Prophecy: Truth-Telling, Not Fortune-Telling

Prophecy: Truth-Telling, Not Fortune-Telling

Introduction: What Is Biblical Prophecy—and Why So Many Get It Wrong

In a world flooded with self-proclaimed prophets, vague “words from the Lord,” and emotionally charged predictions, many Christians are left confused about the true nature of prophecy. Is it fortune-telling? A supernatural ability to see the future? A personal message from God about your career, relationships, or finances?

The truth is, biblical prophecy is not about personal intuition or private revelation. It is about boldly proclaiming God’s truth—often calling people to repentance, confronting sin, and pointing to Jesus Christ.

In this article, we’ll explore:

• What biblical prophecy actually is (and isn’t)

• How Old and New Testament prophets functioned

• Why modern claims of prophecy often fail the biblical test

• Whether prophecy is still active today—and how it should be understood

Whether you’re new to Christianity or trying to make sense of conflicting teachings, this guide will help you discern the difference between true prophecy rooted in Scripture and modern distortions that misuse God’s name for attention or gain.

The word prophecy gets thrown around so casually in many Christian circles today that it’s become nearly meaningless. For some, it means predicting who’s going to win an election. For others, it’s hearing a “word from the Lord” about your finances, future spouse, or next big move.

But biblically speaking, prophecy is not mysticism, and prophets are not fortune tellers. The prophetic gift—when understood through Scripture—is primarily about proclaiming God's truth with divine authority, not guessing the future with spiritual flair.

The Biblical Definition of a Prophet

The Hebrew word for prophet is נָבִיא (nābî), meaning “spokesman” or “mouthpiece.” The Greek equivalent in the New Testament is προφήτης (prophētēs), which likewise means “one who speaks forth” on behalf of God.

Prophets were chosen by God to deliver His message—often to rebuke sin, call for repentance, pronounce judgment, or reveal divine truth. They spoke with clarity, not confusion. They pointed to God’s character, God’s law, and God’s Son—not to lottery numbers or vague emotional platitudes.

Deuteronomy 18:18–19 “I will raise up a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites. I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell the people everything I command him. I will personally deal with anyone who will not listen to the messages the prophet proclaims on my behalf.”

When a prophet spoke, it carried divine weight. If they were wrong, the penalty was death.

Deuteronomy 18:20 “But any prophet who falsely claims to speak in my name or who speaks in the name of another god must die.”

Compare that with today’s so-called prophets who regularly get it wrong and shrug it off like a bad weather forecast. That alone should tell us something is broken.

Prophecy Was Rare—Not Weekly

Contrary to popular belief, not every biblical era was full of active prophets. There were long gaps of silence. From Malachi to John the Baptist, there were approximately 400 years without a single confirmed prophet in Israel.

In 1 Samuel 3:1, we read:

“In those days messages from the Lord were very rare, and visions were quite uncommon.”

True prophecy wasn’t common or casual. It was revered and feared. It shook nations, confronted kings, and cost many prophets their lives.

If someone in the Bible said, “Thus says the Lord,” they were either absolutely right—or they were absolutely dead.

New Testament Prophecy: Still Truth-Telling

In the New Testament, prophecy continues, but it is filtered through the authority of Christ and the completion of Scripture.

1 Corinthians 14:3“But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them.”

Here, Paul describes the purpose of New Covenant prophecy as strengthening, encouraging, and comforting—but not by making things up. NT prophets pointed people back to Jesus, the gospel, and the Word of God. They did not freelance divine content.

Paul lists prophecy among the gifts in Ephesians 4:11 and Romans 12:6, but always subordinate to the authority of Christ and the apostles, and always tied to sound doctrine.

Romans 12:6“If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.”

Note: this isn’t a call for open mic chaos. The “faith” Paul refers to is faithfulness to the truth—not blind confidence in one's own imagination.

Not Everyone Is a Prophet: God Decides, Not Man

One of the most dangerous modern assumptions is that anyone can “step into” the role of a prophet if they feel called. Some churches even offer prophecy workshops or “activation” seminars—as if God’s divine authority can be switched on with enough enthusiasm and a YouTube playlist.

But Scripture teaches the opposite. Prophets are not self-appointed. They are called by God, often reluctantly, and always with a specific burden for truth and judgment—not popularity or personal gain.

Jeremiah 1:5“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”

Jeremiah didn’t sign up. He was set apart by God. This is the pattern across Scripture—Moses, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Amos, John the Baptist. None of them volunteered for fame. Most were rejected, persecuted, or killed.

