Who Were the Major Prophets and What Did They Do?
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The term “prophet” is something that many have likely heard of, both within Christian and non-Christian circles. The term sometimes represents a person called by faith to share God’s prophecies, while others may see prophets as someone after their money, and not spreading Jesus to others.
In the Bible, there are four major prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. All are featured in books from the Bible, and Jeremiah may have written two. All expound valuable, biblical insight that foretold important events that were to happen, that had already happened, and how they all reflect God’s love, care, and discipline of us.
What about these major prophets led to them being classified as “major,” as opposed to the twelve “minor” prophets also featured in the Bible?
As we explore the teachings of these godly men, we will learn what God did in their lives to impact not only their ministries but also their work for the kingdom of God, then and today.
What Is a Prophet?
Before we move forward in discussing the major prophets, let’s first understand what a prophet is. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a prophet is “one who utters divinely inspired revelations; one gifted with more than ordinary spiritual and moral insight; one who foretells future events; an effective or leading spokesman for a cause, doctrine, or group.”
Basically, a prophet is someone with gifted insight of the present and future that is more than an average person would have. Their revelations can only be attributed to a higher power (God in this situation) giving these insights to be used to share with others about future events.
In the Bible, there were categories of prophets listed as major and minor, which is based on the length of their books in God’s Word. Major prophets tended to have longer books in the Bible (the book of Jeremiah is considered the longest) with broader topics, while minor prophets had shorter books that were more specific in topic. The prophets’ works held many prophecies given by God, so the determination of major and minor prophets was based on how long their books were in the Old Testament.
Who Were the Major Prophets, and What Did They Do?
There are four major prophets listed in the Bible: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. Their writings comprise five books of the Bible in the Old Testaments: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations (possibly written by Jeremiah), Ezekiel, and Daniel.
Because their prophetic writings can be hard to interpret at times, some people consider books written by the prophets (both major and minor) as the least desirable to read. The writings of the prophets discuss how important it is for Christian people to change their ways to avoid God’s wrath, shining more of a light on the carnal intentions of people.
Isaiah
Isaiah is the first major prophet to be featured in the Bible, considered the “prince of the prophets” of the major prophets – or Latter Prophets as they are also referred – because his writings were one of the most favored. Isaiah 1:1 explains that the prophet Isaiah received his revelations from God in a vision, one way that prophets can receive messages from God.
Isaiah is spoken about in 2 Kings, about his interactions with the different kings reigning during his ministry. Many people today quote several verses from his writings, such as Isaiah 9:6, 40:31, and 53:2-5.
Jeremiah
Two books of the Bible are believed to be written by the prophet Jeremiah: the book of Jeremiah and Lamentations. Named the “weeping prophet,” Jeremiah writes full expression of his emotions at the difficulties and struggles of the world. At some points in his writings, he scolds the people of Judah for their idolatry and child sacrifices, while at other points, he shared his love for the people of Judah and prayed for them, even when God said to not pray.
The book of Lamentations doesn’t state outright that Jeremiah wrote the book, but several expressions within the content direct many to think they are the words of Jeremiah. The format of the book is poetic, with some laments (stanzas) are set to the number of letters in the Hebrew alphabet. The book discusses the destruction of Jerusalem because of the people’s behavior while also celebrating the love of God and His everlasting reign.
Ezekiel
Ezekiel is remembered because his calling to be a prophet happened while in exile from King Nebuchadnezzar. He is considered the main prophet to be directed most by God through divine symbolism. He too, like Isaiah, received his prophetic writings and teachings from God through a vision. During the time of his prophetic ministry, the people of Judah were back to idolatry and debauchery after the death of King Josiah.
Ezekiel was instructed by God to warn the people of Judah that Jerusalem was to fall because of their behavior and that they were not to mourn her fall. Seven nations were part of Jerusalem’s collapse, deemed as such due to God’s judgment and wrath. Once the city did fall, Ezekiel spoke with hope-filled knowledge that God was to bring restoration, revival, and a future in heaven to the people.
Daniel
Finally, there is the prophet Daniel, one that many do lengthy studies on and even seek to follow his diet to bring glory to God. Unlike the other prophets, Daniel was part of a tradition in which young men of noble families were brought before the king to become teachers and advisors to the king.
Many know that Daniel’s place in King Nebuchadnezzar’s palace wasn’t free from controversy, from his choice of diet to his refusal of worshipping the king, which led to a night in the lion’s den. People also found it unbelievable that Daniel spoke long-term prophecies of Jesus’s ministry, yet his prophecies line up to the events of Jesus and the future.
It is hard to deny that these four prophets were major vehicles of prophecy that shaped who God is to us and what the future looks like for those who reject Him.
Are There Still Prophets Today?
The answer is yes, there are proclaimed prophets around the world today, but are they truly appointed by God like the major prophets? That remains to be seen.
It can be hard to determine if a person is truly a prophet, especially if they quote from the Bible and what they say seems to line up with what is currently happening. But especially in these last days, it is important to keep a clear head on what God said and didn’t say about future events.
Signs to look for are available to identify if the modern-day prophets are prophets from God. It is important to become like the Bereans with those who claim to be divinely appointed prophets. Do your research, ask questions, and pray for God’s guidance on whether to believe what is being shared with you or not. The major prophets fought to help people return to God, and modern-day prophets should have the same mission in mind also.
These Prophets Continue to Guide Us Today
They are recognized voices from the Bible, sharing with readers both in their time and today what God’s judgment would be like for those who disregard Him. They also shared how the Savior’s life, death, and resurrection were all part of God’s plan to reunite with His creation.
Those named the major prophets of the Bible – Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel – are favored prophets who, though their books were longer and harder to interpret than that of minor prophets, brought us the evidence of God’s truth and the importance of seeking His will instead of our own.
Even today, we can see their prophecies as resourceful advice to guide us in living in a fallen world, knowing that what these prophets spoke of centuries ago is still as pertinent today as it was years ago.
Photo credit: Unsplash/Clark Young
