Prophecy can be a confusing and often misunderstood topic and spiritual gift for many Christians. When people hear the word “prophecy,” they might think of dramatic predictions about the future or mysterious prophets foretelling end-times events. But what really is the definition of prophecy according to Scripture? What is meaning of prophecy in the Bible, and how should we understand and apply it to today?
We are going to look at its definition, important biblical examples, the different types of prophecy, and how prophecy functioned in the early church. We’ll also explore the role of prophecy in the church today, whether believers should seek the gift of prophecy, and what prophecy might look like today in practice.
Definition of Prophecy in the Bible
In very simple terms, biblical prophecy is god speaking through a person. The biblical prophecy definition isn’t limited to predicting the future (though it sometimes includes that). More broadly, it means communicating God’s heart and mind to people. In the Bible, prophets would often start their message with phrases like “Thus says the Lord,” emphasizing that the prophecy was coming straight from God and not just the prophet’s own ideas. So, the definition of prophecy in the Bible is essentially spirit-inspired communication – God revealing something to a person (the prophet) who then speaks it out to others.
Foretelling vs forth-telling
Importantly, the meaning of prophecy is not just about foretelling future events. We often assume a prophecy means a forecast of what’s to come, but in Scripture most prophecy was “forth-telling” – declaring God’s truth and will to people right then and there. It could be encouragement, guidance, correction, or warning. Only some prophecies were “foretelling” in the sense of predicting the future. In other words, a prophet in the Bible was not primarily a fortune-teller but a messenger. They delivered God’s word to His people, whether that word was about the present or the future.
Prophecy in the Old Testament
Prophecy is woven throughout the Old Testament. From Genesis to Malachi, we see God raising up prophets to communicate His will. Prophecy in the Old Testament had a vital purpose: to call God’s people back to faithfulness and to reveal God’s plans.
The prophets were like God’s spokespeople or ambassadors. They often acted as “covenant watchdogs”, reminding Israel of their agreement to follow God’s laws and warning them when they broke the covenant. For example, prophets would confront idolatry and injustice, saying in effect, “This is what God says about how you’re living, and here’s what will happen if you continue down this path.”
Examples of Prophecy in the Old Testament
Moses
Moses is an early example of a prophet. He relayed God’s commands to Israel and even prophesied about the future of the nation (for instance, blessings for obedience and exile as a consequence of disobedience). Moses said that God would raise up a prophet like himself in the future
“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet.” ( Deuteronomy 18:15 Explore this verse )
Pointing ultimately toward Jesus.
Nathan
Nathan the prophet confronted King David after David’s sin with Bathsheba
And the Lord sent Nathan unto David ( 2 Samuel 12 Explore this verse )
Nathan’s message wasn’t predicting the far future but was exposing David’s wrongdoing and calling him to repentance. This is prophecy as forth-telling – boldly speaking God’s truth into a present situation. That prophecy led David to confess and turn back to God. Its important to note that this word, like many others seen in the bible, was convicting and challenging.
Isaiah, Jeremiah, and other writing prophets
These prophets delivered lengthy prophetic messages. Often they warned Israel and Judah that judgment (like the fall of Jerusalem or exile to Babylon) would come if they didn’t repent – that was foretelling because it described future events. But alongside future predictions, these prophets spent a lot of time urging people to live righteously in the present. For example, the prophet Amos thundered against social injustice in Israel, essentially saying God was not pleased with how the poor were being treated.
Hear this word, Israel, this lament I take up concerning you ( Amos 5 Explore this verse ).
This was God’s current word to the nation, not just a future prediction.
Through these examples, we see that Old Testament prophecy served to reveal God’s character and plans. It warned of judgment but also offered hope – many prophecies promised restoration, salvation, and the coming of God’s kingdom. Prophets like Jeremiah and Ezekiel spoke of a new covenant and a time when God would give people a new heart and spirit.
Old Testament was both a reality check for God’s people and a beacon of hope for the future.
Prophecy in the New Testament and Early Church
Prophecy did not stop with the Old Testament. In the New Testament, we continue to see prophecy at work, both in the life of Jesus and in the early church.
Jesus Prophesied
Jesus himself, while far more than a prophet, did prophesy. He predicted, for example, the destruction of Jerusalem
As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down. ( Luke 21:5-6 Explore this verse )
People around him recognized the spirit of prophecy in Jesus – some, not understanding his true nature as the son of God, called him a prophet!
This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee. ( Matthew 21:11 Explore this verse )
Pentecost and New Prophetic Access
After Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, prophecy became a significant part of the early church after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
On the day of Pentecost, the Apostle Peter explained the miraculous speaking in tongues by quoting the prophet Joel:
“In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy…” ( Acts 2:17 Explore this verse ).
