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Hello again, Alfred.
Interpretation isn't the job of the prophets. That falls to teachers and those with the gift to interpret (1 Corinthians 14:27-28).
I was asking for the day, or if that's not possible at least the year.
Understood. This seems to be a more open viewpoint than I've seen from most Cessationists, so I applaud you on that. Just keep in mind, I have had conversations with people who were asking for "proofs," and there's actually a good bit out there already, but one brother in particular that I'm thinking of remained hard-hearted and continued to find fault at every turn. I tried to explain to him that under his list of criteria, even the Biblical prophets would not have passed it, and even the apostles themselves would have been disqualified as Christians, Lol.
- H
The closing of the canon for a sola scriptura Christian can't be "officially set" because the date isn't in the Bible.
As for prophets, they also interpreted:
Paul lists in order "reading of scripture, teaching, tongue speaking, revelation by interpreted tongue, prophetic interpretation. There is "bleed over". If a prophet couldn't have God clarify a verse of scripture, what kind of prophet can he be, "unable to understand the Word of God?" That's self-contradiction.
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26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. (1 Cor. 14:26-32 KJV)
But I want to point out something few people realize. Paul denied the prophecies and revelations through the Corinthians were the infallible word of God:
36
What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?
37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. (1 Cor. 14:36-38 KJV)
Confirming this, prophets could make mistakes and not be labeled "false prophets". They judged each other's prophecy for correctness:
Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. (1 Cor. 14:29 KJV)
Put this together, and I can make the case a Cessationist Church sharing Scripture readings and personal testimony, has everything the Corinthian Church had except tongues.
The Pastor is the prophet revealing God's Word via scripture reading.
If an "on fire believer" wants to describe his "being in the Spirit" as prophecy, who am I to say it isn't?
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Although I am a cessationist, I do believe the revelatory gifts will exist in the End Time.
They could already have started in the church and I wouldn't know.
In the End Time God stops restraining Satanic deception (2 Thess. 2:7), it follows logically He would empower the Church to stand against that Strong Delusion that is coming, pouring out His Spirit as the prophet Joel prophesied ( Acts 2:16-21)
Therefore, if someone says they prophesy or dream dreams, who am I to say they aren't?
Unlike some of my fellow Cessationists, as scripture says "do not forbid tongues" or "despise prophecy", I don't.
Even more clear, is what our LORD said:
38 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.
39 But Jesus said,
Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. (Mk. 9:38-39 KJV)
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However, Believers must beware the End Time is a time of deception that would fool even the Elect if God permitted:
24 "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
25 "See, I have told you beforehand. (Matt. 24:24-25 NKJ)
Various scriptures reveal the weeds sown among the wheat will do powerful works in the End Time. They are fomenting apostasy in the church, misleading believers away from their Bibles to follow their own "prophetic revelations."
They do powerful works in Jesus' name but never knew Him. On the Day of Judgment these will plead they knew Christ and did it by His Spirit, but Jesus will say "I never knew you":
22 "Many will say to Me in that day,`Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'
23 "And then I will declare to them,`I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' (Matt. 7:22-23 NKJ)
Weeds sown by Satan in the Church will be doing signs and wonders in the EndTime.
You know who they are, every Christian does. Our unction gives us discernment when someone babbles on and on, clearly in the flesh and not in the Spirit.
So also when by demonic spirit. They are immoral, dishonest and slaves to lust, nothing 'of God' about these prophets. Their piety is all for show.
These "waterless clouds" are storing up wrath for themselves in the Day of the Lord Jesus.
8 Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries.
9 Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"
10 But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves.
11 Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.
12 These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots;
13 raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. (Jude 1:8-13 NKJ)
In the End Time miracle working Weeds will follow the Chief miracle working Judas, the Man of Sin False Christ. They will put him in leadership of the Church. He is called the "Man of Sin" because he springs from sin, and condones it deceiving people God will forgive every sort of perversion and immorality.
The world will love him. They will make him leader of the revived Roman Empire.
That's why I counsel everyone to be careful, test the spirits. Not only those who appear in visions etc., also those speaking through human serpents.
Sown among children of God are children of the Devil, and they are fomenting apostasy, rebellion against the Bible, the Word of God. Trying to wean the church away from obeying Scripture, to follow false visions and prophecy.
19 Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD has gone forth in fury-- A violent whirlwind! It will fall violently on the head of the wicked.
20 The anger of the LORD will not turn back Until He has executed and performed the thoughts of His heart. In the latter days you will understand it perfectly.
21 "I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran. I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.
22 But if they had stood in My counsel, And had caused My people to hear My words, Then they would have turned them from their evil way And from the evil of their doings.
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25 "I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in My name, saying,`I have dreamed, I have dreamed!'
26 "How long will this be in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies? Indeed they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart,
27 "who try to make My people forget My name by their dreams which everyone tells his neighbor, as their fathers forgot My name for Baal.
28 "The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream; And he who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat?" says the LORD.
29 "Is not My word like a fire?" says the LORD, "And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?
30 "Therefore behold, I am against the prophets," says the LORD, "who steal My words every one from his neighbor.
31 "Behold, I am against the prophets," says the LORD, "who use their tongues and say,`He says.'
32 "Behold, I am against those who prophesy false dreams," says the LORD, "and tell them, and cause My people to err by their lies and by their recklessness. Yet I did not send them or command them; therefore they shall not profit this people at all," says the LORD. (Jer. 23:19-32 NKJ)
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