The concept of the Prophetic Office raises significant questions about discerning truth from error among God's people. In Deuteronomy 18:15-22, God speaks through Moses, declaring that He will raise up a Prophet like Moses from among the people, whom they must hear. God Himself warns that whoever does not listen to His words spoken through this Prophet will be held accountable by Him. This admonition urges God's people to heed and obey the words of Jesus Christ and to be vigilant in recognizing any potential end-time fulfillment of this Prophet, should such a figure appear. God also provides guidance on identifying true and false prophets. In Deuteronomy 18:20-22, He states that a prophet who speaks in His name without His command, or in the name of other gods, shall face death. If a prophet's predictions do not come to pass, it is clear that God has not spoken through him, marking him as a false prophet whose words should neither be feared nor obeyed. Even if a prophet's predictions do come true, God's people must remain cautious and test the spirits to ensure they are of God, as many false prophets exist in the world. In a scenario where a minister claims to be the Prophet of Deuteronomy 18, using that authority to lead God's people to a proclaimed Place of Safety, his credibility hinges on the fulfillment of his prophecies. God declares that the prophecies of His true prophets will come directly from Him and will be fulfilled, while unfulfilled prophecies reveal a fraud. Any man claiming to be God's end-time prophet must soberly consider the implications of his claims, words, plans, and decisions for himself and for God's true church. God's historical communication with His prophets, through direct interaction, dreams, and visions, serves as a benchmark for evaluating such claims. God reassures His people that He will not act without revealing His intentions through His servants the prophets. Jesus Christ, as a friend and elder brother, affirms that He has shared all He heard from the Father with His followers. This promise instills confidence that God will ensure His people can recognize any true end-time leader, whether a prophet, apostle, or one of the two witnesses, in a clear and orderly manner when the time comes.

God appointed prophets to play a vital and continuing role, especially in times before His word was widely distributed, and provision for them is made within the law. Those He appoints to the prophetic office consistently preach the keeping of His commandments as evidence of the source of their guidance. They conserve past truth while breaking new ground in doctrine. Prophets both forthtell, delivering messages truthfully, clearly, and authoritatively to the intended audience, and occasionally foretell, revealing events before they occur. A man can be a prophet without foretelling, but he will faithfully carry the message God gives him, adhering to the line established from Moses onward, who was faithful in all his house. John the Baptist, an Old Covenant prophet whose work is reported in the New Testament, stands as the last and greatest of the Old Testament prophets. Jesus declared that no prophet, nor any man born of women, was greater than John, emphasizing his unparalleled status. John was much more than a prophet, as he fulfilled a distinct prophecy, a unique honor among prophets. His greatness lay in the office he filled, the subject of repentance, and preparing the way for Christ. He performed this role with humility, zeal, and personal attributes of character above reproach, demonstrating self-denial, courage in opposition, and a life devoted to God from the womb. His ministry, though without miracles, had a profound impact, turning the hearts of many and preparing them for the Messiah. John resembled Elijah in his message and manner, fulfilling prophecies by preaching repentance and revealing the true God, enabling people to see the Messiah when He came. He restored all things by straightening out misconceptions about the Messiah, re-establishing the correct understanding of God's plan. His preaching also turned the hearts of fathers to their children and children to their fathers, addressing family life as a preparation for the coming of the Messiah. Jesus confirmed that John was the Elijah prophesied to come before the Messiah, fulfilling that role completely with no indication of another to follow in that specific office.

The prophetic office, as revealed in Scripture, is fundamentally about speaking for another. A true prophet speaks for God, delivering messages ordained by Him, expressing His will in words, and sometimes using signs to demonstrate divine power. This role is not limited to foretelling the future, though it may include such predictions. The essential function is to represent God accurately, often pointing people to their sins and guiding them toward true worship. In contrast, a false prophet speaks falsely, either for the wrong god or misrepresenting the true God. Such individuals may speak from their own hearts or under demonic influence, leading people away from God's truth. Even if a false prophet performs supernatural acts or accurately predicts events, their central message often deviates from God's path, promoting idolatry or a different spiritual direction. Their failure to uphold God's law and their focus on personal gain, power, or prestige reveal their true nature. The fruits of their lives and the content of their words expose whether they truly represent God or serve another agenda. The False Prophet, described in Revelation, exemplifies this deceitful role. Inspired by the Dragon, this figure wields tremendous religious influence, deceiving the world with miraculous signs like calling fire down from heaven. Through these signs and demonic words, he convinces many to give allegiance to and worship the Beast, leading them into idolatry. Despite the power displayed, the False Prophet's actions and message stand in opposition to God's will, ultimately incurring divine judgment, as he is thrown into the Lake of Fire. Recognizing such a figure requires careful evaluation of their fruits, as deception will be rampant in the end times, challenging even the elect to discern truth from falsehood.