Topical Encyclopedia
The term "prophetic" pertains to the function, office, or activity of a prophet, as well as the messages delivered by prophets. In the biblical context, prophets are individuals chosen by God to convey His messages to the people. These messages often include calls to repentance, warnings of judgment, and revelations of future events. The prophetic role is integral to both the Old and New Testaments, serving as a means through which God communicates His will and purposes.
Old Testament ProphetsIn the Old Testament, prophets played a crucial role in guiding the Israelites. They were often called by God during times of national crisis or moral decline. The Hebrew word for prophet, "nabi," suggests one who is called or appointed. Prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel are among the major prophets, while Hosea, Joel, Amos, and others are considered minor prophets due to the length of their writings, not their significance.
The prophetic messages in the Old Testament often included elements of foretelling and forthtelling. Foretelling involved predicting future events, such as the coming of the Messiah or impending judgments. Forthtelling involved proclaiming God's truth to the people, urging them to return to covenant faithfulness. For example,
Isaiah 7:14 prophesies the birth of Immanuel: "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel."
New Testament ProphetsIn the New Testament, the prophetic office continues, though it takes on new dimensions with the coming of Jesus Christ, who is seen as the ultimate fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. Jesus Himself is recognized as a prophet, as seen in
Luke 24:19 : "‘What things?’ He asked. ‘The events involving Jesus of Nazareth,’ they answered. ‘This man was a prophet, powerful in speech and action before God and all the people.’"
The New Testament also speaks of the gift of prophecy within the early church. The Apostle Paul discusses this spiritual gift in
1 Corinthians 12:10 , where he lists prophecy among the gifts given by the Holy Spirit. Prophets in the early church, such as Agabus (
Acts 11:28), played a role in edifying the church, providing guidance, and sometimes predicting future events.
The Role of ProphecyProphecy serves several purposes in the biblical narrative. It acts as a means of divine communication, revealing God's character and intentions. Prophecy also serves to authenticate God's messengers, as seen in
Deuteronomy 18:22 : "If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come to pass, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him."
Furthermore, prophecy provides hope and assurance to God's people. The prophetic promises of a coming Messiah, for instance, sustained the Israelites through periods of exile and oppression. In the New Testament, the prophetic revelation of Christ's return offers hope to believers, as seen in
Revelation 22:20 : "He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!"
Prophetic FulfillmentThe fulfillment of prophecy is a key theme in the Bible, demonstrating God's sovereignty and faithfulness. Many Old Testament prophecies find their fulfillment in the New Testament, particularly in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 1:22-23 highlights this fulfillment: "All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel’ (which means, ‘God with us’)."
The prophetic tradition continues to be a vital aspect of Christian theology and eschatology, as believers anticipate the fulfillment of remaining prophecies concerning the end times and the establishment of God's eternal kingdom.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
a.) Alt. of Prophetical.
Greek
4397. prophetikos --prophetic...prophetic. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: prophetikos Phonetic Spelling:
(prof-ay-tik-os') Short Definition:
prophetic Definition:
prophetic...4394. propheteia -- prophecy
... Word Origin from propheteuo Definition prophecy NASB Word Usage prophecies (1),
prophecy (15), prophesying (1),prophetic utterance (1),prophetic utterances (1...
5056. telos -- an end, a toll
... the conclusion of an act or state (termination (literally, figuratively or
indefinitely), result (immediate, ultimate orprophetic), purpose); specially, an...
4244. presbuterion -- a body of elders
... 1 Tim 4:14: Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on
you throughprophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the...
4395. propheteuo -- to foretell, tell forth, prophesy
... prophesy. From prophetes; to foretell events, divine, speak under inspiration,
exercise theprophetic office -- prophesy. see GREEK prophetes....
4536. salpigx -- a trumpet
... people. ["The trumpet was the signal employed to call the hosts of Israel ,
and is common inprophetic imagery (Is 27:13). Cf. The...
Strong's Hebrew
7203b. roeh -- (prophetic) vision... (
prophetic) vision. Transliteration: roeh Short Definition: visions. Word Origin
from raah Definition (
prophetic) vision NASB Word Usage visions (1).
