means, through mercy, of God’s communication to the people when the priesthood with Urim and Thummim had utterly broken down. It came in by Samuel. Elijah and Elisha prophesied in the midst of apostate Israel. Nathan and John the Baptist were also prophets. Of some of the prophets no prophecies are recorded, while others are only known to us by what they wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
In the New Testament we read that Philip had four virgin daughters who “prophesied”; and Agabus foretold that Paul would be bound at Jerusalem and be delivered to the Gentiles (Acts 21:9-119And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. 10And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judea a certain prophet, named Agabus. 11And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. (Acts 21:9‑11)). Prophesying is, however, in the New Testament also used in a different sense. The word is from πρόφημι, “to speak forth,” and a prophet may therefore be described as a spokesman of God. Prophecy of this kind is a gift in the church for the edifying of the saints, bringing God’s word with power upon their consciences and hearts. It is the gift of most importance in the church (1 Cor. 14:1-5,24,31,391Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. 2For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. 3But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 4He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. 5I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. (1 Corinthians 14:1‑5)
24But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: (1 Corinthians 14:24)
31For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. (1 Corinthians 14:31)
39Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. (1 Corinthians 14:39); 1 Thess. 5:2020Despise not prophesyings. (1 Thessalonians 5:20)).