Hi Calvin,
You make a good point. We as simple humans cannot definitively say what this word actually means. I say it is the second coming of Christ, Major says it is the Bible and you say it is a state of complete understanding. So to completely disregard the gifts of the Holy Spirit as operational today based mainly on this one scripture is not a good practise.
We need to understand why the gifts of the Holy Spirit are given and then we need to understand in what way are they supposed to be practised.
Prophetic words which warn the church about apostacy, lust, greed, lack of love etc are in effect today but mostly disregarded because people only want to hear words of encouragement.
Prophetic words which encourage the church are in abundance today - amazingly enough most of them revolve arround prosperity and living a blessed life in Christ. Some may be true others should be thrown in the dustbin.
I have personally been used by God to bring a prophetic word to our pastor, unfortunately it was a message of warning which he disregarded. When it was fulfilled suddenly he was shaken awake and wanted to know more, but God did not give me more so he went away disillusioned. I do not claim to be a prophet, but God does use His people to bring words of warning, rebuke, encouragement and discernment for the sole purpose of edifying the church.
To give another example, while I was praying the other night, I got a picture of a Lion running through the grass. The power, majesty and incredible intent in which this lion was running was exceptionally impressive. Then I got the scripture about the Lion of Judah - a Messianic Title. Then through further prayer, the Holy Spirit said that Jesus is just as powerful as He was when He created the universe, just as intent on completing His will and we can choose to run behind Him or be flattened if we stand in His way. This if I choose to bring it to the church is a prophetic utterence which will point the church towards the majesty and the second coming of Christ.
In my experience the gift of prophecy is very much alive today but we need to also discern between the false and the true. Just because the false prevails today does not minimise the true.
Kevin.......I do not believe that we are to disreguard the gifts of the Holy Spirit at all my dear friend.
On the contrary I believe we need to rely on them more now as the 2nd Coming of Jesus is drawing close.
I think our differances on this subject lie in the definaition of the word "prophetic".
Example: you state that ............
"I have personally been used by God to bring a prophetic word to our pastor, unfortunately it was a message of warning which he disregarded."
I have had the same thing happen on more that one occasion to me. I just did not consider it "prophetic" but simply the ability to speak the truth to someone who I knew by observation was in sin or falling short of God's expectations of them. Then just as I am instructed in God's Word I went to those people and told them what was going on and how they shuld correct their actions. I personally do not consider that "prophetic".
MY understanding of "Prophetic" and how I am referring to it it here is when a person tells others that for example:
"God has spoken to me and given me a PROPHETIC word for all of you. On November 1, 1999 the moon will explode".
OR better yet a real one............"God has said to me that if we do not raise 9 million dollars by next month, I WILL DIE".
Those are called "Prophetic" by the church (some denomionations) when in fact they are predictions of future events.
Again..........There is FORTH TELLING which I believe is the product of correctly expounding the Word of God and then there is FORE TELLING which come from the perceived heart of man which tells us of an impending event or action we need to take because God has sopken to a man.
IMHO God has spoken to us by His dear Son and there is nothing we can or should add to what He has said. IF a person thinks he has a prophetic utterance, IMO we should be able to locate that in God's written Word of truth.
IF we can not then we open the door of opportunity for men to do what they do best and that is to SIN.
Hence we have the Properity Gospel teachers, and the Name it and Claim it crowd who have totally misrepresented the Word of God for their personal gain.