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NASB | Matthew 11:13 "For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 11:13 "For all the prophets and the Law prophesied up until John. |
Bible Question: It has been put to me that this scripture says that there is no longer prophecy in the church today. However, Jesus prophesied after John, and Paul speaks of prophets in the present-tense from a prison in Rome in AD 62 or 63. John gave us the book of Revelation. If prophecy is dead, when did it die? In Christ Jesus. |
Bible Answer: I would be honored if you would consider the following thoughts of a layman. First, I believe there is room within Christianity to debate the idea of cesation of spiritual gifts. I believe these discussions help iron sharpen iron. I also believe that these should not cause us to divide. Also there seems to often be confusion between spritial gifts and talents. I believe we are all blessed, through the Holy Spirit, with talents that we are to use for the building up of the kingdom. The question is do the "gifts" still exist today. In terms of prophesy I would strongly suggest the following thought. If a person is truly a prophet then their prophecy should be 100 percent correct 100 percent of the time. This is would be a good test. Another would be to test everything they "prophesy" in light of scripture. I love the example of the Bereans when they tested everything Paul told them in light of scripture. They did not just take his word on it even though he was Paul. Here is what I do know. The Bible is the inerrant inspired word of God and I can trust without hesitation what it says. I cannot make the same statement of the "prophesies" that are currently being given by men. I have yet to hear of any modern day prophet that would "pass" the two criteria I mentioned above. This does not mean that God could not or would not send a prophet but that is up to God and we are warned repeatedly to be wary of false prophets. |