Sir, have there been any valid prophets between 100 A.D. and 1900 A.D.? Sincerely, Glenn Jedlicka
No, there have been no divinely inspired prophets on earth since the close of the first century and the end of Bible miracles. The purpose of miracles was to confirm new revelation from God, according to Mark 16:20. The various manifestations of miracles listed in New Testament passages (Mark 16:17; Acts 8:6-7; 9:33-42; 19:8-20) confirmed the prophets as being from God, including confirmation of Jesus Christ (John 20:30-31).
Once the miracles had served their primary purpose in confirming new revelation—what we call the New Testament, they were no longer needed. The New Testament was complete around the close of the first century, about the same time the last of the apostles died. Miracles either ended when the last apostle died or when the last one upon whom an apostle laid hands to transfer miraculous power died; only the apostles themselves were able to transfer miraculous power to others.
Since the New Testament is the complete, final inspired revelation from God, no additional miracles have occurred, and there have been no inspired prophets since approximately A.D. 100. Miracles were always scheduled by God to end once the New Testament was complete (1 Corinthians 13:8-12; Ephesians 4:11-14). Mankind already now has all of the divine instruction that God intends for us to have (Galatians 1:6-9; 2 Peter 1:3; Jude 3). The Gospel that we already have is “the power of God to salvation” (Romans 1:16 NKJV).
Not only do we already have the completed Word of God, but we are forbidden to make any alterations of it (Revelation 20:18-19). That, though, hasn’t thwarted the myriad of false prophets who ever arise to draw away souls after them (Matthew 7:15; 24:24; Acts 20:28-30; 2 Peter 2:21). Jesus said, “Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many” (Matthew 24:11). There are no modern prophets in the same sense of those about whom we have been speaking; there have been none of this type of prophets since around the close of the first century A.D. Even in the first century, Christians were to test those who claimed to be prophets. “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). We have even more reason now to dismiss someone who claims to be a prophet of God.
