This morning, I received an email announcing that Tyler Henry, a well-known medium, will be featured on Netflix. We are told that his readings can bring hope, healing, and even answers for those who have lost loved ones. Tyler is a medium that seemingly communicates with loved ones who have passed to the other side (of death). In the Bible, a medium and a prophet serve very different roles, both in practice and in spiritual authority. This made me wonder: what are the differences between these supernatural experiences and the gift of prophecy as it functions in the New Testament church? Well, in the Book of Acts, we can find examples of both a medium and a prophet, each illustrating their different roles and moral standing in relation to God.

An example of a prophet in the Book of Acts is Agabus. In Acts 11:27-28, Agabus is described as a prophet who, through the Holy Spirit, predicted a severe famine that would spread over the entire Roman world. This prophecy led the early Christians to provide aid to those in need. Agabus appears again in Acts 21:10-11, where he prophesies that Paul will be bound by the Jews and handed over to the Gentiles. Agabus’s prophecies come from God, aligning him with the biblical role of a prophet as a spokesperson for divine revelation.

What about a medium? Well, in Acts 16, a girl operated through an unclean spirit, while Agabus acted as a prophet under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. An example of a medium or a spiritist can be found in Acts 16:16-18. This passage describes a slave girl in Philippi who had a “spirit of divination,” enabling her to predict the future. She followed Paul and his companions, proclaiming they were “servants of the Most High God.” While what she said was true, her ability came from an evil spirit, not from God. Paul, troubled by this, commanded the spirit to leave her in the name of Jesus Christ, and she was freed from its influence. This passage illustrates a medium-like figure whose powers were not of God and was ultimately condemned by the apostle.

Here’s a comparison:

God specifically chooses a prophet to receive and deliver His messages to people. They play an essential role in communicating God’s will, offering guidance, correction, and sometimes foretelling future events as God reveals them. Throughout both the Old and New Testaments, prophets like Moses, Isaiah, and Jeremiah are recognized as individuals who spoke directly on God’s behalf. Their messages are authoritative because they come straight from God, not from other spirits or sources, as seen in passages like Deuteronomy 18:18-19.

Prophets receive direct revelation from God, and their work is deeply aligned with His will. They often call people to repentance and obedience, emphasizing the importance of living according to God’s laws. In Scripture, prophets are highly regarded as God’s spokespersons, and their legitimacy is confirmed when their prophecies come true, as noted in Deuteronomy 18:22. What does the Bible say about Mediums?

According to the Bible, a medium is someone who tries to communicate with the dead or with spirits, often to gain knowledge or guidance through occult practices like necromancy. The Bible strongly condemns mediums and spiritists, with passages like Leviticus 19:31 and Deuteronomy 18:10-12 forbidding the act of consulting them. A well-known example is when King Saul consulted the medium at Endor to summon the spirit of Samuel (1 Samuel 28), which was condemned by God.

Mediums rely on communication from the dead or other spiritual entities, seen as dark or forbidden practices in Scripture. Seeking their guidance is portrayed as a rebellion against God because it relies on sources of knowledge that are not from Him. In the Bible, mediums are viewed as practitioners of forbidden arts, leading people away from God and into deception. The critical differences between prophets and mediums are significant. Prophets receive their messages from God, while mediums seek knowledge from spirits or the dead. Prophets operate under God’s authority, delivering His will to the people, whereas mediums engage in practices explicitly forbidden by God. Regarding moral standing, prophets are revered as instruments of God, trusted to guide people according to His will. On the other hand, mediums are condemned for engaging in occult practices, which lead people away from God’s truth.

What about fortune tellers and modern-day prophets?

I know that in South Africa, old caravans on the side of the road and the practice of fortune-telling are still happening. Even in African traditional religions, the Sangoma or Nyanga can predict the future and advise individuals on business decisions. So, are fortune-telling and prophecy the same thing?

Fortune-telling and prophesying both offer glimpses into the future, but they differ in their nature, purpose, and sources of authority. The first key difference lies in where the revelations or predictions come from. Always ask, “What is the source of the individual’s revelation?” For the fortune teller, their practice typically draws from occult methods. Fortune tellers often use tools like tarot cards, astrology, or palm readings to make predictions. The source of their knowledge is usually ambiguous, attributed to supernatural forces, spirits, or even personal intuition. The insight is often vague, leaving room for interpretation.

What about modern-day prophets? For Christians, any revelation, in contrast to mediums, is rooted in religious or divine authority. In  Christianity, prophecy is seen as a direct message from God. Prophets are considered vessels, passing on messages of guidance or warning to individuals or communities. These revelations are often straightforward, direct, and purposeful. The motivation behind predictions is another significant difference.

Fortune Tellers focus on personal outcomes—love, wealth, health, or career success. People visit fortune tellers out of curiosity or for personal gain, hoping to find out what the future holds. The intent is often individualistic, aimed at satisfying the personal desires of the client.

Prophecies often guide individuals or entire communities toward spiritual growth or alignment with God’s will. They confront sin and bring healing and grace. Prophecies are meant to encourage, correct, or reveal divine plans, with intent more focused on collective or spiritual outcomes rather than personal gain. Prophets can guide individuals in a specific direction, but the desired outcome is always to make God’s will known. 

Maybe another essential point to consider is how you know if an individual is merely “fortune telling” or if he is prophesying. It is interesting to note that predictions from fortune tellers can be vague and open to interpretation, making them difficult to test or verify. There is often no clear standard for determining whether a fortune teller’s predictions have come true, and clients may interpret the outcomes in various ways. Usually, fortune tellers use cold reading, where they seem to fish for a word, name, or experience to relate to the individual they are reading to. Not so in legitimate prophecy. Prophecies, particularly in religious contexts, are subject to testing. For instance, in Christianity, prophecies are expected to be consistent with scripture. They can be tested by their fulfillment (Deuteronomy 18:22). If a prophecy aligns with divine teachings and comes to pass, it is considered validated. There’s a more structured approach to verifying a prophecy’s legitimacy than fortune telling.

Conclusion

While fortune telling and prophesying involve predictions about the future, their sources, purposes, and ethical frameworks diverge significantly. Fortune telling typically revolves around personal gain, using ambiguous sources, and is often viewed skeptically. In contrast, prophesying is grounded in divine authority, serves broader spiritual purposes, and operates within a more structured moral framework. Let me say that understanding these differences can help individuals discern the practices they engage with and their implications in various cultural and religious contexts. Whether one seeks personal insights or divine guidance, the choice between fortune-telling and prophesying depends heavily on one’s values and beliefs.

Perhaps you received a message from someone and now realize it was simply a medium speaking to you. Maybe you received a prophecy that changed your life! Please feel free to share any comments you have; I would love to hear from you.