I never meant to suggest that prophecy was no longer needed, only that modern prophets don't exist any more than modern day apostles do. Prophecy exist in the sense that we have the recorded prophesies via Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, etc, and I believe we have inspired teachers who explain these prophesies. But Jesus foretold all future events through the end of time, thus my comment, what's left to disclose? This does not forgo the necessity of the Holy Spirit which gives us ears to hear and understand, it just caps additional prophetic revelation to what's written. New visions confuse what the bible ended with a period (Revelation 22;18). jmo
Firstly, please define what you mean when you say the words 'prophet, prophecy, and prophesy'. If your words are not defined, then reaching a proper conclusion isn't possible. There are different types of prophets, prophecies, and prophesying in the Bible, so it is necessary that I know what you mean when you use those words. I will take separate things you said and ask you to please explain from the Bible:
1.
"Modern prophets don't exist any more than modern day apostles do." Please show me where you get this in the Bible.
2.
"Prophecies exist in the sense that we have the recorded prophesies..." Please show me where you get this in the Bible.
3.
"I believe we have inspired teachers who explain these prophecies." Please show me from the Bible and from our day where this is true.
4.
"Jesus foretold all future events through the end of time." Please show me where you get this in the Bible.
5.
"What's left to disclose ('what is the need for the prophetic')?" Please show me where the Bible says that nothing is left to be disclosed/revealed-- that nothing remains hidden.
6.
"The Holy Spirit... gives us ears to hear and understand." What does the Bible say that the work of the Holy Spirit would be for believers, and what how does the Bible define "ears to hear".
7.
"It just caps additional prophetic revelation to what's written." What exactly do you mean by the word "revelation", and where in the Bible does it ever say the Canon would ever be 'completed'.
8.
"New visions confuse what the Bible ended with a period." Please show me where the Bible says that visions and dreams and revelation and prophecy and gifts of the Spirit and the supernatural manifestations and operations of the Spirit would cease when 'a Book called the Bible' was finished.
You misapplied Rev. 22:18 and only quoted half of what Jesus said there (which is, in all truth, an insight into what you are doing to the whole Word of God and God Himself: take half, leave half); here is the rest of what He said: "If anyone takes away from the words of the Book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this Book" (Rev. 22:19). You are deleting things that God's Word never deleted, making His Word of no effect due to your tradition (cultural beliefs). You can't hide behind 'jmo' or expect God to wink at your 'innocent opinions' and 'goodwill'. It is important for all Christians to come to grips with this eternal and final truth:
God is looking at your heart (not your beliefs and opinions and the ever-present 'Christian goodwill' by which many Christians will try to buy entrance into eternal Life but will fail-- Matt. 7:21-23), and you better look at it too, because the Bible says that if we judge ourselves (if we are fair and not biased with our own nature and sins and rebellion, excusing ourselves while we accuse and condemn others), then God will not have to judge us. But if we let the good we and others think of ourselves deceive us into thinking we are 'good people' and will swing low, sweet chariot' into Heaven while disregarding God's Word by which we are judged, then we are fooled (Matt. 7:21-23) and we are asking for a real surprise with eternal implications. (Again, Matt. 7:21-23.)
"If Christians don't live expressly according to what the Bible says, how then should we live?"
"Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine and does them, I will liken to a wise man who built his house on the rock... But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand" (Matt. 7:24-27).