Prophecy in the Bible is the declaration of God’s revealed truth, whether foretelling future events or speaking forth His will in the present. True prophecy always comes from the Lord, is consistent with His Word, and carries divine authority. It is not based on personal insight, imagination, or private revelation.
2 Peter 1:21 explains the source of all genuine prophecy:
“For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”
Old Testament prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel spoke the word of the Lord to Israel and the nations. Their messages included calls to repentance, warnings of judgment, and promises of future restoration. Many prophecies pointed forward to the coming of the Messiah, fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
In the New Testament, prophecy continued as part of the early church. The apostles themselves were prophets in the highest sense, delivering the foundational doctrines of the faith. Ephesians 2:20 says:
“Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone.”
Prophecy was also given to others in the early church for the building up of the body. However, it was always subject to testing. 1 Thessalonians 5:20–21 instructs:
“Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good.”
All prophecy must align with Scripture. If a message contradicts God’s revealed Word, it is false. Deuteronomy 18:22 provides a test:
“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 completed canon of Scripture now serves as the believer’s full and sufficient guide. While God may still use His Word powerfully to convict and direct, no new revelation is being added to Scripture. All prophecy must be measured by what has already been perfectly revealed in the Bible.
