Prophecy! It's a wonderful and fulfilling subject to study. If we spent as much time delving into true prophecy as we do speculating about the future—remote or immediate— we'd surely derive great benefit. What does the word prophet call to mind? Readers of the Bible may think first of the very good men and women in the Old Testament whose place in the history of Israel was ensured by their ability to foretell the future and to perform miracles. But are such individuals relegated to the past? Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, evidently did not think so. In Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, she refers to "the prophet of to-day." She states, "The prophet of to-day beholds in the mental horizon the signs of these times, the reappearance of the Christianity which heals the sick and destroys error, and no other sign shall be given."
Science and Health, p. 98.
Who are these prophets of today? Anyone who has put into practice this description of prophet from Science and Health: "A spiritual seer; disappearance of material sense before the conscious facts of spiritual Truth."
Ibid., p. 593. Whoever is learning to exercise spiritual discernment in order to look beyond what appears to be happening is certainly walking in the footsteps of the Old Testament prophets.
Such a figure was Elisha, some of whose experiences are recorded in the Bible. On many occasions he was faced with what seemed to be obstructions to good in his own or another's life, and even in the events of his country. At such times he used true prophecy; he let "the conscious facts of spiritual Truth" appear. Where a dead child appeared to be, he proved the presence of Life.
See II Kings 4:8-37. He told the mother of the child, "Take up thy son." I like to think of this as guiding her to reach a higher view of the child's source, substance, and individuality as the idea of God, Spirit, safely sustained by God. And the mother did her part. Even while she sought help, she insisted, "It is well." She put spiritual evidence first.
