All About the Prophets in both the Old and New Testaments.

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Prophets were individuals in the Bible who received messages from God and communicated those messages to the recipients—whether through speaking or writing. Their writings, known as prophetic books, comprise a huge part of the Bible.

So who were these people? And why did God choose them to be prophets?

Learning about the prophets of the past can help us better understand the whole story of the Bible—and how God relates to humanity with love and encourages freedom of choice.

 

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Who can be a prophet?

A prophet is someone called to speak on God’s behalf to His people. The common denominator among the prophets was that each one had a willing heart to follow God. Other than that, there isn’t one type or model for the kind of person He calls to this role. The Bible is full of prophets, and each one is unique.

Some were young, like Samuel and Daniel.

Some were very old, like Anna and Simeon.

Some were also priests or judges, like Jeremiah and Deborah.

And both men and women were prophets.

Others were regular people with regular jobs. For example, Paul was a tentmaker, and Moses was a shepherd.

Most of the time, prophets weren’t exactly popular among their people because they had to deliver messages of change. The messages may have called the people to abandon certain cherished-but-harmful behaviors or exposed secret sins held by those in leadership.

But when it comes to what God needs in a person for them to be a prophet, He looked for willingness. They had to have an open heart and a desire to listen and follow the Word of God.

So, anyone—even the most ordinary individual—can be a prophet if called by God.

 

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Who were these Bible prophets?

When we hear of Bible prophets, we often think of the ones who wrote the Old Testament prophetic books—the 16 major and minor prophets.

But many others in the Bible didn’t write books—or the books they wrote were not named after them.

The total number of prophets in the Bible is around 88, though this number will vary depending on who you talk to. People within certain Christian circles may consider some characters prophets, while others don’t.

Let’s look at who they were in different categories.

 

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The major prophets of the Old Testament.

These four prophets are called “major” because they wrote longer books that applied to a broader audience. They are:

Isaiah, who wrote the book of Isaiah, which contained many Messianic prophecies. He prophesied for at least 60 years during the reigns of four kings: Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah.

Jeremiah, who wrote both Jeremiah and Lamentations. Christian scholars believe he may have also compiled 1 and 2 Kings. He prophesied in the years just before and during Judah’s Babylonian exile.

Ezekiel, who wrote the book of Ezekiel and served among the Jews in the years right before and during the Babylonian captivity.

Daniel, who wrote most of the book of Daniel. He was one of the Jews taken captive in Babylon. He served as a top official in the Babylonian government and later the Medo-Persian government. Through it all, he remained faithful to God.

 

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The minor prophets of the Old Testament.

The 12 minor prophets wrote shorter books—all of which carry their names. They are also known as “the twelve” in the Hebrew canon.

Hosea prophesied in the darkest period of the history of the northern kingdom of Israel—just before the nation was taken captive by Assyria. God asked him to marry a prostitute named Gomer to demonstrate God’s commitment and love for His people.

Joel was a prophet in Judah. Through him, God pronounced a drought and a terrible invasion of locusts as judgments. But Joel also prophesied Judah’s restoration to God’s favor.

Amos was a herdsman from Judah. He was called to prophesy in Israel, where he rebuked the idol worship promoted by King Jeroboam.

Obadiah was from Judah and prophesied the punishment of the Edomites, an enemy nation that had treated Judah cruelly in war.

Jonah was sent to warn Nineveh, a city of Assyria and one of Israel’s bitter enemies. He is best known for being swallowed by a fish and surviving the ordeal.

Micah was from Moresheth, Judah. He wrote to God’s people in a very poetic way, warning them of the judgment coming upon them because they’d turned from God’s covenant. At the same time, he also offered hope of God’s mercy.

Nahum’s name means “comforted.” He foretold the fall of Nineveh, which was the capital of Assyria, one of Israel’s most cruel oppressors. By this prophecy, he comforted Israel that God would vindicate them.

Habakkuk prophesied during the times of the most corrupt kings in Judah—Manasseh and Amon. He knew their evil would lead to Babylonian captivity and was greatly saddened and concerned for the destiny of his people. But God assured him that the end of the wicked would surely come and the righteous would be saved.

