Objective

In this study, we’ll see that God has always used prophets to speak of judgment, hope, and the promise of Christ.

Key Verse

2 Peter 1:21: For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

Introduction

Throughout history, God has chosen faithful men to deliver His word to the people. These men are prophets, and their role was fundamentally different from the priests who also served God’s people. While priests represented the people to God by offering sacrifices and prayers on their behalf, prophets represented God to the people by delivering His messages directly to them. The priests went up to God for the people, but the prophets came down from God to the people.

This distinction helps us understand why the prophetic ministry was so crucial in Israel’s history. When the people turned away from God, He did not leave them without guidance. Instead, He raised up prophets to call them back to faithfulness and to reveal His plans for their future. These messengers were not sent to speak their own words or share their personal opinions. They came with divine authority, carrying the very words that God had placed in their mouths.

The prophets bridge the gap between God’s holiness and human sinfulness, pointing the way to the ultimate solution for this problem. In Jesus Christ, we see both the priestly and prophetic roles perfectly combined. He represents us to God as our great High Priest, and He represents God to us as the perfect Prophet who reveals the Father’s heart. Every Old Testament prophet pointed forward to this greater Prophet who would come.

In this study, we will answer four key questions that will help us understand the vital role of prophets in God’s plan:

• What is a prophet?
• What types of prophets are in the Bible?
• What is the message of the prophets?
• How do the prophets point us to Christ?

What is a Prophet?

A prophet is a messenger sent from God to the people. The prophet’s mission is not to give his own opinion or share his personal wisdom, but to deliver God’s Word exactly as he has received it. We see prophets throughout both the Old and New Testaments, serving as God’s spokesmen in every generation when His people needed to hear from heaven.

The list of biblical prophets is both long and impressive. In the Old Testament, we encounter Enoch, who walked with God and prophesied about the Lord’s coming with His holy ones. Noah preached righteousness to a wicked generation before the flood. Moses, the greatest prophet until John the Baptist, received God’s law and led Israel out of Egypt. Elijah and Elisha performed mighty miracles and called Israel back to true worship. Samuel anointed kings and guided the nation through a crucial transition. Nathan confronted King David about his sin and delivered God’s promises about the coming Messiah. Even King David himself served as a prophet, writing psalms that revealed God’s heart and spoke of Christ’s future coming.

The writing prophets include Isaiah, whose prophecies about the Messiah are among the most detailed in Scripture. Jeremiah wept over Jerusalem’s coming judgment while promising restoration. Daniel received visions about world empires and the end times. Zechariah saw the future glory of Jerusalem and the coming King. (Notebook Moment: Which of these prophets do you find most interesting, and why do you think God called so many different types of people to serve as His messengers?)

In the New Testament, we meet John the Baptist, who prepared the way for Jesus. The apostles also functioned as prophets, receiving revelations and speaking God’s word to the early church. Agabus warned Paul about coming persecution. And supremely, we see Jesus Himself, who is the greatest Prophet of all, perfectly revealing the Father to us.

There are even prophets mentioned in Scripture whose names we don’t know, like the man of God who confronted King Jeroboam in 1 Kings 13. This reminds us that God’s concern was not with making these men famous, but with getting His message delivered faithfully.

The two most important qualities of a true prophet of God are clear from Scripture. First, he speaks God’s words, not his own ideas. Second, his prophecies always come true exactly as he proclaimed them.

Jeremiah 1:9: Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth.”

This verse shows us that prophets received their messages directly from God. They were not creative writers or religious philosophers. They were messengers who carried divine words in their mouths, responsible to deliver them accurately to the people.

Deuteronomy 18:21-22: You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?” If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously and you do not need to fear him.

God provided this test so His people could distinguish between true and false prophets. A true prophet’s predictions always came to pass because God’s word never fails. This perfect accuracy was the divine signature that authenticated a prophet’s ministry and gave the people confidence that they were truly hearing from heaven.

What Types of Prophets Are in the Bible?

Scripture presents several helpful ways to understand the different types of prophets God used throughout history. These categories help us see the variety and richness of the prophetic ministry.

First, there were prophets who only spoke their messages and others who wrote down their prophecies for future generations. Prophets like Nathan, Elijah, and Elisha delivered powerful messages and performed amazing miracles, but they did not leave us written books. We know about their ministries through the historical books of Scripture. In contrast, prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel not only spoke God’s words but also recorded them in the books that bear their names. These written prophecies became part of Scripture itself, preserving God’s messages for all future generations.

