Question
Gramps,
I’ve just read scripture that says that since Christ’ time and the completion of the Bible that there were no other requirements for modern day prophets and now I’m reading about Joseph Sith, who proclaimed to be a modern day prophet after Christ’ time. I don’t believe that the bible contradicts itself so it appears there have been some misinterprertations somewhere along the line. Can anyone explain this?
Walter
Answer
Walter,
I also don’t believe the Bible contradicts itself. I have read scripture (including the King James Version of the Bible) and I have never come across this passage that appears in yours. I have sometimes heard detractors suggest that Hebrew 1:1-2 states that there will be no more prophets, but that matches neither the context of the book nor the content of the Bible.
In the book of Hebrews, Paul establishes that Christ’s authority was greater than Moses’; that Christ’s law was more powerful than Moses’; and therefore Christ’s sacrifice was more efficacious than any offered under Moses. He introduced these topics by mentioning how blesses they were to live in the same generation as the Messiah. “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;” The contrast is what Paul is trying to get across here not the end of the prophets. We could write something similar today, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners speaks in modern times unto us by the prophets, Hath in former days spoken unto the fathers by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.” Continue on with verse 3 and you’ll see the message remains the same – Christ is greater than prophets and angels.
A far cry from ending the age of prophets, the Bible mentions them as a sign for true believers. Christians who await the return of the Master also await the coming of prophets who will speak for Him and work miracles in His name (Revelation 11:3-13). The early church was filled with prophets – so much so that Paul felt the need to counsel on how prophets should speak in meetings (1 Corinthians 14:29). Some of the prophets named in scripture are Judas, Silas (Acts 15:32), Agabus (Acts 21:10), and James (James 5:10). Christians who want a church patterned after the early apostolic church will seek for prophets.
Gramps