Q. What to believe when ‘post-Jesus prophets’ make different claims?
A. Let’s ponder the insights from this statement:
And I (John) fell at his (the angel’s) feet to worship him. But he said to me, ‘See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy.’ (Revelation 19:9-10)
Here is a clear, repeated Bible principle that Father God, Himself, applies:
Let every key word be established in the mouth of 2-3 witnesses.
(Deuteronomy 17:6, 19:15, Matthew 18:16,
2 Corinthians 13:1, 1 Timothy 5:19, Hebrews 10:28)
Don’t imagine for a second He would not apply this key principle to the matter of confirming what we should believe following Jesus’ resurrection and ascension into Heaven. So how did He apply this principle in reference to the above question?
First, Shortly after He ascended to Heaven, Jesus strategically gave special revelatory/prophetic insights to Paul, the apostle, confirming, from many perspectives, that He is The Lord God and Messiah in bodily form. Jesus authorized, inspired and empowered Paul to write and preach about many of these insights, and prohibited him from writing about others. (Wouldn’t we like to know!)
Second, Jesus personally confirmed, and also significantly expanded those insights to John, His youngest disciple and apostle, and told John to write those revelations in a book. John thus wrote The Revelation of Jesus Christ, the last book in The Bible. A careful comparison of Paul's writings with what John wrote reveals: (1) broad agreement on the basics of what Jesus, Himself, revealed in His incarnate (human) form; (2) a wide range of similarities on other matters; and (3) no substantive contradictions.
As with all aspects of life on Earth, there is first a spiritual dimension that seeds and later impacts and influences the physical dimension. Physical developments on Earth are essentially the fruits of spiritual seeds planted earlier. Some Old Testament books give glimpses into the physical dimension of end-time prophetic events. The Book of Revelation essentially pulls the curtain back to add behind-the scenes glimpses of the spiritual dimension of these events. Taken together, we have a corporate perspective of what Father God intends, and wants us to perceive.
It is absolutely fascinating how Jesus, in wrapping up John’s prophetic tour of Heaven, gives us both a physical and spiritual picture of Him personally sealing revelations given to John. He does this in a manner that (a) certifies and protects His message to humanity, and (b) protects His future faithful believers from devilish deceptions that would surely come to challenge His revelations. He accomplishes this with an exceptionally stern warning that is akin to His copyright protection:
For I (Jesus) testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the Holy City, and from the things which are written in this book." (Revelation 22:18-19)
Thus, He affirms The Book of Revelation is His final written revelation - the final written Word from Heaven on all things discussed therein, period! All so-called ‘written revelations’ and religions that came or will come after these assertions, therefore, seriously violate His copyright, and activate the stated warnings therein! Caveat, spiritually-speaking!!! Through Joel (Joel 2:28-29) and Paul (Acts 2:27-18), The Lord promised further, deeper insights into His strategic plan as we approach the end of this 3rd age of human history. That’s NoW!
A word to the spiritually wise: Since the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy, what spirit, pray tell, motivated/will motivate all past and future post-Jesus prophets to write utterly contradictory, so-called revelations from God, especially those concerning Jesus, Himself??? Selah!
NB: Counterfeits (religions and prophets) can only follow that which is real and TRUE!
See the epilogue
