Female Prophets In History

By Apostle Dr. Lee Ann B. Marino, Ph.D., D.D.Apostle in Office

Apostolic Fellowship International Ministries

© 2010 Dr. Lee Ann B. Marino. All rights reserved.

Why understand female prophets in history?Women in ministry is not a new happening, but a

continuing revelation of God’s work all throughout salvation history

It is essential for Christian women to recognize their spiritual heritage and history (Hebrews 12:1); women have a “cloud of witnesses” who have gone on before them in faith and power and set forth the course to where women in ministry are today

Women have been called into positions of leadership and authority by God, even if they were not recognized for their specific accomplishments by name

In the area of prophecy, it is important to see women

Mary, Mother of Jesus,Prophetess

Though often not classified as a prophetess, Mary’s proclamation in Luke 1:39-56 reveals the true prophetic life and call upon Mary’s life

Walked with Jesus through much of His ministry, and through his death and resurrection; mentioned figure in the New Testament at Pentecost

Shows us the power of revelation; was one of two women (Elizabeth is the other) who was the first to receive the divine word that the Messiah was coming into the world

According to apocryphal sources and tradition, Mary was appointed for service in the temple from the age of three, walking in prophetic words, dance, and authority from a young age

While revered as a saint (to the level of deity in some denominations) in all traditional denominations, Mary is highly misunderstood and misrepresented; largely ignored by modern denominations.

Elizabeth, Mother of John the Baptist, Prophetess Was the mother of John the Baptist, but also a

prophetess in her own right

Experienced a period of seclusion with God after discovering her pregnancy; then, upon meeting Mary, realized and spoke prophetically of Mary’s pregnancy, realizing the child to be born to her would be the Son of God (Luke 1:24-25, 39-43)

Shows us the power of revelation; was one of two women (Mary is the other) who was the first to receive the divine word that the Messiah was coming into the world

Apocryphal sources cite Elizabeth became a widow after the murder of Zecharias

While revered as a saint (to the level of deity in some denominations) in all traditional denominations, Elizabeth is highly misunderstood and misrepresented; largely ignored by modern denominations.

The Prophetess Anna A prophetess, daughter of Phanuel and of the tribe of

Dan, who stayed in the temple day and night, fasting and praying, knowing the coming of the Messiah was at hand, recorded in Luke 2:36-38

It is obvious from the text that she was an older woman, at least 84 years old, but most likely around 105 years of age, when she encountered the Christ child

Upon seeing Jesus Christ, she knew who He was and gave thanks to God for Him

She spoke to all who knew the redemption of Jerusalem was to come; the first to tell others about Christ, recognizing Him even in His infancy as the promised Redeemer

Revered as a saint in all traditional religious traditions; nominally noted in some modern Biblical congregations

The Four Daughters of Philip, Prophetesses Mentioned in the New Testament at Acts 21:8-9 as

being specifically unmarried and prophesying

According to tradition, all of Philip’s daughters worked as physicians and later became early martyrs of the church; they were women who loved learning and acquired medical knowledge any way they could; did not charge for their medical services, and brought patients to know the Lord

Lived in constant prayer and service

Revered as saints in traditional churches; largely unacknowledged for their Christian contributions; almost ignored by more modern groups

We fail to recognize the significance of the lives of these women, not exploring their history; they go unnamed and irrelevant to modern Christian women without understanding their history

Genevieve of Paris, Prophetess c. 419/422-502/512

Decided early in her life she only wanted to work for God

Known for her piety and devotion; praised for her devotions until the time when others became jealous and envious of her deep devotion; martyred by her enemies

Her prayers and intercession are cited as the reason Attila the Hun’s army was diverted from her city to Orleans

Interceded with government officials for the release of prisoners; known for visions and prophesies

Regarded as a saint in both the Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches, yet virtually unknown and ignored in identity by the majority of Christians, both traditional, and modern

Brigid of Ireland, Prophetess

450-523

Set apart for God from a young age, desiring to help the poor and less fortunate, and giving her all for the service of the Lord