In other words, a new era had begun where God’s Spirit would enable all kinds of believers to prophesy. Prophecy was no longer limited to a few special individuals; it was a gift God could give to all the church.
Examples of Early Church Prophecy
Agabus
Agabus prophesying a severe famine that would affect the whole world ( Acts 11:27-28 Explore this verse )
A prophet named Agabus stood up and, by the Spirit, foretold that a severe famine would spread over the Roman world. The church took this prophecy seriously and prepared aid for those affected. This is a clear New Testament instance of foretelling prophecy.
The same Agabus prophesied that the Apostle Paul would be bound and handed over to Gentiles if he went to Jerusalem. He illustrated this prophecy with a symbolic act – he took Paul’s belt and tied his own hands and feet with it, to demonstrate what would happen. (This calls to mind the Old Testament prophets who often acted out their messages.) That prophecy came true when Paul was arrested in Jerusalem.
Philips Daughters
Philip the evangelist’s four daughters prophesied.
He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied ( Acts 21:9 Explore this verse ).
Although we aren’t told what they said, it shows that in the early church both men and women exercised the gift of prophecy.
Paul Speaks on Prophecy
Beyond the narrative of Acts, the New Testament epistles show that prophecy was an expected part of church life. The Apostle Paul wrote extensively about prophecy. He lists it as one of the gifts of the Spirit
“to another prophecy,” ( 1 Corinthians 12:10 Explore this verse ).
Prophecy In Measure of Faith
He says if someone’s gift is prophecy, they should use it in proportion to their faith.
God has given each person different gifts according to his grace. If a person’s gift is prophesying, they should prophesy according to the measure of their faith ( Romans 12:6 Explore this verse )
This is suggests the important of humility and honesty – don’t try to speak beyond what God has revealed or stretch a word further than you truly sense. Instead, share what you believe God has given you with confidence, but stay within the bounds of clarity and conviction. This keeps prophecy genuine and avoids exaggeration or pressure to perform. It also reminds us that prophecy flows from faith – it’s trusting that God is speaking and stepping out accordingly.
Role of Personal Prophecy
Paul also gives instructions on how prophecy should function in worship.
“But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them” ( 1 Corinthians 14:3 Explore this verse ).
Prophecy builds up the church. This doesn’t mean a word can’t be challenging of convicting, but God speaking will come with a sense of peace and encouragement rather than shame or a tearing down.
Especial Importance of Prophecy
Paul even prefers prophecy over uninterpreted tongues in the gathered assembly, because prophecy can be understood by all and benefits everyone
Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church ( 1 Cor 14:4-5 Explore this verse ).
Paul envisions a scenario where if an unbeliever comes in and hears prophetic messages,
“the secrets of their hearts are laid bare, so they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, ‘God is really among you!’” ( 1 Corinthians 14:24-25 Explore this verse ).
This shows prophecy’s power to convict and convince people of God’s presence.
Importance of Discernment
To keep order, Paul instructs to the church of Corinth, in a service only two or three people should speak in prophecy at a time and others should weigh carefully what is said:
Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. ( 1 Corinthians 14:29 Explore this verse ).
Prophecy was not to be automatically accepted without discernment. The church community was and is to test prophetic words.
“Do not treat prophecies with contempt, but test them all; hold on to what is good.” ( 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 Explore this verse )
Different Types of Prophecy
Prophecy in the Bible takes more than one form. Throughout Scripture, we see that God speaks in diverse ways through His people. Here are what could be considered the three key types of biblical prophecy:
Foretelling
Foretelling is what many people first think of: predicting future events revealed by God. These can be very specific, such as Isaiah’s prophecies about the coming Messiah or Agabus in the book of Acts predicting a famine. These kinds of prophecies show that God knows the future and prepares His people accordingly. While this kind of prophecy exists, it’s not the only or even the most common form found in Scripture.
Forth-telling
Forth-telling is declaring God’s truth into a present situation. It’s like Spirit-filled preaching, correction, or encouragement. Old Testament prophets often called people to repentance and reminded them of God’s ways – like Micah urging justice, mercy, and humility
And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. ( Micah 6:8 Explore this verse ).
In the New Testament, this kind of prophecy could be someone sharing a timely word or Scripture that brings clarity, conviction, or hope. It’s practical, relevant, and meant to build up the church.
