Peace be with you all.
1. What is the difference between a prophet of the age and a prophet of the five fold ministry?
Now, in an attempt to divide these two, I believe that an understanding of the concept ‘five fold ministry’is inevitable. In the Spoken Word ‘ The Baptism of the Holy Spirit’ 58-0928M P191, Bro. Branham says and I quote ” Apostles, prophets, teachers, evangelists, pastors. That’s what the Body consists of…”. Ephesians 4:11 and 12 also tells us that this ministry is to cater for the Body of Christ: to edify and perfect it. Now, with this in mind, one is able to understand that the difference is merely that a prophet of the age is the five fold ministry in one man, born to occupy that office alone (Jeremiah 1:5) and a prophet(s) of the five fold according to the above scripture is the many membered ministry. I will expound more on this as I attempt to answer the subsequent question.
2. Is Bro. Branham a part of the Five fold ministry or not?
I would say yes. If we go back and look at what the five fold ministry is suppose to do and to whom are they ministering to, We will find that Bro. Branham formed part of this ministry. Now, according to Rev 10:7, that’s him alone. And in that ministry, his ministry, if you have a bit of his background, you will find that he was an apostle (he went 7 times around the wolrd), he was a prophet (born and ordained and predestined: Jeremiah 1:5), one time he was a pastor, a teacher and an evangelists. That’s your son of man type of a ministry.
3. Do we have prophets in the five fold ministry today?
“…When he ascended upon high, He led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men”. Gifts and calling are without repentance. Ephesians 4:11 promised them and Hebrews 13:8 says He is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Here, I believe we need to understand what a prophet is. In the Spoken Word ‘Demonology, Religious realm’ 53-0609a P73, Bro. Branham was showing that the New Testament also ‘had’ prophets and makes an example of Agabus e.t.c. He also echoes the same thing in the S.W: ‘I perceive that thou art a prophet’ 53-0614E p13. I advice one to read more for better clarity.
However, in the message ‘This great Warrior, Joshua 55-0119 p2 i quote ” after all, my dear friend, you know what a prophet is, a New Testament prophet? Is a preacher, is exactly. A prophet is a preacher. The Word ‘prophet’ means means to foretell or tell forth, either preach or foretell… The testimony of Jesus Christ is a Spirit of prophecy… so everyone of you are prophets to testify of Jesus Christ”
In the message ‘Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever 56-0225 p26, Bro. Branham makes an example of John the Baptist who was the bridge between law and grace and state that, John never did any miracles at all but he pointed the world to Jesus/the Word, and was considered the greatest of all prophets according to Matthew 11:19. He said the prophets spoke of Jesus’s coming and they did many miracles but John had the privilege to introduce the Word to the world. No man leads people to the Jesus more than preachers. Read also ‘Earnestly contending for the faith 55-0123 p25
Mind you that the Bride/prophets is that final voice to this final age as we have been taught. The same things that William Branham uttered are the same that the Bride will utter: same as Micah and Elijah.
So YES, we do have prophets in our day today according to my understanding.
4. What is the difference between a prophet and a gift of prophecy?
In the message ‘Jehovah Jireh’ 55-0817 p9, Bro. Branham says and I quote ” now, there’s a difference between a gift of prophecy, and a prophet. One is a gift of prophecy, and the other one is a prophet. A gift of prophecy must be judged by two or three spiritual men. It can be upon one person tonight, be on another person tomorrow night, and on another one the next night. What is it, is a gift in every local body, a church. But a prophet is different. They are born a prophet. And they come up prophets. All that they say must be true, every time, or it cannot be recognized as a prophet in the office”. Read also Deuteronomy 18:21-22. Those that guard those gift to make sure that they operate correctly those man in the five fold ministry in their local assemblies.
Read also ‘I will restore’ 53-1110 P58 | ‘A secondhanded Robe’ 56-1206 p12 | ‘Jehovah Jireh’ 57-0612 p64.
This is my personal take on this exciting and edifying subject. Anything I said is subject to corrections.
May God bless you!
