Last prophet

The last prophet, or final prophet, is a term used in religious contexts to refer to the last person through whom God speaks, after which there is to be no other. The appellation also refers to that prophet which will induce mankind to turn back to God.

Islam

Main article: Khatam an-Nabiyyin

The phrase "last prophet" is used primarily in Islam, where it refers to Muhammad, whom Muslims hold to be the final prophet in the monotheistic Abrahamic religion. With the exception of Ahmadi Muslims, "Khatamu ’n-Nabiyyīn" ("Seal of the Prophets") is regarded by Muslims to mean that Muhammad was the last of the prophets sent by God.

Other religions

Other religious traditions have used this or similar terms. Mani, founder of the Persian faith Manichaeism, also claimed to be the Seal of the Prophets and the last prophet.

Judaism considers Malachi to be the last of the Biblical prophets, but believes that the Messiah will be a prophet and that there will possibly be other prophets alongside him.

In Mandaeanism, John the Baptist is considered the last prophet.

The Iglesia ni Cristo, an independent, non-trinitarian Christian religion based in the Philippines, professes that Felix Manalo was the last messenger sent by God to reestablish the original church founded by Jesus.

Most other Christian churches deny that there will ever be a definite end to prophecy. This is based, inter alia, on the Bible verse (Acts 2:17): “And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.” New prophecies are generally believed to be supplemental, that is, bound to confirm the Christian faith rather than adding to it or modifying it.

References

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