The concept of prophets holds significant importance among God's people, particularly in discerning truth from error in matters of faith. God Himself speaks through Moses in Deuteronomy 18:15, declaring that He will raise up a Prophet like Moses from among the brethren, whom the people must hear. God warns in Deuteronomy 18:19 that whoever refuses to listen to His words spoken through this Prophet will be held accountable by Him. This admonition urges God's people to be vigilant, both in obeying the words of Jesus Christ and in recognizing any potential end-time fulfillment of this Prophet, should such a figure appear. In Deuteronomy 18:20-22, God provides criteria to identify true and false prophets. He states that a prophet who speaks in His name without His command, or in the name of other gods, shall face death. God anticipates the confusion His people may experience with self-professed prophets and offers a clear test: if a prophet's predictions do not come to pass, it proves that God has not spoken through him, and the people should not fear or obey such a man. Even if predictions are fulfilled, God's people must remain cautious and test the spirits to ensure the prophet bears the fruits of God's Spirit. The possibility of a modern-day claimant declaring himself as God's end-time prophet raises critical considerations. Such a man must understand the gravity of his claims, as God asserts that the prophecies of His true prophets come directly from Him and will be fulfilled. If a self-professed prophet's predictions fail, he reveals himself as a fraud and faces severe consequences. God's historical communication with His true prophets, through direct interaction, dreams, or visions, sets a standard for any contemporary claimant to substantiate his authority. God reassures His people in Amos 3:7 that He will do nothing significant without first revealing His plans through His servants, the prophets. Jesus Christ reinforces this promise in John 15:15, affirming that He shares all He has heard from the Father with His followers, whom He calls friends. This assurance instills confidence that God will clearly and understandably inform His people of any significant actions, including the sending of an end-time leader, ensuring they can recognize His true servant.

True prophets, the biblical kind, receive direct revelations from God, who declares the end from the beginning and ensures that His counsel shall stand. Whether through a dream, vision, or direct conversation with God, a true prophet can be confident in the accuracy of his predictions because the Source never fails. False prophets, however, may perform signs and wonders through the power of satan, deceiving many, as seen with the magicians of Egypt or the end-time False Prophet who will lead people to worship the Beast. Signs and miracles alone are not proof of a prophet's authenticity. The spiritual message accompanying a prophet's predictions must be examined to determine if it leads people toward or away from God. No matter how impressive or accurate a prophet's miracles or prophecies, his credibility depends on this alignment with God's truth.

Prophets hold a vital and enduring role in God's plan, as established within the law. God appointed individuals to the prophetic office, and their guidance is evidenced by their preaching of obedience to His commandments. They conserve past truths while also breaking new ground in doctrine, faithfully delivering messages that are both current and rooted in what has already been revealed. Prophets forthtell, conveying God's message clearly and authoritatively to the intended recipients, and occasionally foretell future events, though foretelling is not a requirement of their role. Their fidelity to God's message, as exemplified by Moses and Jesus Christ, who was also a Prophet, remains a hallmark of their calling. John the Baptist, an Old Covenant prophet whose work is recorded in the New Testament, stands as the last and greatest of the Old Testament prophets. Jesus declared that no one born of women was greater than John, emphasizing his unparalleled significance among all men. Beyond being a prophet, John was much more, fulfilling a distinct prophecy as the forerunner of the Messiah. His greatness lay in his office, his call to repentance, and his preparation of the way for Christ, executed with humility and zeal. John voluntarily receded into the background when the Messiah appeared, demonstrating personal attributes of character above reproach, self-denial, and courage in the face of opposition. His entire life, from the womb, was devoted to God, culminating in martyrdom, marking him as the crown of the Old Testament prophets. John's ministry, though short, was profoundly impactful, turning the small nation of Judea on its spiritual ear through word-of-mouth. Despite his distinctive appearance and diet, which aligned with the poor of his time, he was no wild man but a powerful speaker whose words commanded deep consideration. The common people regarded him as a prophet, and even the highest Jewish authorities feared his reputation, recognizing the influence he wielded. His message of judgment confronted the powerful establishment, including the Pharisees and Sadducees, often leading to rejection by those in authority, while publicans and harlots accepted his teaching. John's relationship with Herod Antipas was complex, marked by respect and fear due to John's growing influence and popularity, which Herod perceived as a potential political threat. John's condemnation of Herod's adulterous and incestuous marriage to Herodias ultimately led to his imprisonment and death, yet his impact endured, with some attributing Herod's later military defeat as divine judgment for John's martyrdom. John fulfilled prophecies from Isaiah and Malachi as the messenger preparing the way for the Messiah. By God's own estimation, he was great from the start, an accolade unmatched by any other prophet. His ministry restored understanding, straightening out misconceptions about the Messiah and enabling people to recognize Him when He came. Like Elijah, whose work he resembled, John revealed the true God through a message of repentance without performing miracles, proving that God's measure of greatness differs from human standards. Jesus affirmed that John was the Elijah prophesied in Malachi, fulfilling the role of turning the hearts of fathers to children and children to fathers, emphasizing the importance of family in preparing for God's kingdom.

In the book of Revelation, a religious personality known as the False Prophet is foretold to arise during the end times under Satan's dominion, deceiving the world with miraculous signs. This individual, also called another beast, wields tremendous religious influence, inspired by the Dragon, and convinces most of the world to commit idolatry by performing signs like calling fire down from heaven. The False Prophet's actions lead people to give allegiance to and worship the Beast. A true prophet speaks for God, delivering His ordained message, expressing His will in words, and sometimes using signs to demonstrate His power. In contrast, a false prophet speaks falsely, either for the wrong god or misrepresenting the true God, often driven by personal motives or demonic influence. The essential role of a prophet is to represent God accurately, not merely to predict the future, though a false prophet is identified if their predictions fail or if their message leads away from true worship of God. False prophets do not uphold God's moral standards or convict people of sin, often focusing on personal gain, power, or popularity rather than God's law. True prophets consistently point to God and His commandments, showing people their sins, while false prophets may point to themselves or other entities for their own benefit. The False Prophet in Revelation directs the world to worship the Beast, an act contrary to the true prophetic role of pointing solely to God. The fruits of a prophet's life and the content of their words reveal their true nature. True prophets, like John the Baptist, focus on God's work without drawing attention to themselves, while false prophets often exhibit covetousness and self-will, speaking words that contradict Scripture and God's law. By their words and actions, false prophets are condemned for leading people astray.