prophecy -A specific utterance or writing in present time or from past about that which is to come or the present.

There are three encompassing factors that define true prophesy:
1) It is all about Jesus,
2) It emanates from God, from His perspective.
3) It is true and perfect and fulfilled.
His perspective is:
A) God lives in the eternal now or present, within and without time.
B) God relates it in such a way that all times can comprehend it if they know Him.
To that end, you cannot understand faith if God does not teach or bring you to that understanding.

Questions to help you focus prophesy:
1) Individual prophecies—do we consider them merely as isolated or as a whole?
2) Try to ascertain whether or not the Old Testament, as a whole, is prophetic of the Messiah.
3) Whether or not the historical Christ and Christianity present the real fulfillment of that prophecy.
4) Is prophecy referring to Christ, and/or prophecy fulfilled in Christ or neither or both?

Excerpts from;
Prophecy and History: in Relation to the Messiah (The Warburton Lectures for 1880-1884).
Whether true or not this is what they think or thought: The well-known fundamental principle of the Synagogue, that ‘all the prophets only prophesied of the Messiah., that all events in the history of Israel and all their institutions were prophetic, and pointed forward to a fuller realization in the Messiah.
This from our human standpoint, where we view things as future, present, or past—not from that of Divine reality where all is present[eternal now].
(T)his is and will be the Kingdom of God, when the Divine ideal in reference to man shall have become the real[Jesus]. And so it is that all Scripture is prophetic; that all prophecy has its ultimate fulfillment in the Kingdom of God; and that all prophecy points to it, or is Messianic in its character.
(W)hen he[the prophet] foretells the future, he sees it in the light of the present; the present lends its colors, scenery, the very historic basis for the picture.[always given from the prophets life context]
…because they occur in the midst of references to contemporary events.
The prophet must speak prophetically yet intelligibly to his own contemporaries. But, on the other hand, he must also speak intelligibly, yet prophetically to the men of every future generation, even to us. [An example would be Elijah’s fiery chariot.]
And the destruction of Jerusalem and of the Temple was not only a symbol, but in an initial sense the very coming of Christ into His Kingdom. As regards the men of that land and generation, it was the public proclamation, the evidence, that the Christ Whom they had rejected had come into His Kingdom. [Jesus’ prophesy in Matt 24, Mk 13 & Lk 21]
It is in the light of the wider view of fulfilled prophecy which, as a whole and in all its parts, refers to the Kingdom of God upon earth, that we must study individual predictions.

The fulfillment of prophesy becomes reality when that which was a shadow is completed and the reality is present, Jesus. Heb 10:1-14, Heb 11:1-3 & Col 2:16-17
Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV)
1 Now faith is the substance[reality] of things hoped for[salvation through Jesus], the evidence [realization] of things not seen. [The shadow passes away when the reality appears completing it.]

prophesy – To give a prophecy.
prophet – One who speaks the oracles of God, either presently or past.

First used in the Bible in Gen 20:7 referring to Abraham.
God speaks to Abimeleck in a dream:
Genesis 20:7 (NKJV)
7 Now therefore, restore the man’s wife; for he is a prophet…
Hebrew word used here was;
nab(h)i(y) (H5030) naw-bee’ Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary.

nāb̠iyʾ: A masculine noun meaning a prophet, a spokesman. The meaning is consistently one of prophet and inspired spokesman. One who speaks the oracles of God. Only Abraham is called a prophet before Moses was. Gen 20:7
This word describes one who was raised up by God and, as such, could only proclaim that which the Lord gave him to say. A prophet could not contradict the Law of the Lord or speak from his own mind or heart. To do so was to be a false prophet (Jer. 14:14; 23:16, 26, 30). What a prophet declared had to come true, or he was false (Deut. 18:22; Jer. 23:9). The noun is found parallel to two other Hebrew words meaning a seer and a prophet (rōʾeh[H7200], (c)ḥōzeh[H2374],).
The – The Complete Word Study Dictionary – Old Testament.

nabhi is derived from the verb nabha, which means to ‘well forth’ or ‘bubble up.’
Prophecy and History: in Relation to the Messiah (The Warburton Lectures for 1880-1884).

Greek words used most in translation;
prophete???? [prof-ate]
G4394, G4395, G4396 & G4397

Taken from: Strong’s Greek & Hebrew Dictionary
G4394 prophēteia – used 15 times as a prophecy in the NT NKJV
G4395 prophēteuō [prof-ate-yoo’-o Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary.]
Used in the NT NKJV 16 times as; to prophesy
G4396 prophētēs [prof-ay’-tace Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary.]
Used in the NT NKJV 144 times for prophet(s)
G4397 prophētikós [prof-ay-tik-os’ Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary.]
Prophetic, uttered by prophets

The Complete Word Study Dictionary – New Testament.
G4395 prophesy – Used in NT NKJV Rom 16:26 and 2Pet 1:19 and others
(I) To foretell things to come; to declare truths through the inspiration of God’s Holy Spirit whether by prediction or otherwise.
(II) To tell forth God’s message, hence the noun prophétēs G4396, prophet, is the proclaimer, one who speaks out the counsel of God with the clearness, energy, and authority which spring from the consciousness of speaking in God’s name and having received a direct message from Him to deliver. One who speaks the oracles of God.