Zephaniah was a prophet in the time of King Josiah. He warned of the coming judgment on Judah and other neighboring countries. But his main burden was to call the people to repent.

Haggai supported the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity during the times of Zerubbabel and Joshua (Ezra 5:1-12).

Zechariah worked together with Haggai. He especially encouraged Joshua, the high priest, in a vision that showed God forgiving the guilt of his people (Zechariah 3:1-10).

Malachi was the last Old Testament prophet. His ministry came a long time after the Babylonian captivity and the return of the Jews to Jerusalem—after the time of Nehemiah. The people had forgotten God’s ways and their experience in captivity, so he rebuked them and urged them to return to God.

So, in total, we have 16 Old Testament prophets who wrote books named after them (except Lamentations). Their books form the last 17 books in the Old Testament.

They are also known as “the latter prophets” or “the literary prophets” because their words were each separate books or pieces of literature.

This is unlike the prophets in the earlier parts of the Bible, whose words and ministries are recorded within the historical books of the nation of Israel. They are often called the “earlier prophets” or “former prophets.”

 

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The earlier prophets of the Old Testament.

The former prophets date back to the earliest history of the Hebrew nation. Some wrote major parts of the Bible, though the books don’t carry their names.

They are:

Moses, who wrote Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Job. He was the first leader of the Israelite nation (Deuteronomy 18:18).

Samuel, who most likely wrote Judges and parts of 1 Samuel. He worked with Eli the priest, and then anointed and worked with the first two kings of Israel, Saul and David. He also started the schools of the prophets.

Nathan wrote parts of the books of 1 and 2 Samuel. He worked with King David and is perhaps best remembered for rebuking David after his sin with Bathsheba.

Gad co-authored the books of 1 and 2 Samuel with Nathan. He also communicated messages from God to King David (1 Samuel 22:5).

Other former prophets didn’t write any books, but they are talked about in the Old Testament—some at length and some very briefly. They include:

Miriam, the sister of Aaron and Moses (Exodus 15:20–21).

Deborah, who was also a judge in Israel and, together with Barak, led Israel to victory against an enemy nation (Judges 4-5).

Ahijah the Shilonite, who announced the division of the Israelite nation after the reign of King Solomon and rebuked King Jeroboam’s idolatry (1 Kings 11:29-39; 14:1-13).

Elijah, who worked to bring Israel back to God from idolatry during the time of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. He is the one who met the prophets of Baal in a showdown at Mount Carmel, where God proved He was the real God by sending fire from heaven.

Jehu, the son of Hanani, who was a contemporary of Elijah. He rebuked King Jehoshaphat for forming alliances with ungodly kings (2 Chronicles 19:2).

Micaiah, the son of Imlah, who prophesied the death of King Ahab in battle (1 Kings 22:8-28).

Azariah, the son of Oded, who encouraged King Asa to abolish idolatry in Judah, resulting in prosperity and peace (2 Chronicles 15:1-19).

Elisha, who was mentored by Elijah (1 Kings 19:19-21).

Huldah, a prophetess who encouraged King Josiah’s reforms (2 Kings 22).

Now that we know some of the most well-known prophets in the Old Testament, let’s jump over to the New Testament.

 

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New Testament prophets.

The greatest prophet in the New Testament is Jesus Christ. He taught the people, warned them, and gave prophecies that stretched from His time to the end of the world.

Prophets also existed among the followers of Jesus and those who formed the early Christian church. Paul writes about prophecy being one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit among the believers (1 Corinthians 12:8-10; Ephesians 4:7-13; Romans 12:3-8).

Here are some of the prophets mentioned:

Anna, the daughter of Phanuel. She was an old widow who served God in the temple. She blessed Jesus when His parents presented Him at the temple as a baby (Luke 2:36-38).

John the Baptist, who was Jesus’ cousin and prepared the way for the Messiah, even baptizing Jesus. He was martyred by Herod. Jesus Himself said that John was the greatest prophet (Luke 7:26-28).

