4 Types of Prophets: How the Holy Spirit Speaks to Each Calling

The governmental office of the prophet is a responsibility.

Much like a public servant in politics, a prophet is a servant to the body of Christ. This governing office equips and edifies the body of Christ through the four operations on the prophetic spectrum. Prophets are also called to a segment of the body of Christ or a specific territory.

Let’s review the four operations on the prophetic spectrum.

ROEH

Visionary. Seer.

NABI

Mouthpiece—Proclaimer; Declarer. Forth teller; Herald. Nabi literally means “to bubble up.”

CHAZAH

To gaze at, mentally perceive, or supernatural sight by visions and dreams.

CHOZEH

A Beholder: one who leans forward peering into the distance.

Prophets have jurisdiction, much like apostles.

If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord (1 Corinthians 9:2).

In the 1 Corinthians 9:2 scripture, we see that the apostles have assigned people. They are not apostles to others, but they are to the ones they are assigned to and are responsible for. This is a form of jurisdiction. With apostles and prophets working so closely together, it is reasonable to consider that prophets also have a jurisdiction or an assigned people, place, or arena they are anointed to speak.

Allow me to reference additional insight into the office of the prophet by my friend and trusted Bible scholar, Rick Renner. Rick gives excellent insight into the word “prophet” from his masterpiece book, Apostles and Prophets. He not only defines the word but adds mighty insight into how a prophet should operate—like a ship that is completely dependent on the wind to hit its sail!

The word “prophet” that is used in the Septuagint Greek version of the Old Testament and in the New Testament is a translation of the Greek word prophetes, which is a compound of pro and phemi, which is the preposition pro that is compounded with the word phemi. The word pro carries a wide range of meaning, which you will see in the following paragraphs, but the second part of the word, phemi, explicitly means to say, to speak, or to communicate. The word phemi can also signify the shedding of light on a subject.

Thus, this word tells us that when a prophet delivers a prophetic message, he gives light on the message God wishes to communicate. The use of the word phemi immediately lets us know that a prophet is a speaking or saying ministry or one who is intended to communicate.

As noted, the preposition pro—the first part of the word “prophet”—adds a wide range of meanings that are all critical to understanding the meaning of the word “prophet,” which we will study in the following pages. There are four primary pictures conveyed to us in the Greek word prophetes. All four of the following points are true about all prophets in the Old Testament, early New Testament, current times, and in the days to come.

The following are four variations of how the word prophemi applies:

1. Prophemi: Speaking before the Lord. Or a prophet’s position before God, listening to what God would say to them. Then speaks first to God, then for God. God may speak through a vision or a different mode involving the four New Testament themes or types of prophecy. Prophets are to linger in the presence of God. To deliver the emotion of God. Making sure to really understand God’s message. Most prophets spend a lot of time in the presence of God until they get a message.

2. Prophemi: In front of. When a prophet has a message from the Lord, they stand in front of people giving a message from the Lord. Be a clear channel. When speaking prophetically in front of people, you are not to add your own commentary. A prophet is to accurately represent God’s message.

3. Prophemi: They speak on behalf of. Agabus 2 times Acts 11:27, 28 prophets from Antioch.

4. Prophemi: In advance: with a certain predictive ability. Talk about things in advance. Acts 21:10-11 took Paul’s belt. Thus, saith the Holy Ghost.

Sails Cannot Operate Without the Wind

Although prophets can develop in the word of knowledge and operate by the gift God placed within them, they cannot induce the unction of the Holy Spirit!

Just because a prophet can, doesn’t mean they should. They must wait as they put up their spiritual sails and allow the wind of the Spirit to blow, guiding them, directing them, and giving them the unction to engage.

A real prophet cannot have an unction on his own! He must spend actual time with God. When God decides to say something, the prophet is surrendered in the presence of God and has his sails set open. The wind of God comes and blows, moving the prophet to do whatever the Lord wants.

And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive. And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat: Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven (Acts 27:15-17 KJV).

The Acts 27:15-17 scripture reference carries the same understanding for move. To move the ship was completely dependent on the wind! The sails had to be put in place. The ship workers could not produce the wind! They could only catch the wind.

Differing Assignments, Same Holy Spirit

Different categories of gifting and operation may bleed over into one another. Still, you can see a general theme and distinction in the various New Testament prophetic characters who shared similar traits with Old Testament characters and their contemporaries alike.

Agabus

Predicted a famine in Acts 11:28. He worked in the word of knowledge with a corresponding prophetic act when he used Paul’s belt to bind his hands and feet, saying, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles’” (Acts 21:11). Agabus is a representative of what a regional or even national prophet looks like as a voice to the church’s senior leaders.

Philip’s Daughters

Prophesied and were another representative of what it looks like to have a company of prophetic voices in a local setting. Agabus joined them, having a clear word for Paul (see Acts 21:9-11).

John the Revelator

A mighty example of a New Testament prophet who operated in chozeh. He beheld the future and was peering into the distance with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. A series of encounters that resulted in the penning of the Revelation of Jesus Christ!

Daniel the Prophet and John the Revelator

Saw in similar ways and displayed similar attributes of excellence, kindness, and love. They also each lived long lives. Daniel was a statesman prophet who powerfully was shown the future. John’s revelation equally was shown the future. John, in many ways, complements what Daniel saw, even bringing about greater clarity.

Gad the Prophet and Other Seers

Served as King David’s seer and did not hesitate to declare the words the Lord gave him for the king (2 Samuel 24:11). David had more than one seer (1 Chronicles 25:5; 2 Chronicles 29:25). The functions of a seer as indicated by this term included, besides receiving and reporting the word of the Lord, writing about David’s reign (1 Chronicles 29:29); receiving and writing down visions (2 Chronicles 9:29); writing genealogical records under Rehoboam’s reign (2 Chronicles 12:15).

It was not uncommon for kings to have groups of prophets around them. (1 Kings 22:22; 2 Chronicles 18:21-22). Prophets were designated from Israel (Ezekiel 13:2,4), Samaria (Jeremiah 23:13), and Jerusalem (Zephaniah 3:4).

Further, in an unusual development, David set aside some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to serve as prophets. Their prophesying was accompanied by musical instruments and possibly brought on and aided by them. This phenomenon is described mainly in 2 Chronicles (see 2 Chronicles 29:30).

Barnabas

A prophet. Imagine that the son of encouragement was also a prophet! Acts 13 gives us insight into this understanding.

Multifaceted Prophets

Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul (Acts 13:1).

A point of interest is the phrase “certain prophets and teachers.” Some commentators suggest it is probable that these were not distinct offices; both might be vested in the same persons—these were likely a group of teaching prophets!

Wider Scope

Understanding that the office of the prophet carries a wider scope than simply prophesying is an important realization. It may surprise some that the primary role of prophets is not giving out prophetic words but involves so much more! In Acts 13, we see the example of teaching prophets.

Although revelation and speaking under the unction of the Holy Spirit is undoubtedly a distinct part of the office of the prophet, prophets move in more than one operation and gifting.