Office, methods, and marks of a prophet
The prophetic office is the last section of the Old Testament: God still has a voice after law and kings. Methods are forth-telling and foretelling — speaking…
Lesson 8 · Course 54
The Prophets: Elijah, Elisha and Isaiah
forth-tell and foretell — Carmel to the virgin birth promise.
At a glance
Summary
forth-tell and foretell — Carmel to the virgin birth promise. The prophets are the last section of the Old Testament. After law and history, God still has a voice — not a sideshow, but the Lord preaching to a people who already have a temple.
Big ideas
What to teach and remember
- The prophets are the last section of the Old Testament. After law and history, God still has a voice — not a sideshow, but the Lord preaching to a people who already have a temple.
- Forth-tell and foretell: the prophet speaks for God. Most of the work is preaching — calling kings and people back — not a calendar of tomorrow. Foretelling is real; it is not the main diet.
- True-prophet marks sit in Deuteronomy 18 and 13: the word comes to pass, and it never leads you after other gods. A sign that sells idolatry is still a lie. Test the fruit, not the fireworks.
- Elijah on Carmel: fire falls, Baal is silent, and the people cry that the Lord is God. Then the prophet runs, sits under a broom tree, and asks to die. Victory does not vaccinate a servant against discouragement.
- Jezebel threatened him; she did not kill him. Elijah is translated — chariots, not a queen’s sword. Seven miracles mark his ministry, including raising the dead. God finishes a prophet’s story on His own terms.
- Elisha asked for a double portion and saw fourteen miracles — twice Elijah’s seven. The mantle is not a souvenir; it is a call to more of the same God.
- Isaiah is the prince of prophets. Chapter 6 is the call — holy, holy, holy, and a coal on the lips. Hold the book as one; and 7:14 already names the virgin birth of Jesus.
Key terms
People, places, and words that matter
Elijah's discouragement resolved
Carmel is fire, rain, and a nation crying that the Lord is God — then Jezebel’s threat, a broom tree, and a prophet who asks to die. Discouragement is not…
Unity of Isaiah authorship
This course holds Isaiah as one book and one prophet — the prince of prophets, called in chapter 6 with a coal on his lips. Critics split him into two or three…
Foretelling
Foretelling is real; it is not the main diet
Baal
Baal is silent, and the people cry that the Lord is God
Elijah
Elijah is translated — chariots, not a queen’s sword
Isaiah
Isaiah is the prince of prophets
Structure
Outline / timeline
- Office, methods, and marks of a prophet
- Elijah's discouragement resolved
- Unity of Isaiah authorship
Must remember
Facts to keep straight
| Quiz score | 100% (1 attempt) |
|---|---|
| Preach | The prophets are the last section of the Old Testament. After law and history, God still has a voice — not a sideshow, but the Lord… |
| Preach | Forth-tell and foretell: the prophet speaks for God. Most of the work is preaching — calling kings and people back — not a calendar of… |
| Key claim | True-prophet marks sit in Deuteronomy 18 and 13: the word comes to pass, and it never leads you after other gods. A sign that sells… |
Compare
Side-by-side contrasts
Clarify
- The prophets are the last section of the Old Testament. After law and history, God still has a voice
- Not: a sideshow, but the Lord preaching to a people who already have a temple.
For the pulpit
Sermon hooks
- After law and history, God still has a voice — not a sideshow, but the Lord preaching to a people who already have a temple.
- Most of the work is preaching — calling kings and people back — not a calendar of tomorrow.
- Most of the work is preaching, not a calendar of tomorrow.
- For the pulpit: test the fruit, not the fireworks, and keep the office as a preacher’s call before it is a seer’s.
Quiz drill
Quiz drill / review · open to practice · 10 items
Quiz score: 100% · 1 attempt
1. The study of the Prophets constitutes the last section of the Old Testament.
TrueLaw, history, then the prophets — this is the last sweep of the Old Testament. The office still speaks after the kings have their say.
2. Most of the prophets in the Bible are focused on foretelling the future.
FalseForth-telling is the main work: preaching God’s word to the people in front of them. Foretelling is real, but it is not most of the diet.
3. Ahab's great adversary was Elisha the prophet.
FalseAhab’s great adversary is Elijah — Carmel, the drought, Naboth’s vineyard. Elisha wears the mantle after him.
4. Elijah was known as the prophet who had raised the dead.
TrueThe widow’s son at Zarephath lives again. Among Elijah’s seven miracles, raising the dead is not a rumor.
5. Baal was known as the sun god and fertility god.
TrueThat is the rival on Carmel — sun and fertility, fire and rain promised, and not a spark when the true God answers.
6. Elijah suffered from discouragement.
TrueAfter Carmel he runs from Jezebel, sits under a broom tree, and asks to die. A prophet can be faithful and still be spent.
7. Elijah suffered a cruel and untimely death at the hand of Jezebel.
FalseJezebel threatened him; she did not kill him. Elijah is translated — taken up, not cut down.
8. Elisha saw twice the number of miracles that Elijah did.
TrueElijah seven; Elisha fourteen — the double portion he asked for when the mantle fell.
9. Isaiah is called the prince of prophets.
TrueThat is his title in this survey: the prince of prophets, called in chapter 6, still preaching Christ.
10. Isaiah foretold the virgin birth of Jesus Christ.
TrueIsaiah 7:14 — Immanuel, born of a virgin. The gospel does not invent that promise; it names the Child.
Essay themes
If you preach or review
Office, methods, and marks of a prophet
The prophetic office is the last section of the Old Testament: God still has a voice after law and kings. Methods are forth-telling and foretelling — speaking for God, and sometimes speaking of what is yet to come. Most of the work is preaching, not a calendar of tomorrow. Marks of a true prophet sit in Deuteronomy 18 and 13: the word comes to pass, and it never leads the people after other gods. A sign that sells idolatry is still a lie. For the pulpit: test the fruit, not the fireworks, and keep the office as a preacher’s call before it is a seer’s.
Elijah's discouragement resolved
Carmel is fire, rain, and a nation crying that the Lord is God — then Jezebel’s threat, a broom tree, and a prophet who asks to die. Discouragement is not unbelief in this story; it is a spent servant after a public victory. God meets him: food, sleep, a still small voice, and a reminder that he is not the only one left. Jezebel does not get the last word; Elijah is translated, not murdered. Preach this to pastors who won on Sunday and cannot get out of bed on Monday — the Lord still knows how to find a prophet in the wilderness.
Unity of Isaiah authorship
This course holds Isaiah as one book and one prophet — the prince of prophets, called in chapter 6 with a coal on his lips. Critics split him into two or three voices because the later chapters see exile and return; the church does not have to. The same holy God who sends the seraphim can name Cyrus and the virgin-born Immanuel (7:14) before either arrives. For sermon and review: do not farm the book out to anonymous disciples. Let Isaiah preach Christ from one mouth.