Is “religious futurists” a euphemism for 21st century “prophets”?
No, “religious futurism” is not a euphemism for anything. It is a professional activity and a spiritual vocation. The prophets of Israel, for example, were not forecasters, futurists in our modern sense. They were visionary religious leaders, but they were not foretelling events, but forth-telling: telling forth the will of God. “Thus says the Lord,” was the “formula” used by Amos and Isaiah, for example. Actually, we believe the religious vocation of all believers is threefold: pastoral [caring], priestly [sacramental] and prophetic [discoursing on Gods present Word.] According to Martin Luther and the Reformers, all believers are called to exercise all three functions. They go together in holy community. St. Paul considered the prophetic function to be vital to the life of every congregation [see 1 Corinthians chapter 14 for a detailed exposition of the nature and importance of prophesying.] Religious futurists do not presume to be prophets outside of the body of faith, because we ar
