Christians; Are Modern Prophets worth anything?

[Trey of Diamonds]

This is my issue, yes this is general knowledge, but where did this knowledge come from?

I believe it deserves a closer look, don't you?

Are you saying you don't have a sourse?

Yep, I don't have a source. I pulled it from the general knowledge file so its certianly suspect. Personally I feel that Mohammed was a prophet, or at least, as much of a prophet as Moses and Jesus were, so I've already gone against the generally accepted doctrine. I agree it deserves a closer look and I really hope someone can offer some info on the subject.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Yep, I don't have a source. I pulled it from the general knowledge file so its certianly suspect. Personally I feel that Mohammed was a prophet, or at least, as much of a prophet as Moses and Jesus were, so I've already gone against the generally accepted doctrine. I agree it deserves a closer look and I really hope someone can offer some info on the subject.

I rather doubt that Mohammed was a prophet. What he taught has added nothing of value to Jesus teachings. However he certainly was some sort of teacher to the desert peoples of his time, who did not respond to Jesus message.

 

[JacobEzra.]

Modern Prophets? Yeah right.

 

[Bob Dixon]

Do I think that some prophets could exist now? Sure thing! Nothing is impossible for God, and it certainly wouldn't contradict what Jesus taught. After all, he taught us how to tell true prophets from false ones, so this implies that true ones could exist.

Which, of all recent prophetic claims, are true? I don't know!

 

[Katzpur]

Modern Prophets? Yeah right.

Since you find the idea so ludicrous, maybe you could explain why a God who is the same yesterday, today and forever would suddenly stop communicating to mankind the way He did for 4000 years. Has the lost the ability? Do we need Him less today than people needed Him a few thousand years ago? Does He care less about us today than He cared about people in times past? I'd just like to see a logical reason behind those rolling eyes of yours.

 

[javajo]

I'm sorry, javajo, but that statement simply does not imply that God has nothing more to say. Why would He communicate to mankind through prophets for 4000 years and then suddenly stop? If He is the same yesterday, today and forever, He wouldn't simply decide that we no longer needed his direction and guidance. After all, are we so different from people back then that He'd figure we could just get along with a book?

I believe the Bible is God's complete revelation to man. It covers the beginning and the ending of things and makes us thoroughly furnished for all good works. I believe God communicates to us through the Bible and gives us direction and guidance through his word and through the Holy Spirit which permanently resides in every believer, which they did not have his constant presence like that in the Old Testament. He has told us how everything will end and furnished us with all we need to know to live for him in his word. We are to patiently wait for his Son to return as promised and do good works that glorify God and proclaim the Gospel in the meantime. The prophets all pointed to Jesus and since he came and paid for our sins, we who have trusted him now have the Holy Spirit residing permanently in us, which they did not have, hence the need for prophets. I believe all the new so called prophets always teach things contradictory to the Bible and we are warned of their subtle yet dangerous teachings and are to be on guard against them. To kill a rat, the pellet needs only 5% poison, the other 95% is good food. In the same way, a false teacher or "prophet" need only mix a little untruth with the truth and so deceive many.

 

[Katzpur]

I believe the Bible is God's complete revelation to man. It covers the beginning and the ending of things and makes us thoroughly furnished for all good works.

And yet there are more than 30,000 different Christian denominations in the world today, each and every one with a different interpretation of one or more point of doctrine, and the vast, vast majority basing their beliefs on what they think the Bible is saying.

I believe God communicates to us through the Bible and gives us direction and guidance through his word and through the Holy Spirit which permanently resides in every believer, which they did not have his constant presence like that in the Old Testament. He has told us how everything will end and furnished us with all we need to know to live for him in his word.

I value the Bible highly, but it clearly does not give us the answers to all of our questions. There are many areas in which the Bible is silent, forcing Christians to make assumptions and suppositions based on what it does say. With all of the missing puzzle pieces, the various Christian groups fill in the gaps differently. Furthermore, it is possible to argue pretty much any position you wish to take on any point of doctrine that is of interest to Christians. All you have to do is pick the verses that support your point of view and ignore the ones that don't. If you think I'm wrong, I'd be happy to provide examples for you, but I think you know I'm right about that.

We are to patiently wait for his Son to return as promised and do good works that glorify God and proclaim the Gospel in the meantime. The prophets all pointed to Jesus and since he came and paid for our sins, we who have trusted him now have the Holy Spirit residing permanently in us, which they did not have, hence the need for prophets. I believe all the new so called prophets always teach things contradictory to the Bible and we are warned of their subtle yet dangerous teachings and are to be on guard against them.

That's an interesting perspective. The Bible clearly does warn against "false prophets." Why do you think it doesn't warn against "prophets" in general? If there were to be no more "true prophets" after Christ, why doesn't the Bible just warn against prophets, period?

 

[JacobEzra.]

Since you find the idea so ludicrous, maybe you could explain why a God who is the same yesterday, today and forever would suddenly stop communicating to mankind the way He did for 4000 years. Has the lost the ability? Do we need Him less today than people needed Him a few thousand years ago? Does He care less about us today than He cared about people in times past? I'd just like to see a logical reason behind those rolling eyes of yours.

Well, how long was it from the last prophet of Israel till John the Baptist? IT wouldn't be that long since there was no prophets. Not to mention, with Christianity, the era of revelation has past with the end of the life of Jesus. What would the end of revelation, need more revelation?


A prophet is not needed since revelation is done.

 

[silvermoon383]

Well, how long was it from the last prophet of Israel till John the Baptist? IT wouldn't be that long since there was no prophets. Not to mention, with Christianity, the era of revelation has past with the end of the life of Jesus. What would the end of revelation, need more revelation?