Symbolic prophecy
Symbolic prophecy uses actions, images, or visions to communicate God’s message. Ezekiel lay on his side to represent Israel’s judgment
Then lie on your left side and put the sin of the people of Israel upon yourself ( Ezekiel 4 Explore this verse )
And Hosea’s marriage symbolized God’s relationship with unfaithful Israel
Through this relationship, God illustrates Israel’s unfaithfulness to Him and their idolatrous practices ( Hosea 1–3 Explore this verse ).
These prophetic acts spoke louder than words. In the New Testament, Agabus acted out Paul’s future arrest by binding himself with Paul’s belt, and John received the entire book of Revelation through symbolic visions. Today, God may still speak symbolically – through dreams, mental pictures, singing or impressions that carry spiritual meaning and require interpretation.
Prophecy may take many, sometimes odd, forms – what’s import is that its always in line with Scripture.
Understanding these different forms reminds us that prophecy isn’t one-size-fits-all. It may come as a prediction, a bold encouragement, or even a symbolic picture – but it’s always given to draw people closer to God and strengthen the body of Christ.
Is the Gift of Prophecy for Today?
From a biblical standpoint, there is strong evidence that the gift of prophecy is meant for the ongoing life of the church.
In fact, as we saw, the Bible actually encourages believers to make use of this gift. Paul explicitly writes,
“Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy” ( 1 Corinthians 14:1 Explore this verse ).
Prophecy is still relevant and available to us as believers today. It remains one of the ways the Holy Spirit works to bless and guide the church.
Because prophecy is still available, believers should not be afraid to seek this gift. To “seek” prophecy doesn’t mean we try to make up prophecies or force something to happen. Rather, it means being open and eager for God to use us in this way if He chooses. It also means being willing to step out in faith and share a word or impression when you sense God prompting you – with humility and love.
Are we all Prophets?
The Apostle Paul said we each have different gifts, and not everyone will have the same function. 1 Corinthians 12 describes how the body of the church consists of many gifts and we do not all share the same gifts. So not every Christian will necessarily function regularly in prophecy.
Yet at the same time, Moses in the Old Testament expressed a wish that all God’s people were prophets
I wish that all the LORD’s people were prophets and that the LORD would put his Spirit upon them all! ( Numbers 11:29 Explore this verse )
So if you have the Holy Spirit, you have access to any gift He might distribute – including prophecy. Scripture encourages us to be eager for spiritual gifts because they are ways we can love and serve others. Out of love, we should desire to encourage others through a word from the Lord if He enables us.
God speaks through us all – whether in a conversation with a friend or a specific insight that tugs on your heart. In that way we all prophecy and we should be open and encourage God to speak through us in any way.
Responsibility of Prophecy
That said, seeking to prophesy today also comes with responsibility. We should seek the gift of prophecy in a biblically sound way. This means:
Stay rooted in Scripture.
The Bible is our foundation, and any personal word we think we hear from God must line up with the Bible’s truth. God will not tell you to do something contrary to His written Word.
Stay humble.
If God uses you to give a prophetic word, remember it’s from Him, not you. We don’t get to boast in being “spiritual” or having special insight. Also, admit that you could mishear or misunderstand; that’s why prophecy should be weighed by others. It’s okay to deliver a message by saying, “I sense the Lord might be saying X, does that resonate with you?” rather than a dogmatic “Thus saith the Lord” approach.
Stay loving.
Love should be the motive for all gifts!
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy. ( 1 Corinthians 13 Explore this verse ).
Prophecy is not about showing off spiritual power; it’s about loving others enough to speak God’s encouragement or warning to them. If you genuinely care about people, you’ll handle prophecy with gentleness and grace, aiming to help, not hurt.
Stay accountable.
If you believe you’ve received a prophetic word, it’s wise to test it. Pray about it, check it against Scripture, perhaps share it with a pastor or another believer for counsel. In a church service, many communities have guidelines, like submitting a word to leadership before it’s shared publicly. This isn’t quenching the Spirit; it’s providing safety and wisdom.
What Prophecy Can Look Like Today
Prophecy today doesn’t always come with dramatic flair. In fact, it’s often simple, Spirit-led moments that bring encouragement, conviction, or guidance. While we must guard against untested or sensational claims, we shouldn’t dismiss the genuine, biblical work of the Holy Spirit in our everyday lives.
Real prophecy doesn’t override Scripture or replace discernment. It usually confirms what God is already revealing and leads us back to His truth. We shouldn’t chase prophecy like fortune-telling or idolize those who give it. True prophetic words will exalt Jesus, align with the Bible, and reflect God’s love.
When practiced humbly and biblically, prophecy today strengthens faith, builds up the church, and reminds us that God is still speaking—often in simple but powerful ways.
