The role of the prophet in the Old Testament was not merely to predict or share in a vision of the future for the People of God. The main role was one of calling people to repentance and holiness of life.
All the prophets called the Jewish people back to the covenant they had made with God. This was the main role of the prophet-to remind the Chosen People of their call and their sins.
The fact that the future was mentioned was either as a warning of possible punishment, real punishment or comfort for the faithful.
Today, some prophets have been warning the people of the New Covenant, the Catholics, to repent.
Most prophets are ignored, as people do not like the way they look, or dress, or present the message.
But, for those who are following God and trying to hear His Voice in the cacophony of voices in the world, the prophet is a gift, a pointer, or as one of my friends calls prophets-"thresholders", those who stand between the world of God and the world of Men.
Thresholders also experience something else besides visions and the burning call in the heart, the zeal for souls. Thresholders live in their lives what others will face later and God uses this discipline to teach those who want to pay attention.
I am warning you again of several things.
1) No freedom of speech or the Net within a short time;
2) No freedom of movement within a short period of time;
3) No freedom to attend daily Communion or Adoration in a short period of time;
4) No access to the sacraments on a regular basis, including marriage, in a short period of time.
5) Severely straighten physical comforts in a short period of time.
Thresholders to through the purging first and then try to express to others what is to come. Those who love the Bridegroom go where He is. And, sometimes, He leads them into the desert, only to come back for others.
Thresholders lived symbolic lives, like nuns and monks who are called to be strong signs of contradiction in the world. But, many times, thresholders have not chosen this way. God chooses for them even severely.
To be continued...
