Luke 16:16 "The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it."
A prophet in the OT was someone whom God had direct communication with to do his bidding. God does not have direct communication with man anymore. He has hidden himself until after the millennium. There are no more prophets, just as Jesus said.
Even Jesus has reduced his communication with us so that he too can be sought after but not found before he returns.
"“I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.” John 14:30
"Then Jesus said to them, "I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I go to Him who sent Me. You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come." John 7:33 & 34
"Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, 'Where I am going, you cannot come,' so now I say to you." John 13:33
The meaning of prophet now is one who relays that which was already said will come to pass. They are not Prophets in the sense of the OT prophets, and so as Jesus said, there are no more prophets.
I agree based on God's Word. Prior to the New Testament and Jesus death to allow us direct access
to God, Prophets were needed. God directed the Old Testament Prophets and they were God's
voice to His people. There was no doubt when God spoke.
Today, prophets are not needed. Jesus came and died and became our Eternal Priest giving us
direct access to God. Just as the Bible says the curtain in the temple was ripped in half as Jesus
died on the cross. Jesus became our direct access to God. God no longer needed to only exist
in the Holy Temple and only to the Priests. Jesus made God openly available to all mankind.
Jesus said He would send His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is how God talks to us now. There is no
need for a prophet when we can talk directly to God our selves now and God can talk directly
to us.
Prior to Jesus death on the cross, no where did Jesus say we are to seek prophets. Jesus said
to seek Him and He will provide all our needs to accomplish all good works.
Why would we need an external prophet to tell us what our internal Christ can tell us that lives
in us if we will listen. Many want Christ to answer in a few seconds. But Christ said, "Be patient
and wait on Me". If Christians seek God's answers He will give them. But God doesn't rush just
because Christians have filled their lives with so much of this world they don't have time to seek
the guidance of the God they say they love and follow.
Christians should spend time reading God's Word daily or as many days each week as they can.
Once you have read God's Word, you should contemplate on His Word always seeking understanding
and His guidance. I do this by turning out all the lights and lighting a candle. I focus on the candle
as His Light. I try to clear my mind and just be calm and blank. Trying to allow the Holy Spirit to speak
and allow myself to hear and obey.
Any Christian that spends time with their Saviour and seeks His guidance will not be easily swayed
by the so called prophets of this world.
If God intended to use prophets, why would He send His Holy Spirit to guide us?
Why did Jesus death give us direct access to God if all we need are prophets?
Prophets and the new promise given by Jesus Christ are not compatible.
I also noticed in some post some refer to the prophet Jesus. Jesus is not a prophet. Jesus is
the Son of God who at His Father's direction came to earth to bring the gift of salvation to
a lost and dieing world.
Many have said they don't need a god to judge or condemn them.
Jesus did not come to this world to condemn it. There was no need to condemn this world
since that judgment had already been made. Jesus came to save this world from the
condemnation it already faced and is still facing.
I suggest Christians use their time and energy to read God's Word and focus on listening
to Him. God's Word is God as God has stated. By reading His Word you access not only
God's power in your life but give God access to you which is all God ever wanted in the
first place.
The gift of life God gives is great but it seems the primary purpose is lost most of the time.
God wants a personal relationship with you.
Giving answers to those that have honest questions is what a Christian should do. But also
be wise enough to know when you have answered according to God's Word and when the
question becomes an argument. Many will continue to believe as they believe regardless
of what God's Word says. We are commanded to give an answer, not to argue over what
God said.
Many of the questions I see in this forum can be answered easily by just reading God's
Word and asking His guidance.
To be a prophet or not to be a prophet is of no importance. We are commanded to seek
Christ and His guidance in all things. We are not commanded to seek a prophet.
Those seeking prophets and arguing over the importance of a prophet are not only
wasting their time, they are disobeying the one great command of Jesus - Go ye unto
all the world making disciples.
Jesus never said, "Go ye unto all the world as prophets, making prophets or seeking prophets".