Chapter 3


TYPES OF PROPHECY

By
The Man Who Saw God Face To Face
Raphael Okechukwu Nweze

1. True Prophecy
   
This is pure and accurate prophecy. There is no lie in it. It is a prophecy without adulteration. An example is found in 2 kings 4:14-17

14 So he said, "What then is to be done for her?" And Gehazi answered, "Actually, she has no son, and her husband is old." 15 So he said, "Call her." When he had called her, she stood in the doorway. 16 Then he said, "About this time next year you shall embrace a son."
And she said, "No, my lord. Man of God, do not lie to your maidservant!" 17 But the woman conceived, and bore a son when the appointed time had come, of which Elisha had told her. 2 Kings 4:14-17


2. False prophecy
   
This is prophecy which is not true. It is a deceit and does not fulfill. 1 kings 22: 1-37 clearly illustrate what a false prophecy is.

6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, "Shall I go against Ramoth Gilead to fight, or shall I refrain?" So they said, "Go up, for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king."

7 And Jehoshaphat said, "Is there not still a prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of Him?"

8 So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is still one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the LORD; but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil." …
         34 Now a certain man drew a bow at random, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. So he said to the driver of his chariot, "Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am wounded."
         35 The battle increased that day; and the king was propped up in his chariot, facing the Syrians, and died at evening. The blood ran out from the wound onto the floor of the chariot. 1 Kings 22:6-36


3. Derived prophecy
   
This is relay prophecy. For instance, the person who is prophesying is not a prophet, but only narrates prophecy as if it is his own. A fake pastor would take pictures of his church members to native doctors. Then, he comes back to tell the members what he heard from the native doctors, pretending that he himself is prophesying.


4. Everyday prophecy
   
This is the prophecy in everyday life of people. The Bible describes an aspect of this prophecy:

“The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. He replied, “when evening comes, you say, “it will be fair weather, for the sky is read,” and in the morning, “Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast”. You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky...” Matthew 16: 1-13

         Another example is the statement, “Birds of the same feather flock together”. This is a prophecy because it tells what will happen if people of different opinions were brought together. Those of similar ideas would soon associate or team up.


5. Implicit prophecy
   
A prophecy is implicit, if it is true and needs explanation. Jesus demonstrated this type:

“The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes”. Matthew 21:42

The meaning of this parable and prophecy is the eventual triumph and kingship of Jesus Christ. This meaning is hidden in the parable. It is not easily understood. It needs an interpretation from the Holy Spirit.


6. Explicit Prophecy
   
         This type is true and does not need explanation.

“As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at Mount of olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no-one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone ask you, “Why are you doing this?” tell him “The lord needs it and will send it back here shortly”.
         “They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied to a doorway. As they untied it, some people standing there asked “what are you doing, untying that colt?” They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go”. Mark 11: 1-6


7. Ambiguous Prophecy
   
A prophecy is ambiguous if it has more than one meaning. The quotations of the Bible are ambiguous because one quotation can be used on different people and in different situations.


8. Divine Prophecy
   
A divine prophecy is any massage delivered by God (the Heavens). A good example is the prophecy of the birth of John the Baptist. When Zachariah was informed, he wanted a confirmation because he and his wife were already old. Then the Angel replied,

“I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been send to speak to you and to tell you this good news.” Luke1:19


9. Secular Prophecy
   
This is any prophecy given by man. It could be true or false.


10. Black Prophecy
    
This is every prophecy delivered by an idol, evil spirit, witch, etc. Saul and the witch of Endor present an example of this prophecy.

Saul inquired of God, but God did not answer him by dream, Urim or prophets. So he went and inquired of the witch at Endor. 1 Samuel 28:1-25


11. Preferential Prophecy
    
This prophecy differs according to the inquirers. Some of the false prophets give good and prosperous messages to the rich and wealthy, in order to gain from them; and give bad massages to the poor and lowly because this class of people have little or nothing to give them.


12. Backyard Prophecy
    
This is the indiscriminate giving of prophetic massages by individuals, who are not qualified, to do so.


13. Prophecy Of Creation
    
...


14. Prophecy Of Destruction
    Jesus came that many false models would fall.
    34 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against…” Luke 2:34
    
    Jesus Laments over Jerusalem
    "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing! 35 See! Your house is left to you desolate; and assuredly, I say to you, you shall not see Me until the time comes when you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!'" Luke 13:34-35 (Matt 23:37-39)
    
    41 Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem
    Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, 44 and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation." Luke 19:41-44
    
    24 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
    26 "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." Matthew 7:24-27
    
    Jeremiah was sent to build up and to uproot.
    9 Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me:
    "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.
    10 See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms,
    To root out and to pull down,
    To destroy and to throw down,
    To build and to plant." Jeremiah 1:9-10