What is Prophecy ?

Happy 2024 to you dear readers all over the world! It is my prayer that you encounter God more intimately in this year. Therefore, I am starting a series on prophecy. We will tackle topics such as the prophetic, the office of the prophet, why prophecies delay and how to sharpen your prophetic sensitivity. In this article, we will look at what prophecy is and the four main elements of prophecy. 

Prophecy happens to be an integral yet controversial part of the Christian walk. It is the way in which God communicates His plans for the now and the future to human beings. In the dictionary, prophecy is defined as a prediction of a future event. However, for us as Christians, it is more than a prediction, it is a precise means which God speaks to us about the present and the future; things that are yet to unfold. 

There are four main elements of prophecy namely God, the prophetic word, the medium and the receiver. For instance, the Bible is referred to as the sure word of prophecy. It is the word of God, communicated through the medium of a book and read by receivers all over the world called Christians or believers. Let us look at these four elements into a little more detail. 

First of all, the main element of prophecy is God. He is the source of prophecy. He is a speaking God. He is sovereign and it is His will and desire to constantly speak to His children about the now and the future. He does not want His children to be blind so He constantly reveals to them what is to come and how they can be prepared for it.

By prophecy, He led the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land and He will also lead you to the destination He has purposed for you once you avail yourself to Him. We really need to hear from Him especially in these last days. He promised us in Acts 2:17:

‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. 

Next, we have the prophetic word which is the content of the prophecy. The prophetic word can contain an event to come, an instruction, a ruling or a judgment. This prophetic word foretells what is about to happen and can sometimes contain an instruction. In Genesis 6:13-16, when God was about to destroy the world, He gave a prophetic word to Noah. 

And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopher wood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch. And this is how you shall make it: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. 

This prophetic word contained both an event that was going to happen and also an instruction to help Noah and his family to be saved from the destruction. There are prophetic words that contain only the event and no instruction. In such a case, you can petition God to give you an instruction or change the verdict. However, you need to understand that the results of your petition always depend on the Supreme God and His will. 

Thirdly, prophecy can come through many mediums. Some of the main mediums through which God delivers his prophetic messages are prophets, the Bible, dreams and visions. Job listed the following in Job 33:14-16: For God may speak in one way, or in another, yet man does not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, while slumbering on their beds, then He opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction. 

Most people believe prophets are the only medium through whom God delivers a prophetic message. In Genesis 15, God gave Abram a prophetic message about his descendants through a deep sleep. In Daniel 2, God revealed a prophetic message to Daniel in a night vision. 

Fourthly, in prophecy, there must be a receiver of the prophetic message. In the Bible and even in everyday life, we have seen many different categories of people and things who have received prophetic messages; prophets, priests, kings and even donkeys (Numbers 22:21-39). You can also position yourself to receive prophetic messages from God. Prophecy is real and if you receive it with all seriousness and obedience, you will see it greatly manifest in your life. 

When I was about six or seven years old, a prophetess prophesied to my mom that she saw in a vision that I was older and standing in front of many white people abroad speaking to them about something I was doing.

Over the last few years I have had many opportunities to pitch my business in Germany , USA and Switzerland mostly to an all-white audience as it was prophesied to me when I was young. It took many years but it still came to pass, I believe as you have also read this article may all prophecies manifest speedily in your life according to the will of God. Have you received any prophecy that have come to pass? Share in the comment section