I was listening to Catholic radio this week and the discussion between the host and a guest referenced 2 Chronicles 20 in the Bible. The discussion impelled me to go to my office and study this chapter.
The city of Jerusalem (the children of Judah under king Jehoshaphat) were being besieged by a league of enemies. A man named Jahaziel, in whom the spirit of God had fallen upon, told the people to “be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. In short, he told them what to do and trust in God and see His salvation (protection in this sense) extended to them.
Jahaziel’s words reached the heart of Jehoshaphat who in turn pleaded with his people the next morning, “O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper” (See 2 Chronicles 20:14-21). And they did. The league of enemies who had come against them fell upon each other and destroyed one another.
A few years later, a new king and another generation of people in Jerusalem returned to idols, false worship, and perversions. The text describes it thus, “And they left the house of the Lord God of their fathers, and served groves and idols and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass. Yet, he sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the Lord; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear” (2 Chronicles 24:18-19, Italics for emphasis).
These verses confirm something I already believe, and know to be true: God sends prophets. Especially in our day, which the scriptures refer to as the last days or the “dispensation of the fulness of times” (Ephesians 1:10). If he sent prophets before the flood and before His coming into mortality, why wouldn’t He send them before the fire?
The Lord is in the saving business not the destruction business. He has sent prophets in our day to help us prepare, progress, and be protected as the last days unfold. He has sent prophets to restore truths, ordinances, and covenants. He sends them to testify of the resurrected Savior, Jesus Christ.
Consider how the Savior defended his servants, the prophets who lived before His mortal ministry. “Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute: That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation….Woe unto you…for ye have taken away the key of knowledge” (Luke 11:49-52).
The key of the knowledge of God has always come by the gospel being administered by those given authority by God. A study of the scriptures will give us greater understanding of the profile of a true prophet. With that knowledge, we can wisely accept His modern-day prophets.