In the New Testament, Paul clarifies that prophecy is one of the many spiritual gifts—not a universal experience for all believers:

1 Corinthians 12:29–30“Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles?... Do we all have the ability to prophesy? Of course not!”

This rhetorical line demolishes any idea that every Christian should be prophesying. Not all are prophets—because not all are called. The Holy Spirit distributes gifts “as He wills” (1 Corinthians 12:11), not according to human ambition.

Modern teaching that claims “everyone can prophesy” misunderstands the biblical role entirely. A prophet isn't someone who feels spiritual. A prophet is someone who speaks the unfiltered Word of God, often to people who don’t want to hear it.

Wolves in the Pulpit: Warnings Against Prophetic Abuse

The Bible isn’t just descriptive about prophecy—it’s deeply protective. Some of the harshest words in Scripture are reserved for false prophets—those who twist the truth, manipulate emotions, or claim divine authority they don’t have.

Ezekiel 13:6“Instead of giving people messages from me, they invent their own messages, hoping for them to come true.”

False prophecy is more than a theological error—it’s spiritual abuse. It leverages people’s fears and desires for personal power. It often sounds hopeful, even loving, but it leads to destruction.

Jeremiah 6:14“They offer superficial treatments for my people’s mortal wound. They give assurances of peace when there is no peace.”

Modern false prophets are no different. They give hollow encouragement to people who need repentance, and empty positivity to people who need truth. They declare “breakthrough” when judgment is at the door. And in doing so, they blaspheme God by using His name in vain.

Jeremiah 23:25–26“I have heard these prophets say, ‘Listen to the dream I had from God last night.’ And then they proceed to tell lies in my name. How long will this go on?”

These aren’t harmless spiritual experiments. They are offenses against the Holy God. Every time someone says, “God told me…” without certainty, reverence, or accountability, they tread dangerously close to the sin of false witness.

And the New Testament doesn’t relax this standard:

2 Peter 2:1–3“There were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you… In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money.”

If a so-called prophet promotes themselves more than Christ, asks for money to “unlock your blessing,” or delivers a stream of unverifiable revelations, run. The true prophetic word never leads to manipulation—it leads to repentance and obedience.

Prophets Are Not Personal Psychics

Modern prophetic movements are saturated with unaccountable “words” about careers, relationships, and vague “seasons.” Many offer spiritual-sounding filler with zero theological foundation. They use phrases like:

• “I feel in my spirit…”

• “God told me to tell you…”

• “I see a shift happening in your destiny…”

This is not biblical prophecy. This is spiritual manipulation dressed up in Christianese. Prophets in Scripture were often unpopular, offensive, and deeply grounded in God’s Word. Their primary concern was repentance, not relevance.

Jeremiah 23:16–17“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says to his people: ‘Do not listen to these prophets when they prophesy to you, filling you with futile hopes. They are making up everything they say. They do not speak for the Lord!’”

Sound familiar?

“But What About Agabus?”

Some try to argue for modern predictive prophecy based on Agabus in Acts 11 and Acts 21.

Acts 11:28“One of them, named Agabus, stood up in one of the meetings and predicted by the Spirit that a great famine was coming upon the entire Roman world.”

Yes, Agabus delivered a predictive prophecy—and it actually happened. He didn’t hedge his bets. He didn’t say “I sense.” He spoke clearly and specifically. And his prophecy was confirmed by reality. That’s the biblical standard.

Today’s “prophets” rarely hit that mark. They speak in fog. Agabus spoke in facts.

Prophecy Today: Through the Word

Does prophecy still exist today? Yes—but not in the way most people think. Prophecy today is primarily exercised by those who boldly and accurately declare God’s Word.

Revelation 19:10“For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus.”

Every faithful preacher who proclaims the gospel with conviction and accuracy is engaging in prophetic ministry. Not by inventing new revelations—but by boldly declaring the one already given.

The canon is closed. We no longer need new revelation. We need to obey the revelation we already have.

2 Peter 1:19“Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place.”

The sure word of prophecy has already been spoken—and preserved in Scripture.

Final Word: Truth Over Trend

If someone claims to be a prophet today, the standard hasn’t changed:

• They must be 100% accurate, or they’re false

• They must point to repentance and righteousness, not self-fulfillment

• They must submit to Scripture, not override it

• They must edify the Church, not entertain the audience

Anything less isn’t prophecy—it’s presumption.

Jeremiah 23:21–22“I have not sent these prophets, yet they run around claiming to speak for me. I have given them no message, yet they go on prophesying.”

Beware of spiritual counterfeiters. Real prophets told the truth even when it cost them everything. Modern “prophets” often tell people what they want to hear—and cash the check afterward.