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THE PROPHETESS MINISTRY

  • Writer: Joseph Durso
    Joseph Durso
  • Jan 2
  • 4 min read

Ruth Graham Bell

Ruth Graham Bell as many women in the 20th and 21st Centuries who know God's Word are sometimes called to share it.
Ruth Bell Graham with her four children.

Ruth Bell Graham was the most reported for having made the statement in 1965, "If God does not punish America, He will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah." The prophet or Prophetess gives the warning, and His people must pray that the people take it to heart. God will not be apologizing to Sodom and Gomorrah!


We live in a day when anything goes, from the most immoral, like the LGBTQ, to a thing not in accord with God's Word, like a woman pastor. I am not writing this post, at this time, to argue the point one way or another, but to say that I have become aware of several women on the web who have many wonderful and prophetic words for our present, godless culture. Furthermore, it is my understanding that the Church, in general, could be doing better than it is and that scripture does have something to say about God's use of prophetesses in His Word.


God inspired no woman to write His Word. Mention of women with a prophetic ministry occurs 7 times throughout scripture. Men are spoken of far more. We can say without fear of contradiction that the constant condition of the world is godless, idolatrous, and constantly being corrupted by the devil. For this reason, all prophets have warning ministries to cultures under God's wrath. Equally valid is that all prophetesses in scripture have the same ministry.


The Prophetess Ministry Of Miriam

We can read the following: "Miriam the Prophetess, Aaron's sister, took the timbrel in her hand, and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dancing. 21 Miriam answered them, 'Sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted; the horse and his rider He has hurled into the sea.'" (Exodus 15:20-21) It says, Miriam answered. What was the question? The question from the women was, "How did this happen? Miriam's answer pointed to the Lord, as all prophets would. All but a few in Israel died in the wilderness; it was a godless time!


The Prophetess Ministry of Deborah

Then again, in Judges 4, we read: "Then the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD... "Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time...." Judges was a dark period to be sure, "Every man did what was right in his own eyes." (Judges 21:25) Nevertheless, God always has his servants to prophesy of His righteousness and mercy. Sometimes God uses a prophetess to reveal men's weaknesses. She received the honor in the story and not the men who went to war because she had to go along.


The Prophetess Ministry of Huldah

One of the most godly kings in Israel's history was Josiah, who began to rule at the age of 8. He did right in the sight of the Lord despite the incredible fact that until his 18th year, he was without the Word of God. After it was found and he read it, he tore his clothes and sought godly advice. "So Hilkiah and those whom the king had told went to Huldah the prophetess," (2 Chronicles 34:21-22)


In Isaiah 8, God used a prophetess to conceive, so the time frame of his coming wrath was set by her Son's age. He used Uriah the priest and Zechariah the Son of Jeberechiah as witnesses. It seems strange, but only God sees the future.


The Prophetess Ministry of Anna

Then in Luke 2:36 (emphasis added), "There was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher." She lost her husband early and was incredibly devoted to God in the temple with fastings and prayers until she was 84. We are told in verse 38, "At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him (Jesus) to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem."


The Prophetess Ministry of 4 Virgin Daughters

"Entering the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we stayed with him. 9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who were prophetesses... (Acts 21:8 & 9)The time of this happening was toward the end of the Apostolic era. Paul was nearing his martyrdom. The Apostles had been writing to curb corruption among the Ekklesias (Regenerate Gatherings). Satan never stops corrupting, and prophets and prophetesses never stop warning. The big question is, do the regenerate hear what they have to say?


The Prophetess Ministry Of A False Prophetess

Lastly, as we are warned against false prophets, so are we warned against false prophetesses. "But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My slaves astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols." (Revelation 2:20)


What are the lessons to be learned?

  1. God can use a woman Prophetess anytime He desires.

  2. The devil is always corrupting the world, Israel, or the Church.

  3. A Prophet or Prophetess must hear from God through or in accordance with His Holy Word.

  4. Prophets or Prophetesses are children of God, endowed with a gift of setting forth God's will of wrath or blessing in the Old or New Testaments.

  5. Male Prophets or Female Prophetesses can be authentic or false.

  6. God speaks to men and women alike, or else there can be no understanding. 1 Corinthians 2.

  7. It is the Spirit of the living God sent by the Father, and discloses the Son who enlightens the hearts of all those who believe through regeneration.




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