Article by my brother, Dr. John Parish
WISDOM FOR DAILY LIVING
“Wrong Proposition =Wrong Conclusion”
Proposition: The moon is made out of green cheese. Corollary truth: The moon reflects the light of the sun. Conclusion: Therefore the moon gives off a green light. Observation Reality: The moon gives off a yellow light. Where did we go wrong? The original proposition was wrong–the moon is NOT made out of green cheese.
Proposition: New Testament Prophets are the same as Old Testament Prophets. Corollary truth: Old Testament Prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit and wrote Old Testament Scriptures, and were held accountable to be 100% accurate. Conclusion: Therefore New Testament Prophets are moved on by the Holy Spirit to the level of speaking the word of God equal to New Testament Scriptures, and must be held to 100% accuracy. What is wrong with this picture? There are no more Old Testament Prophets! According to Jesus Christ, John the Baptist was the last one. “For all the Prophets and the law prophesied until John.” Matthew 11:13 There are New Testament Prophets, but they do not write scriptures. The New Testament was written by Apostles, not prophets. New Testament Prophets do not prophesy with the same 100% accuracy, “Thus saith the Lord.” And are not held to that same level of accountability. New Testament Prophets, along with the other ministry gifts, are given for the perfection (maturing) of the church, for the edification of its members, until the body comes into the unity of the faith.(See Ephesians 4:11-15) New Testament prophets do not speak “Thus saith the Lord”. New Testament prophets must be willing to be judged by others. (Can you imagine Moses, Isaiah, or Daniel having to be judged?) “Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. If anything be revealed to another that sits by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.” (I Corinthians 14:29-32) “Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” (I Thessalonians 5:20-21). Holding fast to the good means not holding fast to that which is not good. New Testament prophecy must be judged. New Testament prophecy is a great blessing to the church. “But he who prophesies speaks unto men to edification, exhortation, and comfort.” (I Corinthians 14:3). But Old Testament Scriptures that were speaking to Old Testament people about Old Testament prophets do NOT apply to New Testament Prophets. Amos 3:7 “Surely the Lord does nothing unless He reveals His secrets to His servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7) (“…Believe His prophets and you shall prosper.” (II Chronicles 20:20) Wonderful scriptures that apply to Old Testament prophets. So why is this so important that we distinguish between Old and New Testament Prophets? We are seeing Prophets doubling down on some prophecies by saying they gave a “Thus saith the Lord”. They are saying things like “God said it, and God cannot lie!” God cannot lie, but if it doesn’t come to pass, God didn’t say it! A New Testament Prophet said it! Taking every word of a New Testament prophet as God’s Word equal to the scripture is where the mistake is being made. Bro. Kenneth Hagin taught this distinction between Old Testament and New Testament Prophets. I wish we had listened to him!