The third principal office in Israel is that of the prophet. As we will see, prophets have the duty of ‘bringing forth’ the things of YHWH, and making them known to His people Israel. Amos even tells us that YHWH does nothing that would impact His people Israel without first revealing it to His servants the prophets.

 

 

YHWH’s prophets, of course, do not keep these things to themselves, but they reveal them to His people. They are called to be watchmen, whose duty it is to warn His people to turn and come closer to Him.

 

 

Scripture does give us examples of those who use their YHWH-given gifts for the wrong reasons; but if any man is called to bring forth the words of YHWH he would do well not to charge for them (or to charge no more than his cost), for YHWH holds His servants accountable to relate His things to His people.

 

There are two basic types of ‘things’ YHWH wants His prophets to relate to the people:

 

1. Predictions (foretelling); and

2. YHWH’s truths and insights (forth-telling).

 

While the ability to prophecy is a gift, it also has to be developed. The way to do that is for the prophet to take his thoughts into captivity (i.e., get his thoughts out of the way) and to breathe in accordance with the Ruach HaQodesh (the Set-apart Spirit, or the Set-apart Breath). When a prophet breathes in this way, and does not hold back the things YHWH says to him, then YHWH can speak through him as He wills.

 

 

There can be a learning curve involved in figuring out what comes from YHWH, and what comes from one’s own thoughts; but once one has learned how to ‘bring one’s thoughts into captivity to the obedience of the Messiah’, one can then focus on hearing YHWH’s Still Small Voice.

 

 

Taking one’s thoughts into captivity is a very simple yet powerful spiritual discipline that all of us would do well to practice continually, even as the Apostle Shaul counsels us all to pursue prophecy.

 

 

The reason prophecy is such a desirable gift is that in order to prophesy, we must ‘get ourselves out of the way’, and pay constant attention to YHWH. This is a highly beneficial thing in any believer’s spiritual walk.

 

There are different kinds of prophecy. One of the most powerful is when YHWH puts His words in our mouths and tells us exactly what to say, as He did with the Prophet Jeremiah.

 

 

YHWH is so powerful that if He wills, He can even put words in the mouths of animals.

 

 

YHWH can also send His Spirit (or Breath) upon us, as He did with King Shaul and his messengers (below). When King Shaul and his messengers came into the presence of Shemuel they were transformed, and they also prophesied (perhaps because YHWH’s Spirit on Shemuel was so strong that it also affected them). Yet because they did not later practice or develop the gift of prophecy (as King David did), it was only a temporary thing for them.

 

 

Not all prophets take off their clothes. Another level of prophecy is where a prophet hears what YHWH wants said, even though YHWH has not dictated the words. Again this requires careful listening for His voice.

 

 

We can also bring forth the things of YHWH’s Spirit by speaking in tongues. While this is a genuine gift, it is also one of the gifts most easily counterfeited by Satan. Therefore, we will discuss this in some detail, so we can learn the difference between the true gift and the counterfeits.

 

Isaiah tells us that YHWH would speak to His people with ‘stammering lips and another tongue’; and that this would cause the weary to rest (in the Spirit), and it would also refresh those who understood, because it was a sign that they were filled with the Spirit.

 

 

The most famous passage regarding speaking in tongues is found in Acts Chapter Two, when the Spirit was poured out on the faithful who had come up to Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost.

 

In this passage, we see the following things:

 

 

This passage shows us that tongues is a gift that can happen when people are first filled with the Spirit. It also shows us that a special gift can take place, where tongues are used to impart a Scriptural message (called ‘edification’ later in Scripture).

 

The gift of tongues was also given to Cornelius (and those with him), in a similar fashion:

 

In this passage, we see that:

 

 

Some key differences between this passage and Acts Chapter Two is that:

 

 

Then in Acts Chapter Nineteen we read that the gift of prophecy was given concurrent with the gift of speaking in tongues:

 

 

In this passage, we are told that once the Set-apart Spirit came upon them, they:

 

 

Then in First Corinthians Chapters Twelve through Fourteen, the Apostle Shaul shows us that these gifts are interrelated, as speaking in tongues is usually takes place when one is first indwelt by the Spirit (or by those who have not gone on to prophesy).

 

Shaul tells us that we should understand spiritual gifts:

 

Even though it is the same spirit, there are diversities of spiritual gifts.

Even though we have the same Spirit, YHWH gives us all different gifts. This will be important to understand later, when we talk about Mark 16:9-20.

‘Tongues’ is a beginner’s gift. When the Spirit first dwells inside one, one may give utterance to the things one feels, and this may come out as ‘tongues’ (i.e., as babble). However, we should continue onward towards prophesying, which calls for making these utterances intelligible. That way, edification can take place.

 

It is so important for us to understand that even though we are all members of the same Body we all have different gifts, that Shaul tells us again.

 

 

Then in First Corinthians Thirteen, Shaul eloquently tells us that Love (KJV: charity) is the greatest gift of all. He tells us that Love is a greater spiritual gift even than prophecy:

Without love, none of the other spiritual gifts mean anything. However, then Shaul says something very curious. He tells us that when that which is perfect has come, that which is partial vanishes.

 

This passage is sometimes misunderstood to mean that when we begin to love, we cease to prophesy; as if love puts an end to all prophecy. This, however, cannot be correct, because the Apostles had love, and they prophesied. Therefore, what is the meaning of this passage? We will see in a moment.

