In considering the meanings attached to 'prophesying', I was impressed by the definition in the Amplified Bible, 1 Corinthians 14: verse 1. It describes the meaning of the word 'prophesy' as follows: "Interpret the divine will and purpose in inspired preaching and teaching".

      I'm a bit puzzled at the apparent conclusion that any utterance by a person with a prophetic or apostolic gifting must necessarily be considered an 'addition to the canon'. …�?I wonder why this perception exists, when New Testament Scripture teaches that the Church should definitely move in such gifts, while never  promoting the concept of an ever-enlarging Canon.

      Because the “authority of an apostle�?had and HAS a binding effect over the ENTIRE Church. Being in the 21 century we have the written record of the “apostles doctrine�?*(acts 2:42) from Jerusalem to Rome, to the churches. When Paul gave the “layout for a pastor/ teacher�?in 1&2 Tim that wasn’t Paul’s ‘suggestion�?, or when the apostles preach death, burial, and resurrection as the “gospel�?(acts 2, 3, 10,  rom 1, 1corth 15, ect) that’s a ‘binding doctrine�?of the Church, aka “Canonical.�?SPAN> 

        “IF�?there are true “apostles�?today, and the �?U>true apostles from Jesus Christ�?delivers a “doctrine/ teaching�?how is it then “not as authortive�?as the Apostles of the 1 st century? An Apostle of Christ is still an Apostle of Christ, even 2000 years removed, no?

       Remember the “true Apostles�?spoke for Christ and not of their own innovative. *(john 16, 2tim 3:16, 2pet 1:20-21) and Christ’s personal message through the Apostle John �?I>He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.�?Speaking directly to one ‘church�?at the time.

A True Apostle’s message from God/ Christ is to the Whole Church, not just to the local congregations also.

    I have a bit of difficulty  getting a clear sense of your position, because you have not really been clear as to your denomonational affiliation. The truth is that everybody (including yourself) likely holds some erroneous beliefs hidden within their paradigm of choice.

      Well the ‘PC�?response is “I’m part of Christ’s Church�?and though His Church has ‘split�?many times over the last 2000 years, the core issues are all in agreement from the SDA-Baptist-Presbyterians-Methodists-ect. and we have divided on mainly secondary issues. And human pride playing a major role in that for some reason. But frankly the “congregation�?that I attend is 2 churches, and if I may be blunt they differ in several areas on those secondary issues yet are united again on the primary issues, and through personal bible study I disagree with both of them in a few areas, on those secondary issues, yet won’t go out and “start my own denomination�?about our differences.

   1corth 11:18-19 �?SPAN>For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

   There is a mandate to the “men of God to rightly ‘divide�?the Word,�?and ‘to show yourself approved to God, (not man)�?(2tim 2:15)

   Denominational teachings no offence, are bias to their emphasis, and I try not to study Baptist doctrine, Methodist doctrine, or the SDA doctrine, but can ask the questions “why?�?and “how come?�?with the biblical authority of acts 17:11. If I say “im a Baptist�?you can search the ‘Baptist doctrines�?and thus say “you believe this or that�? and never ask the question, ‘what do you believe?�?the same if I say “im a Methodist, or SDA, or JW�? And go down the same road. with the various emphasis on certain doctrines, and I may or may not agree with the ‘stance of the denomination�? on the specific issue.

     If you have pre-determined that all or many  SDA beliefs are faulty, and approach dialogue with us from that position, it stands to reason that conversation will be a bit difficult because you already think you know what people here believe, and probably won't be able to comprehend to what some of us are actually saying if we contradict your expectations.       �?

By the way, Desi, there are presently many different faces to SDA belief�?SPAN>     …So, this negates a 'one size fits all' approach to attempting to understand the mindset of an individual SDA.

    No I have asked in the past on “how united the SDA is�?and gave the reference to the untiy of the thousands of ‘Baptists�?churches, in America, so I don’t take *(assume) that all SDA hold ‘rank and file�?beliefs per a ‘SDA doctrinal statement of belief�?for example. I would assume that all are ‘free thinkers�?and as such I can thus ask the questions on the various doctrines. I DO ASSUME *(and its by default) by the title of the name of one’s church �?B>SEVENTH-Day Adventist�?that there will be a natural tendency to “lean toward�?the Sabbath day observance. How “strict, or loose�?one’s belief is will vary *(I assume) but the observation is usually a “given�?by title. 

    Just as the title “LA Weight Loss�?would not infer ‘doughnut shop�?one can safely assume that the title in itself bears some meaning, of such.

    The �?B>Methodist�?tend to “have a method�?for almost everything, and they almost do, per personal experience. And so-on.

   …�?and in fact the Apostle Paul in his admonitions to the church says that he wishes they 'all would prophesy'. Think about it, he said he wished "all" would prophesy!!! This, is from the man who said the gospel was established 'once, for all!!. (Jude, not Paul, but minor correction.)   …�?

      In considering the meanings attached to 'prophesying', I was impressed by the definition in the Amplified Bible, 1 Corinthians 14: verse 1. It describes the meaning of the word 'prophesy' as follows: "Interpret the divine will and purpose in inspired preaching and teaching".

      We will disagree on the meaning of the phase “I wish you would all prophesy�?from 1corth 14, concerning that ‘prophesying�?also can simply be preaching or “bring forth the word of God�?SPAN>  and NOT always “bringing forth the Word FROM God�?and both paul, and peter say “you guys should be teachers, but are children and not able to ‘digest meat,�?but still ‘need mother’s milk�?due to immaturity. (1corth 3, heb 5, 1pet 2)

     And that is a consistent application for the rest of the NT that “limit�?the apostleship office, and “prophet�? Going back to a true Apostle/ Prophet “Word FROM God�?has a binding effect for the entire Church, not just �?I>for those guys, then.�?For example the statement �?He that hath an ear, let him hear what the SPIRIT SAITH UNTO THE CHURCHES.�?/FONT>

Amen Seek ! and Hi Desi,

We serve a living God. With all respect Desi, I do judge all current manifestations of the Holy Spirit by the "Canon".

By that, I mean that I would discard a prophecy or act (of a spiritual nature) if it was not in line with the Holy Bible.

The last book in our canon, Revelation, is believed to have been written about 95 a.d. Now, if God so loved the world as to go to the trouble He did to save us, do you really think He stopped talking or caring about us in 95 a.d? Did God have nothing to say regarding planet earth after the year a.d 95? Think about it, did He not have an opinion about the 6 million Jews killed by Hitler, or the other millions by communist Russia? Did God have nothing to say about the martyrs of the Dark Ages? Or about the hairs of our heads as Jesus taught us?

I think of Huss and Jerome, and millions of others killed for proclaiming the name of Jesus. I believe God still speaks, and to confine and deny any word from Him since a.d.95 , I would think would qualifiy as “quenching the Spirit�? Paul tells us not to do that!!

God Bless

Love-n-Grace