Second, the writing prophets are traditionally classified as major and minor prophets. This classification refers not to their importance or spiritual stature, but simply to the length of their written prophecies. All the prophets were equally important in God’s plan, but some wrote longer books than others.

The four Major Prophets are Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. Their books are substantial in length and cover many different themes and time periods. Isaiah’s prophecy spans 66 chapters and covers everything from Israel’s immediate crises to the distant future of the Messiah’s kingdom. Jeremiah’s book, along with Lamentations, records his long ministry through Judah’s final years and the destruction of Jerusalem. Ezekiel prophesied to the exiles in Babylon, giving them hope for restoration. Daniel received visions about world empires and God’s ultimate victory.

The twelve Minor Prophets are Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. Though their books are shorter, their messages are no less powerful or important. Hosea used his own marriage to illustrate God’s faithful love for unfaithful Israel. Joel proclaimed the coming day of the Lord. Amos called for justice and righteousness. Obadiah pronounced judgment on Edom. Jonah reluctantly preached to Nineveh and learned about God’s mercy. Each prophet had a unique message for his particular time and circumstances.

Third, we can classify the prophets according to their primary audience. Some prophets were sent specifically to the northern kingdom of Israel, while others ministered mainly to the southern kingdom of Judah. A few prophets, like Jonah and Obadiah, were given messages for foreign nations. This shows us that God’s concern extended beyond Israel to all peoples of the earth. He used His prophets to speak not only to His chosen people but also to the nations around them.

Fourth, we can organize the prophets according to the time period when they ministered. Some prophesied before the exile, warning of coming judgment if the people did not repent. Others prophesied during the exile, bringing comfort and hope to God’s people in their darkest hour. Still others prophesied after the exile, encouraging the returned exiles and pointing toward future fulfillment of God’s promises. This chronological approach helps us understand how the prophetic message developed throughout Israel’s history.

Finally, we can distinguish between prophets who primarily called people to repentance and faith in God and those who focused more on predicting future events. Many prophets combined both functions, but some emphasized one aspect more than the other. The prophets who called for repentance confronted sin and urged people to return to God. The prophets who emphasized future events, such as Daniel, revealed God’s plans for His people and the world. Both types of prophecy were necessary for God’s people to understand their present responsibilities and their future hope.

What is the Message of the Prophets?

The prophets carried a unified message that can be summarized in two essential themes: judgment and hope. These twin themes flow through all prophetic literature, creating a balanced picture of God’s character and His plan for His people.

The message of judgment reveals God’s holiness and justice. The prophets consistently reminded Israel and Judah that God is perfectly holy and cannot tolerate sin. When His people turned away from Him to worship idols, oppressed the poor, or ignored His commandments, the prophets warned of coming consequences. This was not because God was harsh or unforgiving, but because His holy nature demands justice. Sin cannot go unpunished, and a holy God must respond to rebellion.

But the prophets never delivered judgment without also offering hope. Their message of hope reminds us that God is faithful to His promises and will never completely abandon His people. Even when judgment comes, it is not the final word. God always provides a way of restoration for those who genuinely repent and turn back to Him. This hope is grounded not in human goodness but in God’s unchanging character and His covenant promises.

Jeremiah 1:10: See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.

This verse perfectly captures the dual nature of the prophetic message. Jeremiah’s ministry would involve both tearing down and building up, both judgment and restoration. The prophets came first to confront sin and announce its consequences, but they also came to point toward God’s ultimate plan of redemption and renewal.

Isaiah 13:9: See, the day of the Lord is coming—a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger—to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it.

The “day of the Lord” is an important idea in the prophetic books. This “day” refers to God’s intervention in human history to judge sin and establish righteousness. This theme appears throughout prophetic literature, warning that God will not allow sin to continue forever. There will come a time when He acts decisively to judge the wicked and vindicate the righteous.

Isaiah 40:1-3: Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”

Here we see the message of hope that balances the warnings of judgment. God does not abandon His people permanently. After the necessary discipline comes restoration and comfort. The exile would end, the people would return, and God would make a way for His presence to dwell among them again. This passage looks forward both to the return from Babylon and ultimately to the coming of Jesus Christ, who would pay for sin completely and open the way for all people to come to God.

(Notebook Moment: How do you think the people felt when they heard both messages of judgment and hope from the same prophets? Why do you think God always combined warnings with promises of restoration?)

How Do the Prophets Point Us to Christ?

The New Testament reveals that many Old Testament prophecies found their ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. While some prophecies had immediate fulfillment in the prophets’ own time, many others pointed forward to the coming Messiah. The prophetic writings, especially the Psalms and Isaiah, contain numerous predictions about Christ that were fulfilled with remarkable accuracy during His earthly ministry.

