Prophecy: Recovering the Authentic Gift and Rejecting the Nonsense
Prophecy has always been a vital gift in God’s economy. Paul exhorted believers to “earnestly desire spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy” (1 Corinthians 14:1). Yet what often passes for prophecy today bears little resemblance to its biblical roots. Instead of unveiling Christ, it is frequently reduced to theatrics, celebrity culture, or failed predictions defended by excuses. To recover the authentic gift, we must return to Scripture and the wisdom of those who have reflected deeply on it.
SPIRITUAL LIFE COACHING
“Earnestly desire spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.” — 1 Corinthians 14:1
Prophecy has always been a vital gift in God’s plan for His people. Yet what often passes for prophecy today bears little resemblance to its biblical roots. Instead of unveiling Christ, it is frequently reduced to theatrics, celebrity culture, or failed predictions defended by excuses. To recover the authentic gift, we must return to Scripture and the wisdom of those who have reflected deeply on it.
Prophecy in the Old Testament
In the Old Testament, prophecy served three primary purposes:
Foretelling judgment or blessing: Prophets warned Israel of consequences for disobedience (Jeremiah 25:11–12).
Calling to repentance: Prophetic words demanded concrete action—repentance, fasting, obedience (Jonah 3:4–10).
Pointing to Christ: Ultimately, all prophecy anticipated the coming Messiah (Isaiah 53; Micah 5:2).
Prophets were tested by accuracy: “When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken” (Deuteronomy 18:22). False prophecy was a serious offense.
Prophecy in the New Testament
With Christ’s coming, prophecy shifted from primarily foretelling to forth-telling—revealing Christ in the present moment.
Christ-centered revelation: “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10).
Edification of the Body: Prophecy strengthens, encourages, and comforts (1 Corinthians 14:3).
Testing and discernment: Believers are commanded to “test all things; hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:20–21).
Occasional foretelling: Agabus predicted famine (Acts 11:28) and Paul’s imprisonment (Acts 21:10–11), but always in ways that directed believers toward Christ.
Unlike Old Testament prophecy, which often carried national implications and warnings of judgment, New Testament prophecy is primarily relational—building up the church and unveiling the living Christ in the moment.
Can Prophecy Speak to Circumstances Today?
Yes. While prophecy’s ultimate purpose is to reveal Christ, God can and does use prophetic utterances to speak into specific circumstances or provide answers.
Agabus warned Paul of imprisonment (Acts 21:10–11).
The Spirit directed the church to set apart Barnabas and Saul (Acts 13:2).
Prophecy can expose hearts and lead to repentance (1 Corinthians 14:24–25).
This shows that prophecy can address personal situations, decisions, or challenges but always with the goal of magnifying Christ, guiding obedience, and strengthening faith. It is not fortune-telling or spiritual entertainment.
What Prophecy Is Not
Modern “prophetic words” predicting COVID’s disappearance or political outcomes have repeatedly failed. Yet instead of accountability, excuses abound: “It didn’t happen because you didn’t pray or obey.”
This reasoning makes prophecy unfalsifiable, directly contradicting Scripture’s command to test prophetic words.
Bottom line: If a prophecy does not come to pass, it is false. Period. The only exception is when a word of judgment is delayed due to collective repentance, as seen in Jonah’s day.
Voices on Prophecy
Frank Viola
Frank Viola emphasizes that prophecy is not about theatrics or prediction games but unveiling Christ:
“A prophetic utterance is a word that reveals Jesus Christ. It’s not a teaching, but a present word from God concerning Christ.”
He critiques modern practices:
“Most of what passes for prophesying today is not the real deal. It’s often packaged in unbiblical and artificial accents, gestures, and voice tones that are largely learned by imitation.”
For Viola, authentic prophecy is relational, Spirit-led, and Christ-centered—never about celebrity or spectacle.
Watchman Nee
Watchman Nee saw prophecy as part of God’s eternal plan to reveal Christ through the Spirit:
“The Father is the source, the Son is the expression, and the Spirit is the application.”
He taught that all spiritual gifts, including prophecy, must flow from the believer’s union with Christ and the Spirit’s life within. Nee emphasized that prophecy is not primarily about predicting events but unveiling divine revelation to build up the church and deepen believers’ experience of Christ.
Key Insight
Old Testament prophecy: Looked forward to Christ, warned nations, demanded repentance.
New Testament prophecy: Reveals Christ in the present, strengthens the church, and can speak into circumstances—but must always be tested.
Frank Viola: Prophecy is unveiling Christ, not theatrics.
Watchman Nee: Prophecy flows from union with Christ and the Spirit’s life, revealing God’s eternal plan.
✨ In short: Prophecy today is not about prediction games or spiritual theatrics. It is about unveiling Christ in ways that humble us, convict us, and draw us closer to Him. Anything less is prophetic nonsense.