Mormon "first apostles, second, prophets..." question

[concerneduser]

Hi, From what I know being Catholic, there are no more prophets after Jesus. Yet, a mormon ( converted from Catholicism) refers to 1 Corinthians 12:28 to be “Some people God has designated in the church to be, first, apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers; then, mighty deeds; then, gifts of healing, assistance, administration, and varieties of tongues.” Does this mean there could actually be prophets after Christ? And why would we really need any more prophets anyways? Christ already came, we need no more laws of the old testamate, the ultimate sacrafice has already been had and we are no longer in the first covenant, Jesus is the new covenant through the Eucharist: Christ has died, Christ is risin, Christ will come again…but according to them, not before more prophets? I’m confused, we already have been given Jesus and our sins are forgivin, we already know what to look for in terms of the second coming…so why do we need more prophets? Help me please understand this scripture and their interpretation. From what I know and believe, there is no more need for prophets and there won’t be any. Thanks

 

[ParkerD]

Hi, From what I know being Catholic, there are no more prophets after Jesus. Yet, a mormon ( converted from Catholicism) refers to 1 Corinthians 12:28 to be “Some people God has designated in the church to be, first, apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers; then, mighty deeds; then, gifts of healing, assistance, administration, and varieties of tongues.” Does this mean there could actually be prophets after Christ? And why would we really need any more prophets anyways? Christ already came, we need no more laws of the old testamate, the ultimate sacrafice has already been had and we are no longer in the first covenant, Jesus is the new covenant through the Eucharist: Christ has died, Christ is risin, Christ will come again…but according to them, not before more prophets? I’m confused, we already have been given Jesus and our sins are forgivin, we already know what to look for in terms of the second coming…so why do we need more prophets? Help me please understand this scripture and their interpretation. From what I know and believe, there is no more need for prophets and there won’t be any. Thanks

Concerned User,

You may want to rethink your definition of “prophet” and compare it with the use of the word in the Old Testament as well as in the New Testament. A prophet is primarily a truth-teacher who testifies. John was told, “a testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” (Revelation 19:10) The word “prophet” was used in the epistles in the New Testament without hesitation as an ongoing situation, not as though there were to be “no more prophets”.

Leaders wanting to keep their own authority without its being threatened or “taken away” would of course say there is no need for prophets, because that implies someone could have communication with God that is more direct than they have–so it is completely understandable that you may have been taught to believe there is going to be “no more need for prophets”. Prophets aren’t a threat to the common, everyday people. (They are a help to them, because they guide them about preparing themselves for important events like the Second Coming of Christ, whether it be twenty years away or many decades away). They are, however, a threat to those leaders who want a monopoly on their own grip on leadership among the common, everyday people.

It was a case where it was easier to just teach “there will be no more need for prophets” and say “anyone who says they have a prophetic message must be a false prophet”, even though there is an implication that if there are going to be “false prophets” in the latter days, that there would also be “true prophets”. The Bible never says there will be no more prophets after Christ.

Having prophets is a good thing, not a bad thing–a help, not a hindrance, for understanding how to be prepared and for understanding the “signs of the times” during the early end times, which we are clearly in as we see what is happening in the world. It’s a wonderful thing to see the unfolding of events that are preparing the world for a future time of peace when Christ really does reign as King of kings on the earth during the Millenium.

Peace and good day to you.

 

[JeanMichel]

Hi, From what I know being Catholic, there are no more prophets after Jesus. Yet, a mormon ( converted from Catholicism) refers to 1 Corinthians 12:28 to be “Some people God has designated in the church to be, first, apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers; then, mighty deeds; then, gifts of healing, assistance, administration, and varieties of tongues.” Does this mean there could actually be prophets after Christ? And why would we really need any more prophets anyways? Christ already came, we need no more laws of the old testamate, the ultimate sacrafice has already been had and we are no longer in the first covenant, Jesus is the new covenant through the Eucharist: Christ has died, Christ is risin, Christ will come again…but according to them, not before more prophets? I’m confused, we already have been given Jesus and our sins are forgivin, we already know what to look for in terms of the second coming…so why do we need more prophets? Help me please understand this scripture and their interpretation. From what I know and believe, there is no more need for prophets and there won’t be any. Thanks

Of course, not only does the NT talk about other prophets after the resurrection of Jesus, but also our ECF mention prophets in their writings.