Copyright 2013 Theresa Harvard Johnson
In a previous article, I was able to address “The Signs of a Prophetic Scribe or a Prophetic Writer” in great detail. Now, it’s time to build upon that foundation and discuss the signs of a scribal prophet. In writing this article, I am making the assumption that you are already aware of the core functions of the office of the prophet so some of those areas may not be mentioned. In addition, most people focus on “prophesying and prophecy” — but also keep in mind that the “administration and instruction” that is released from this office is extremely significant. With that said, there are three additional things that we need to clarify and establish:
1. A scribal prophet is indeed a prophet called and sent by God to operate fully in that Ephesians 4:11 office for the purpose equipping the Body and maturing the saints. This means that those moving in this area should be mature, stable in the faith. The scribal prophet isn’t a separate or different gift from the prophet; rather, it is a distinct function that flows from the foundational call or office that is more prevalent than other areas. In other words, it has become God’s preferred vehicle through which He administrates the office of the prophet in this person’s life.
2. The scribal prophet is not limited to the function of writing. Because The Scribal Anointing is so broad and diverse, the ministry of the scribal prophet crosses into all areas of the scribal ministry (Numbers 11) – instructionally, administratively and creatively. There will, however, generally be one area that is magnified above all others in the course of that scribal prophet’s journey.
3. Finally, the function of the scribal prophet should not be confused with the gift of prophecy or simply being a prophetic person. Despite popular teachings: THEY ARE NOT THE SAME. The foundation Father has given clearly establishes the prophet as being his apostolic, prophetic mouthpiece that is sent on a consistent, specific assignment to or into a specific people group or nation to effectively administrate a specific corporate purpose. The Lord meets prophets directly with His Word and tells them to go, to speak, to do (Deut. 34:10; Numbers 12:8; Amos 3:7; John 12:49; Acts 9:10-17). By corporate, I am referring to change and rewards that will impact and shift generations, lineages, nations, etc. by releasing the will, purpose, and intent of God as it relates to preparation, establishment and change.
The three points above are highlighted to help you distinguish between the general “Signs of a Prophetic Scribe” and this article, “The Distinct Call & Signs of a Scribal Prophet.” In addition, it is important to know that a scribal prophet will demonstrate nearly all the signs of a prophetic scribe in the midst of their ministries a high capacity level. For an expanded view of the ministry of the prophetic scribe, I encourage you to purchase “The Scribal Anointing: Scribes Instructed in the Kingdom of Heaven” and/or register for one of our upcoming scribe schools where we go in-depth in teaching on the five-fold ministry of the scribe.
Also note that this teaching and list includes some of the areas that have stood out to me as I have walked out my scribal ministry and mentored scribes over the past 13 years. This list is original to the ministry entrusted to me – Voices of Christ.
Some of the Distinctive Calls & Signs of a Scribal Prophet include:
- The mature scribal prophet will be commanded to write, demonstrate, administrate or record out of a place of Now, foretelling or forth-telling. The place or state of “now” as I refer to it references discerning the present time or the current state of a situation as God has revealed it. Many times this might be viewed as receiving a word of knowledge, a word of wisdom or even discernment in which absolutely nothing is hidden from the presence of God in the capacity in which that prophet goes forth. Foretelling indicates that the scribal prophet will know future occurrences as revealed by the Lord. Forth-telling indicates that God will cause the prophet to know specifics about what is to come as well as a calling forth those things that are not as though they were. The manifestation of this will be CONSISTENT in the life of that prophet. This is a foundational area for all called and sent prophets. If this element is missing, then the person is probably prophetic – but not in the office. Scribal prophets will often write, demonstrate, administrate or record from the realm of visions and dreams.
Biblical Foundation: Of course we know that Jesus demonstrates this fully in Matthew 24. It is also demonstrated by the scribal apostle John through the book of Revelations, and Ananias of Damascus in Acts 9:10-13.
- The mature scribal prophet will be commanded write, demonstrate, administrate or record in very specific areas assigned by God. They will seldom be all over the place – jumping-in-and-out of disconnected and unrelated streams of understanding. They will have an area of mastery or insight into what God has placed in their hands. There will also be a preparation, guiding, and warning element in the midst of their publishing initiatives. Not only will light be brought forth in the midst of what is prophesied; but conditions and solutions will ALWAYS come forth as well.
