Reader comment:
I must correct you, you have to remember 1 Corinthians 13:8, the ability to prophesy should be abolished. Today we have the Bible John 17:17
My Reply:
Dear "Anonymous",
Regarding 1Cor.13:8; please consider the Greek and the context:
8 "Love never fails. But whether there are [gifts of] prophesying, they will be done away with; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will be done away with. 9 For we have partial knowledge and we prophesy partially; 10 but when that which is complete arrives, that which is partial will be done away with. 11 When I was a babe, I used to speak as a babe, to think as a babe, to reason as a babe; but now that I have become a man, I have done away with the [traits] of a babe. 12 For at present we see in hazy outline by means of a metal mirror, but then it will be face to face. At present I know partially, but then I shall know accurately even as I am accurately known.".
You assert that prophesying has already been done away with? Note this phrase:
"whether there is knowledge, it will be done away with."
This is the same description of what is to occur to prophesying.
Do you also believe that Knowledge has been done away with?
If you read on (1Cor.13:9,10), the apostle Paul says that he presently "knows" and "prophesies" "partially";
and in the future, he WILL Know, completely.
A direct clue to what is to be done with prophesying (AND WHEN), is given in the context.
Note:
"when that which is complete arrives, that which is partial will be done away with."
Partial prophesying and partial knowledge therefore, will not be done away with, until complete knowledge and complete prophecy, "arrive". Can you see that? Let's look at this idea further.
The context helps us to understand, how this is interpretation is the truth.
He continues:
1Cor.13:11 "When I was a babe, I used to speak as a babe, to think as a babe, to reason as a babe; but now that I have become a man, I have done away with the [traits] of a babe."
When we are young and start grammar school, new knowledge to us, consists of elementary things.
When we advance, those past things are no longer considered the "knowledge" of today, are they?
Once prophecy is fulfilled, is it still prophecy?
Or, have those prophesies now been "done away with" by their being fulfilled?
Contemplate this truth regarding the changing condition of both hope, and faith
*(which exists only while unfulfilled)*...
Heb.11:39 "And yet all these, although they had witness borne to them through their faith,
did not get the [fulfillment of the] promise".
1Pet.1:21:" so that YOUR faith and hope might be in God."
Note Rom.8:24,25:
24 For we were saved in [this] hope; but hope that is seen is not hope, for when a man already sees a thing, does he hope for it? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we keep on waiting for it with endurance.'
Please inspect these words:
"hope that is seen is not hope, for when a man sees a thing, does he yet hope for it?"
Can you see that once hope and faith are REALIZED, then there is no longer a need for faith and hope in those things? They are already done...already "seen".
When our faith and hope are fulfilled and realized;
the previous faith in the unseen, and hope in what is yet to come, are then... "done away with"!
Once what we had faith in, arrives...
Once what we hoped for is already given and seen...
They are fulfilled,
and are no longer a hope or a belief to put faith in, because they have become a reality.
Those things are already "seen".
Therefore, what was hoped for is already done,
and with the "hope" fulfilled, it is no longer a "hope".
It is the same with prophecy.
Once prophecy is fulfilled, it is no longer a prophecy. Once a prophecy has already come to pass, that particular prophecy is also..."done away with".
I see you have been taught the popular doctrine that these scriptures declare that "prophecy" no longer exists in our time. Hopefully you can now see that this interpretation of 1Cor.13:8 is a lie,
and not what this scripture is asserting. God did give visions and prophecies in times past. Despite the claims by men that He no longer does that, and that He has changed how he deals with his people...
He says otherwise (Isa.41:4; 43:13).
In fact, is not the "end" of our times, rife with prophecies that are yet to be understood and fulfilled?
Why in fact, Rev.11:3 states:
"And I will cause my two witnesses to PROPHESY a thousand two hundred and sixty days dressed in sackcloth.”
Is this verse a lie?
Once all prophecy is understood and is fulfilled, it will no longer be a prediction of the future;
nor a revealed interpretation of the mysteries of God's word, soon to be fulfilled.
Prophecies that were partially understood, will have come to full and clear fulfillment.
(1Cor.13:9,10)
Once clearly fulfilled, the foretelling of those predictions, "will cease".
The time of all prophecies being completely fulfilled, is not yet here, is it?
In harmony with these truths, why does Paul finish by saying:
1Cor.13:13 "Now, however, there remain faith, hope, love, these three;
but the greatest of these is love."?
Why is love the greatest?
Because the other two "cease" when they are fulfilled.
Not so with the manifestation of Love...which may endure forever (Ps.136:16; 100:5).
Unlike faith and hope... genuine Love never ends.
It is true that we do have John 17:17...
17 "Sanctify them by means of the truth; your word is truth."
We would therefore rightly expect that any interpretations of prophecy, would facilitate God's Word the Bible as the explanation and interpretation.
Gen.40:8 reads: ": “Do not interpretations belong to God?”
and
2Pet.1:21: " 21 For prophecy was at no time brought by man’s will, but men spoke from God as they were borne along by holy spirit.".
Therefore, the true interpretation of prophecy will be given by means of scripture, and not by the musing assertions of mere men.
According to the Bible, this activity will happen in the time of the end
(Rev.11:3; Dan.12:9; Rev.5:2,5; 22:10; 19:9; Matt.22:8,9,10; Rev.22:17),
and as it does (John 12:48; Rev.20:12; John 12:49; 16:13; Rev.10:7)
prophecy will be explained and interpreted according to the scriptures,
God's Word of truth (John 17:17; 2Pet.1:19; Rom.3:4; Rev.19:10),
revealed by means of His Holy Spirit (2Pet.1:21; 1Cor.2:13).
