Jesus Christ is the Last Prophet

Jesus is obviously not the last prophet ever. Jesus said there would be more false prophets in the future: And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.^{Matthew 24:11} These false prophets might show signs and wonders. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.^{Matthew 24:24}

When we say 'Jesus is the last prophet,' we mean Jesus is the last prophet we should listen to. Anyone who comes after Jesus's ascension, but before his return, must be a false teacher. Jesus warned us of this.^{(Matthew 24:24.)}

Basing a major tenement of faith on two verses is not wise. We need to dig deeper into Jesus's explanations to make sure we have the truth.

Jesus interpreted the Parable of the Good Shepherd for us. In it, he said, And a stranger will they^{[the sheep]} not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.^{John 10:5} And the sheep follow the shepherd.^{(The shepherd is Jesus. See John 10:11, 14.)}

The sheep only listen to the shepherd. They do not listen to anyone else. Ezekiel prophesied, And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.^{Ezekiel 34:23} A shepherd to lead even David, who himself was a prophet! This person will be a shepherd. Jesus is this shepherd.

Jesus is serious about being our leader. He said, But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren,^{Matthew 23:10} and Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.^{Matthew 23:12} If we cannot call anyone else 'master' or 'rabbi,' and we recognize there is only one 'shepherd,' then there is no position left for us to listen to except the shepherd Jesus. There are no masters, rabbi, or shepherds that we can recognize. There is only the master, Jesus Christ.

This makes sense. God wants us to listen to him. Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.^{1st Samuel 15:22} Samuel the Prophet understood that listening and obeying was better than sacrificing.

God requires us to listen to a certain prophets. Well before Jesus came, God said, I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.^{Deuteronomy 18:18-19}

Jesus claimed to be this prophet twice when he claimed he only spoke in God's words. Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.^{John 14:10} For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.^{John 12:49} In the next verse, Jesus confirms that you must listen to him. Just like God said, I will require it of him. Jesus says, And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.^{John 12:50}

Jesus said, Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.^{Matthew 24:35 cf. Mark 13:31, Luke 21:33} Jesus and his life-giving words are always available. They're recorded in the canonical gospels. Therefore, we have no excuse not to listen to Jesus. It is Jesus's words that give life. Not Peter's. Not John's. Not Mom's.

Thus, we conclude we should only listen to the master and shepherd, Jesus Christ. He has said only what God told him to say. We need no other teacher, minister, prophet, priest, father, or anyone. We have Jesus.

If you believe Jesus was a prophet sent from God, you have two choices. You can:

• ▪ Follow other people like Paul, Muhammad, and Martin Luther, or
• ▪ You can believe what Jesus said and only listen to him.

There are no other choices.