Who wants to be a prophet?

[ClubV12]

I wonder if the schools of the prophets was to provide quality education in a time when that was sorely lacking? It's something I've wondered about and may do a study on. Was their a significant drop in the degree of piety at the time of the "schools"? The schools also taught practical trades so the student could actually make a living, like a "tech" school.

Paul went BACK to "tent making" AFTER he used up all his significant worldy wealth and goods in support of the gospel. He could have made a case for never needing the trade of a "tent maker". I wonder when/where he learned it? Well educated, brilliant mind, successful leader, financially well off, who would have thought he would ever need to work with his hands again?

Today were seeing a "college degree" aint all it's cracked up to be. Many folks would do well to have a back up trade. I've always told my son this and did my best to get him hands on "learning" in practical matters. He can repair his own car, fix stuff around the house, good mechanical mind set and he's not likely to burn down the chemistry lab! But he does fall short of an actual skilled trade. I hope that college degree he's working on goes well...

[Pastor_Chick]

If we think of the purpose of the school of the prophets in Elijah's time it was not to give God a pool of people who would be available for Him to use to give dreams and visions to.

The purpose of the school of the prophets was to train people to proclaim the truth about God to the people. In this regard all of us can and should be a 'prophet', willing at a moments notice to share our understanding of the truth of Jesus Christ to a truth starved world. It's really not a bad gig, even if it is a bit scary at times.

So, there are a few different ideas about what "prophets" are in terms of their office. And, it would seem that even the "gift of prophecy" has its degrees. That could be why an "acid-test" for validating a "true prophet" may be futile.

[John317]

... referring to the "200 million" followers of Harold Camping as the "small number of Christians" being deceived. What is the SDA denomination's membership count these days? 20 million?

Where do you get the figure of "200 million" followers of Harold Camping? Is that based on the number of people who listen to his radio program or to Family Radio. I often listen to Camping and to Family Radio but I defintely NEVER believed what Camping said about the coming of Christ in 2011. I'm positive that most other radio listeners didn't accept Camping's predictions, either. He says many good things, but he also teachers a number of false interpretations of Scripture.

[John317]

I tried to think of a true prophet who was popular and readily accepted, but could not think of one. Instead the popular and accepted ones were the false prophets. Most of the true prophets were villified and ridiculed. How is that?

All true prophets have to deliver very unpopular messages. Ellen White was no exception to this rule, and as a result many people would like to be rid of her and her dreams and visions. Ellen White did not enjoy that part of her work at all-- that is, the heavy responsibility of condemning sin in people's lives. She would much rather have only written or talked of positive, pleasant things.

All the terrible attacks and accusations against Ellen White during her life-time would convince any reasonable person to eschew the position if at all possible. Genuine prophets don't exactly lead comfortable, happy lives. No wonder some have tried to persuade God to find someone else to deliver His messages. Jonah, for one, comes to mind here.

[Pastor_Chick]

Originally Posted By: Pastor_Chick

... referring to the "200 million" followers of Harold Camping as the "small number of Christians" being deceived. What is the SDA denomination's membership count these days? 20 million?

Where do you get the figure of "200 million" followers of Harold Camping? Is that based on the number of people who listen to his radio program or to Family Radio. I often listen to Camping and to Family Radio but I defintely NEVER believed what Camping said about the coming of Christ in 2011. I'm positive that most other radio listeners didn't accept Camping's predictions, either. He says many good things, but he also teachers a number of false interpretations of Scripture.

Hello John,

I read the figure of "200 million" on one of the news feeds some time back. They also published his net worth of something like $118 million.

As for me, I would never listen to "the voice of error."

[John317]

As for me, I would never listen to "the voice of error."

There are many good things on that radio station-- Family Radio. It's the only Christian radio station I can get on my radio (since I live between two very high mountains), and Herold Camping is only one small part of their program. Family Radio plays wonderful, gospel hymns and music.

If I didn't listen to, or read, anyone who taught what I considered false beliefs, I wouldn't be on this Forum, nor would I read Martin Luther or listen to a good many SDA preachers.

[John317]

I read the figure of "200 million" on one of the news feeds some time back. They also published his net worth of something like $118 million.

OK, I understand. They're talking about listeners and people who've contributed money to Family Radio, but of course that's not an accurate way of measuring the support for Camping's false predictions.