The apostle John, who was one of the 12 disciples and became a leader in the early Christian church. Near the end of his life, he wrote the book of Revelation.

Barnabas, who was Paul’s companion in his first missionary journey. He had a special gift of mentoring new believers, including Paul (Acts 9:26–27; 12:25; 13:1; 15:37).

Simeon Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, all prophets and teachers who prayed and fasted with Paul and Barnabas on the day they were called to go on their first missionary journey (Acts 13:1).

Judas (not the one who betrayed Jesus), who was Silas’ companion before Silas joined Paul. Together, Judas and Silas “exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words” (Acts 15:32).

Silas, who was Paul’s companion in his second missionary journey (Acts 15:32).

The four daughters of Philip the evangelist. Their father was one of the seven deacons who lived in Caesarea and hosted Paul and his companions while on their missionary journeys (Acts 21:8-9).

Agabus, who lived in Jerusalem after Jesus’ ascension. He predicted a severe famine in the Roman Empire in the first century and Paul’s arrest in Jerusalem (Acts 21:10-11, 27-30).

So you may be wondering, How did these individuals become prophets in the first place? We’ll find out next.

 

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How did God call the prophets in the Bible?

God often called prophets through dreams or visions. At other times, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they prophesied (2 Chronicles 15:1). And in the case of Elisha, it began with a conviction to follow and serve Elijah (1 Kings 19:19-21).

But when the calling came through visions, God would give the prophet a message to deliver to the people.

Sometimes, the message was one of encouragement. Sometimes, it was a warning.

Each vision and message was unique to the prophet because these prophets served in specific times and situations.

Let’s dive deeper into the examples of Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, and John to understand how and why God called them.

 

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Moses.

Moses was one of the earlier prophets of the Bible, preceded only by Noah and Abraham. He was used by God to liberate the Israelites from Egypt and give them the Ten Commandments—making him a remarkable Bible character.

He had quite the resumé: escaping death as a baby, becoming a member of the Egyptian royal family, leading the Israelites through the Red Sea, and acting as a mediator of God’s covenant—to name a few.

The prophetic call came to him when he was in the wilderness of Midian, living as a shepherd after becoming a fugitive from Pharaoh. God appeared to him in a burning bush:

“Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt” (‭‭Exodus‬ ‭3:10‬‬).

Moses seriously doubted himself and his ability to speak for God (Exodus 4:1, 10). But God assured him:

“Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say” (Exodus 4:11-12‬‬).

Not all the prophets felt worthy of prophesying for God, but He always provided what they needed to get the job done.

Moses is a good example to us that prophets are not perfect.

While they communicate on behalf of the divine, they are not divine themselves. They make mistakes just like everyone else. At times, Moses resorted to doing things his way, almost completely ignoring God’s direction.

For example, when the Israelites didn’t have any water in the desert, God gave Moses specific instructions to speak to a rock, and it would spew water. Instead of following God’s instructions, Moses struck the rock with his staff (Numbers 20:10-13).

That might seem like a minor difference, but the bottom line is that Moses did what he saw fit instead of what God explicitly asked him to do.

Whenever Moses tried to do things his way, things usually took a lot longer or were a lot more difficult.

However, what matters is that Moses always came back to God in humility. When God calls prophets, He uses them to accomplish His work and facilitates the growth they themselves need.

 

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Isaiah.

Isaiah, a prophet to the kingdom of Judah, is known for writing the book of Isaiah, the Old Testament book most quoted in the New Testament because of all its prophecies about Jesus’ birth and role as the Messiah.

God called him through a spectacular vision of the heavenly throne room and asked,

“Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” (Isaiah 6:8).

Isaiah responded with a willing heart:

“Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8).

Even though he felt like a “man of unclean lips” and like one who lived “among a people of unclean lips,” an angel touched a coal to Isaiah’s lips to symbolize God taking away Isaiah’s guilt and giving him a message to share (Isaiah 6:5).

Isaiah worked with four kings at the height of constant attacks from the Assyrians.

