As we have seen, God sent prophets to the Jewish people for centuries. But the Jews expected a Last Prophet who would bring prophecy to an end and usher in the era of the Messiah.
People began to believe that Jesus Christ was the last prophet because of his words and deeds. Christ was one who spoke with authority.
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock. (Mt 7:24)
And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching! With authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” (Mk 1:27)
When the Old Testament prophets spoke they would say what God wanted to say and finish up with “thus says the Lord”. This is to show that the prophet was delivering God’s message, not his own. But when Jesus Christ spoke he said “Amen. Amen, I say to you.” In other words, Christ is speaking with his own authority, not relaying someone else’s words.
But what really made people think that Jesus Christ was the Last Prophet was his feeding the 5000 in the wilderness. When people saw this they said,
“…”This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world!” (Jn 6:14)
But the Old Testament prophets did not know that the Last Prophet was the Son of God. Christ no only spoke God’s words, He is God’s Word incarnate.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men…. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.” (Jn 1:1-4,14)
But of course at the “end of times” when Jesus Christ comes to establish His kingdom, prophecy will cease. That is because Jesus will be present in all His glory. All prophecy will be fulfilled.
But not only that, we will become partakers of the divine nature.
“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature.” (2 Peter 1:3-4)
This does not mean that we will become God, but just as Jesus Christ is God by nature, we will become sons and daughters though grace.
Fr. John