Can modern-day prophets see into the future?
Last week's article looked at four examples of prophetic visionaries who saw needs, gaps, and problems in ministry, and offered solutions. This week and next, we will be looking at two more aspects of the prophetic - ones with more overt supernatural overtones.

In recent years, several "Schools of Prophets" have bloomed into the American Church culture. Usually growing out of personal or collective intercessory ministries, these "schools" often emerge in the form of "para-church" organizations. Some have websites, publishing articles and prophetic words. Some have subscriber email lists which forward regular prophetic messages to any who sign up. Some produce printed newsletters, books, and audio and videotapes. And some also hold regular conferences.

Publications often include regular "words from the Lord" which sometimes begin with phrases such as "this is a time when" or "God is doing a new thing" or "in the next year, God will." These types of words are generally broad and sweeping and not meant for a particular group or region but for the Church at large.

But on occasion, their prophetic words focus in upon specifics, such as a word for a particular metropolitan area. Sometimes, a coming revival will be prophesied, and with the word, details of how the revival will be characterized and what mark it will leave upon the community and the nation. None of these groups claim 100% accuracy. But some of them are frequently on target with their predictions. Below are three related stories of "prophet-seers" which bear telling.

1. In September of 1999, a "prophet-seer" delivered a prophetic word about West Palm Beach Florida. In that prophecy, it was said that the eyes of the world would soon be upon that Florida county. We all now know that that prophetic word proved quite accurate. But what is the benefit of knowing such things in advance? In this particular case, last summer some local churches took the word to heart and began to intercede. In prayer they addressed powers, principalities, and demonic strongholds over that community. All of this took place prior to the dramatic events which began to unfold on November 7, 2000 and following.

2. For several years prior to this specific word, many "prophet-seers" shared a burden for the state of Florida, calling it a Gateway to the Nation. Historically, Florida does boast the first permanent settlement of Europeans in what is now the United States, with St. Augustine having been founded in 1565. Florida has also been the literal gateway to hundreds of thousands of Caribbean immigrants, particularly Cubans. In April of 2000, a group of prophetically minded Christians held a "High Place of the Nation" Conference in Tallahassee, believing that Florida would play a strategic role in the battle for the future of our nation and culture.

3. A third, related word, came to another "prophet-seer" in July of 1999. In a vision, the seer saw a stream of ankle-deep water. But within a very short period of time, the water level increased from ankle-deep to knee-deep. The rapid increase in the water's depth occured between the time of the Presidential election and the Presidential inauguration. What the Church in America experienced in the days leading up to the election was a gradual increase in prayer activity, followed by a tremendous surge of passionate intercession in response to the election itself and the resulting chaos and confusion. Water in the Bible is often associated with the Holy Spirit. (for more insight, read Ezekiel 47 and John 7:37-39)

The book of Joel says, "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions." (Joel 2:28 KJV) Many Christians believe that the rise of prophetic ministry in our day is a sign that God is preparing to send a great revival to our land. Over the last few generations, as darkness crept slowly and quietly across the American landscape, the Church at times felt little power to do much more than watch and pray. Accurate prophetic words such as the ones highlighted above, can give the Church hope and encouragement as well as strategic direction.

In ancient Israel God's Prophets spoke often of things to come. Part of their ministry focused upon providing hope, encouragement, and direction for the Hebrew people. Likewise, in the New Testament, we see prophets speaking to His Church in the same way, revealing future events before they happen. We read of several instances in scripture where Jesus told His disciples of future events. In Week 15, New Testament Prophets, we discussed how Agabus and Paul were ones to whom God gave a glimpse of the future. And of course, John, the apostle, received The Revelation of Jesus Christ, nearly an entire book of the Bible devoted to the future.

There can be no doubt that God sometimes reveals the future to His servants. Why does He do this? Is it so we can be better prepared? So we can pray? Jesus' disciples asked Him about the future (Mark 13:4). But Scripture provides stern warnings against seeking this sort of knowledge outside of God. (Deut 12: 19-32; 18: 9-14, Lev. 18:21; 19:26, 31). If we ask God and He shows us, it will be for a purpose. If we ask God and He does not show us, it will also be for a purpose. Either way, we must trust Him. The future belongs to God. He reveals what He chooses to reveal and keeps the rest hidden for our own good. Do you know of other New Testament examples of God revealing the future? We invite you to send in any New Testament Scripture references that address this theme.

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Next week we will look at another element of this supernatural phenomenon, the aspect of Prophets as Personal Exhorters.