THE IMPORTANCE OF NEW TESTAMENT PROPHECY
A new period of revelation in the New Testament required a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy! The focal point of all OldTestament prophecy was on the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ! The central character of the New Testament, Jesus Christ, is the greatest prophet of all.
He was promised by God in Deuteronomy 18:15-19. "The Lord God will raise up unto thee a prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; ...I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him."Although Jesus has the office of Priest and King, the office of His absolute prophetic authority should not be overlooked! He is referred to as "prophet" at least a dozen times in the NewTestament. In that capacity, He made man know he was a sinner, and showed him the way of salvation through trust in Himself.
Jesus encouraged, revealed God's nature greater than ever before, and showed believer's authority, and not as their scribes. (Matthew7:29).
John the Baptist, who was the forerunner of Christ was actually an Old Testament prophet in the transition between the Old and New Covenants. He taught them as one who had between the old sin, and new grace, and baptised those who would repent. John's father, Zechariah (Luke 1:67) was also said to have prophesied on occasion. Other New Testament prophets were Agabus(Acts 11:28; 21:10), Barnabas, Symeon, Lucius and Manean (Acts13:1), Judas and Silas (Acts 15:32).There were even females who, on occasion were allowed to prophesy;such as the daughters of Philip the evangelist. (Acts 21:9).The high priest Ciaphas, prophesied. (John 11:51) Caiaphas was one of Christ's opponents, and God used him to utter words whichrevealed a truth different from anything that Caiaphus would haveever voluntarily have uttered of his own volition!
Paul speaks of apostles and prophets as Gods gifts to the church(Ephesians 2:20;3,5;4:1). And, of course, as previously mentioned, Paul speaks of various levels of prophets in 1 Corinthians 11:14,who either claimed to be spokesman for God or who were simply givingforth messages of God that they had received through a portion ofHis word.Bar-Jesus was a false prophet mentioned in Acts 13:6. Jezebel, who called herself a prophetess, is mentioned in Revelations 2:20. Also,there were many Old Testament prophets mentioned, or quoted in theNew Testament.
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