He also gave many prophecies to the people of Judah for that specific time—particularly prophecies of warning and rebuke (Isaiah 6:11-13).

It was a time of moral decline among the people of God. He labored to call them back to ways of peace, righteousness, and justice so that they could avoid the consequences of their actions—captivity to another nation.

But he also shared hope and encouragement about the future Messiah.

This is fitting since Isaiah’s name means “the Lord is salvation.”

Isaiah lived out the meaning of his name through his several prophecies of Jesus’ birth:

“Therefore the LORD Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).

"For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).

Beyond the failures of his people and threats from their enemies, his prophetic messages pointed to the coming deliverer and the kingdom of God that will last forever.

 

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Jeremiah.

Jeremiah was a prophet to the southern kingdom of Judah. He lived through the siege and destruction of Jerusalem, which resulted in the Jewish exile in Babylon.

The book of Jeremiah starts with his call:

“Then the word of the Lord came to me saying: ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; and I ordained you a prophet to the nations’” (Jeremiah 1:4-5).

Before Jeremiah was even born, God chose him to be a prophet.

This call highlights how God’s choices for a prophet are sometimes unexpected.

Jeremiah was probably just a teenager, and after God told Jeremiah He had chosen him, Jeremiah claimed that he was too young:

“Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth” (Jeremiah 1:6).

However, God reassured Jeremiah that his youth didn’t disqualify him from filling the prophetic office. God promised to guide Jeremiah and give him the wisdom to speak before the people (Jeremiah 1:7-8).

And God did give Jeremiah the wisdom he needed.

Though many of Jeremiah’s messages were calls to repentance, Jeremiah also delivered messages of encouragement.

One such passage is Jeremiah 29:11-13:

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart."

God used Jeremiah to give the Jewish exiles hope for the future. And just as God had plans for Jeremiah to be a prophet, He also has plans for each of us if we’re willing.

 

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Daniel.

When we hear about Daniel, we often think about his experience of being thrown into the lion’s den. But Daniel was a prophet, too.

The book in the Bible with his name is particularly interesting because the first several chapters aren’t really prophetic. Instead, they give us insight into who Daniel was and what kind of situation he lived in.

Daniel was not much older than a teenager at the beginning of the Jewish exile in Babylon. And though he grew up in a culture that didn’t respect God, he remained faithful.

He chose to uphold the dietary guidelines of Israelite culture and received praise from Babylonian officials for his strength and wisdom (Daniel 1).

He also showed his commitment to God when he was given the power to explain King Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams, even when the king’s wise men and advisors couldn’t (Daniel 2, 4).

When he was in danger of persecution, Daniel remained loyal to his beliefs and open to God’s guidance. Ultimately, he gained the respect of the Babylonian and Persian kings and gave them God’s insights into the future.

Unlike the other prophetic books we have discussed, the book of Daniel doesn’t mention a specific moment when God called Daniel.

Many times, Daniel received visions he didn’t understand, so he had to seek God for an explanation (Daniel 8).

In all scenarios and situations—exile, persecution, exaltation, confusion, and clarity—Daniel went to God for guidance. His prophecies point to the triumph of God’s kingdom at the end of history.

 

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John.

John, or John the Revelator, was one of Jesus’ disciples. He wrote the Gospel of John as well as the book of Revelation, where we can read his prophetic writings.

John was in exile on the Greek island of Patmos when he received visions from God and wrote Revelation. They were messages for the church from John’s time all the way to the end of this earth’s history (Revelation 1:10-11).

John’s prophecies can be a bit confusing because they are symbolic. But in the end, they offer hope for the future as they show how God will do away with sin and evil for good, and then save and restore humanity (Revelation 20-22).

John’s messages are a great example of how prophetic messages in the Bible are both timely and timeless, leading us to our last point…

 

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Why the Bible’s prophets are relevant today.

So many of the prophetic messages might at first seem like they don’t apply to life in the 21st century.

We aren’t wandering in the desert.

We aren’t exiled in Babylon.

