Paul, in his discussion on the topic of gifts, says, "Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy" (1 Cor 14:1). Prophecy is a big one. The cessationists say that this is one that is clearly gone. Their primary argument is the close of the canon and the sufficiency of Scripture. Okay. But what do the Scriptures say (you know -- the sufficient Scriptures)? Since there is no biblical statement that says, "The spiritual gift of prophecy has ceased," what does it say?
One thing is abundantly clear in the Bible. "Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1). Jesus warned, "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves" (Matt 7:15). That is, whether or not there are still true prophets, false prophets we will always have with us. So the question becomes how do we test for false prophets?
There are actually several tests in the Bible. One is in the next sentence Jesus spoke. "You will know them by their fruits" (Matt 7:16). Now, there may be some discussion as to just what exactly Jesus had in mind here in terms of "fruit". I mean, is it "people whose lives are changed" or "fruit of the Spirit" or ... what? I think Jesus answers that as the text goes on. When these false prophets come to Him in the final judgment and say, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name ...?" (Matt 7:22), Jesus says, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness" (Matt 7:23). Thus, it seems abundantly clear that the "fruit" in mind in verse 16 is "moral fruit" -- godly living. An immoral prophet is a false prophet.
What else? Well, God offers some very specific, explicit tests for Israel to identify the false prophets that God knew would be coming along. Perhaps the most famous is prophetic accuracy. The biblical test for a prophet is a 100% accuracy. The reasoning is simple. A prophet is bringing words put in his mouth by God (Deut 18:18; Jer 1:9; 5:14). God cannot be wrong. Thus, if a prophet is indeed bringing words from God, the prophet cannot be wrong.
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 (Deut 18:22).Anything less than 100% accuracy is the proof of a false prophet. (Note: Some may argue, "Well, look at Jonah. He prophesied that Ninevah would be destroyed under God's instructions and it wasn't. He wasn't a false prophet. That isn't a valid test." Well, while Jonah indeed predicted at God's behest (Jonah 3:2) the destruction of Ninevah in 40 days (Jonah 3:4), it is abundantly clear from the context of Scripture and from the context of the story that there was, either implied or explicit but not written, a conditional clause. The biblical message is always "repent" (Matt 3:2; 4:17; Luke 13:3, 5; Acts 2:38; 3:19; etc.). Apparently the Ninevites understood "repent" as a proper response to the prediction (Jonah 3:9). Certainly Jonah knew it (Jonah 4:1-2). Thus, if the actual message was "Repent or in forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown", then the prophecy came true. Or, there is the other option. Jonah spoke as a direct prophet from God, was wrong, and God Himself is disqualified based on His own standard in Deuteronomy.)
As for the prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet comes to pass, the prophet will be known as one whom the LORD has truly sent (Jer 28:9).
Now, a prophet is both a foreteller and a forthteller. As God's messenger, a prophet is telling the intended audience what God wants to say, and that may include future events and it may include a message. When Moses passed on to Israel the Law, he was doing so as a prophet -- forthtelling. So one test would be whether or not the prophet is accurate in foretelling, and another explicit biblical test for a prophet is whether or not he was accurate in forthtelling. How do you test that? First, acknowledge that it can be tested (1 John 4:1). Second, does it align with the Word of God? God warned Israel that false prophets would come with signs and tell them, "Let us go after other gods" (Deut 13:1-5). Since God had already given them His clear command -- "I am the LORD; there is no other" (Deut 4:35, 39) -- this would be a false prophet. God told Isaiah to warn the people when they wanted to get a prophetic "second opinion", "To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no light" (Isa 8:20). And Paul, just before he says, "My brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues" (1 Cor 14:39), warns, "If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord's commandment. But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized" (1 Cor 14:37-38). In other words, any modern prophet will need to be in line with the existing Scriptures to be deemed a true prophet.
These are the primary tests: 1) A moral life. 2) 100% accuracy. 3) In line with God's revealed Word. There are some others that might help. God told Jeremiah that false prophets "walk in lies" and "strengthen the hands of evildoers" (Jer 23:14). Does the prophet rebuke sin and error, or does he keep silent or even walk in sin and error? True prophets magnify Christ (1 John 4:2) and not themselves. (Note that 1 John 4:2 was written in regard to an existing heresy that Christ did not come in the flesh. Thus, part of the magnifying of Christ is in orthodoxy as well.) A true prophet pays attention to God's Word (Deut 18:19-20).
Just like the whole glossolalia thing, I'm pursuing the question, "Are there still prophets?" Paul did say, "Desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues", but he went on to say, "But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner" (1 Cor 14:39-40). So I'm actually in favor of speaking in tongues and I'm actually in favor of prophecy ... as long as it aligns with what God says about it -- as long as it's done properly. And to be quite honest, I have yet to see either of these in modern expressions. But I can wait. So, does that make me a continuationist or a cessationist? I'm not clear yet.
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