Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Actually, what’s most interesting about these scriptures is the fact that Jesus tells his disciples how to distinguish between false prophets (”evil fruit”) and true prophets (”good fruit”). If there were to be no more prophets after Him, couldn’t He just have said, “Anybody claiming to be a prophet is lying.” But instead, He taught us how to recognize a true prophet by the good fruit he bears.

In Amos 3:7, it reads “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

Finally and perhaps most importantly, it should come as no surprise that the Lord continues to speak to His children. As a loving Heavenly Father, he wants to help lead and guide His children in this tumultous world. The words of a living prophet can help us avoid the pitfalls and dangers of the world, and return safely to live with our Heavenly Father again.

In fact, I couldn’t agree more with the 19th-century philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson when he boldly declared to the Harvard Divinity School, “It is my duty to say to you that the need was never greater for new revelation than now. The doctrine of inspiration is lost. Miracles, prophesy, the holy life, exist as ancient history only. Men have come to speak of revelation of somewhat long ago given and done, as if God were dead. It is the office of a true teacher to show us that God is, not was, that He speaketh, not spake.”