And we aren’t waiting for the Messiah to be born.

But that doesn’t mean that our stories are all that different from the people in the Bible. Here are just a few lessons we can learn:

- Moses’ role as a prophet shows us how God’s grace and mercy cover our imperfections. He can work through us even when we make mistakes.

- Jeremiah’s message teaches us that even when we are surrounded by destruction and faithlessness, God has a hopeful plan for our future.

- Daniel’s message exemplifies how we can impact the people around us through our loyalty to Him.

- And though we aren’t Babylonian exiles, we live in this world, waiting for deliverance (the Second Coming of Jesus). Throughout our “exile” time, we can patiently and faithfully live out God’s message of hope and salvation.

- Isaiah’s prophecies of Jesus’ birth, often heard quoted around Christmas time, are an incredible reminder of God’s plan of salvation and Jesus’ sacrifice.

- And finally, John’s Revelation shows us that there is a future joy for believers in Jesus.

Yes, the Bible prophets spoke to a specific time and specific people. But when we get to know them, we realize they are a lot like us. They were human too.

And truly, a servant of God can come from anywhere.

Now, whenever we read any prophetic books in Scripture, we can find ways to relate to the Bible writers, learn from their messages, and apply them to our lives today.

 

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The following is what Christ said about the Prophets:

Luke 16:16 The Law and the Prophets [were] until John: since that time The Kingdom of God is preached, and every manage presseth into it.

And in Christ's Revelation to John, the 24 elders/major prophets from the Old Covenant are seen with Christ:

Revelation 5:6-9
5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the Throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the Earth.
5:7 And he came and took the Book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the Throne.
5:8 And when he had taken the Book, the four beasts and four [and] twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of holy people (those who really trust God).
5:9 And they sung a New Song (Isa 42:10), saying, Thou art worthy to take the Book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

To remove any doubt that the 24 elders are the 24 Old Covenant prophets:

Thomas 9:1-2
9:1 His disciples said to Him: twenty-four prophets spoke in Israel and they all spoke about Thee.
9:2 He said to them: You have dismissed the Living One who is before you (Christ) and you have spoken about the dead.

 

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How to Tell if Someone is a True Prophet.

Have you ever wondered how people in Bible times were able to tell if their prophets were actually from God?

Have you ever wondered if prophets still exist today…and how to tell if they are the real thing or a false prophet?

If so, you’re in the right place. Together, we’ll learn who a false prophet is, how to tell whether a prophet is true or false, and why the Bible’s tests of a prophet still matter today.

Who is a false prophet and how to identify one.

A false prophet is someone who claims to have received a message from God, but in reality, their message is meant to deceive others (regardless of their ultimate intentions).

A true prophet acts as God’s spokesperson to His believers. A false prophet might pose as a spokesperson for God, but if they speak any message that doesn’t align with His will, they are ultimately against God.

But God doesn’t want us to be deceived or fearful. So the Bible provides guidance to help us test people who claim to have the prophetic gift.

You can ask yourself six essential questions to determine if a prophet or prophecy is true or false:

1. Do their words line up with the Bible? (1 John 4:1-3).

2. Do their proclamations about the future come true? (Deuteronomy 18:20-21)

3. Do their lives show the fruits of godly character? (Matthew 7:16-20)

4. Has God revealed Himself to them? (2 Peter 1:20-21)

5. Does the message inspire godly change? (Ezekiel 13:10)

6. Does the message mix truth with lies? (2 Peter 2:1-3)

 

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Do their words line up with the Bible?

Scripture is the test. If the message follows the trajectory of what the Bible teaches and is consistent with what is revealed in the Bible, then the prophecy is true.

One of the fundamental principles that Scripture upholds is that Jesus has come in the flesh and is our Savior.

One example of this is in 1 John 4:2-3. John the Revelator writes:

“By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.”

According to John, prophets do not have the Spirit of God in them if they deny that Jesus:

1. Is the Messiah.

2. Became human so He could sacrifice Himself for our sins.

This isn’t a surprise, since several prophecies in the Old Testament speak to Jesus’ first coming.

