Bible Definition and Symbolism for Prophecy or the Prophetic Gift
Bible Symbolism for Prophecy
Isaiah 29:10
10 For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.
1st Samuel 9:9
9 (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)
Isaiah 30:10
10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:
Each one of these verses refer to prophets as seers. What do we see with? The eyes. Isaiah 20:10, Samuel 9:9 and Isaiah 30:10 show clearly that Prophecy or the Prophets are the Eyes of the Body of Christ. We can look at 1st Corinthians chapter 12 which illustrates how the gifts of the spirit are related to the parts of a body. This is God’s Word, and so it is God and/or Jesus, the Word of God, who is illustrating it to us thus according to His design. We will not use every scripture in 1st Corinthians chapter 12, but a selection that applies to this discussion. If anyone is concerned that the non inclusion of various scriptures could modify the correct understanding of these scriptures, please go to the chapter and read it. I think it will be obvious that the interpretation is applied correctly.
1st Corinthians 12:12-20 & 39-31
12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
English Definition of the Words Prophecy and Prophesy
There is only one letter which differentiates prophecy from prophesy, and this is the result of a close relationship derived from a historically shared word.
A prophecy is a prediction or an utterance from a prophet inspired by his God:
Prophecy is a Noun:
It entered English before 1200 with two spellings: prophecie and prophesie. It was borrowed from the Old French prophetie/prophecie/prophesie, which originated in Late Latin and Greek.
Three Examples of Using Prophecy in a Sentence
1.) Many scholars truly believe in the power of the self-fulfilling prophecy.
2.) Please give your understanding on how Egypt relates to biblical prophecy.
3.) The Bible teaches in the end times God’s people will have the gift of prophecy!
To prophesy is to predict something or to utter something inspired by one’s God:
Prophesy is a Verb:
This word occurs in English in about 1350 as prophecien and prophesien, originating from the Old French word prophecier.
Two Examples of Using Prophesy in a Sentence
1.) Did you know that Daniel gave the prophesy of the 2,300 days given by Danile
2.) If I hear someone prophesy in these last days, how will I know if it is a true prophecy?