THE REDEEMER MAGAZINE- The Magazine for Thinking Christians.

Foreword: The featured article in this magazine expounds on the Subject of those who preceive themselves as being modern day Prophets of God. This article goes into depth in explaning how the Bible announces that the office of Prophecy is closed and has been closed for thousands of years. In other words there are "NO MORE PROPHETS."

“Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy, (Dan. 9:24)

THE REDEEMER®- VOLUME 84 ****EDITION 41- OMPS® INC. 2014
 All articles in this magazine are written in whole or part by Otis T. Williams Sr. Th.D.....© 2014  These articles are the literary properties of Otis Media Publications Syndication Inc. ©

No more Prophecy; no more Dreams and Visions; NO MORE PROPHETS.

Written and Edited by: Dr. Otis T. Williams Sr. Th.D.

         There seems to be those in the church today that consider themselves to be prophets of God. However; those people are misguided and are misleading others that think the office of Prophecy is still open today as it was in ancient biblical times. Modern day prophets are not a continuation of the Ancient Jewish Prophets. Most who believe in modern day prophets take for granted that modern so called prophets continue the legacy of the Hebrew prophets. This idea suggests that there is an unbroken string of nonstop prophecies and prophets woven through the scriptures from the time of Christ continuing to the present day. This can be a very sensitive issue for many. Nonetheless, we must put aside sensitivities long enough for the word of God to break through to our hearts and minds. We must learn to reason with each other. 

End of the Jewish Prophets? End of all Prophets............
         Did all Jewish Prophets come to an end? Did all prophets cease to exist? Yes. According to the Bible visions and prophecy would cease after the fruition of the seventy weeks spoken of in the book of Daniel. What is so significant is that the seventy weeks would end no later than the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70!
         The Hebrew prophets, as tremendous as they were, were of restricted duration, until the prophet who was like Moses came to fulfill all that God spoke of him through the law and the prophets. The prophetic ministry began very early in the scriptures as many patriarchs prophesied. Jude writes of Enoch, the seventh from Adam who prophesied of the end times events, (Jude 14, Gen. 5:21). Enoch was the father of Methuselah.
         The first major prophet began with Moses who held the dual office of law-giver. Not all the prophets of God were as prominent or were noted through their prophetic teaching in written form. Prophets were teachers of the law of God, foretellers of the future through divine inspiration and also were able to discern and reveal the hidden past. For an example of the hidden past, Moses recorded the events of Genesis, including the origin of man, the entrance of sin into the world and the seed of Abraham to name a few.

Sealing Up Vision and Prophecy
       If the church gave a very comprehensive study of the Book of Daniel, most Christians would not be misled into thinking that Prophets of God still exist.1.) Daniel 9 is concerned with Israel and the fulfillment of her promises-- not the end of time, or the end of the Christian age. 2.) Daniel 9 does in fact predict the time of the fulfillment of all prophecy. 3.) Daniel 9 posts the end of the seventy weeks at the time of the destruction of the city and temple in AD 70.
         In chapter nine of Daniel it is recorded the visionary message that Gabriel revealed to Daniel. It was a message as to what events were to transpire in the Last days. First we must keep in mind that the Last Days are not the days that we are living in now. The Last Days were the last days of the Old Jewish covenant which came to an end in 70 AD. One of the most important prophecy concerning the last days was that of the seventy weeks of Daniel.   “Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy, (Dan. 9:24)
       The above scripture leads to the inquiring of whether tradition of the prophets continues to be passed down as an active office of the church. To seal up vision and prophecy is some what controversial but the meanings are almost universally accepted among scholars as(1.) Prophecies are sealed: prophecies ceases.  There are no more prophets; they no longer appear. (2.) All visions and prophecies were to receive completed fruition in the course of these seventy weeks.(3.) Prophecy and vision will no longer be needed.
         Seal up vision and prophecy means that the prophetic office has ceased, people are no longer able to prophecy from inspired visions. All prophecies were fulfilled within the 70 weeks of Daniel. Believe it or not all biblical prophecy has been fulfilled. Jesus pinpointed the consummation of Prophecy in Luke 21:22. ......all things which are written may be fulfilled.

