Jesus knew in advance that He was to lay down His life for His friends, we, the TRUE Children of the LORD, at the cross at Calvary. He knew that He would rise from the dead and then later ascend to the Father. Knowing this, He foretold how He would perpetuate what the world would call His so-called "cult" of CHRIST. In John 14:16-17,26, our LORD foretold: "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you FOR EVER; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. ...But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father WILL send in my name, he shall TEACH you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."
Further, in Luke 11:49b-c, we see that our Lord has said, "I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute..." Matthew 23:34 is even more detailed: "Wherefore, behold I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city..."
Indeed. In Acts chapter 2, we see the first baptism of the followers of Jesus by the Holy Ghost at the day of Pentecost. Later, the apostle Paul would also be called by Christ Jesus. In an epistle, Spirit-filled Paul has told us in 1_Corinthians 12:28-31 that "God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts..."
Clearly, then, after apostles, there are indeed prophets sent unto the Children of the LORD. It is by such means as Paul described that our Lord, by the Holy Ghost, would perpetuate his so-called (by the world) "cult" of CHRIST.
© June 4, 1995, The Standard Bearer
P.O. Box 765, O.O.B., ME 04064
<--Previous Next-->