From Isaiah alone, we can trace the entire life and ministry of Jesus. The prophet tells us about Christ’s miraculous birth to a virgin (Isaiah 7:14). He describes the coming child as “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Isaiah speaks of Christ’s youth, growing up like “a tender shoot” and having “no beauty or majesty to attract us to him” (Isaiah 11:1, 53:2). He predicts the Messiah’s gentle character, saying “he will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets” (Isaiah 42:2).

Isaiah also reveals Christ’s perfect obedience to the Father: “The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears; I have not been rebellious, I have not turned back” (Isaiah 50:5). He describes the Messiah’s ministry to the poor and broken-hearted: “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor” (Isaiah 61:1-2). The prophet even predicts the miracles Jesus would perform: “Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy” (Isaiah 35:5-6).

Most remarkably, Isaiah provides detailed descriptions of Christ’s sufferings and death. He tells us that the Messiah would be despised and rejected, a man of suffering familiar with pain (Isaiah 53:3). He explains that Christ would bear our griefs and carry our sorrows, be wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities (Isaiah 53:4-5). Isaiah even describes how the Messiah would be silent before His accusers, like “a lamb led to the slaughter” (Isaiah 53:7), and how He would be buried with the rich though He had done no violence (Isaiah 53:9).

But Isaiah doesn’t end with the cross. He also prophesies Christ’s exaltation: “See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted” (Isaiah 52:13). This speaks of Christ’s resurrection and ascension to heaven, where He now reigns at the Father’s right hand.

The other prophets contribute additional details about the Messiah. Micah tells us He would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). Zechariah describes His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9). He also speaks of the betrayal for thirty pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12) and the piercing of His hands and feet (Zechariah 12:10). Daniel provides the precise timing for the Messiah’s coming and His death (Daniel 9:24-26). Malachi speaks of the messenger who would prepare His way (Malachi 3:1).

The question naturally arises: if the Old Testament contained such clear prophecies about the Messiah, why didn’t Israel recognize Jesus when He came? The answer lies in their misunderstanding of God’s plan. They expected the Messiah to come immediately as a conquering king who would overthrow their enemies and establish His earthly kingdom. They didn’t understand that Christ would first have to come as a suffering servant to deal with the problem of sin before He could come as a reigning king to establish His kingdom.

The prophets actually spoke of both comings of the Messiah, but the people focused only on the prophecies about His glorious reign while overlooking or misunderstanding the predictions about His suffering and death. They wanted deliverance from Rome but didn’t realize they first needed deliverance from sin. (Notebook Moment: What does it teach us about reading Scripture that even God’s chosen people could misunderstand such clear prophecies about the Messiah?)

Conclusion

The study of the prophets reveals God’s amazing faithfulness and His perfect plan of salvation. Through these faithful messengers, God spoke words of both judgment and hope, preparing His people for the coming of the Messiah. Every prophet, whether major or minor, whether speaking to Israel, Judah, or the nations, contributed to the great story of redemption that finds its climax in Jesus Christ.

We continue to wait for the Second Coming of Christ, when He will return not as a suffering servant but as the reigning King. We can be confident that Jesus will come again because all the prophecies about His first coming were fulfilled exactly as the prophets predicted. The same God who kept His word about the Messiah’s birth, life, death, and resurrection will certainly keep His word about the Messiah’s return.

2 Peter 3:3-4: Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”

Peter warns us that people will question whether Jesus is really coming back. They will point to the passage of time and suggest that God has forgotten His promises or changed His mind. But the prophets teach us that God’s timing is perfect, even when it seems slow to us. The same God who waited over 4,000 years from the first promise of the Messiah in Genesis until His birth in Bethlehem is still working according to His perfect plan.

The prophets call us to live in light of both comings of Christ. Because He came the first time to deal with our sin, we can have forgiveness and peace with God today. Because He is coming again to establish His kingdom, we can have hope and purpose as we wait for His return. Like the prophets before us, we are called to be messengers of both God’s judgment against sin and His amazing grace toward all who repent and believe in Jesus Christ.

In Jesus, the roles of priest and prophet are perfectly united. He represents us to God as our great High Priest, having offered the perfect sacrifice for our sins. He also represents God to us as the ultimate Prophet, revealing the Father’s heart and speaking the final word about salvation. All the Old Testament prophets pointed forward to Him, and all our hope for the future rests in His promised return.

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