The Myth of the 007 Anointing: Why Your “Prophetic Hitman” Fantasy is Wrong

Reconfiguring the Prophetic:  In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 9, we encounter a fascinating exchange that sheds light on a pivotal shift in the understanding of prophets and prophecy in the New Testament era. Jesus and his disciples are traveling through Samaria. When the Samaritans refuse to welcome them, James and John, filled with righteous indignation, ask Jesus, “Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, even as Elias did?” (Luke 9:54).

Jesus’s response is striking: “But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village“ (Luke 9:55-56).

This moment isn’t just a simple rebuke. It’s a powerful illustration of Jesus reconfiguring the prophetic ministry, moving it from an Old Covenant paradigm of judgment to a New Covenant paradigm of salvation and blessing.

The Old Covenant Paradigm: Fire and Judgment

In the Old Testament, prophets like Elijah wielded immense power, often calling down fire and judgment upon those who opposed God. This was a reflection of the covenant focused on law and consequence. The prophets acted as God’s agents of justice, delivering pronouncements of condemnation.

“Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench” (1 Kings 18:38).

“And it came to pass, when the captain that was over fifty with the fifty men that were with him, was come down to him, that he said to him, Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come down. And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty” (2 Kings 1:10).

Drawing from this Old Covenant understanding, James and John naturally assumed they could invoke similar judgment. They saw the Samaritans’ rejection as an affront to God, deserving of divine retribution.

The New Covenant Paradigm: Salvation and Blessing

Jesus, however, introduces a radical shift. He clarifies that his mission is not to destroy, but to save. This fundamentally alters the nature of prophetic ministry. The New Covenant, established through Jesus’s sacrifice, emphasizes grace, mercy, and reconciliation.

“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:17).

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord” (Luke 4:18-19).

This transformation is further solidified in 1 Corinthians 14:1, which describes the purpose of prophecy in the New Testament: “Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. He that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort” (1 Corinthians 14:1, 3).

Key Differences:

Focus: Old Testament prophecy often focused on judgment and correction. New Testament prophecy emphasizes encouragement, comfort, and edification.

Spirit: James and John displayed a “spirit” of anger and retribution. Jesus reveals that the spirit of the New Covenant is one of love and mercy.

Action: Old Testament prophets sometimes performed dramatic acts of judgment. New Testament prophets build up the body of Christ through words of encouragement and revelation.

The “007 Anointing” Myth

This understanding helps dispel the misconception of New Testament prophets possessing a “007 anointing” – a license to speak death and judgment upon others. While the Bible does speak of divine judgment, it is ultimately God’s prerogative. In the New Covenant, the prophetic gift serves to build up, not tear down.

“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” (Romans 12:19).

Review and Reflection:

The passage in Luke 9 highlights the significant shift in the prophetic ministry from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant. Jesus’s emphasis on salvation and blessing rather than destruction underscores the transformative nature of the New Covenant. As believers, it is crucial to recognize the importance of this shift and to align our understanding of prophecy with the teachings of Jesus.

Call to Action:

Embrace the Spirit of Love and Mercy: “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another” (John 13:34).

Seek to Edify and Encourage: “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

Discern Carefully: “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).