Your Sons & Daughters Shall Prophesy - Prophetic Gifts Today In The New Testament Church

The Reappearance of Prophecy

Zacharias and Elizabeth were an elderly priest couple (at least sixty or more years of age, Luke 1:7) who lived humble lives devoted to God. The angel of God had appeared to Zacharias in the Temple and told him his wife would bear a son. Named John, the son would be like Samson and Samuel, a "life Nazirite" dedicated to God from conception. He would turn many to the Lord and be the forerunner of the coming One. The mir acle conception happened and six months of pregnancy passed. Then, with out announcement, Mary burst in excitedly on the older woman. As Mary greeted her, the unborn John leaped for joy in Elizabeth's womb and she was filled with the Holy Spirit. A loud, prophetic cry escaped her mouth, instantly confirming to Mary that she was truly bearing the Son of God. This was more than an ode to Mary, although it did point up the impor tance of her office. This first song of the dawning of the new age by this elderly daughter of the Levitical system was the fulfillment of all the past hopes of Israel-an homage to and adoration of the Lord Himself. Mary responded with a prophetic hymn of majestic proportions. Known as the Magnificat, it is a wonderful statement of God's mercy in lifting up the downtrodden. Interestingly Mary said nothing about the wondrous life in her womb, nor did she reflect the pessimism and disap pointment of her generation. The mystic life within her released an arte sian well of excitement and blessing, and the marvelous song sponta neously interwove many scattered expressions of the great Hebrew poetical literature. First Mary described her own experience, then declared the glo ries of Israel's God-His holiness, mercy, might and faithfulness. Mary lingered for three months with Elizabeth. It must have been a blessed time for the two mothers-to-be, bonded by the miraculous and the call of God. Zacharias (Luke 1:67-79). Silence had been imposed on the priest because of his hesitancy to believe the angel of God. Finally the nine months passed and Elizabeth gave birth to their son. Excited neighbors and friends hastened to call the child by the father's name, but Elizabeth protested, "He shall be called John" (Luke 1:60). Dissatisfied with her answer, they all turned to the old man, who wrote four simple words: "His name is John" (verse 63). The name means "The Lord Is Gracious." The written declaration broke loose the inner volcano of his soul, and out gushed one of the most impressive, Spirit-empowered prophecies of the entire Bible. Apparently Zacharias had meditated much during his mute condition, for the booming twelve-verse prophecy is laced with thoughts and quotes from Genesis, the Psalms, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Malachi. Not only did he declare redemption, salvation and prophetic fulfillment, but the priest dramatically proclaimed-addressing the child even as he spoke-that John was to be "the prophet of the Most High" 133 •