First to establish coenobitic (community-oriented) monasticism in Ireland

Known for numerous miracles throughout her life in the monastery, including restored sight to the blind and restored blindness to one who sought to only see the things of God undistracted

Revered as a saint in all traditional religious churches; invisible to modern Biblical churches

Identity distorted; believed to be a pagan goddess by Wiccans and pagans; confused about who she was and her purpose in secular arenas

Gobnata at Ballyvourney, Prophetess c. 5th-6th Century AD

Had a powerful divine encounter with an angel directing her to walk until she found a spot with nine deer grazing

It was in this spot she obtained the land and established a monastery

Renounced for her gift of healing, and for, through prophetic intercession, kept the plague from Ballyvourney, Ireland

Famous for her skill as a beekeeper, and able to command the bees to work as a force against enemies

Revered as a saint in traditional religious churches; unknown by modern Christian women; unheralded in modern Bible churches

Important woman of God in the prophetic and learning about the leading of the Lord

Virtually unknown by Christians today

Elizabeth the Wonderworker, Prophetess

c. Somewhere between the 6th and 9th centuries

Revealed at birth she was chosen for the Lord, and would become a chosen vessel of the Lord

Grew up fasting and praying, and walked in the gift of healing for both physical and spiritual infirmities

Became abbess of Saints Cosmas and Damian Monastery

Performed many years throughout her life: a venomous serpent was healed by her prayers, healed a woman with an issue of blood, and cast out unclean and impure spirits

Legend states she literally shone during midnight prayer

Regarded as a saint in traditional churches; unknown and ignored by most traditional churches and in modern ones

Mechthild of Magdeburg, Prophetess c. 1207-1282/1294

Author of Das Fliessende Licht Der Gottheit (The Flowing Light Of The Godhead), describing her profound divine visions

Had her first encounter with the Holy Spirit when she was twelve years old

Lived under strict Dominican rule until her criticism of church officials and theological revelation and teaching arose opposition; she then lived as a Cisterian

Her visions and writings are powerful and passionate; stirring and convicting

Never canonized by the Catholic Church due to the content of her visions and her criticism of church authorities; unacknowledged for her important contributions to literature, prophecy, Christian mysticism, and theology

Gertrude the Great,Prophetess 1256-c. 1302

Despite a difficult childhood, Gertrude studied under an abbess and came to a profound knowledge of God

Expert in literature and philosophy

Intensely desired holiness and spiritual perfection

Author of numerous books on the spiritual life

Experienced profound visions, including a vision of Jesus, Who invited her to rest her head upon His chest and hear His heart beating

Never canonized by the Catholic Church, and ignored by traditional religious groups and modern Christian groups alike

Bridget of Sweden,Prophetess 1303-1373

Married young (around 13 years old); over the course of her marriage, had a great spiritual impact upon her husband; and mother of eight children, one of which became Catherine of Sweden, also a prophetess

Founder of the Brigittines after the death of her husband, known for teaching, charitable works, and strong faith

Known for numerous pilgrimages

Experienced intense heavenly visions from a young age

Regarded as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church; unacknowledged for both her spiritual and historical contributions; unknown by modern Christians

Catherine of Sweden, Prophetess c. 1332-1381

A married woman who made a commitment, along with her husband, to marital celibacy

Upon his death, she and her mother, St. Bridget, made Rome their home base, establishing numerous pilgrimage sites to different locations, such as Jerusalem

Spent their lives in prayer and meditation, working with the poor and instructing others on spiritual matters

Founded a convent in Sweden after her mother’s death

Revered as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church; seldom mentioned, ignored in modern Christian churches

Julian of Norwich,Prophetess 1342-c. 1416

Mystic, visionary, contemplative pray-er, intercessor, author of Sixteen Revelations of Divine Love

During intense illness around the age of 30, she experienced intense visions of Jesus Christ, which ceased upon her recovery

First book written by a woman in the English language

Regarded as a spiritual authority in England during her time, which was extremely rare