 

Next Shaul tells us that even if we have love, we should still desire to prophesy. He also tells us that it is much better to prophesy than to speak in a tongue.

The reason prophesying is better than speaking in tongues is that tongues are a precursor to prophesying. Tongues are but a first step in the progression towards one’s ability to bring forth the things of the Spirit.

 

 

Since not everyone has the gift of interpretation,  Shaul tells us that if no one is present to interpret another’s tongue, then it would be better for the assembly as a whole if the one speaking in tongues would just groan silently in the Spirit (not aloud).

 

The reason one should not speak in tongues before the assembly without an interpreter being present is that the whole reason for speaking in the assembly is to bring edification to others. If there is no interpreter there will be no edification; and if there will not be any edification then it would be better for the people if one did not take up precious assembly time (but allowed someone else talk, instead).

 

Even when one prophesies (i.e., brings forth the things of the Spirit in an intelligible fashion) things must still be done in an orderly way. Therefore Shaul tells us:

Since the purpose of speaking in the assembly is to edify the Body, even those who prophesy should take turns. Further, if someone is prophesying and another is given a revelation, then all present should honor the movement of the Spirit by being quiet, allowing the one who has been given the revelation enough time to speak what the Spirit has revealed. When all of this is done with love, and in the right Spirit, all of this can take place in a very loving, orderly way.

 

The reason we are told that the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets is that the prophets are able to control themselves, if they want to.

 

Here is the litmus-test of a well-run assembly: That all those to whom Elohim genuinely gave something of value to share were able to share it; and still there is peace, happiness, goodwill, and order.

 

[We will talk about women prophets in the chapter, ‘Sex Roles in the Kingdom.]

 

Shaul then concludes by saying that while prophecy is a much better gift than mere tongues (since it edifies), one must not forbid the people to speak in tongues (since it is part of their learning and spiritual progression):

 

Only:

 

 

It is important that people be encouraged to develop their spiritual gifts. If they only speak in tongues, rather than prophesying, they should be encouraged to do so. However, they should also understand that Tongues is only a beginner’s means of bringing forth the things of the Spirit (similar to baby talk). It is highly appropriate for new believers, but not as much for those who have been saved for a while. They should be encouraged, but in an orderly way, and with an understanding that it is the least of the signs of the indwelling of the Spirit.

 

 

With this understanding, now let us look at the other remaining reference to Tongues in the New Covenant. 

 

This passage tells us that those who believe will speak with new tongues; and that they will take up serpents; and that if they drink poison, it will not make them sick. The way the language reads, these are made to seem as if they are almost ‘litmus tests’ of salvation. However, this would conflict with First Corinthians Chapters 12-14, where Shaul tells us several times that even though we are all of the same Body, we have different gifts.

 

Metzger’s Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament (page 102) tells us that Mark 16:9-20 is not present in either of the two oldest known Greek manuscripts. It is also missing from the Old Latin Codex, the Sinai Syriac manuscript, from about one hundred Armenian manuscripts, as well as the two oldest Gregorian manuscripts (circa CE 897 and 913).

 

Metzger also reports that both Origen and Clement of Alexandria appear to have understood that Mark Chapter Sixteen ended with verse 8. Also, the Church Fathers Eusebius and Jerome attested that verses 9-20 were absent from almost all of the Greek manuscripts they knew of [Metzger’s Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament, Bruce M. Metzger, page 102, 1971/2001]. 

 

Many scholars feel that Mark 19:6-20 is illegitimate, and that it does not belong in Scripture; and this author agrees. We are told in several places that we are not to add to Scripture (e.g., Deuteronomy 12:32): and for this reason, Mark 16:9-20 does not belong.

 

While prophecy is a gift that YHWH can give anyone, there is still a special kingdom role in Scripture for ‘the’ prophet. Kings sometimes had prophets through which YHWH seemed to communicate very well. Perhaps the most famous example of this is Nathan.

 

 

The kings of Judah were somewhat better at listening to their prophets than the kings of Ephraim, who (like today) typically ignored the true prophets, in favor of those who told them what they wanted to hear.

 

 

The thing the northern kings (and even the Ephraimite people) often seemed to miss is that a prophet is not supposed to speak his own words. His job is to put his own words aside, so as to hear and speak YHWH’s words. Men, of course, hate this, because YHWH’s ways oftentimes seem too hard for us. We do not like hearing the truth, so we stop up our ears.

 

As is the saying of our forefathers, “You have to be a little bit crazy to want to be a prophet.” It may sound glamorous to be a prophet, but in reality it just means a lot of difficult, unglamorous, unrewarded work. Often it means persecution.

 

 

In order to get the point across to His people, YHWH often asks His prophets to do unusual things. For example, YHWH commanded Ezekiel do things as a witness against the House of Israel, even though they were already in the Dispersion.

 

 

For their loyalty, YHWH sometimes even commands the prophets to lose those who are dear to them.

 

 

Prophets are almost always misunderstood. Moshe (Moses) was more afflicted than any man until Yeshua, Yochanan HaMatbil (John the Baptist) was slain with the sword, and the Prophet Isaiah was sawn in two.

 

 

YHWH can even command His prophets to do things that might otherwise be against the written Torah.

 

 

Quite often, the closer a prophet draws to YHWH the harder and more challenging his trials will become to bear, and the less the majority of the people will understand him. Yet while these things are unpleasant they give YHWH so much the greater glory, for why would anyone go through such trials were it not for his faith, and his fear of the living Elohim?

 

28 “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”