False Prophets and Prophetess  
          Any one who claims to be a prophet or prophetess  along the lines of the old Jewish prophets are false prophets indeed. False prophets have an ill-motive to deceive. A false prophet is one who falsely claims the gift of prophecy or divine inspiration. As such the term is not used lightly. Most modern day prophets are not deceivers but are deceived. In believing they are carrying on the Jewish prophets tradition, they lack sufficient knowledge and discernment of such scriptures as those above. In addition, Zechariah speaks of the day of salvation, when the Messiah had come, that it would come to pass that every prophet would be ashamed of his vision and prophecy. Why? It’s because it would not come to pass. Zechariah 13:1-5, Deut. 18:19.
         Let’s look at Zachariah 13:1-5 1: In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness. 2: It shall be in that day, says the Lord of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, and they shall no longer be remembered. I will also cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to depart from the land. 3:It shall come to pass that if anyone still prophesies, then his father and mother who begot him will say to him, ‘You shall not live, because you have spoken lies in the name of the Lord.’ And his father and mother who begot him shall thrust him through when he prophesies.
4:And it shall be in that day that every prophet will be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies; they will not wear a robe of coarse hair to deceive. 5:But he will say, I am no prophet, I am a farmer; for a man taught me to keep cattle from my youth.’ (Zechariah 13:1-5).NKJV                                                                        The above text give note that the term “in that day” is synonymous with the seventy weeks of Daniel marking the terminal point for sealing up vision and prophecy. The compass of the text is the day of the Lord. The day of the Lord marked the time of the end; not the non biblical idea of the end of time. The day of the Lord also entailed making an end of sin and reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness. Notice the repeat of "in that day" so that it is clear that at the same time a way for the cleansing of sin is opened, there would be a change in "the land," which is a reference to Israel.             
 

Prophets and unclean Spirits cease
           God would also cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to depart from the land. This is a direct action from God. He promised to retire the office of the prophets of God. They would pass out of the land. Again the land here refers to Israel. The prophets of God was not Gentiles filling and speaking through Christian churches. For about 400 years, God ceased to speak through prophets in Israel, shortly after the writing of Zachariah. The office of the prophets started again under John the Baptist. According to scripture Jesus Christ was the last prophet as recorded in Hebrews 1:1-2.  1: God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2: has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;. Jesus was the prophet like unto Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15).  
        The time period of the prophecy of Zachariah is not flexible. It refers very specifically to the coming of Christ and the establishment of the church. In this same period, prophets and the unclean spirit would also leave the land. Daniel would also be given a pinpointed year in which the Messiah would arrive(See the seventy weeks of Daniel). In that prophecy it is stated that vision and prophecy would be sealed. To seal something means to bring to an end or conclusion.
       God used visions and prophecies in the past to communicate with His people (Hebrews 1:1). A chief focus of the Old Testament prophecies was the coming of the Messiah and the era which would follow him. With the completion of the New Law, the need for prophecy ended (I Corinthians 13:8-13). Prophecy and the other gifts of the Holy Spirit were just partial measures to carry the church along until the law was completely recorded. "But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away" (I Corinthians 13:10). The word "perfect" means to be complete or mature.
       Even Jesus spoke of this when He said that those who would claim to prophesy in His name in a future time would be cut off. "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' (Matthew 7:21-23). Notice that it wasn't just the claim of prophesying that would label a person as a fraud, but also the claim of casting out demons. Why? Because possession by unclean spirits would no longer be happening. Demon possession was something that only occurred in the era around Jesus' coming into the world. You don't read about it before or after. Sure there are people claiming to be possessed by demons, but a claim doesn't constitute a reality. Demon possession is not temptation. It isn't illness. It isn't insanity. It was unclean spirits taking control of a person against their will.
       
So called prophets of God to be shamed
        Getting back to Zachariah; the writings of Zachariah says it would come to pass that those who claimed the office of prophecy would be ashamed of their visions. Zach:13: 4:And it shall be in that day that every prophet will be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies; they will not wear a robe of coarse hair to deceive. They would be given the occupation as farmers. In other words, after the 70 weeks of Daniel are ended in what is called the time of the end, the proper reply for anyone under the notion of being a prophet is to acknowledge, “I am no prophet.”
       The language was so strong and the termination of the office would be so well known that even one’s parents (Zach. 13:3) would kill with the sword any claiming alliance with the prophets of God. Zach 13:5:But he will say, I am no prophet, I am a farmer; for a man taught me to keep cattle from my youth.
        So many today claims to be prophets being ignorant of scripture. God no longer uses prophets or dreams to fulfill His covenant with man. His promises are complete, His kingdom has arrived and we are living under His Grace. It is finished it is complete. Let’s come out of the Old Covenant world and enjoy the completeness of God’s Word.
        To get a better understanding of what this text talks about; study the book of Daniel and other Prophets of God from the Old Testament.
"Jesus said: It CANNOT be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem". Luke 13:33. If one perishes out of Jerusalem; they are no prophet. Surely many so-called prophets will perish out of Jerusalem. TERRIBLE.

NO MORE PROPHETS

End of Article - Digital Version

THE REDEEMER®- VOLUME 84 ****EDITION 41- OMPS® INC. 2014
 All articles in this magazine are written in whole or part by Otis T. Williams Sr. Th.D.....© 2014  These articles are the literary properties of Otis Media Publications Syndication Inc. ©