The Mark of a Prophet

By definition, a prophet is one who speaks by divine inspiration, or as the interpreter through whom the will of god is expressed.  There have been many who have called themselves prophets throughout history.  It seems that most religions have at least one prophet that claims that they were given exclusive divine insight.  However, the question that comes to mind is how can we be sure that those who claim to be prophets are the real deal and not just a spoof, or a mentally unstable person. 

I believe, that a prophet cannot be completely trusted, or given the status of a prophet until he/she has prophesies that are fulfilled.  For example, in the bible Isaiah was a prophet who declared all the world to be under God's control, and who warned his people that their nation would be destroyed if they turned from God.  The people turned from God and the nation was destroyed.  I would say that it is safe to call Isaiah a prophet because he heard from God, predicted what would happen in the future, and the prophesy was fulfilled.

In the book A Question of Power, by Bessie Head, the main character Elizabeth believes that she has experienced supernatural events and that she is a prophet from god.  In Rob Burtons book on page 73, it says that “She is driven to despair, breakdown, and the brink of suicide” from the torture and verbal abuse”.  In Burton also states on page 73 that going to hell did not sway her into insanity, but “strengthened Elizabeth, granting her a status equal to that of those fellow prophets who had undergone similar journeys of physical and spiritual ardor”.  So the question is she a prophit because she can go to hell and conquer the underworld?  I think that she would be if she had prophesies fulfilled that lived outside her mind.