The Business of Prophecy: The Rise of "Christian Spiritual Leaders" on Social Media

In today’s digital age, a growing number of self-proclaimed prophets are flooding YouTube and social media with daily or weekly prophetic messages. Many of these so-called prophets claim to have a word from God on everything, from who you’re destined to marry, to your path in life, to what God is about to do with your enemies. The sheer volume of these prophecies is overwhelming, leaving one to wonder: When did the prophetic company become this congested?

In biblical times, prophecy was not something that came day in and day out like clockwork. Prophets were respected individuals, sought after for their connection to God and their ability to hear His voice with clarity and conviction. They were not delivering a new word every day. But today, many online personalities seem to constantly have something "prophetic" to say, much of which often blurs the line between prophecy and mere words of knowledge, insight, revelation, or even mere common sense.

This relentless bombardment of prophetic words leaves us with a pressing question: Are these modern-day prophets truly speaking on behalf of God, or are they simply capitalizing on the hopes and desires of believers?

The Biblical Definition of Prophecy

Before we delve into the commercialization of prophecy, let’s take a moment to understand what prophecy truly is, according to the Bible.

Prophecy is the act of receiving and delivering a message from God. The Bible describes prophets as individuals who were called by God to convey His words to people, often with great responsibility. These messages could include future events, divine judgment, or calls for repentance. For example:

• Jeremiah was known as a prophet of judgment, called to warn the people of Israel about their impending downfall due to their disobedience (Jeremiah 1:4-10).

  
  

• Isaiah delivered prophecies of both judgment and restoration, foretelling the coming of the Messiah (Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 53).

  
  

• Elijah prophesied during a time of rampant idolatry, bringing both miraculous signs and words of God’s impending punishment to Israel (1 Kings 17-19).

  
  

In these examples, we see that prophecy in the Bible was serious and deeply connected to God’s specific timing and purposes. It was not a daily occurrence, nor was it something taken lightly. Prophets were not delivering messages to fulfill the emotional or material desires of their listeners but were often speaking hard truths.

Round the Clock Prophecy

In contrast, many of today’s YouTube prophets seem to always have a new word, creating a congestion of prophetic messages that appear disconnected from the biblical pattern. Every week—or sometimes even daily—these individuals bombard believers with new "prophecies" about everything under the sun: marriage, personal success, finances, or vague promises of whatever seems to pop into their minds.

But in biblical times, there was no such constant outpouring of prophecy. God spoke, absolutely, but God speaking and having fellowship with his people is not the same as prophecy. Even during moments of significant prophetic activity, such as in the ministries of Elijah, Isaiah, or Jeremiah, the messages were spread out over long periods. There was no continuous stream of daily updates from God. Instead, when God spoke, the words carried weight and were often tied to a specific moment or crisis in the history of His people.

Many of these modern-day prophets have added CashApp and Zelle information in their video descriptions, claiming that what they offer is a ministry. However, there is often no transparency about what outreach or ministry work they’re actually doing. They don’t disclose any church or greater ministry affiliation that would allow people to understand how donations or offerings are being used. If a prophet is delivering messages every day or week, why should someone feel compelled to sow into their message?

Desperate individuals, especially those seeking breakthrough, can fall into the trap of giving offerings repeatedly, hoping for a miracle. I don’t agree with this. Offerings should go to ministries where it’s evident that they are being used to benefit the Kingdom of God, not just to line the pockets of individuals.

The Blurring of Prophecy and Words of Knowledge

A closer examination of the so-called prophecies from many of these online prophets reveals that they are often not prophecies at all, at least not in the biblical sense. Many of these messages are simply words of knowledge or insights that anyone could provide based on observation, intuition, or generalized wisdom.

These are not divinely inspired revelations about future events or God's specific will, but rather vague affirmations or promises designed to appeal to the emotional and spiritual desires of their audience.

For example, statements like "You are about to enter into your season of breakthrough" or "God is about to reveal your spouse to you" are broad and nonspecific, often playing on the personal hopes and aspirations of believers. These so-called prophecies are not grounded in the same level of divine specificity or seriousness we see in the Bible.

I also find it humorous when YouTube prophets provide a disclaimer to state, "Take this word back to God. Not every word is for you." While that is true in essence, this disclaimer almost seems like a substitute for "don't hold me accountable if nothing happens."

An even greater question would be, why are these individuals coming onto a public platform to issue a prophetic word so constantly? How do you know the group of people or the person meant to hear the word will watch your video? We all know that social platforms function based on algorithms. Many times, it isn't God who has led us to watch a video, it's just that YouTube has learned our patterns.

Growing up in church, receiving a prophetic message would entail the prophet speaking the word to you, oftentimes discreetly at the altar, and if not discreetly, you and the other congregants would at least know it was intended for you. The idea that giving a prophetic word on YouTube is in any way the same is laughable. My point isn't that God can't speak to you through a video, but that many of the videos we see are simply generalized uploads because some of these people are bored, looking to line their pockets or satisfy the itchy ears of their subscribers and followers.

The Business of Prophecy

What makes this trend even more concerning is the monetization of these prophetic words. Many of these online prophets offer spiritual coaching services, charging people for one-on-one prophetic consultations, prayer sessions, or guidance. Some even host paid webinars and conferences, promising deeper revelations for those who can afford the fee.

But charging for prophecy or spiritual counseling goes against the very nature of biblical prophecy. In the Bible, prophecy was never a business. Prophets did not make a living by selling divine revelations. Instead, they often faced persecution and hardship for delivering God’s word, which was frequently a message of repentance or judgment that people did not want to hear (Jeremiah 20:1-2). They also enjoyed many blessings at the hands of God who would lead others to bless them without having to desecrate their gift.

This commercialization of spiritual guidance is troubling, especially when we consider that many people seeking these services are vulnerable and looking for hope. Charging for what is supposed to be divinely inspired wisdom exploits the faith of believers and turns sacred gifts into a profitable business.

The Ethical Dilemma

As we navigate the rise of these modern prophets, it’s important to ask tough questions. Are these individuals truly speaking on behalf of God, or are they simply profiting from the spiritual desires of believers? Why is there such a congestion of prophetic messages today, when biblical prophecy was less frequent and yet more potent? And most importantly, should anyone be charging for spiritual guidance?

For those of us who take our faith seriously, the commercialization of prophecy is a disturbing trend that undermines the integrity of spiritual leadership. The Bible makes it clear that the gift of prophecy is not something to be sold—it is a sacred responsibility, given freely by God to guide His people. The moment it becomes a business, we must question its authenticity.