The Prophetic, Prophesy and Prophesying
2Pe 1:18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 2Pe:19 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: 2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 2Pe 1:21 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.
The word of God is true and cannot be altered in anyway. Many who have attempted to do so have paid a heavy price in their own lives and have caused others who have listened to them to go astray. Jim Jones and David Kerruish are just two names that come to mind who led so many astray and whose lives ended tragically. The dangers of not observing the words of God as intended by God leaves a person exposed to the wrath of God. God’s grace and mercy is not available to mankind for an indefinite period of time. A day of wrath and judgement falls according to the timing of the Lord on all who corrupt the word.
What has all this to do with prophecy? Essentially, all scripture is PROPHETIC and hence true. Any attempt to alter prophecy is met with resistance and judgement by God. When we use the term prophetic, we understand that it is an established word of God. Hence, we say something like, “it is prophetic, or this is the prophetic nature of things”.
PROPHECY on the other hand has to do with a word that has related meaning to an event that has been prophesied in the Bible. Peter says, “we have a more sure word of prophecy”. He is talking about Jesus having been prophesied and that he is not making it up based on events and visions alone that he himself had experienced.
Finally, PROPHESYING has to do with stating a word about a coming event that may have to do with someone or a situation. So, I can say things like, “Thus saith the Lord’ such and such is going to happen in the world or to a person”. It can be a positive statement or a negative one.
In any of the above three types of foretelling, we must always have agreement with an inner witness both by the word of God and by the Spirit of God. For example, if a word is given to me by someone, I will seek a Biblical basis for that word to be confirmed by the Spirit of God. Even though the event may not be about something written in the Bible. God can confirm it by His word to me through the Spirit.
The percentage of error with regard to prophecy is enormous. Therefore, we have been instructed to check for accuracy. Secondly, prophetic gifts and offices can be used by men in an erroneous manner to justify themselves and their sayings which has no value in edifying the hearer. It can also be used to manipulate masses of people or individuals by unscrupulous so-called prophets. This is the reason Jesus warned us about false prophets.
Mat_24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
One of the biggest areas of error and confusion regarding our faith lie in the prophetic realm. This is the realm of what God has already written down for us saying it would happen. Since we are living in 2020, the prophetic realm is even more volatile because of current events that are happening around the world. Furthermore, many denominations and scholars have all expressed their views on the prophetic nature of the Bible. It is incumbent on every believer to discover the prophetic for themselves and make up their own minds. The prophetic can serve a Christian believer immensely if the believer can interpret and understand the words of Jesus and others as it is revealed by the Holy Spirit.
It is not impossible for an individual to know truths about the prophetic, but God remains sovereign and chooses whom He reveals it to.
Deu 29:29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
Some, like Daniel and Apostle John were revealed many things of the prophetic nature by God but were asked not to reveal somethings that they were shown. God keeps those things for Himself to reveal at an appropriate time.
Dan 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and SEAL THE BOOK, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
Rev 10:4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, SEAL UP THOSE THINGS which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.
When a Christian believer hits saturation point in his understanding there are several things one can do. Pray and seek God for the meaning, wait on God to see if He will reveal the understanding and then finally check with others if there are substantiated truths to what you have learnt yourself.
Gal 2:2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
So many times, the truth of something is only revealed to one person. Apostle Paul was in that frame of anointing. Yet he subjected his revelation to others in the faith that he knew were also called by God. This is a true safeguard against being carried away by revelation of prophecy and prophesying.
Many have been shipwrecked in their faith because they have been given a word of prophecy by someone. This has gone to their heads only to be discovered later on that it was a lie of the devil and imaginations of a human mind.
ALL prophecy and prophesying along with ALL prophetic interpretation of the Bible should always and only be by the Spirit of God. THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS GOD GAVE US HIS SPIRIT. The Spirit will give us the mind of Christ and the revelation of His word without ambiguity. By this, the safeguard is assured.
Lots of love
Pastor Noble 15/11/2020