What does the word prophesy mean in Scripture?

In Scripture, prophesy can mean either telling the future or speaking forth the Word. For instance, the early church's gift of prophecy was speaking forth the Word, not foretelling, since the printed page had not yet come. Likewise, the two witnesses will speak forth the Word.

Les explains that the word prophesy in Scripture can mean either one: telling the future or just speaking forth the Word. He points out that when the Apostolic Church had men with the gift of prophecy, it wasn't that they had a gift for telling the future, but they had a gift for speaking forth the Word. That was one of the gifts given to the early church because the printed page hadn't come out yet. In the same way, the two witnesses in chapter 11 are not necessarily going to be telling the future, but they're going to be speaking the Word. They are His witnesses, and they will minister primarily in the area of Jerusalem for 1,260 days, which is 3-1/2 years.

Revelation 11:3

And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

What does 'prophesy' mean in the Bible?

In Scripture, prophesy can mean either telling the future or speaking forth the Word. It may refer to predicting future events, or it may simply mean declaring God's Word. The early church's gift of prophecy was speaking forth the Word, not foretelling, because the printed page had not yet come.