The Minor Prophets and what is a Prophet

Original Outline by Richard Rogers

Edited by Lane Rogers

INTRODUCTION

A. Understand that the purpose of prophecy is for redemption of man.

1. Prophecy is not of private interpretation. 2 Peter 1:19-21.

(It is not the product of man’s intellect.)

The purpose of anything God has done is redemption. The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah was so God could save a few. The purpose of the flood was so God could save just a few. This is the same message that we have in the NT. Only a "few" people will be saved. (Matthew 7:14)

II Peter 1 the whole chapter, but especially verses 19-21 are foundational for a proper understanding of the purpose of prophecy. “No prophecy is of private interpretation” explains how prophecy gets to man. It is not about what man does with that prophecy.

Every prophet before he speaks, sees a vision.

Prophets used to be called “seer” I Samuel 9:9. “Come and let us go to the seer; for he who is called a prophet now was formerly called a seer.” Called seer because he sees a vision. Every prophet except Moses and Jesus were dependent upon seeing a vision.

John was told Revelation 1:11 “Write in a book what you see.” What is that book called? Prophecy Rev. 1:3.

II Corinthians 12:2 “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago–whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows–such a man was caught up to the third heaven. And I know how such a man–whether in the body of or apart from the body I do not know, God knows-- was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.”

Revelation 22:19 “And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.”

How did the prophets get their word? They saw a vision. Isaiah 6:1 “I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple.”

Jeremiah 1:11 “What do you see Jeremiah? And I said,’I see the rod of an almond tree.’” He had to wait for the interpretation from God.

Who is the only One who can interpret a vision? The One who gave it. When Joseph was asked by Pharaoh to interpret his dreams, he replied, “It is not in me. God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer” Genesis 41:16.

2. Prophecy is not the product of man’s desire.

“Neither did any prophecy come from the will of man.” Man didn’t will to say, “Hey, we need a prophecy.” They were moved by the Holy Spirit. Moved from here to there.

3. Prophecy is not the product of man’s power.

Jeremiah wanted to quit. (Retire) Tried to quit but: Jeremiah 20:9 “But if I say ‘I will not remember Him or speak anymore in His name.’ Then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire shut up in my bones; And I am weary of holding it in, and I cannot endure it.” He had to speak.

Amos 3:8 “A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken! Who can but prophesy?” He had to speak even though he argues about it later in Amos 7:14.

4. Every prophet was drafted (chosen) by God himself. They did not volunteer for service. Amos 7:14 “I am not a prophet, nor am I the son of a prophet; for I am a herdsman and a grower of sycamore figs. The term “not the son of a prophet” does not mean that his biological father was not a prophet. It means that he did not go to school to be a prophet. They told him not to preach, to go back home and eat his bread there. He said that he would be glad to do that after he was done giving them the words that God had given them.

Many prophets argued that they could not preach, which only points to the fact that the power was not with them.

5. The purpose of prophecy :

a. For them it was redemptive.

b. For us it is courage—patience.

c. It is written for our purpose not for theirs.

James 5:10 “As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.” Their endurance should give us patience, courage to go on and complete the task given us.

I Cor. 10

QUESTIONS

1. Prophecy is not what three things?

(1) Prophecy is not the product of man’s intellect.

(2) Prophecy is not the product of man’s desire.

(3) Prophecy is not the product of man’s power.

2. The purpose of prophecy to the prophets was what? The purpose of prophecy to the prophets was redemption.

3. The purpose of prophecy to us is what? The purpose of prophecy to us is courage and patience. It is written for our purpose, not theirs.

B. The Origin of the Prophetic Office for the Nation of Israel is found in Moses (Deut. 18:9-22).

1. Moses was not a prophet in the ordinary definition of the word prophet. He was the father of all the prophets. Moses is more like the fountain from which all prophecy came. The spring from which all the water comes. That is why Jesus was more like Moses. It was a going back to the fountain from which all the water comes. In verse 9, Deut. 18, he sets forth the reason for having the office of prophet. It was to guard against idolatry. When you come into the land I will give you, you shall not do like the people who I am driving out before you.

2. Moses could be referred to as the fountain from which all the prophets drew.

3. The office of prophet is given to guard against idolatry. There were prophets before this, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. There will be prophets in Israel from the establishment of this office to the ultimate fulfillment in Jesus. Beginning in verse 10, he talks about how the pagans find out the will of their god.

The Assyrian king who cut open a goat to determine by the liver of a goat which way to travel so he can decide which city to destroy. V. 10 “There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, of one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.” God cannot be found any of these ways. How can he be found? Verse 15. “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him.” These words speak ultimately of Jesus, Acts chapter 3 makes it so. They speak of every single prophet as well. 2 Samuel 7.

4. Prophecy can have an immediate and a future fulfillment. Acts 3. You would have never known that Deut.18:18-19 was referring to Jesus except that Peter said that it did. God told Ahaz to ask a sign that the two kings (Isaiah 7:12-16) would not bother him. Matthew chapter one fulfillment of Jesus and the virgin birth and the fulfillment in Isaiah’s time of the child before he was weaned, that the two kings died.

Deut. 18. “I will put my words in his mouth. Prophets got their words from God, got authority from God. Stands boldly and tells people of their doom. Not done because any nature of his, but because he had taken of the divine nature.

The Marks of a Prophet:

1. He was always an uncompromising individualist. He could not be bound by convention or by public opinion or be restrained by the caution of diplomats.

2. He was conscious of a divine call that told him of the task set forth by God. He always realized that he was God’s mouthpiece.

3.He was conscious of the privilege of access to the inner counsel of God. He was in immediate contact with God. He was the bearer of the precious secrets from the throne of God to needy man.

4. He was usually a man of action with certain ruggedness of body and character that commanded attention in any gathering.

5. He was conscious of God’s authority and backing in all emergencies. It was unusually true that he stood alone against practically all of his contemporaries.

6. He was definitely a man of prayer. His lonely, solitary life gave him plenty of time to keep in touch with God.

7. He was clean and consecrated in life and character.

8. He was an outspoken critic of specific evils in the social order. Kings, Priests, Princes, Nobles and Judges are denounced fearlessly.

9. He was God’s agent to reveal the future to the people.

QUESTIONS

1. Who is said to be the father of all the prophets? Moses is the father of all the prophets.

2. The office of prophet was given to Israel to guard against what? To guard against idolatry.

3. Use one passage and show that prophecy can have both an immediate and ultimate fulfillment.

In Acts 3:22 Peter quotes Deut. 18:18-19 to refer to Jesus as the Prophet whom Israel must heed, but Deut 18:18-19 also refers to every true prophet God raised up from Moses until the time of Jesus.

4. List the nine marks of a prophet from memory.

1. An uncompromising individualist

2. Conscious of a divine call

3. Access to the inner counsel of God

4. A man of action with a certain ruggedness of body and character

5. Conscious of God’s authority and backing in all emergencies

6. He was definitely a man of prayer

7. Clean and consecrated in life

8. An outspoken critic against specific evils in the social order

9. God’s agent to reveal the future