General Conclusion

AbstractThe phenomenon of Christian prophecy investigated in this book is controversial. Prophets have easily been associated with religious fanatics who preach doom and gloom. Historical, exegetical, and theological arguments have been adduced by many for the extinction of prophecy. The conclusions in this chapter state that none of these arguments are sound, since they merely argue for the cessation of one form of prophecy, not the prophetic phenomenon itself. This book argues that prophecy never died, but rather proved its dynamism by mutating according to the preconditions of new historical developments. Exploring Christian prophecy as a theme for systematic theology means we should regard revelation as more than a past event. Instead, inherent to revelation is the eternal Word's continuous salvific operation that actualizes and realizes what was given in Christ's Incarnation for the edification of the church. Therewith, prophecy becomes an integral part of revelation as one of the forms in which the Word of God continues to unfold and give itself to the people of God.