For example, much of the prophet Isaiah’s prophecies are about Jesus’ birth. In fact, Isaiah is the most quoted Old Testament book in the New Testament.

Consider these verses from Isaiah as examples of true prophecy in that they acknowledge the first coming of Jesus and His death for our salvation. He gave very specific circumstances for people to be able to tell when this would come true:

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).

“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

Additionally, Isaiah himself warns against prophecies that don’t line up with the message of the gospel:

“To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20).

When Isaiah writes that these teachings and testimonies have no “dawn,” he means that they have no “light” in them. They are not following the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

This means two important things:

1. Teachings and testimonies that do not fit with the gospel are in darkness. They have no truth.

2. Teachings and testimonies that do not fit the gospel have no light because they leave out “the light of the world,” Jesus (John 8:12).

Paul, the writer of Galatians, makes a similar point when he urges Christians to desert a gospel contrary to the one in the Bible (Galatians 1:9).

The reasoning or motivation behind a prophecy should always tie back to Jesus because that’s what the Bible does.


If a prophet does not acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah, then he/she is a false prophet.

 

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Do their proclamations come true?

While not all prophecies are about telling the future, many of them are—like the messianic prophecies from Isaiah that we read in the last point. Those prophecies came true: Jesus was born to a virgin, and He was crucified to give us eternal salvation.

Let’s take a look at the story of one of the original prophets of the Bible, Moses, as an example of a true prophet.

Throughout the Exodus story, God communicates directly with Moses. A stand-out instance is when God speaks to Moses through a burning bush. In this story, God gives Moses a mission: go back to Egypt and tell Pharaoh to “let [His] people go” (Exodus 5:1).

In his communications with Pharaoh, Moses lets him know what the future holds for him if he does not obey God. He prophesies of plagues to come: boils, gnats, flies, hail, locusts, darkness, etc.

According to the account in Exodus, these events did come true.

So to recap,

- God speaks directly to Moses.

- He gives Moses a message, making Moses God’s spokesperson.

- Moses gives God’s message to Pharaoh.

- The predicted events come true.

Moses himself makes it clear that fulfilled proclamations are crucial when determining if a prophet is true or not.

In Deuteronomy, Moses shares with the children of Israel his parting words before he dies. Part of his speech is about avoiding false prophets:

“But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.’

And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?’— when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him" (Deuteronomy 18:20-21).

When Moses says that “the prophet has spoken it presumptuously,” he is saying that the prophet presumed something would happen, or that he/she assumed that God communicated with him/her, without looking into it further, or continuing to pray about it.

True prophets do not assume God’s plans; they know God’s plans because God has communicated with them directly. A true prophet doesn’t have to “figure out” if God is giving them a message or not. Scripture shows how God is direct and clear when He calls someone for this role.

Therefore, if what a prophet predicts for the future does not come to pass, then that prophet is not a true prophet. We can use Moses’ direction, as well as his own story, to guide us on our search for truth.

It’s also important to consider that many of the prophecies in the Bible are still coming true today. Many of the prophecies in Revelation are yet to come true. While this question is one of many that help guide us, it is certainly not the only one.

 

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Do their lives show the fruits of a godly character?

The Bible instructs us to test prophets based on their character and their actions.

Jesus makes this very clear in His “Sermon on the Mount,” which is found in chapters 5, 6, and 7 of the Gospel of Matthew. In His message to His followers, He warns them of false prophets who look one way but act another:

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them" (Matthew 7:15-20).

In this passage, Jesus is using fruit as a metaphor for actions to help His followers understand how to uncover a false prophet. He does this in terms that His audience would understand: shepherding and farming.

First, Jesus says that false prophets are dangerous because they dress like sheep, but they are actually wolves in disguise. However, Jesus makes a distinction.

They are inwardly ravenous wolves. In specifying that false prophets are outwardly sheep and inwardly wolves, Jesus clarifies that the dangerous part of a false prophet is their character.

Here is where things get a little complicated.

Can we see someone’s character when we look at them?

