Don’t ask them for the time.
Though they can see clearly, future dates are seldom known. Daniel read Jeremiah 29:10 and discovered when the seventy years of Babylonian captivity would end. (Daniel 9:2) And he was even given the date when Jesus would be crucified. (Daniel 9:26) But most see the future appearing as a mountain an unknown distance away. Some preach for years like Noah (2 Peter 2:5) and then there was Jonah with just one sentence. (Jonah 3:4) They can tell you things about the future, the things that God has ordained, just don’t ask them for the time.
Are prophets ever wrong?
Yes, like Nathan who gave King David permission to build the Temple. He did so before inquiring of the Lord. (2 Samuel 7:3) A long time ago there were schools with hundreds of prophets. (1 Kings 18:4,13) Elijah taught Elisha. (2 Kings 2) Prophets have been simple sheep herders, tenders of vines, priests, kings and prophetess’ too. Though flesh and blood they all share one thing in common, a heart for God.
Are they always brave?
Abram miss-led Egyptians to save his hide. (Genesis 12;11-130 Sarai was his half-sister, he didn’t lie. Elijah called down fire defeating the prophets of the Baals. Then he ran and hid in a cave afraid for his life. He thought he was alone. (1 Kings 19:3-10) Jacob is another fine example of a prophet in the making. Not! He had to leave home fearing the consequence of his deceit. (Genesis 27:42) His name was changed to Israel who prophesied over his sons. (Genesis 48, 49)
So what does a prophet do?
They tell the truth. That is what they are sent to do. By believing what God had revealed to them, and has asked them to do, they obeyed according to their faith. Many prophets came before John the Baptist, but this is what Jesus said about him. “Truly I say to you, among those born of a woman there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” (Matthew 11:11) What did Jesus mean in giving this comparison? Could it be what we, the church, now possess?
Praying for prophets.
God has revealed more to us than any of the Old Testament saints. We have been promised and have received the Spirit of truth. “He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.” (John 16:13) May Jesus give the gift of prophecy to those who do not boast in a title, but in God. May He raise up more men and women who boldly speak God’s word revealing “what is to come.”
“Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: If prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;” (Romans 12:6)
“The testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy.” (Revelation 19:10)
His Family Table 