The Editor, Sir:

It grieves my heart to see how people have been treating Dr. Phinn who made some prophecy re the former Prime Minister, the Honourable Portia Simpson Miller. I am not a member of his church but I remember as a young adult, about 17 years ago, I was told that a prophecy was made at one of his conferences that one day Jamaica would have a female Prime Minister. At that time it seemed unimaginable. It became a reality in 2006 and out of this prophetic fulfilment Jamaica experienced a new phase in politics: the religious phase. It's the first time in my life that I have ever seen so many politicians giving testimony to the fact that they are servants of God.

As I consider the prophetic ministry, I begin to think of my life as a Christian teenager. I recall having many visions which later proved to be prophetic. I made a list of these visions, dated them and watched for their fulfilment. Certainly, I was mocked when I tried to explain the visions I had to others after the events were fulfilled. It takes boldness to prophesy. Prophecy is usually based on some supernatural revelation. It may be in the form of a vision, a dream or some physiological experience. A revelation in whatever form is really not controlled by human beings. Human beings can only try to interpret what is revealed. The danger is a prophet often knows something is going to happen but does not necessarily know how, when and where.

Some of my revelations were based on the immediate. A flash before my eyes of someone in danger, a sudden urge to cry uncontrollably, a spirit of depression, a song of triumph or a song a mourning in my spirit are some ways in which God reveals the conditions of the world and its people to me. At a prayer meeting, a few years ago, I just started crying uncontrollably and so I requested the group to pray as someone was in danger. Later, I discovered that a friend of the family had met in a terrible accident. I am sure there are many people who can give testimony to similar revelations.

Some revelations are literal. Others are figurative or symbolic. A vision of an earthquake can mean a literal earthquake or it can represent some spiritual, economical or political upheaval. As human beings, we may not understand divine revelations.

Awesome task

I, however, strongly believe there is a God who chooses to act and speak through any believer he desires. Of course, at times, we as human beings do feel embarrassed as we are sometimes placed in a peculiar position when a holy God reveals somethings to us or propel us to do something out of the ordinary. Prophets, intercessors and those Christians who have the ability to discern the work of demonic spirits wherever they are present do have an awesome task and are not readily understood by others. They are often mocked by people who describe them as being too spiritual.

Prophets are human beings who have received a supernatural revelation. The human interpretation of a divine revelation is a risk. The time for the fulfilment of a prophecy is totally dependent on God. Many people have prophesied things that were not fulfilled in the timeexpected. Some were not fulfilled because they were the misinterpretation of a divine revelation. Many politicians made promises that were not fulfilled in the time expected. Some were not fulfilled because they were the misinterpretations of the human situation in the country. Let us stop romanticising the political arena and recognise that God controls time and human affairs. Let us stop judging Dr. Phinn by one political prophecy. Let us please leave Dr. Phinn alone!

I am, etc.,

YOVETTE JOHNS

Kingston 10