By Elizabeth Prata
Is prophecy happening in today’s era? If not, then what about the verse in Acts that says it’s ongoing?
Invariably, when I say that no one is hearing from God now because the Bible is finished and His word is His ‘voice’, people rebut with unscriptural comments like “But I hear from God,” or “Acts 2 says prophecy isn’t done.”
Everything we need to know about the revelation God wanted us to know, is in His word.
That also means, prophecy is not happening at this point in time, either. God is not giving extra-biblical, new revelation to people to speak to individuals or to churches. And invariably, the ‘whatabout’ people come back with a verse in Acts 2:17-18,
‘AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,’ God says,
‘THAT I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND;
AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS WILL PROPHESY,
AND YOUR YOUNG MEN WILL SEE VISIONS,
AND YOUR OLD MEN WILL HAVE DREAMS;
AND EVEN ON MY MALE AND FEMALE SERVANTS
I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT IN THOSE DAYS,
And they will prophesy.
A convention in the Bible is that in the New Testament, when you see all-caps, the New Testament writer is directly quoting a passage from the Old Testament. In the Acts 2:17-18 case, it’s from Joel 2.
The verse continues with the following, and read closely,
AND I WILL DISPLAY WONDERS IN THE SKY ABOVE
AND SIGNS ON THE EARTH BELOW,
BLOOD, FIRE, AND VAPOR OF SMOKE.
20‘THE SUN WILL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS
AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD,
BEFORE THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD COMES.
21‘AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.’
This prophecy from Joel rolls out in stages. Yes, the LORD is pouring out His spirit on flesh. It happened for the first time at Pentecost, onto Gentile flesh as Jesus begins to build His church. But on ALL flesh (ESV, NKJV, KJV)? Not yet. That will be fulfilled in the millennium Kingdom when all who enter it will be saved people, with the Spirit in them.
Warren Wiersbe comments on Acts 2:17-18,
Peter did not say that Pentecost was the fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel 2:28–32, because the signs and wonders predicted had not occurred. When you read Joel’s prophecy in context, you see that it deals with the nation of Israel in the end times, in connection with “the Day of the Lord.” However, Peter was led by the Spirit to see in the prophecy an application to the church. He said, “This is that same Holy Spirit that Joel wrote about. He is here!” Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary.
The sky hasn’t turned vaporous, the sun hasn’t been dimmed, and the moon hasn’t been turned to blood. We conclude that the Joel reference to women and men prophesying is going to occur at the very end of the end of the age, along with the other signs. The Spirit being poured out on SOME flesh (not all flesh) was merely a glimpse of the power and events to come. As one commenter illustrated, the signs at Pentecost were like lightning on the horizon, showing the distant power to come. Prophecy isn’t happening now. Neither are visions.
One other minor rebuttal. When people say that God ‘would not save people and then be silent all the time’ I remind people to remember the “400 years of silence” after Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament, concluded.
Romans 12 describes the use of the given spiritual gifts in the New Testament times. The word to ‘prophesy’ is used (as a verb). In that verse it means something different that receiving new information and turning around and speaking it to the people. At the John MacArthur Daily Bible we read,
“Romans 12:6-8 describes the general categories of spiritual gifts. These come to us “according to the grace given”-undeserved and unmerited. The gift itself (1Co 12:4), the specific way in which it is used (1Co 12:5), and the spiritual results (1Co 12:6) are all sovereignly chosen by the Spirit completely apart from personal merit (1Co 12:11).”
“Prophecy.” This Greek word means “speaking forth” and does not necessarily include prediction of the future or any other mystical or supernatural aspects. Although some prophets in Acts did make predictions of future events (11:27-28; 21:10-11), others made no predictions but spoke the truth of God to encourage and strengthen their hearers (15:32; vv. 22-31).”
“The evidence does suggest, however, that in the first century, before the New Testament was complete and the sign gifts had ceased (1Co 13:8; 2Co 12:12; Heb 2:3, 4), this word may have had both nonrevelatory and revelatory facets. In its nonrevelatory sense, the word “prophecy” simply identifies the skill of public proclamation of the word of God (1Co 14:3, 24-25; 1Pe 4:11). “According to the proportion of his faith.” Literally, “the faith,” or the fully revealed message or body of Christian faith (Jude 3; 2Ti 4:2). The preacher must be careful to preach the same message the apostles delivered.”
In other words, as the canon was being completed, the prophetic new revelations dwindled. The same happened with the healing gifts. You may remember in 1 Timothy that young Timothy did not ask for miraculous healing for his stomach troubles, Paul simply advised him to take a little wine for them. Medicinal healing was suggested, not miraculous healing. 1 Timothy 5 was written in about 62-65 AD, thirty years after the crucifixion. Revelation direct from God to individuals was slowing down, and concluded in around 92AD when John the Revelator penned the last New Testament book. That book ended with the command in chapter 22 that anything added to or taken away from that book will rain down curses upon the person doing it.
Do not feel marginalized nor jealous when it seems people around you, or your favorite platformed teacher seems to be having regular conversations with Jesus. They aren’t. They are puffed up without reason. (Colossians 2:18). They will be dealt with severely by Jesus. Be glad you aren’t hearing from God! Cling to His written word only. You will be blessed.
the-end-time.org 