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In [[religion]], a '''prophet''' (or ''' prophetess''') is a person who has directly encountered the [[numinous]] or the [[Divinity|divine]] and serves as an intermediary with humanity. Prophets existed in many ancient cultures, including each [[Abrahamic religion]], the [[Sibyl|Sybilline]] and [[Oracle of Delphi#Oracle|Delphic Oracles]] in [[Ancient Greece]], the [[Völuspá]] in [[Old Norse]], [[Zoroaster]] in [[Persia]], and many others. Traditionally, both prophets and [[false prophets]] are regarded as having a founding or galvanizing role in society due to their teachings and actions. The label 'prophet' can be extremely [[subjective]]: Without exception, someone who is considered a '[[Truth|true]]' prophet by some people, is simultaneously considered a 'false' prophet by some others.

In [[religion]], a '''prophet''' (or ''' prophetess''') is a person who has directly encountered the [[numinous]] or the [[Divinity|divine]] and serves as an intermediary with humanity. Prophets existed in many ancient cultures, including each [[Abrahamic religion]], the [[Sibyl|Sybilline]] and [[Oracle of Delphi#Oracle|Delphic Oracles]] in [[Ancient Greece]], the [[Völuspá]] in [[Old Norse]], [[Zoroaster]] in [[Persia]], and many others. Traditionally, both prophets and [[false prophets]] are regarded as having a founding or galvanizing role in society due to their teachings and actions. The label 'prophet' can be extremely [[subjective]]: Without exception, someone who is considered a '[[Truth|true]]' prophet by some people, is simultaneously considered a 'false' prophet by some others.

Alternatively, social commentators who suggest escalating crisis in environment and society due to a lack or failure of due care are often referred to as 'prophets of doom.'  

Alternatively, social commentators who suggest escalating crisis in environment and society due to a lack or failure of due care are often referred to as 'prophets of doom.'  

 

==Judaism==

==Judaism==

=== Latter-day Saints ===

=== Latter-day Saints ===

[[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] ("LDS Church", see also [[Mormons]]) and other churches from the [[Latter Day Saint movement]] believes that God continues to communicate with his children. While anyone may receive [[Revelation (Latter Day Saints)|revelation]] for themselves or their own families, Mormons believe certain individuals have been called as prophets throughout history to proclaim God's message to the church and to the world. These prophets (including LDS [[Apostle (Latter Day Saints)|Apostles]]) are regarded as "special witnesses" of Jesus Christ, and are believed to have been foreordained as such as a part of God's [[Plan of salvation]] --to lead and guide His children on earth.  The message of the gospel of Christ, since the time of [[Adam and Eve (Mormonism)|Adam and Eve]], has consistently been a call for people to repent and exercise faith in God and in Jesus' [[Atonement]]. A form of [[Dispensationalism]] exists where periods of time are introduced by a ''major prophet''.  The [[Book of Mormon]] describes the ministries of many of these prophets among the ancient inhabitants of the Americas, and alludes to other prophets who would be chosen in nations other than in the Americas and [[Bible]] lands.

[[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] ("LDS Church", see also [[Mormons]]) and other churches from the [[Latter Day Saint movement]] believes that God continues to communicate with his children. While anyone may receive [[Revelation (Latter Day Saints)|revelation]] for themselves or their own families, Mormons believe certain individuals have been called as prophets throughout history to proclaim God's message to the church and to the world. These prophets (including LDS [[Apostle (Latter Day Saints)|Apostles]]) are regarded as "special witnesses" of Jesus Christ, and are believed to have been foreordained as such as a part of God's [[Plan of salvation]] --to lead and guide His children on earth.  The message of the gospel of Christ, since the time of [[Adam and Eve (Mormonism)|Adam and Eve]], has consistently been a call for people to repent and exercise faith in God and in Jesus' [[Atonement]]. A form of [[Dispensationalism]] exists where periods of time are introduced by a ''major prophet''.  The [[Book of Mormon]] describes the ministries of many of these prophets among the ancient inhabitants of the Americas, and alludes to other prophets who would be chosen in nations other than in the Americas and [[Bible]] lands.

