Copyright 2006 Patrick Chu
The prophetic gift existed long before the prophetic office was instituted. Thus Enoch had the former (Jude 14); so Abraham is called a prophet (Ge 20:7) as are also the patriarchs (Ps 105:15). The office was first instituted under the Mosaic economy; but even then the gift was not always connected with the office; for example, Daniel was endowed largely with the gift, but was never called to the office, as living in a heathen court where he could not have exercised it. So David (Mt 13:35; 27:35). Hence the writings of both are classed with the Hagiographa, not with the prophets. Moreover, though the office ceased with the close of the Old Testament dispensation, the gift continued, and was among the leading charisms of the New Testament Church. "Prophet" (in Hebrew, from a root, "to gush out like a fountain") meant one acting as spokesman for another (Ex 7:1); so, one speaking authoritatively for God as interpreter of His will. "Seer" was the more ancient term (1Sa 9:9), implying that he spake by a divine communication presented either to his senses or his mind: as "prophet" indicated his authority as speaking for God.
Christ was the only fountain of prophecy (1Pe 1:11; Re 19:10; also Ac 16:7, the oldest reading, "the Spirit of Jesus"), and declared God's will to men by His Holy Spirit acting on the minds of the prophets. Thus the history of the Church is the history of God's revelations of Himself in His Son to man. The three divisions of this history, the Patriarchal, the Mosaic, and the Christian dispensations, are characterized each by a distinct mode of God's manifestations- that is, by a distinct form of the prophetic gift. (1) The theophanic mode characterizes the Patriarchal dispensation: God revealing Himself in visible appearances, or theophanies. (2) The theopneustic mode, the Mosaic: God revealing Himself through God-inspired men. (3) The theologic mode, the Christian: God revealing Himself, not merely at intervals as before, but permanently by inspired writings ("the oracles of God," 1Pe 4:11).
In the first or patriarchal age, men work no miracles, unlike all other primeval histories, which abound in miracles wrought by men: a proof of genuineness. All the miracles are wrought by God without man's intervention; and the divine communications are usually by direct utterance, whence the prophetic gift is rare, as God in this dispensation only exceptionally employs the prophetic agency of men in it: only in Ge 20:7, is the term "prophet" found. In the second or Mosaic dispensation, God withdraws Himself more from direct communication with man and manifests Himself through human instruments. Instead of working miracles directly, Moses, Joshua, &c., are His agents. So in His communications He speaks not directly, but through Moses and his successors. The theocracy needed a new form of prophetic gift: God-inspired (theopneustic) men must speak and act for God, the Head of the theocracy, as His administrators; the prophetic gift is therefore now connected with the prophetic office. These prophets accordingly are acting, not writing, prophets. The latter did not arise till the later ages of this second dispensation. Moses acted as a legislator; Joshua, the Judges, and Samuel as executive prophets; David and Solomon as devotional prophets. Even in the case of the writing prophets of the latter half of the Mosaic dispensation, their primary duty was to speak and act. Their writing had reference more to the use of the New Testament dispensation than to their own (1Pe 1:12). So that even in their case the characteristic of the Mosaic dispensation was theopneustic, rather than theologic. The third, or Christian dispensation, is theologic, that is, a revelation of God by inspired writings. Compare 1Pe 4:11; 2Pe 1:16-21, where he contrasts "the old time" when "holy men spake by the Holy Ghost" with our time when we have the "sure word of prophecy"; or, as it may be translated, "the word of prophecy confirmed [to us]." Thus God now reveals His will, not by direct theophanies, as in the first dispensation; not by inspired men, as in the second; but by the written word which liveth and abideth for ever (as opposed to the desultory manifestations of God, and the noncontinuance in life of the prophets, under the two former dispensations respectively, 1Pe 1:23; 2Pe 3:2, 16). The next form shall be the return of the theophanic manifestations on earth, in a more perfect and abiding form than in the first age (Re 21:3).

