BIBLE PROPHETESSES

BIBLE STUDY WRITTEN BY

PASTOR JANICE L. WILLIAMS

Scriptures printed in red, are words spoken by JESUS

The following Bible translations were used for this Bible Study

• CEV = CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH VERSION

• KJV = KING JAMES VERSION

BIBLE STUDY

FOR

OCTOBER

20th-27th, 2010  continuing thru November 3rd-10th, 2010, November 10th-17th, 2010,  November 17th-24th, 2010

then thru:

 Wednesday, December 1st thru 15th, 2010 

LET'S LOOK AT SOME WORD DEFINITIONS FOR THIS BIBLE STUDY

• PROPHET [male] PROPHETESS [female]/in Christianity: somebody who interprets divine will: somebody who interprets or passes on the will of GOD.  1st CORINTHIANS 14:1 CEV * BE EAGER TO HAVE THE GIFTS THAT COME FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT, ESPECIALLY THE GIFT OF PROPHECY.  

[Please review weekly Bible Study #17 "SPIRITUAL GIFTS"]

• MONOTHEISM - the belief that there is only one God [In Christianity-One God in three persons 

 [Please review Weekly Bible Study #22 "The Trinity"]

MIRIAM THE PROPHETESS,  THE SISTER OF AARON [& MOSES SISTER]  EXODUS 15:20 KJV * And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.

DEBORAH, A PROPHETESS,  & WIFE OF LAPIDOTH      [ SHE WAS ALSO A JUDGE OF ISRAEL, PLEASE SEE JUDGES 4:4 KJV]

Deborah the prophetess and judge of Israel, asked the Israelite Commander Barak, to lead their army against Jabin, the king of Canaan, whose military captain was Sisera.  Deborah spoke a prophetic word to Barak that Sisera would be defeated, but, at the hand of a woman, not for his honor but for the LORD'S. (please see Judges 4:2 thru 24 KJV)

HULDAH THE PROPHETESS,  THE WIFE OF SHALLUM, SHE LIVED IN THE COLLEGE IN JERUSALEM 2nd KINGS 22:14 KJV, 2nd CHRONICLES 34:22 KJV

PROPHETESS NOADIAH,  MENTIONED IN THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH 6:14 KJV

PROPHETESS, SPOKEN OF IN THE BOOK OF ISAIAH 8:3 KJV

ANNA, A PROPHETESS, DAUGHTER OF PHANUEL, OF THE TRIBE OF ASER LUKE 2:36 KJV

ANNA CONFIRMED THE WORDS OF SIMEON, THAT THE BABY JESUS  IS THE LORD'S CHRIST.  LUKE 2:25 thru 38 NKJV * 25/ And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  26/ And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.  27/ So he came by the Spirit into the temple.  And when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, 28/ he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: 29/ "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; 30/ For my eyes have seen Your salvation 31/ Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, 32/ A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel."  33/ And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him.  34/ Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken of Him. 35/ "(yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also)' that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."  36/ Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel,  of the tribe of Asher.  She was of great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; 37/and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fasting and prayers night and day.  38/ and coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him {JESUS} to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.  

JEZEBEL, SELF PROCLAIMED PROPHETESS REVELATION 2:20 thru 22 KJV * [JESUS SPEAKING] 20/NOT WITHSTANDING I HAVE A FEW THINGS AGAINST THEE, BECAUSE THOU SUFFEREST [ALLOWED] THAT WOMAN JEZEBEL, WHICH CALLETH HERSELF A PROPHETESS, TO TEACH AND TO SEDUCE MY SERVANTS TO COMMIT FORNICATION, AND TO EAT THINGS SACRIFICED UNTO IDOLS.  21/AND I GAVE HER SPACE TO REPENT OF HER FORNICATION; AND SHE REPENTED NOT.  22/BEHOLD, I WILL CAST HER INTO A BED, AND THEM THAT COMMIT ADULTERY WITH HER INTO GREAT TRIBULATION, EXCEPT THEY REPENT OF THEIR DEEDS.  

False prophetesses and their magic bands

Ezekiel 13:17-23 * "Now you, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people who are prophesying from their own inspiration. Prophesy against them and say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Woe to the women who sew magic bands on all wrists and make veils for the heads of persons of every stature to hunt down lives! Will you hunt down the lives of My people, but preserve the lives of others for yourselves? . . . therefore, you women will no longer see false visions or practice divination, and I will deliver My people out of your hand. Thus you will know that I am the LORD."

 The Bible tells us of women in God-given positions of power and influence.

Six women in scripture are expressly stated as possessing the title of prophet or prophetess: five under the old covenant and one, Anna, is mentioned in the new testament.

Also, Philip is mentioned in Acts as having four daughters who prophesied which brings the number of prophetesses mentioned to ten. {Acts 21:8-9 * On the next day we who were Paul's companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.}

Marital status was not a prerequisite to be considered a Bible Prophetess of God.

• Three were married (Deborah, Huldah, and obviously Isaiah's wife) 
• One was a widow (Anna)
• Four were virgins (Philip's daughters)
• Two do not have their marital status mentioned (Miriam and Noadiah)

Jezebel, in the book of Revelations, calls herself a prophetess but she is considered false.

On occasion, other women in scripture also prophesied, but were not expressly described as prophesying. These women include:

• Rachel (Gen. 30:24)
• Hannah (1 Sam. 2:1-10) 
• Abigail (1 Samuel 25:29-31)
• Elizabeth (Luke 1:41-45), and 
• Mary, the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:46-55).