I think you asked a great question, Hope Dollar!
You know that there has always been prophets among God's people. Well, actually not always. There was a time, when the Israelites were under the Greek rule, that there were not prophets among the Israelites. Why? Because they had left the Lord, and the prophets they were given previously had been rejected and even killed by the Israelites. Jesus testified that through this words: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" (Matthew 23:37). That period, in which no prophet was sent, was called a silent period, because God did not speak through His prophets.
The Bible says, "Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." (Amos 3:7). There has always been prophets among God's people. They were among the Israelites, and later on, among the early Christians:
"Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul." (Acts 13:1)
"And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." (Acts 21:8-13).
The gift of prophecy is one of the Spiritual gifts listed in Ephesians 4:11. "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:" (Ephesians 4:11,12). And these gifts were given to the Church: "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues." (1 Corinthians 12:28).
The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 1:7, that none of these gifts will be missing while we're waiting for Jesus' return: "So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:"
God promised us in His Word that the gift of prophecy would appear among God's people. Jesus tells us in Revelation 12:17, "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." And Revelation 19:10 tells us, "And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
There it is! The "testimony of Jesus" is the "spirit of prophecy", and the Bible tells us that the the remnant of the woman (in prophecy, a woman represents people, or a church) has this gift, those who "keep the commandments of God". Then, the spirit of prophecy would be given to God's people.
However, there are many people out there who claim to be prophets sent by God. Jesus warned us against false prophets, " For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." (Matthew 24:24). At this point, an obvious question arises, how can we identify a true prophet?. The Bible answers once more, "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." (Isaiah 8:20). A true prophet will direct people's attention to Christ rather than to himself. He will praise the Lord, and preach that Jesus is the Son of God. He will preach according to the Word of God; he will never go against the Scriptures. Actually, it sounds logic: if the Spirit of prophecy is by the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit was the One who inspired the Bible, He will never go against what He already inspired in the Scriptures. God never contradicts Himself. He's the same always, never changes, since the Lord is perfect.
Christ gives us more clues about a true prophet:
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." (Matthew 7:15-20).
A true prophet will have the fruits of the Holy Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."
A true prophet must have all these characteristics. And, actually, every follower of Christ who let the Holy Spirit guide his or her life should show the fruits of the Sprit in his life. Jesus Christ says, "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (John 15:5).
For more information, you may see the following online book: http://www.amazingfacts.org/items/Read_Media.asp?ID=677&x=20&y=34
About 1 Corinthians 13, my Bible (a spanish version, Nueva Reina Valera 2000), says:
8 Las profecías terminarán. Cesarán las lenguas. La ciencia tendrá su fin. Pero el amor nunca se acaba.
9 Porque en parte conocemos, y en parte profetizamos;
10 pero cuando venga lo que es perfecto, desaparecerá lo imperfecto.
Verse 8 from this spanish version, literally says, Prophecies will end. Tonges will cease. Science will end. But love never ends.
Someday, when we get to Heaven, prophecies are not going to be needed, all of them shall be fulfilled and passed. Tonges will cease, because there's going to be one language. Science will end: at least as we know it, it will finish. But love never ends: love will remain forever, because God is love.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
Here, the Bible tells us that on this earth we know what has been revealed to us. We don't know everything as God does. Only when we get to Heaven we'll be able to understand better: "But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away". Because "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." (vers. 12).
You may ask your question, or any question you may have, at http://en.bibleinfo.com/ they may answer you in a couple of days.
Good question! May God teach us more from His Word, and help us to get to know Him more and be more like Him, with a perfect and beautiful character like His.
God bless you, my friend!