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Is Peace in the Middle East Possible - History and the Bible Team up to Answer that Question
I watched one day as a news reporter interviewed a Muslim student in the lecture hall of one of America's most prestigious schools. The young man was adorned with a silk headpiece and appeared to come from a very wealthy Arab family I supposed. When asked whether Israel had a right to live in peace in the land that they now held as their homeland he became flustered and indignant. He said, "Who is Israel and what history do they have, who ever heard of Israel before now."
His ignorance of Israel's long history in the land they now possess together with the poor reflection he gave of his schools academics left me in amazement. Yet this is more typical than anyone might suspect. The average American other than those who have attended Bible College or seminary has little or no knowledge of Middle Eastern history.
Israeli and Arab history is inexplicably linked to the history and well being of all other nations around the globe. History and Bible prophecy are together both a look into the past and a far reaching view of the future. When in 1948 Israel returned to its former ancient homeland and then took back Jerusalem in 1967 from its enemies who outnumbered them twenty to one she broke every record in the history of our world. No nation has returned to its former geographical boundaries after being subject to another nation or dispersed for more than fifty years and become a free and independent nation again, except Israel.
From the days of Abraham and down through the Golden Era of Israel and up to the present time the message of the prophets and now the historical record have spoken with one voice to warn the world and to bring to fruition every major prophecy in the Bible. So what is that message?
Put simply, the Bible says that when Israel occupies her original homeland and Jerusalem that there is but one generation left to man before the Lord Jesus Christ returns. Starting after the six day war after which Israel took Jerusalem back the clock has begun ticking. Sadly, this is not a promise of peace for Israel or any of the nations. Rather it is the signal of several more events that will rock the world.
At about the same time Israel regains nationhood the Bible says that a great world power will begin forming within the same geographical boundaries as the old Roman Empire. The EU or European Union began forming about 1955 and unknown to the average person today is becoming the greatest block of nations ever seen in the history of the world. It presently controls almost half the worlds shipping, has a gross national product three times greater than the United States and when military might is finally melded together will without doubt be the most powerful entity in the modern era.
It is from that new power that the fiercest and most successful dictator the world has ever known will emerge. He is a political and military genius that swoops upon the entire world with an economic system that will draw in every nation, tongue and tribe of the earth. He will make Hitler look like a choir boy and he will succeed with such speed that no one will form any resistance at all before he has the world reeling. The Bible does not specifically name this final dictator but he is well known worldwide as the Antichrist.
What does all that mean to the Middle East…plenty? When Israel missed the time of her visitation (first coming of Christ) her prophets had already foretold that she would be dispersed throughout the world and hunted and killed as outcasts. History has already told us that part of the story. Approaching the last generation her prophets told that she would be drawn and gathered from all over the world back to her homeland although still hated and harassed by all her neighbors and enemies.
The wars and skirmishes will continue and for a short time with the help of the Antichrist Israel will know a few years of relative peace. Finally the Antichrist will show his true colors to the world and Israel will not escape. She will be taken over and other nations will trample through Jerusalem for three and one half years. When the final push comes Israel will be defended and delivered by the Saviour she rejected.
Peace in the Middle East? Yes but not until all the history has run its course and the prophecy which is after all only pre-written history is fulfilled.
Rev Bresciani is the author of An American Prophet and His Message, Xulon Press and is the author of hundreds of articles both online and in print. Visit http://www.americanprophet.org

Rev Bresciani is the author of two books and has hundreds of articles both online and in print. Over a quarter of a million people have enjoyed his articles on faith, inspiration, practical living, politics, current events and much more. Please visit his website at http://americanprophet.org


Happiness and Warm Fuzzies
When our adopted son Chris was eight years old, and in one of his philosophic moods he said, "All I ever want is nice warm pajamas, and lots of butter on my toast." Happily, those things are now a reality for him as a successful businessman, husband, and father. They are what our family calls "warm fuzzies", an expression quoted in Alvyn Freed's book "T.A. For Tots".
My version of a "warm fuzzy" is: when the alarm goes off at 5:00 a.m. and you awaken and realize it is the first day of vacation; your four-year old granddaughter brings you a dandelion in her clenched fist; your husband leaves you a note for no other reason except to say he loves you; your income tax refund comes; you enjoy a hot cup of soup on a blustery winter's night; and best of all, seeing your adopted child for the first time.
Or you revel in the aroma and warmth of a wood burning stove; find out you are going to be parents for the first time; find out you are going to be grandparents for the first time; see the first snowflakes of winter; or take time to look at mountains or glorious sunsets.
Since we live on this earth, we also must deal with what author Freed calls "cold pricklies". Our youngest adopted son was very timid and shy in the first grade, and one day he came home and said quietly, "Tommy threw me across the room today, Mommy." In my best how-dare-you-hurt-my-child mood I said through gritted teeth, "And what did you do, Steve?" It took him a few minutes to reply.
I said, "Tommy, you sure are a good thrower!"

Still seeing the fear in his eyes, I suppressed a desire to laugh, knowing that that had been his "cold prickly" for the day.
My version of other "cold pricklies" is discovering a flat tire when you are already late for work; hearing a ringing phone at 2:00 a.m. when your sixteen year old daughter is out on a date; a power failure at dinnertime; failure of a close friend helping you in time of need; failure to help someone else when they need someone to care; Or hearing a dentist say, "You have at least five cavities; running out of gas when taking your wife to the maternity hospital; getting a bad sunburn; or hearing unpleasant things at your child's teacher conference.
Going on a diet is probably one of the leading "cold pricklies" as is stopping smoking; receiving only bills and junk mail in your box; losing your wallet; your fortieth birthday; and your first gray hair.
How come traffic lights are always red when I reach them, when traffic lights are green half of the time? That is a "cold prickly". The days I am the busiest the red lights seem to multiply like rabbits. Not only the hurrier I go the behinder I get, but the longer I don't go, the farther I don't get.
There are a lot of other "warm fuzzies" too if we stop to notice them. Last Fall my husband and I spent seven months away from our small Maine town. When we returned, the waitress at our favorite morning "haunt" brought us our usual without even asking. We felt as if we had never left, and she made us feel that this is where we truly belong. That is definitely a "warm fuzzy".
Because God loves us, He wants us to be happy and have days of "warm fuzzies." If we turn to him in faith. He will help us get rid of whatever "cold pricklies" are bothering us, or He will turn them into "warm fuzzies". All we have to do is ask.
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