Can we glance at a person and say, “That person has poor character”?

Oftentimes, we can’t. At least not at first glance or before we really know a person.

If that’s the case…

How can we tell if someone’s character is bad?

When Jesus said, “You will recognize them by their fruits,” this is what He meant:

If a good tree is really good, it will bear good fruit; if a bad tree is truly bad, it will bear bad fruit.

The key is to look at their habits.

Is a prophet consistently living out the fruits of the Spirit, or are they deceitful, proud, or selfish? Or here’s a big one: Do they only act a certain way when they are being watched? How do they treat “the least of these” (Matthew 25:40)?

By looking at a prophet’s life as a whole and understanding their character, we can better determine if they are a true prophet.

And those fruits manifest in people’s actions. If prophets have the Holy Spirit in their hearts and are in communion with God, then their actions will show “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). Because a relationship with Jesus fills us with these good fruits.

However, if a prophet does not have the Holy Spirit in his/her heart, he/she will not show the good fruits of the Spirit.

But keep in mind that prophets are still human.

That means…

They make mistakes just like everyone else.

Having a past full of bad fruit doesn’t “disqualify” someone from being a prophet.

A great example of this is the story of Paul.

Before his conversion, Paul—then Saul—actually persecuted Christians, but after he encounters God and repents, God gives him a new identity.

Paul begins to bear good fruit.

It’s all about current fruit and current habits.

We are all sinners in need of God’s grace.

 

[phipps]

Has God revealed Himself to them or given them words to speak?

It is important that the prophet, as a spokesperson for God, has received a message from God and isn’t just making it up for their own agenda. The apostle Peter says this well in 2 Peter 1:20-21, “knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but by holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit."

Peter wants Bible readers to know it is God who gives the prophet words to speak, not anyone else.

In some cases, God reveals Himself to prophets or gives them words to speak through dreams or visions. This is true for prophets like Daniel and John the Revelator. Much of their respective books in the Bible are made up of visions they received from God.

In other cases, God speaks to His prophet directly.

Moses is a great example of this face-to-face conversation with God.

In Numbers 12:6-8, God, in the form of a pillar of cloud, says this, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream. Not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in all My house. I speak with him face to face, even plainly, and not in dark sayings; and he sees the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against My servant Moses?”

Not only does God communicate with Moses through the burning bush, like we discussed earlier, but He also speaks with him directly, like when Moses receives the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19-20).

In that case, God communicates with Moses in a very grand way. He even passes before Moses so that Moses will see His glory. God’s glory is so strong that, when Moses descends from the mountain, his face is shining, “Now it was so, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the Testimony were in Moses’ hand when he came down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him” (Exodus 34:29).

But God doesn’t always speak to His prophets in such grand ways. Sometimes, He communicates with them in stillness.

Elijah’s encounter with God on the same mountain where God reveals His glory to Moses is a great example of this (1 Kings 19). As Pastor Randy Roberts puts it:

“So Elijah goes back to Mount Sinai, he disappears into a cave, which some have suggested, may be the cleft in the rock where God hid Moses…. Then he has the wind, the earthquake, and the fire. All ways in which God has revealed Himself. God is in none of them. God said, ‘Come out of the cave,’ and when [the wind, earthquake, and fire] are all done, it’s a dead stillness…. And in the stillness [Elijah] senses the voice of God. The text says [Elijah] wrapped his face in his mantle and came out of the cave to stand in the presence of God.”

Then, God gives Elijah his next instruction as a prophet.

“From that point forward, the grand, the dramatic, the glorious, virtually ends. God no longer reveals Himself in those Exodus ways…. The next time you really see God, He is lying in a manger as a baby, weak and helpless. So His way of revealing Himself, interacting with humanity has dramatically changed.”

All this is to say that God reveals Himself to true prophets in a variety of ways. Sometimes it is glorious and dramatic, but a lot of the time, it is in stillness where a true prophet can sense the voice of God speaking.

And, if true prophets have an intimate relationship with God, then they will know when God has revealed Himself to them.