Although the prophets at the end of the Old Testament had an important role, it must have been hard!

Think of Malachi who was the last to speak before the 400 years of silence preceding the Savior.

Many did not want to be associated with prophets, even those who were prophets. Malachi was required to speak forcefully, even to “curse” the nation of Israel. The Law did not give them the power to save them from sin- God’s presence eventually left the temple.

The passage in Revelation points toward the marriage supper of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (aka Jesus). He is being married to the church (not Israel), as the bride of Christ.

The power of God came down on the first believers (early church) in Acts 2. This was a new and living way for God to include mankind in His kingdom.

All of a sudden, everyone wanted to be part of this spirit of prophecy which is the testimony of Jesus.

We have a sneak peak and see how the story ends. No wonder His birth, life, death and resurrection are such a big deal.

Opinions will shift, but God’s method of redemption was prophesied. Let us be fully in line with His truth no matter how unpopular. -Teresa

James 1:16-18 ESV

[16] Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. [17] Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. [18] Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Revelation 19:6-10 (ESV)

The Marriage Supper of the Lamb

⁶ Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,

“Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
    the Almighty reigns.
⁷ Let us rejoice and exult
    and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
    and his Bride has made herself ready;
⁸ it was granted her to clothe herself
    with fine linen, bright and pure”—

for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

⁹ And the angel said^[a] to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” ¹⁰ Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Zechariah 13: 4-7 (ESV)

⁴ “On that day every prophet will be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies. He will not put on a hairy cloak in order to deceive, ⁵ but he will say, ‘I am no prophet, I am a worker of the soil, for a man sold me in my youth.’^[b] 6 And if one asks him, ‘What are these wounds on your back?’^[c] he will say, ‘The wounds I received in the house of my friends.’

The Shepherd Struck

⁷ “Awake, O sword, against my shepherd,
    against the man who stands next to me,”
declares the Lord of hosts.

“Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered;
    I will turn my hand against the little ones.