Your Sons and Daughters Shall Prophesy , livre ebook

© 1999 by Ernest B. Gentile
Published by Chosen Books a division of Baker Book House Company P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
Ebook edition created 2012
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ISBN 978-1-4412-1527-7
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Dedicated to David E. Schoch, a true prophet of God, a great mentor and a close friend to our family. His dynamic ministry and gracious manner have been felt around the world.
CONTENTS
Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
List of Tables
Foreword
Introduction
Part 1 The Importance of Prophecy
1. God’s Thoughts toward Us
Sharing His Thoughts
“Thou God Seest Me”
Reflections
2. Increased Interest in Prophecy
Differing Viewpoints
Key Questions
Reflections
Part 2 A Profile of the Ancient Hebrew Prophet
3. Mission: What Was a Prophet?
Spokesman, Seer, Visionary
Usage of Prophet in the Old Testament
The Setting of a Prophecy
The Two Kinds of Prophecy
The Words of a Prophet
Reflections
4. Makeup: Traits That Characterized a Prophet
Descriptive Terms
Women, Too
Prophetic Families
Prophetic Categories and Periods
The Place of Moses
The Sons of the Prophets
Character Qualities
The Shakarian Story
Reflections
5. Mind: How Did Prophecy Come to a Prophet?
Revelation: How Did It Come?
The Prophetic Call
Canonical and Noncanonical Prophets
Prophetic Warning in Armenia
Reflections
6. Message: Various Ways of Prophetic Expression
The Burden of the Lord
Types of Expression
Enacted Prophecy
Testimony of David Bryan
Reflections
7. Madness: What Compelled the False Prophet?
Moses and the Gods of Egypt
The True Character of Heathenism
Balaam, Enemy Agent
The False Prophets
The Chinese Beggar Children
Reflections
Part 3 The Transition from Old to New
8. The Reappearance of Prophecy
The Four Hundred Silent Years
The Ending of the Long Drought
Time for a Change
Jesus, the Prophet
Moses and Jesus
The Prophetic Consciousness of Jesus
Reflections
9. Comparing Prophecy in Both Testaments
Reasons for a Difference
In Conclusion
Reflections
Part 4 Christ’s Continuing Voice in the Church
10. Definition of Christian Prophecy
A Basic Definition
Summary of Prophecy
The Most Significant Gift
Prophetic Accuracy and Gradations of Prophecy
Reflections
11. Channels of Prophetic Expression in the Church
Prophetic Presence
Prophetic Opportunity
Prophetic Ministry
Prophetic Calling
Prophetic Outreach
Reflections
12. Prophets and Prophecy in the Book of Acts
A Chronological Record
Summary of Acts
Reflections
13. The Prophetic Confusion at Corinth
Appropriate Use of Inspired Utterances
Orderly Conduct in Public Worship
Reflections
14. Did Prophecy Cease or Does It Continue?
Answer 1: The Bible Does Not Teach Cessationism
Answer 2: Prophecy Complements Scripture
Answer 3: Historical Evidence Exists for Miraculous Gifts
Answer 4: Proper Use Invalidates Misuse
A Proper Perspective
Reflections
15. When Bishops Replace Prophets
The 25-Year Principle
The Process of Aging
The Cycle of Deterioration
The Ecclesia
The First Three Centuries
The Montanist Movement
Staying Spiritually Alive
Reflections
Part 5 Insights from Modern Church History ( A.D. 1830–1980)
16. Edward Irving, Morning Star of Renewal
Background of Edward Irving
Six Insights from the Catholic Apostolic Church
Reflections
17. The Apostolic Church of Great Britain
Eight Insights from the Apostolic Church
Reflections
18. The Latter Rain Movement
Overview of Twentieth-Century Revivals
A Great Visitation of the Spirit
The Rain Falls on Me
Insights from the Latter Rain Movement
The Healer-Prophet
Reflections
19. Denominational Response to Prophecy in the Charismatic Renewal
Definitions of Prophecy from the Historic Documents
Conclusion
Reflections
Part 6 The Use of Prophecy in Church Today
20. Guidelines for Testing Prophetic Utterances
The Implications of Testing
How to Test Prophecy
Reflections
21. Who Judges the Prophecies?
The Necessity of Structure and Order
A Practical Approach
Who Does the Judging?
How Judging Can Be Done
Closure Is Important
Reflections
22. Suggestions for Public Services
Congregational Prophecy
The Prophetic Presbytery
Public Ministry to Individuals
Reflections
23. Insights on How to Prophesy
Ways That Prophecy Comes
General Principles to Guide
Before Going to the Monitor
Microphone Procedure
Suggestions about the Song of the Lord
Prophecies to Avoid
Qualifications for Those Who Prophesy in the Church
Five Basic Bible Safeguards
Selected Reading: Practical Advice for Church Prophecy
Appendix 1: A Roster of Old Testament Prophets and Those Who Prophesied
Appendix 2: Descriptive Terms of the Old Testament Prophets and Others Who Prophesied
Appendix 3: New Testament Prophets and Those Who Prophesied
Notes
Bibliography
Subject Index
Name Index
Scripture Index
About the Author
Back Cover
TABLES
Three Key Hebrew Terms for Prophet
The Prophetic Periods
Revelation and Communication
Chart of the Prophets
Jeremiah’s Enacted Prophecies
The False Prophets in Both Testaments
Jesus’ Seven Sign Miracles in the Gospel of John
Comparisons between Moses and Jesus
Contrast of Old and New Testament Prophecy
The Eight Lists of Spiritual Gifts in the New Testament
Channels of Prophetic Expression
Prophetic Happenings in Acts
Comparison Chart of 1 Corinthians 14
Moberg’s Five Stages
Cycle of Deterioration
Writings from the First Three Centuries
Becoming an Institution
Testing Prophecies
FOREWORD
I AM CONVINCED that one of God’s chief springboards for taking the Church into the twenty-first century is the rapid emergence and broad acceptance of the ministry of prophets and apostles. During the decade of the 1980s prophets began to gain a recognition they had not previously enjoyed. The same thing happened to apostles during the decade of the 1990s.
This is extremely important. Up until now most churches have been attempting to function with a government of evangelists, pastors and teachers. Many churches have done well, but biblically it is clear that they cannot be all God wants them to be without prophets and apostles. The reason I say this is that I take a literal interpretation of Ephesians 4:11, which says that “[Jesus] Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers” ( NKJV ). I must confess that for years I felt comfortable somehow drawing an artifi