Prophets in the OT/Prophesy in the NT

[Mike]

Here's something I've always wondered. For those who of us who accept the Trinity and that all 3 Persons in 1 God - again, 1 God - have always been spoken of throughout the Bible, we know that the Holy Spirit has been active since the beginning. Even if someone doesn't believe in the Trinity, but accepts that the Holy Spirit had been present in the OT, this doesn't change my question.

So, throughout the Old Testament, we have prophets such as Isaiah and Jeremiah who were given specific messages by God to profess to kings and nations. When their land was stricken with calamity, He spoke through His prophets to send a clear message to the nation of Israel when they had strayed from Him.

Then Jesus says that the apostles will receive the Holy Spirit, speaking to Pentecost, and indeed they do. So was not the Holy Spirit at work throughout time? Why would they receive the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit has always been at work?

So then after Pentecost, the gift of prophesy is ramped up. Romans 12 says that some have the gift of prophecy and 1 Corinthians 12 & 14 speaks to a more general gift of prophesy among believers. Whether you believe that prophesy is a gift given to some Christians or all believers, there does seem to be an increase in the number of people with this gift. Personally, I see a difference between Prophets such as Isaiah and Jeremiah who were given specific messages to tell and prophesy found generally in the New Testament.

Why did Jesus say the apostles would be receiving the Holy Spirit at Pentecost when He had always existed, and why does prophecy seem to be given to the chosen few in the OT and more widespread in the New Testament.

Interested in your thoughts...

Mike

 

[adam332]

Hebrews and Corinthians tells us the new covenant takes the laws that were written on the tables of stone and wrote them on the tables of our hearts and He wrote them with the Holy Spirit.

2Cor. 3:3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

Heb. 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

Christ told us that when He left, He was leaving us His Spirit.

Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Joh 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

Joh 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

So when did Christ leave?

Acts 1:8-9 You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and the end of the earth" Now when he had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

It seems, that within about 12 days of His ascension, the Holy Spirit came upon them with quite abundance at Pentecost.

Acts 2:1-4 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

What was decades later referred to as Pentecost, was at that time called Shavuot a Jewish holiday. It was known in the Bible as "the festival of weeks", (Exo. 34:22, Deu. 16:10), the Festival of Reaping, (Exo. 23:16), and Day of the First Fruits (Num. 28:26).

This holiday is directly linked and timed with the date of passover that had just occurred with the death of the passover lamb, Christ. While the passover symbolized their escape from Egypt, Shavuot symbolized the giving of the ten commandments at Sinai.

Can you see the significance after that last statement? Pentecost represents the giving of the ten commandments. Lets look back again....

2Cor. 3:3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

Heb. 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

The ten commandments that were written with the Holy Spirit on our hearts was commemorated at Pentecost 12 days after the ascension. Just as the death of Christ fulfilled the Passover/Communion, the Pentecost/Shavuot fulfilled the acceptance of His commandments.

Adam

 

[Mysteryman]

Here's something I've always wondered. For those who of us who accept the Trinity and that all 3 Persons in 1 God - again, 1 God - have always been spoken of throughout the Bible, we know that the Holy Spirit has been active since the beginning. Even if someone doesn't believe in the Trinity, but accepts that the Holy Spirit had been present in the OT, this doesn't change my question.

So, throughout the Old Testament, we have prophets such as Isaiah and Jeremiah who were given specific messages by God to profess to kings and nations. When their land was stricken with calamity, He spoke through His prophets to send a clear message to the nation of Israel when they had strayed from Him.

Then Jesus says that the apostles will receive the Holy Spirit, speaking to Pentecost, and indeed they do. So was not the Holy Spirit at work throughout time? Why would they receive the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit has always been at work?

So then after Pentecost, the gift of prophesy is ramped up. Romans 12 says that some have the gift of prophecy and 1 Corinthians 12 & 14 speaks to a more general gift of prophesy among believers. Whether you believe that prophesy is a gift given to some Christians or all believers, there does seem to be an increase in the number of people with this gift. Personally, I see a difference between Prophets such as Isaiah and Jeremiah who were given specific messages to tell and prophesy found generally in the New Testament.

Why did Jesus say the apostles would be receiving the Holy Spirit at Pentecost when He had always existed, and why does prophecy seem to be given to the chosen few in the OT and more widespread in the New Testament.

Interested in your thoughts...

Mike

Hi Mike

Prophecy is not just prophecy. I know that does not explain what I am trying to say. However, one must realize that there are two types of prophecy within the Word of God. The prophecy of 1. A Prophet and 2. A prophetess

The Holy Spiri is God.

When one reads the phrase - "The Spirit of God" - within scripture, it is still dealing with The Holy Spirit. Again, one must realize, that the Holy Spirit and the Spirit of God are two different things as well. The Holy Spirit, is the fullness of God. It is all of God. The Spirit of God, is what is upon a Prophet of God, who speaks for God. Which means a portion of the Holy Spirit.

A prophetess also has the Spirit of God upon her. But they have two different purposes.

On the day of pentecost, the gift of the holy spirit was given , and they spoke in tongues . The body of Christ , is the wife to Christ. So she is a she (female), or her. So the many members who speak in tongues and prophesie, do so as a prophetess, not a Prophet. The words are of comfort and exhortation from a prophetess. And a prophetess repeats what a Prophet has said.

After the day of pentecost, God's Spirit came upon them and they prophesied. They prophesied the prophecy of a prophetess, not a prophet. This is dealing with the body of Christ.

In the building, the foundation of the building is made up of Christ as the chief corner stone, and the foundation of Apostles and Prophets. < This is where the Prophets of God come from. They speak for God, with the authority of God. Jesus Christ said, that he gave Apostles, Prophets, Evangilists, Teachers and Pastors, for the edifying of the body of Christ, and so that the members of the body of Christ are not blown about with every wind of doctrine.

 

[Logos57]

Speaking of Jesus we are told that: "For He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him." John 3:34.

Mike as already hath been stated on Pentecost the Holy Spirit was given in full measure to the believers in Christ Jesus. During Old Testament times no Jewish person receive the full measure of the Holy Spirit but many had a measure of the Spirit given to them. The day of Pentecost is the Same as the Jewish Holiday, Feastival of Weeks (Shavout) in the Old Testament, God gave the children of Israel the Ten Commandments on this day, to us believers, we were given the adoption into the Family of God.
Romans 8:15
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Galatians 4:6
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
This giving of the Holy Spirit is spoken of throughout Scripture (Ezekiel 36:26-27; Joel 2:28-32; Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 7:37-39; 14:26) . Just to mention a few, but the Holy Spirit is given because Jesus, was glorify (John 7:39; Acts 2:38)