People in the religious world are accustomed to being impressed by people calling themselves prophets and apostles, and they seem to think nothing of the dangers that are guaranteed in the choice of depending on those messengers. A critical moment came when Yahweh opened up a cleansing operation for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness (Zech 13:1b). To appreciate this development we search for the timing, and for the meaning of uncleanness. That being done we can then reckon with the demise of the prophets since on the same day Yahweh also turns messaging over to his son.

Fountain Day for David is also Idol and Prophet and Demon Demise Day

The relationship between the cleansing and the removal of idols, prophets and unclean spirits leaps into view when the prediction of Moses concerning a prophet with whom the buck will stop.  The buck had presumably been passing from patriarch to prophet, from prophet to prophet-king, from prophet-king to priest, and from priest to scribe.  How can it be that he who spoke face to face with Moses not have a one-to-one with the people who Moses led?

Idol and Prophet and Demon Demise Day

“And on that day, declares the LORD of hosts, I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, so that they shall be remembered no more. And also I will remove from the land the prophets and the spirit of uncleanness. (Zech 13:2)

The prophet dive

In the Messianic revelation the official announcer is recognized as more than a prophet and as the greatest person to be born. Where exactly does that mean prophets? Without a horn to blow.

The primacy of prophetic ministry rolls to a stop with John the Baptist. The leaders in the Church are apostles who are prophets, but definitely not prophets pointing out people’s sins. The apostles are the Church’s foundation. They have no counterpart in the modern era. Their role is not duplicated for any reason. Their role cannot be duplicated for any reason.  There is also that episode in the synoptic gospels where the scribes admit their crookedness and shallow commitment to truth.

John’s authority trips them up and Yeshua’s corners them

Mark tells the story as involving the chief priests, scribes and elders.  “They came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to Him,” (Mark 11:27, NASB).  Matthew tells us the encounter was between Yeshua, chief priests and elders.  “When He entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to Him while He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?” (Matthew 21:23, NASB).  Luke’s version of the encounter reports chief priests, scribes and elders.  “On one of the days while He was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders confronted Him,” (Luke 20:1, NASB).  We are forced to conclude that the Jewish leadership was mired in dodging the arrows of truth, even when EVERYONE with an ear, eye or brain knew who John was. 

Yeshua had recently disrupted the merchant operations in the temple compound, and the supposed guardians of the temple finally caught up with him, and put the following question to him.

When He entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to Him while He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?”

Matthew 21:23, NASB

Nearly every viper in the brood, two thousand years later, is racing away from the finish. What exactly is a movement of people without a prophet? Sheep exposed to wolves. Every disaster in biblical interpretation and every bold declaration of exceptionality over the last two millennia can be laid at the feet of a prophet under the influence of a demon. Paul’s prediction of people departing from the faith in the latter times is also confirmation of how people have always abandoned God so they can follow their own tradition of a prophet. When will people learn? Never! Play-acting power-tripping saints never learn and never wriggle out from under their woes, because when the truth was in their faces they looked the other way, back to their ancestors and bucket-kicking prophets.