prophesy – in 15 verses in NT NKJV all using G4395
Example; Please prophesy for us. Current about future.
This is different from : It was a prophecy by the prophet. Past
prophet(s) – 160 uses in 155 verses in NT NKJV, prophetess – 2 uses, prophesie(d)(s)(th) – in 12 verses used 13 times total, mostly used about a past or current utterance about the future, prophecy – used 14 times, prophesying – used 3 times, all in 1Cor., prophetic – used 2 times, used to denote; that which is uttered by prophets

The following shows the different uses:
1 Corinthians 14:1-40 (NKJV)
1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. (G4395)
2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.
3 But he who prophesies(G4395) speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies(G4395) edifies the church.
5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied(G4395); for he who prophesies(G4395) is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.
6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying(G4394)[should have been prophecy], or by teaching?
12 Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.
22 Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying(G4394)[again, should have been; to prophesy] is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.
23 Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind?
24 But if all prophesy(G4395), and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all.
25 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.
26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.
29 Let two or three prophets(G4396) speak, and let the others judge.
30 But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent.
31 For you can all prophesy(G4395) one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged.
32 And the spirits of the prophets(G4396) are subject to the prophets(G4396).
33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
36 Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached?
37 If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet(G4396) or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.
38 But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39 Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy(G4395), and do not forbid to speak with tongues.
40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

Notes:
1. Prophesy is a spiritual gift.
2. Prophesy is more desirable than the others.
3. What is prophesied can edify the believers(church).
4. What is prophesied can exhort the believers(church).
5. What is prophesied can comfort the believers(church).
6. The purpose of prophesy is for edification of the church.
7. Prophesy can convince and convict all people.
8. The prophesy is subject to the prophet.
9. All prophesy must come to pass.
10. All prophesy must be judged by the Word.
11. Prophesy is done in order.
12. Prophesy is of no use if it is not understood by the hearer or the reader.
13. Verse 23 has an aspect that is not well known: Corinth was a hub city on the major shipping route in the Mediterranean. Many different languages were spoke there. It was not uncommon to have language differences aplenty. In this church there were people who spoke different languages. At times this caused a lack of edification to the whole church. Paul points out that the most important thing here was when they came together they should try to speak in a language all would understand and gain spiritually from each exhortation. The same thing was true in Jerusalem in Acts 2. There we note that a language(unknown to the speaker) was spoken and all heard in their own language. Thus the Spirit of God brought the understanding and the interpretation was automatic. In Corinthians the admonition was to pray for the interpretation of what language the speaker did not know. It could also mean that someone present knew the language spoken and could interpret the exhortation. So, we see automatic interpretation, known interpretation and unknown interpretation. All are legit as long as there is the edification to the whole congregation. Lacking that, they were instructed to keep silent. Another aspect was that there would be more than one speaking in an unknown tongue before there was an interpretation. This would cause confusion. So Paul instructed them to do no more than three before the interpretation was made. It is unknown as to whether this means only three total period or three before interpretation or both.

The first prophet declared in the Bible and what he prophesied:
Abraham’s prophesy;
Genesis 22:7-8 (NKJV)
7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”
8 And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together. [fulfilled physically twice and spiritually once]
Another version reads:
Genesis 22:8 (CWSB)
8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide [H]himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
Genesis 22:14 (NKJV)
14 And Abraham called the name of the place, [Jehovah jireh] The-LORD-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of The LORD it shall be provided.” [the sacrificial lamb][ jireh – H7200 – to see]
Genesis 22:14 (CWSB)
14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh[H7200]: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen[H7200].
[This is the greatest prophesy of them all. Why? It is all about Jesus and what He would do for us.
Jehovah-jireh actually means the God who sees. jireh – a verb meaning to see, and, He provides a way. Abraham was declaring; I have seen the face of God and what He intends to do–buy salvation on the cross as the sacrificial lamb.]
How do I know that?
John 8:56-58 (NKJV)
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”
57 Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?”
58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
John 1:29-30 (NKJV)
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
30 This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ [John the Baptist was older than Jesus physically.]
John 1:35-36 (NKJV)
35 Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples.
36 And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!”
John 10:11 (NKJV)
11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
John 10:17-18 (NKJV)
17 Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.
18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it [up] again. This command I have received from My Father.”
1 John 2:2 (NKJV)
2 And He Himself is the propitiation[price paid] for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
Isaiah 53:6 (NKJV)
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53:10 (NKJV)
10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.
Revelation 13:8 (NKJV)
8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
1 Peter 1:3-12 (NKJV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
8 whom having not seen, you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
9 receiving the end of your faith–the salvation of your souls.
10 Of this salvation the prophets[G4396] have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied [G4395]of the grace that would come to you,
11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.
12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven–things which angels desire to look into.
Hebrews 11:3 (NKJV)
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the [W]word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
John 1:1-5 (NKJV)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
John 1:14 (NKJV)
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Hebrews 11:13 (NKJV)
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Hebrews 11:17-19 (NKJV)
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
18 of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,”
19 concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.
Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV)
1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin[for which God made forgiveness available] which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

In this we see the operation of prophesying. The declaration, the purpose/intent, the fulfillment and the conformation of it. The timelessness, for all times and the person who fulfills/completes all in all. We see it spoken in the Old Testament(the shadow) and fulfilled in the New Testament(the reality), Jesus. And, in the end of time, it will all be completed/perfected by Him who is perfect/complete.

Conclusion: IT IS ALL ABOUT JESUS.