Eagle Prophets, Vulture Prophets and Pig Prophets

A few days ago, I began pondering some thoughts that I intended on posting on Facebook. The thought that came to me: Why do prophets have gatherings of eagles conferences? Why do prophetic people focus on eagles? As I began to ponder that thought, I realized why the question had come: Scripture calls eagles unclean birds. Lev. 11:13. If scripture calls eagles an unclean bird, should they really be representative of prophets or prophetic ministry? Obviously, no.

Yet I believe the prophetic ministry has taken on the nature of the eagle, an incorrect pattern for prophets and prophetic ministry. Eagles self isolate high in the mountains from where they observe. Yes, eagles fly higher than other birds, have a second eyelid that allows them to look directly at the sun, and can regrow their beaks. Eagles are majestic, regal birds; there is no doubt about that. But eagles are also loners. And that is how many prophets and prophetic people have viewed prophetic ministry. 

Then, I began to humorously think about holding a gathering of vultures conference. How many prophets or prophetic people would want to attend such a conference? None. Why? Because we instinctively know there is something wrong with how vultures operate. Vultures are scavengers, seeking that which is dead or dying. Yes, vultures operate in the context of community. They are different from eagles. But that community seeks the wrong thing; it seeks after the dead and dying. Possibly, that is why both vultures and eagles are unclean.

Then, I began to think (with a little sarcasm), how many prophets or prophetic people would want to attend a gathering of the pigs' conference. I doubt if anyone in their right mind would want to associate with such a conference. Why? We instinctively understand that pigs are unclean; they like being dirty. Jesus said of pigs, 

Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you. Matt. 7:6, NLT.

Then I began to ask the question: Is that one reason we have such unhealthy prophetic ministry in the church? Has our attachment to the eagle as an example for prophetic ministry caused us to drift into unhealthy characteristics? Have we drifted from walking the character of true prophets? Respectfully, yes. Prophets have taken on themselves an isolation mentality. In my book, Entering the School of the Prophets, I share how prophets enter the low calling of hermithood rather than the high call of being a spokesperson for God. Yet, that is what prophets are called to be.

Prophets need prophetic communities. Prophets require that sense of community to keep them from falling into error. Prophets need the local church. The eagle's characteristic of self-isolation and drawing back flaws our perspective of prophetic ministry. To avoid error, prophets and prophetic people need a vibrant relationship with the local church (preferably a prophetic church). Any prophet who teaches otherwise is in error. Any prophet or prophetic person who acts otherwise is in error. Any prophet unassociated with the local church is in error.

The error of the eagle prophet is just as bad as the error of the vulture prophet or pig prophet. All are unclean. Yes, some prophets operate as vultures prophets; they scavenge from among the dead and dying. Picking remnants of the dead or dying is hardly a way to establish yourself or your ministry; grinding out ministry this way as a vulture is drudgery. Why? Vultures circle their prey waiting for it to die. Be careful when you are surrounded by “prophets “ who are circling about you. That may be a sign to you that something is wrong.

Unlike eagles, vultures like to live in a community among other vultures. Being part of a prophetic community is vital. But that doesn't mean you're in a healthy place. No, you may be one among many vultures. Who wants to be part of a community of vultures? No one in their right mind would want to be part of this kind of community, scavenging from the dead and dying. Yet that is precisely what is happening today where prophets are disconnected from the local church and in place substitute the gathering of prophets.

Candidly, I have attended gatherings of eagles conferences. Naturally, I admire eagles as regal, royal birds. And they are. But they are also unclean, like the vulture and pig. And they are hardly examples for prophets and prophetic people to follow. No, we must choose a different pathway forward from what was previously held as a pattern. We cannot bring our old ways of thinking into the new things God is doing. We must move past our past into our present so we can enter our future.

We cannot be the best of the worst, like the eagle, and expect God's blessing. Nor can we separate ourselves from the local church, like the vulture, and expect God's blessing. Further, we cannot live unholy lives, dwelling in the stench of the trench of sin, like pigs, and expect God's blessing. No. Prophets must live holy lives in word and deed; their hearts must be set apart for God. Pigs love uncleanness. That is part of their nature. Some prophets dwell in the past. As it says in Isaiah 65:4,

At night they go out among the graves, worshiping the dead. They eat the flesh of pigs and make stews with other forbidden foods.

I see this pattern of venerating dead prophets in the church while failing to listen to those living prophets in our midst. Jesus warned of this happening, 

How horrible it will be for you! You build the monuments for the prophets. But it was your ancestors who murdered them.

Why did Jesus say this? As a warning! Jesus, the Prophet referenced by Moses in Deuteronomy, was speaking to men and women who venerated dead prophets, including Moses, who wrote Deuteronomy. Israel's leaders couldn't receive Jesus - the Prophet described by Moses. We must always ask, Am I able to receive those prophets who are here today? Then, we must ask, Who are the prophets who live in my day, and what are they saying?

I see many attacking prophets. I am not doing that. Rather, I am asking us to discern our motivations. We must judge ourselves. Or we will be judged. Like Jesus or John, we may be judged falsely. But if there is any truth behind the judgments being made against us, we must ask ourselves, Have I missed God? If so, we must repent. Or we will not be protected by God in the day when we are judged by others.

Yes, we can learn from the past, but we cannot live in the past. We must not dwell in the graves of dead prophets. Yes, we can remember them, honor what they did, learn from them, but we cannot remain where they were and miss what God is doing today. We must have an ear to hear what the Spirit is saying not what He said. 

I believe God is cleansing His church from these kinds of prophets, eagle prophets, vulture prophets, and pig prophets; God is calling for a reformation within the prophetic movement to challenge and change prophets from these unhealthy patterns of prophetic ministry into God's living pattern for prophetic ministry - Jesus Christ. The question: Will we change?

No. I won't be attending any gathering of eagles conferences. Or a gathering of vultures conferences. Nor will be I be among the pigs at a gathering of pigs conference. No, I choose the high road of being true to the prophetic calling on my life. As such, I will stay clear of any unclean type and/or pattern of prophetic ministry in favor of healthy prophetic ministry. I would encourage you to do the same. Yes, true prophets and prophecy can benefit our lives just as false prophets and false prophetic ministry can do irreparable harm to our lives. Avoid the latter, choose the former.