Acknowledged as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church, yet virtually unknown and unacknowledged; unknown among Christian women today; not revered in the majority of Christian denominations

Joan of Arc,Prophetess

c. 1412-1431

National heroine of France

Experienced powerful visions from a young age calling her to rise up and save France from English domination

Led the French army as a teenager to a series of victories that truly turned the tide of the battles

Powerful leader

Intensely persecuted by the Roman Catholic Church in her day; burned at the stake at nineteen years of age on false charges

Though named a Roman Catholic Saint in the twentieth century, Joan of Arc is not a major figure in Roman Catholicism; Joan of Arc is revered as a pop culture figure and of intrigue by many modern Christian groups (especially teenagers) today

Catherine of Genoa, Prophetess

1447-1510

Desired to live a life devoted to the Lord as a nun, but was rejected due to her young age; married by arrangement of her family to an abusive man who made her life miserable and difficult

Underwent powerful conversion in 1473, beginning a life of deep union with God without common prayer aids of the day (such as rosaries)

Worked tirelessly in service to the sick through a hospital at Genoa; became manager and treasurer over the hospital

Saw the conversion of her husband, who joined her in service to the sick; he joined a Franciscan order later in his life

Experienced powerful visions throughout her life

Regarded as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church; unacknowledged; unknown by modern Christian denominations

Anne Bradstreet,Prophetess c. 1612-1672

Poet; first female poet to be published in both Puritan America and England

She rejected anger and bitterness in her writing, instead focusing on God’s love and assurance of heavenly life with Him

Wrote through much of her personal pain and difficulties, including a house fire, chronic illness, and other diverse subjects; she experienced gender bias much of her life

Published to prove women could be educated, godly, and a good wife and mother without being a competition to men

Virtually unknown among Christian women today; largely ignored for her contributions to women’s history

Jeanne Marie Bouvier de la Motte-Guyon,Prophetess

1648-1717

Powerful author (A Short And Easy Method Of Prayer), visionary, and mystic; advocated staunch adherences to holiness, quietness, and in grace rather than works as the avenue to one’s salvation (in staunch opposition to Roman Catholic doctrine); emphasized the importance of prayer

Teacher with a number of students and followers, who continued to assist and revere her, even after her imprisonment

Imprisoned for contradicting Catholic doctrine

Staunchly declared a heretic and denounced by the Roman Catholic Church; her writings have a limited acknowledgement for her important spiritual devotions and contemplations on the inner life among modern Christian denominations

Sojourner Truth, Prophetess

c. 1797-1883

Born into slavery, encountering abuse, rape, mistreatment, and personal difficulties until her escape in 1826

Devout convert to Christianity, drawing on the Lord for her strength during times of abuse and mistreatment

Changed her name to “Sojourner Truth,” recognizing the Spirit of Truth was calling her, and she had to respond

Preacher, teacher, songwriter, abolitionist, women’s rights activist, prison reformer, and holiness advocate

Travelling speaker on essential subjects

Acknowledged for historical role in African-American history

Fanny J. Crosby,Prophetess 1820-1915

Author of more than 9,000 hymns despite physical blindness, including “Blessed Assurance” and “To God Be The Glory”

Public speaker, preacher, teacher, musician, and poet; influential and well-known woman, hailed by dignitaries and ministers alike

Admitted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1975

Women’s rights advocate

Recognized by the Episcopal Church with a feast day on their liturgical calendar; minimally acknowledged for her important musical contributions to Christianity

Elizabeth Montgomery Sisson, Prophetess

1843-1934

Experienced profound sanctification; worked in the Holiness Movement with a profound heart to preach the Gospel

Wished she had been born male so she could be ordained as a minister; the Lord Himself revealed to her that He had ordained her Himself

Worked as a missionary abroad and in the United States

Teaching on sanctification, holiness, healing, and receiving the Holy Spirit years prior to the Pentecostal outpouring in the early 1900s

Writer, teacher, and important Pentecostal voice

Unacknowledged for her important contributions to Pentecostal history and Christian work for women

