What is a prophet? A prophet is one that is inspired to interpret God’s word. A person that is spiritually gifted with profound moral insight and exceptional powers of expression. In addition, the word prophet also means a predictor; a soothsayer; a chief spokesperson of a movement or cause.

There are three duties that a prophet must obtain:
Firstly, they must function as preachers. Expounded and interpreted the Mosaic Law to the nation. It is their duty to admonish, reprove, denounce sin, threaten with the terrors of judgment, call to repentance, and bring consolation and pardon. Their activity of rebuking sin and calling for repentance consumed far more of the prophets’ time than any other feature of their work.

Second, they function as predictors; who announced coming judgments, deliverances and events relating to the Messiah and his kingdom.

Finally, the prophets act as watchmen over the people of Israel. For example, Ezekiel stood as a watchman on the walls of Zion ready to trumpet a warning against religious apostasy. He warned the people against political and military alliances with foreign powers, the temptation to become involved in idolatry and Canaanite cultural worship and the danger of placing excessive confidence in religious formalism and sacrificial ritual.

While the prophets functioned in various ways as they communicated God’s message, they occupied one major role in Israel’s religious system; which was the role of a royal diplomat or prosecuting attorney indicting the nation for violations of the Mosaic Covenant.

The Major Prophets

In listing there are Five Major Prophets that stands out:

Isaiah
Isaiah is called the book of salvation. The name means “the salvation of the Lord” or “the Lord is salvation”. Isaiah is known as the Prince of the Prophets which he shines above all the writers and prophets of the scriptures. Isaiah was good at his work his writings were rich in vocabulary; he had poetic skills and was indeed a very educated man.
Isaiah was all about obedience. His calling as a prophet was primarily to the nation of Judah (the southern kingdom) and to Jerusalem, urging the people to repent from their sins and return to God. He also foretold the coming of the Messiah and the salvation of the Lord. In summary, the message of Isaiah is that salvation comes from God, not man. God alone is Savior, Ruler and King.

Jeremiah
Jeremiah, known as “the weeping prophet."The Hebrew name Jeremiah means 'Exalted of the Eternal' or 'Appointed by the Eternal.' It may relate to the fact that the prophet was one of only a few people whom the Bible reveals to have been sanctified. He called Judah to repent, but they refused Thus, Jeremiah foretold their destruction. Israel was to be so destroyed as a nation that they could never be made whole again (19:10-11). This forever answers the premillennial claim that national Israel will someday be restored.

Ezekiel
Ezekiel, name means God will strengthen. He is the son of Buzi the priest Ezekiel lived during the Babylonian Exile, among the Jews who settled at Tel-Abib in Babylon. He was among those taken away captive with Jehoiachin ) which occurred about 597 BC., 11 years before Jerusalem was completely destroyed.

Daniel The life of the prophet Daniel is recorded in the book that shares his name. Daniel means "God is my judge." There is not much know about the early years of his life, but he appears to have been of the upper class, perhaps even from a royal family. It is recorded that he was taken to Babylon as a teenager in 605 B.C. The main reason the book of Daniel emphasizes Jehovah’s rule over the nation is in view of the coming Messiah; the purpose and time of Christ’s first advent.

Lamentations
The Book of Lamentations does not clearly identify its author. The tradition is that the Prophet Jeremiah wrote Lamentations. As a result of Judah’s continued and unrepentant idolatry, God allowed the Babylonians to besiege, plunder, burn, and destroy the city of Jerusalem. Solomon’s Temple, which had stood for approximately 400 years, was burned to the ground. The Prophet Jeremiah is an eyewitness to these events, wrote the Book of Lamentations as a lament for what occurred to Judah and Jerusalem.
Lamentations makes it clear that sin and rebellion were the causes of God’s wrath being poured out (1:8-9; 4:13; 5:16). But in a time of distress, they quickly give way to contrition and repentance.

Other major prophets included:-

Aron

Abel

Abraham

Agabus

Agur

Ahijah

Anna

Asaph

Azariah

Barnabas

David

Deborah

Elijah

Elisha

Enoch

Gad

Huldeh

Iddo
Jacob

Jehu

Jesus

John the Baptist

John of Patmos

Joshua

Judas

Barsabbas

Lucius

Miriam

Manahen

Moses

Noah

Oded

Philip the Evangelist

Paul the apostle

Samuel

Shemaiah

Silas
Simon Niger

Urijah

The Minor Prophets

Jonah – The book of Jonah was written 798 (B.C.). In the Hebrew language, Jonah means ‘dove’. He is the son of Amittai of the tribe of Zebulun; and from the city of Gathhepher which is in the region of Galilee. The theme of the book was mercy to repentant. Jonah’s work involved prophesying to Nineveh about their cruelty of the Assyrians.

Amos – this book was written 796 (B.C.). Its theme was the Day of the Lord. The Eternal will roar. Prophecies were about Israel, Judah, Benjamin and all nations. This book addressed the oppression of the poor, sexual immorality, wanton luxury and corrupt law and men.

Hosea – The book of Hosea was written 796-719 (B.C.). The theme was salvation. Prophecies were about Israel’s ten tribes; and the book also addressed matters such as: adultery, drunkenness, idolatry, and Licentiousness.

Micah – The book was written 740-711 (B.C.). The theme was the eternal is a just judge. Prophecies were made to Samaria, Jerusalem, and all nations. The book addressed matters like lack of justice and oppression.

Nahum – means comfort, consolation. It is the shortened form of Nehemiah which means the comfort of Yahweh. His name is in a sense symbolic of the message of the book which was intented to comfort and console the oppressed and afflicated people of Judah. Nahum also known as the Elkoshite. He was born in Bethabor which is beyond Jordon. The book was written 711 (B.C.), the theme was judgment on Nineveh. Comfort to Israel. Prophecies were to Assyrians, primarily city of Nineveh. It addressed cruelty of the Assyrians, overstepped boundaries.

Habakkuk- The book was written 626 (B.C.). The theme states “God embraces Judah through destroying the Chaldeans. Prophecies were made to Babylon with implications for all people. And it addressed matters of Aggression, plunder, greed, graft, idolatry and inhumanity.

Zephaniah – The book was written 626 (B.C.). The theme is God’s indignation. Who may be hidden? Israel repents the God saves them. Prophecies were made to Judah, Jerusalem, and all people about Day of the Lord. Matter of spiritual fornication was addressed.

Joel – was written in 596-586 (B.C.) the theme is Day of the Lord; and prophecies were made against Israel. This book addressed matters adultery, drunkenness, idolatry and licentiousness.

Obadiah- was written 590 (B.C.) the theme is Day of the Lord. Edom’s destruction and Israel’s restoration. Prophecies made against Edom. This book addressed matters of continued violence toward Jacob.

Haggai – The name Haggai means “Festival, Feast, and Festive. Some suggest it may be a shortened form of Haggiah which means festival of Jehovah. Haggai was born in Babylon. This book was written 520 (B.C.). The theme of the book is restoration of the temple and the church. Haggai prophecies’to Zerubbabel, Joshua and the returned remnant. He addressed matters of the neglect in building God’s house and procrastination. Haggai teaches us that faithfulness and material blessings are directly connected, that when a good work is waiting its accomplish, the time to do it is now. And in addition, discouragement however profound, it’s not an adequate reason