===Jehovah's Witnesses===

===Jehovah's Witnesses===

[[Jehovah's Witnesses]] do not consider any single person in their modern-day organization to be [http://www.bibletopics.com/biblestudy/images/88f.gif a prophet]. Their literature has referred to their organization collectively as  God's "prophet" on earth; this is understood however in the sense of declaring their interpretation of God's judgments from the Bible along with God's guidance of His Holy Spirit.  One issue of [[The Watchtower]] their magazine, said: "Ever since 'The Watchtower' began to be published in July of 1879 it has looked ahead into the future... No, 'The Watchtower' is no inspired prophet, but it follows and explains a Book of prophecy the predictions in which have proved to be unerring and unfailing till now. 'The Watchtower' is therefore under safe guidance. It may be read with confidence, for its statements may be checked against that prophetic Book."<ref>''The Watchtower 1 Jan 1969'' </ref> They also claim that they are God's one and only true channel to mankind on earth, and used by God for this purpose. They have made [[Jehovah's Witnesses#Jehovah.27s Witnesses and eschatology|many eschatological predictions]] and as a result have acknowledged they "have made mistakes in their understanding of what would occur".<ref>''Reasoning From the Scriptures'' p.136 </ref>

[[Jehovah's Witnesses]] do not consider any single person in their modern-day organization to be [http://www.bibletopics.com/biblestudy/images/88f.gif a prophet]. Their literature has referred to their organization collectively as  God's "prophet" on earth; this is understood however in the sense of declaring their interpretation of God's judgments from the Bible along with God's guidance of His Holy Spirit.  One issue of [[The Watchtower]] their magazine, said: "Ever since 'The Watchtower' began to be published in July of 1879 it has looked ahead into the future... No, 'The Watchtower' is no inspired prophet, but it follows and explains a Book of prophecy the predictions in which have proved to be unerring and unfailing till now. 'The Watchtower' is therefore under safe guidance. It may be read with confidence, for its statements may be checked against that prophetic Book." 'The Watchtower 1 Jan 1969'' They also claim that they are God's one and only true channel to mankind on earth, and used by God for this purpose. They have made [[Jehovah's Witnesses#Jehovah.27s Witnesses and eschatology|many eschatological predictions]] and as a result have acknowledged they "have made mistakes in their understanding of what would occur".''Reasoning From the Scriptures'' p.136

===Seventh-day Adventist===

===Seventh-day Adventist===

* [[Propheteering]]

* [[Propheteering]]

*[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=prophet Etymology of the English word "prophet"]

*[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=prophet Etymology of the English word "prophet"]

*[http://www.propheticmidrash.com Prophetic Midrash]: Stories of Biblical Prophets and Prophetesses

*[http://www.propheticmidrash.com Prophetic Midrash]: Stories of Biblical Prophets and Prophetesses

*[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12477a.htm Entry for prophecy, prophet, and prophetess at the Catholic Encyclopedia on-line edition]

*[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12477a.htm Entry for prophecy, prophet, and prophetess at the Catholic Encyclopedia on-line edition]

*[http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=554&letter=P Entry for prophecy and prophets at the Jewish Encyclopedia]

*[http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=554&letter=P Entry for prophecy and prophets at the Jewish Encyclopedia]

*The Family | work=The Religious Movements Homepage Project @ The University of Virginia | url=http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/Family.html | accessdate=August 5 | accessyear=2005}}

*[http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/Family.html The Family, The Religious Movements Homepage Project, The University of Virginia]

* Prophets, a Mormon Perspective | work=Mormon.org | url=http://www.mormon.org/learn/0,8672,805-1,00.html

* [http://www.mormon.org/learn/0,8672,805-1,00.htmlProphets, a Mormon Perspective]

== Further reading ==

== Further reading ==

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I admonish you to give up the practice of always quoting the prophets of old and praising the heroes of Israel, and instead aspire to become living prophets of the Most High and spiritual heroes of the coming kingdom. To honor the God-knowing leaders of the past may indeed be worth while, but why, in so doing, should you sacrifice the supreme experience of human existence: finding God for yourselves and knowing him in your own souls?[http://www.urantia.org/cgi-bin/webglimpse/mfs/usr/local/www/data/papers?link=http://mercy.urantia.org/papers/paper155.html&file=/usr/local/www/data/papers/paper155.html&line=111#mfs]

 

"I admonish you to give up the practice of always quoting the prophets of old and praising the heroes of [[Israel]], and instead aspire to become living prophets of the [[Most Highs|Most High]] and [[spiritual]] heroes of the coming kingdom. To honor the God-knowing leaders of the past may indeed be worth while, but why, in so doing, should you sacrifice the supreme [[experience]] of human existence: finding God for yourselves and knowing him in your own [[soul]]s?"[http://www.urantia.org/cgi-bin/webglimpse/mfs/usr/local/www/data/papers?link=http://mercy.urantia.org/papers/paper155.html&file=/usr/local/www/data/papers/paper155.html&line=111#mfs]

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: Religion]]

[[Category: Religion]]