...Library
TheProphetic and Priestly Documents
... THEPROPHETIC AND PRIESTLY DOCUMENTS.... On these grounds alone it would not be unfair
to place theprophetic documents somewhere between Solomon and Amos....
Elements ofProphetic Interpretation.
... ELEMENTS OFPROPHETIC INTERPRETATION. 1. THE GRAMMAR of any science is
a development of the principles by which it is governed....
Of the Manner in whichProphetic Knowledge is Conveyed (Four...
... OF THE MANNER IN WHICHPROPHETIC KNOWLEDGE IS CONVEYED (FOUR ARTICLES).... (3) Whether
prophetic revelation is always accompanied by abstraction from the sense?...
Prophetic Sentences
... ORATORY VIIIPROPHETIC SENTENCES. Thus saith the LORD: Let not the wise
man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory...
Of theProphetic Age.
... Book XVII. Chapter 1."Of theProphetic Age. By the favor of God we have
treated distinctly of His promises made to Abraham, that...
Whether theProphetic vision is Always Accompanied by Abstraction...
... Whether, inprophetic revelation, new species of things are impressed
on the prophet's mind, or merely a new light? Whether the...
Christ'sProphetic Office
... 5. The covenant of grace and its mediator 3. Christ'sProphetic Office. 'The
Lord... Christ. These areProphetic, Priestly, and Regal. 'The...
The History of theProphetic Sermons, Epistles, and Apocalypses
... VII THE HISTORY OF THEPROPHETIC SERMONS, EPISTLES, AND APOCALYPSES. [Sidenote:
Real character and aims of the prophets] To understand...
The Growth of the Old TestamentProphetic Histories
... VI THE GROWTH OF THE OLD TESTAMENTPROPHETIC HISTORIES. [Sidenote: Analogies...
hand. [Sidenote: The early Judeanprophetic history]. The...
Whether, inProphetic Revelation, New Species of Things are...
... Whether, inprophetic revelation, new species of things are impressed on
the prophet's mind, or merely a new light? Objection 1: It...
Thesaurus
Prophetic (9 Occurrences)... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Alt. of Prophetical. Multi-Version Concordance
Prophetic (9 Occurrences). Acts 2:31 with
prophetic...Vision (106 Occurrences)
... 4. (v.) Especially, that which is seen otherwise than by the ordinary sight, or
the rational eye; a supernatural,prophetic, or imaginary sight; an apparition...
Josiah (51 Occurrences)
... shiyahu, "Yahweh supports him"; Ioseias; the King James Version Josias (which see)):
I. SOURCES FOR HIS LIFE AND TIMES 1. Annalistic 2.Prophetic 3. Memorial II...
Zoroastrianism
... of Purim. And the stress laid on theprophetic ability of the Magi in
Matthew 2:1-12 is certainly not without significance. But...
Prophetess (8 Occurrences)
... prof'-et-es (nebhi'ah; prophetis): Women were not excluded from theprophetic office
in the Old Testament, and were honored with the right ofprophetic...
Prophet (315 Occurrences)
... The whole Word of God may in this general sense be spoken of asprophetic, inasmuch
as it was written by men who received the revelation they communicated from...
Jehoiakim (37 Occurrences)
... which he did." For "the rest of his acts" we are referred, also for the last time,
to the "book of the kings of Israel and Judah." 2.Prophetic: For the moral...
Offices (14 Occurrences)
... categories expressive of the mode of Redemption. These wereprophetic,
priestly and regal. Historical Review of the Theory: The...
Zedekiah (63 Occurrences)
... Yah my righteousness"; name changed from Mattaniah (mattanyah, "gift of Yah"; Sedekias):
I. SOURCES FOR HIS REGION AND TIME 1. Annalistic 2.Prophetic II....
Ministry (44 Occurrences)
... Modern writers have called it the charismatic, but perhaps the better term is the
prophetic ministry; while to the other class belong all the names which are...
Resources
What is prophetic prayer? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is prophetic worship? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are prophetic dreams? Does God give prophetic dreams to people today? | GotQuestions.orgProphetic: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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