The end and beginning of prophecy

No matter how hard you try you cannot add extra chapters to the Bible. I cannot supplement the Bible with the book of Izaac. I could use some tape to paste a few thoughts on scrap paper into the back of my Bible, but it just wouldn't count. Some have tried to add to add their own books, yet they are ultimately unsuccessful (regardless of whether you mistakenly introduce technology yet to be invented into the historical account.) Why can't we write Scripture? The answer is all tied up in the Spirit and prophecy.

Let me summarise my argument thus far. Prophecy exists. As we study the Old Testament, we discover prophecy was given by God to a specific few, known as prophets, for the purposes of both representing the people to God and primarily to bring the word of God to bear on the lives of the people, in order to bring them to God. The prophet, to enable them to prophesy, required special relationship with God through God giving them his Spirit. Prophecy exists. But for how long does it continue?

The line of specific individuals chosen by God as messengers continues throughout the Old Testament. With the arrival of Jesus, God's big plan of salvation is revealed. The mystery hidden for ages, is now revealed; namely that the promises of God were for both the Jew and the Gentile. Through his substitutionary death, resurrection and exultation, Jesus ushered in the new age. Yet there was something lacking in Jesus work. There was one aspect of Jesus work which was insufficient. Now before you start dusting off your lynching accessories, look at what Jesus says in John 14:12;

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.

How can we who believe in Jesus do greater works than Jesus? When Jesus says greater, he doesn't mean more. He doesn't mean we will walk on water more, or we will feed 50,000 with a few loaves and fish. The work that we are able to do that is greater than Jesus is the proclamation of the gospel. Jesus can't do it, because he has gone to be with the Father to prepare a place for us. We however, are able to go about doing the work of proclaiming forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ. Jesus is unable to do this as he has gone to be with the the Father. And it is a greater work because as people repent and believe they are taken out of hell and into heaven. That is why John who is the greatest prophet, is least in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 11:9,11;

What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet... Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

It would be convenient at this point if this was the end of prophecy. What a way to finish! We have the prophets searching and enquiring about the Christ and his sufferings and what they mean, when John arrives on the scene as the greatest prophet who prepares the way for the Lord, and then Jesus is glorified. This line of thinking would be captured well by Hebrews 1:1-2;

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.

It's even got the definitive tense (can you tell I never studied grammar?) That is, God 'spoke' seems to be past tense but open, and now he has 'spoken', definitively and finally. What a nicely tied bow. Wouldn't it be great if the line of prophecy ended here? But prophecy continues as evidenced in Acts 13:1 and 15:32. So while there is a sense in which the line of prophets ends with John, and God speaks finally in Jesus, prophecy continues. Does it continue in it's existing form? The specific selection of individual messengers of God finishes with the laying of the foundation of the church. Ephesians 2:19-20;

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.

The prophets here being the New Testament prophets who were the ones sent out and working with the apostles in establishing the church. Prophecy ends. Jesus is glorified, the gospel mystery has been revealed and all are now building on this foundation.

Prophecy has ended. But only in the selection of the few, because prophecy has really on just begun. The great future longed for in Joel 2:28, when God's Spirit would be poured out on all flesh has arrived;

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy.

This great future has arrived as Joel 2 is the passage Peter quotes in Acts 2 for people to understand the events of Pentecost. With the coming of the Holy Spirit, there is no need for prophets. Men and women, young and old, slave and free. All who know that Jesus Christ is Lord and repent and believe are given the Spirit of God. We don't need prophets to give us a word from the Lord. We each are able to understand and comprehend the oracles of God ourselves. For the author of Scripture resides within us, teaching us to understand the truth, and convicting us of sin, righteousness and judgment. As the Spirit of God is on all, the role of the prophet is defunct.

This raises some questions. Such as what do we make of the gift of prophecy continuing from Ephesians 4:11? Is this a distinguishing of big 'P' Prophets from little 'p' prophets? What is this prophecy which all Christians can engage in? Why can't we write Scripture? Do we still need the Bible?

What great questions to ask. However, as I am out of time and energy the answers will have to wait until Monday which should be my final prophecy post, and normal programming will resume.