A prophet is not needed since revelation is done.

Where in the world does God say that? It certainly wasn't when Christ said "It is finished." since it's obvious He did stuff after that, INCLUDING more revelation to the Apostles (appearance before Saul, vision to Peter about taking the gospel to the gentiles, the entire Book of Revelation, etc.)

 

[JacobEzra.]

Where in the world does God say that? It certainly wasn't when Christ said "It is finished." since it's obvious He did stuff after that, INCLUDING more revelation to the Apostles (appearance before Saul, vision to Peter about taking the gospel to the gentiles, the entire Book of Revelation, etc.)

Well, what prophets have come since? When has God added to the story?

As to appearance before St. Paul, vision to St. Peter and the book of Revelation, that is not prophecy and not much of a revelation. Show me an Isaiah and I will believe you.

 

[Pegg]

I've been reading some Ellen White and absording some info from some of Mormon friends about Joseph Smith, not that I'm an Adventist or a Mormon myself, as of yet

Yet the vast majority of Christians reject prophets entirely, despite Paul speaking highly of them,

What's the deal, care to explain?

1 Cor 13:8 Love never fails. But whether there are [gifts of] prophesying, they will be done away with; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will be done away with. 9 For we have partial knowledge and we prophesy partially; 10 but when that which is complete arrives, that which is partial will be done away with

in their time, the prophets were valuable, but the work of prophesying was for a purpose and once that purpose was complete, they would not be needed anymore.

Prophesying was for the purpose of revealing Gods word to mankind... once that word has been made known, what more is there to say? That is why Paul said that there will come a time when prophesying will stop or 'be done away with'. Thats why we dont believe there are any prophets around today or anytime since the completion of the greek scriptures....the NT is the final word from God. Its all we need.

 

[Katzpur]

Well, how long was it from the last prophet of Israel till John the Baptist? IT wouldn't be that long since there was no prophets. Not to mention, with Christianity, the era of revelation has past with the end of the life of Jesus. What would the end of revelation, need more revelation?

A prophet is not needed since revelation is done.

The role of a prophet involves much, much more than merely prophesying. It involves maintaining the purity of Christian doctrine so that mankind wouldn't be "tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine," (you know, so that pagan emperors wouldn't have to convene councils to make religious decisions ). Paul specifically listed the various positions Jesus Christ had established when He built His Church. He named prophets, apostles, pastors, teachers and evangelists. (I don't recall seeing popes and cardinals in the list.) Furthermore, he said that these were to continue to exist until we all came into a unity of faith. The fact that there are over 30,000 different Christian denominations in existance today is proof that we are less unified than ever. Had Christ's church continued to function under the leadership, direction, and organization He personally established, we would today be one Church, not many.

Furthermore, there is absolutely nothing in the Bible that says God intends to stop revealing himself to mankind. We need His personal guidance now more than we ever have.

 

[silvermoon383]

Well, what prophets have come since? When has God added to the story?

As to appearance before St. Paul, vision to St. Peter and the book of Revelation, that is not prophecy and not much of a revelation. Show me an Isaiah and I will believe you.

Well....you could always read the Book of Mormon :yes: Ancient American scripture brought to man via Joseph Smith, who also recorded modern revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. Ever since 1820 there's been a prophet on the planet.

 

[JacobEzra.]

The role of a prophet involves much, much more than merely prophesying. It involves maintaining the purity of Christian doctrine so that mankind wouldn't be "tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine," (you know, so that pagan emperors wouldn't have to convene councils to make religious decisions ). Paul specifically listed the various positions Jesus Christ had established when He built His Church. He named prophets, apostles, pastors, teachers and evangelists. (I don't recall seeing popes and cardinals in the list.) Furthermore, he said that these were to continue to exist until we all came into a unity of faith. The fact that there are over 30,000 different Christian denominations in existance today is proof that we are less unified than ever. Had Christ's church continued to function under the leadership, direction, and organization He personally established, we would today be one Church, not many.

Furthermore, there is absolutely nothing in the Bible that says God intends to stop revealing himself to mankind. We need His personal guidance now more than we ever have.

lol for such a pure church with pure doctrine, none of it is really that old Show me a modern prophet? Only ones I have herd of were either crazies like Koresh, or complete frauds (like the ones who are JW )

 

[JacobEzra.]

Well....you could always read the Book of Mormon :yes: Ancient American scripture brought to man via Joseph Smith, who also recorded modern revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. Ever since 1820 there's been a prophet on the planet.

:thud: Ancient American? Joseph Smith = prophet? And the rest of your post? Right

 

[silvermoon383]

Don't knock it until you read for yourself.

 

[JacobEzra.]

Im sorry, but the idea that Israelites came here and whatnot, is just incredibly ridiculous.

 

[silvermoon383]

More ridiculous than the idea that an axe head can float? Or a donkey can talk? Or that a yell can bring down a city? More crazy than the idea that a man crippled from birth can walk with just a word, or that people came come back froze the dead without being a zombie or vampire?

 

[JacobEzra.]

More ridiculous than the idea that an axe head can float? Or a donkey can talk? Or that a yell can bring down a city? More crazy than the idea that a man crippled from birth can walk with just a word, or that people came come back froze the dead without being a zombie or vampire?

Even more

 

[Katzpur]

Even more

You just don't like the idea that Jesus discovered America before Columbus did, but there is nothing about Mormon doctrine that is any more "ridiculous" than mainstream Christian doctrine. It's just a matter of what you believe and what you don't believe.