Prophet

Prophet, in the Old Testament of the Bible, a man who by special revelation proclaimed the word of God by oracles and symbolic actions; originally a seer or ecstatic. Often a scourge of the establishment, prophets were religious and social reformers who called for righteousness and faithfulness to God and pronounced judgment on the ungodly. In the early Christian Church prophecy was a recognized charisma, but soon died out except in Montanism, a heretical sect. It was revived among Anabaptists, Quakers, Mormons, and Pentecostals. In Islam Muhammad is the last and greatest prophet. Oracular prophets are found in many religions.

See also: Old Testament.