Carrie Judd Montgomery, Prophetess 1848-1946

Experienced physical healing through prayer and faith after living with chronic illness for a number of years

Went on to spend more than 60 years restoring healing to people through faith and prayer, teaching, preaching, publishing, and proclaiming the power in the prayer of faith

Founder, “Triumphs of Faith” magazine and Home of Peace, a place for healing and faith; also founded an orphanage and a church along with her husband

Healed many, including revivalist Finis E. Yoakum, through ministry

Vaguely acknowledged among some traditional Pentecostal groups (Assemblies of God) for her contributions; largely unacknowledged by modern Christian groups

Agnes Ozman, Prophetess

1870-1937

A Bible student at Charles Fox Parham’s Bethel Bible School in Topeka, Kansas with an intense desire for God’s holiness and spiritual experience

First to speak in tongues in modern Pentecostalism (1901); her experience started the modern Pentecostal Movement

A halo of light surrounded her face and she spoke in Chinese, unable to speak in English for three days and write only in Chinese characters, with no study of Chinese

34 other students received the gift of tongues following Agnes Ozman’s experience

As a result of her experience and influence, more than 50,000 went on to receive the gift of tongues in the Azusa Street Revival and other Pentecostal experiences around the world in the early 1900s

Un-acclaimed and unstudied in modern Christianity; virtually unknown in modern times; unaccredited with her influence in the Holiness and Pentecostal Movements

Frances J. Roberts, Prophetess

1918-2009

Author of numerous devotional books, including Come Away, My Beloved; founder of The King’s Press, having sold more than 1.5 million books in her lifetime

Author of over 88 hymns and musician

Oversaw Child Evangelism Fellowship and taught at a Spanish Mission School, being active in missions throughout her life

Powerful influence for others in ministry and of the devotional life of Christians

Moderately known as an author, but not acknowledged for her important contributions to Christianity

Join us!To learn more about women in history, Christian women

and their identity in Christ, women in ministry throughout history, and more, join Apostle Dr. Lee Ann Marino (Apostolic Fellowship International Ministries, Apostolic University) for Compass Training™ or History Makers™ Seminars and women in ministry preparation

Counts toward degree credit through Apostolic University

To learn more, visit powerfortoday.org, powerfortoday.webs.com, apostolicuniversity.webs.com, feministchristians.webs.com, or contact us: apostolicuniversity@powerfortoday.org.

References “Agnes Ozman.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnes_Ozman “Anne Bradstreet.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Bradstreet

“Anna (Bible).” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_%28Bible%29

“Biography of Carrie Judd Montgomery.” http://healingandrevival.com/BioCJMontgomery.htm

“Biography of Elizabeth M. Sisson.” http://healingandrevival.com/BioEMSisson.htm

“Bridget of Sweden.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridget_of_Sweden

“Catherine of Genoa.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_of_Genoa

“Fanny Crosby.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fanny_Crosby

“Frances J. Roberts Biography.” http://www.christianbookpreviews.com/christian-book-author.php?isbn=1593100221

“Full of Grace and Truth: The Holy Apostle Philip of the Seventy, one of the Seven Deacons, and His Daughters.” http://full-of-grace-and-truth.blogspot.com/2009/10/holy-apostle-philip-of-seventy-one-of.html

“Genevieve.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genevieve

“Gertrude the Great.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gertrude_the_Great

“Jeanne Marie Bouvier de la Motte-Guyon.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeanne_Marie_Bouvier_de_la_Motte_Guyon

“Joan of Arc.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_of_Arc

“Julian of Norwich.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_of_Norwich

“Mechthild of Magdeburg.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechthild_of_Magdeburg

“Sojourner Truth.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sojourner_Truth

“St. Brigid of Ireland.” http://www.antiochian.org/node/17477

“St. Catherine of Sweden.” http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=590

“St. Elizabeth, the Wonderworker at Constantinople.” http://www.antiochian.org/node/18299

“St. Gobnata at Ballyvourney.” http://www.antiochian.org/node/17505