Biblical Foundation: John the Immerser, a prophet of God, was passionately driven by the call to repentance; the plan for preparation for Christ; and the need to guide the people of God into this new, reviving dispensation of the Gospel. What He published was a despised message; but it was the fulfillment of what had already been written and prophesied by other patriarchal prophets. He built upon that solid foundation, and was committed beyond measure to the message God had given to him – even to the point of death. He scribally demonstrated His message creatively through prophetic demonstration. He brought forth never-before-heard revelation to the people to whom He was assigned – sin by confession and individual repentance was not a common part of Jewish culture and faith. (Matthew 3)
- The mature scribal prophet will clearly know and identify his or her target. They will know, understand and have made preparation in prayer and have received strategy concerning who the target of their scribal assignment is and how to reach that target.
Biblical Foundation: Every prophet of God called from Genesis to Revelations had clear instructions concerning the people group to whom they were assigned and sent; the message they would deliver; and the means to deliver the message. Pick any prophet in scripture and identify these characteristics in the midst of them. John the Immerser was sent to announce the coming of the Lord to the Jew and the Gentile. Jeremiah was primarily sent to corrupt governments. Daniel was sent to specific kings. Ezekiel was sent to facilitate the cleansing of the church. Jonah was sent to a corrupt nation in a governmental capacity.
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The mature scribal prophet will be drawn exclusively to the Word of God as it is spoken or revealed to them. There will be a compulsion to convey the weighty messages of the Kingdom exactly the way God instructs them – in writing, recording, demonstration or administration. Every dot and tittle will be an excruciating priority. There will rarely be “interpretations of different ways of doing something” in what is released – as they understand completely that “their specific instructions are to that specific group” and should be carried out in that specific way. The biblical foundation for this can be studied out with Holy Spirit through the lives of any prophet in the scripture.
- The mature scribal prophet is extremely cognizant and sensitive to “God’s timing.” This sensitivity can be to a point of annoyance for people who do not understand the anointing of a prophet – as they may often be slow to move or act in the timing of men. In other words, they do not operate under a “rushing or temper-tantrum spirit” or a spirit of “chaos, sloth and procrastination” in the midst of their calling and sending. Mature scribal prophets will have a sensitivity to “the timing” of God in all of their scribal activities. I’m not talking about spooky here; but literally moving when God says move in the midst of developing their scribal projects and releasing them. They will not operate in prematurity or in the spirit of abortion. The sending forth of His Word is too precious to them! The biblical foundation for this can be studied out in some of the following scriptures: Daniel 9:20-27, 1 Samuel 3:1-9; John 7:6; and John 11.
- The mature scribal prophet will be centrally focused on upholding and carrying forth the very mind of Christ – not only revealing the new but upholding every jot and tittle of the Word until its fulfilment after the pattern of Christ. They will consistently hold the fire of God in their pens (the administration of their scribal gifts) over nations and kingdoms – plucking up, breaking down, destroying, overthrowing, planting and building. There will be the identification of the sin or plans of darkness; the overthrowing of sin or the plans of darkness; and strategic building and establishment concerning the things of God. The biblical foundation for this can be found in John 10:10 and Jeremiah 1:9-10.
The final point that I’d like to mention in this article is that the Words and the works of a mature scribal prophet will indeed come to pass. We will SURELY know them by their fruit. I challenge you to go through the scriptures and identify scribal prophets. Can you identify seasoned “scribal prophets” in the earth realm today? Remember that “writing” is only one manifestation of a scribal anointing — there are THREE DISTINCT LEVELS which we cover in The Scribal Anointing book.
Deuteronomy 18:19-22 CJB says, “If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account. But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded him to say, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, must be put to death.” You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD?” If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him. ”
Jeremiah 28:9 CJB says, “As for a prophet who prophesies peace – when the word of that prophet is fulfilled, it will be evident concerning that prophet that ADONAI indeed did send him.”
