Prophets & Seers:
 

I'm interested in some of your thoughts on this one. What is the biblical distinction between a "prophet" and a "seer"?

Here is what I think:

All "seers" are "prophets". However, not all "prophets" are "seers". Let me explain...

I believe that the Seer can "see" with "spiritual sight" into the past, the present, or the future. A Prophet can reveal a message straight from God Himself as the Word of the LORD is impressed upon the prophet's spirit by the Holy Ghost.

Perhaps another way to say might be that a Seer might receive "visions" (even visions they don't understand) from the Spirit of the LORD, whereas the "Word of the LORD" comes to a Prophet.

The Prophet comes with a Word from the LORD. The Seer not only receives a Word from the LORD... but the Seer also receives dreams and visions.

Oh... and one more question. Do any of you believe that "Seers" are with us today?

Please share your thoughts.

Re: Prophets & Seers:
 

Yes, "seers" still exist: it's called the Gift of Knowledge in operation. :)

Re: Prophets & Seers:
 

I tend to define seers as those having the ability to 'see' into the life of a person or persons, or as Dave suggested, a word of knowledge. I view prophets more as speaking concerning future events.

Some may have both abilities but generally speaking, I think those with either ability will tend to operate in one or the other the majority of the time.

Re: Prophets & Seers:
 

Any seers on AFF?

Re: Prophets & Seers:
 

I have a seer eye dog does that count???? :happydance

https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/i...rIy-PvZdgTpDPo

Re: Prophets & Seers:
 

:heeheehee

Re: Prophets & Seers:
 

Yes I believe they exist today. I also think the way you have explained it sounds right, Aquila. I read an article about Seers that helped to put some pieces in the puzzle for me but I have never heard anyone teach on it in detail. Question: I have always wondered why Joel says "Your young men..." and "your old men" and if we are to read that as "people".

Re: Prophets & Seers:
 

Also,I think the office of a prophet is different to operating in certain prophetic gifts.

Re: Prophets & Seers:
 

what verse?

Re: Prophets & Seers:
 

ISBE

Seer

sē´ẽr, sēr: The word in English Versions of the Bible represents two Hebrew words, ראה, rō'eh (1Sa_9:9, 1Sa_9:11, 1Sa_9:18, 1Sa_9:19; 2Sa_15:27; 1Ch_9:22, etc.), And חזה, ḥōzeh (2Sa_24:11; 2Ki_17:13; 1Ch_21:9; 1Ch_25:5; 1Ch_29:29, etc.). The former designation is from the ordinary verb “to see”; the latter is connected with the verb used of prophetic vision. It appears from 1Sa_9:9 that “seer” (rō'eh) was the older name for those who, after the rise of the more regular orders, were called “prophets.” It is not just, however, to speak of the “seers” or “prophets” of Samuel's time as on the level of mere fortune-tellers. What insight or vision they possessed is traced to God's Spirit. Samuel was the rō'eh by pr-eeminence, and the name is little used after his time. Individuals who bear the title “seer” (ḥōzeh) are mentioned in connection with the kings and as historiographers (2Sa_24:11; 1Ch_21:9; 1Ch_25:5; 1Ch_29:29; 2Ch_9:29; 2Ch_12:15; 2Ch_19:2, etc.), and distinction is sometimes made between “prophets” and “seers” (2Ki_17:13; 1Ch_29:29, etc.). Havernick thinks that “seer” denotes one who does not belong to the regular prophetic order (Introductions to Old Testament, 50 ff, English translation), but it is not easy to fix a precise distinction.

Re: Prophets & Seers:
 

Joel 2:28 is the verse I am curious about:
"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:"

Re: Prophets & Seers:
 

Sorry that was for Prax

Re: Prophets & Seers:
 

So is a "Seer" a holy "clairvoyant"?

Re: Prophets & Seers:
 

No. Unless they are seeking information through occult channels.Then they wouldn't' be holy. Although a person with a sensitivity to the spirit realm can quite easily be tricked or enticed into the occult if they don't have a firm foundation. Particularly if they have a connection and familiarity with the occult. Often because of generational occult involvement.

Re: Prophets & Seers:
 

Very true.

I'm reading a book on the Gifts & Ministries of the Holy Spirit, by Lester Sumrall. In the book he gets into describing the Gifts of the Spirit and later "satanic counterfeits". Now, I know that "clairvoyance" is a "satanic counterfeit". However, if one experiences the Word of Knowledge and is impressed with information about a place or circumstance that they couldn't have possibly known... is that comparable to clairvoyance? That's what I meant. Sumrall believed that it is.

When I was younger I was ministered to and prophesied over about having a prophetic ministry and the word "seer" was directly used.The times it has been active has been 99% out of a church setting...which confused me because I thought that it'd have to be used in a "pulpit" ministry....not so...its nothing more rewarding than that feeling of being in the right place at the right time with a word....its like God opens the door for discussion and you step through and it just flows...sometimes its something He may have gave you earlier and sometimes it just comes out in the moment.I do feel that counterfeits are active and you just have to examine the spirit behind it.

Re: Prophets & Seers:
 

:thumbsup

Amen. Great post.

Re: Prophets & Seers:
 

So, you're a seer. See anything about me?

Re: Prophets & Seers:
 

I believe FAR more common then those with "counterfeit" gifts, are those with fake ones. :)

http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4528395464802980&pid=1.7

Re: Prophets & Seers:
 

We have a Sears down the street...

Re: Prophets & Seers:
 

:laffatu

Lol

Yeah its not like its on demand or anything....its like sometimes I can be witnessing to someone and the anointing will just slip up on me. Its never self exalting its always been something to restore or minister to someone hurting....and Timmy if I saw anything about u I'd orally need eye bleach. Hehe

Re: Prophets & Seers:
 

:icecream

I want some pralines n cream!

Re: Prophets & Seers:
 

:thumbsup

Agree :)

Re: Prophets & Seers:
 

Comparable, I guess so. And many of those who are called "psychics" because they are picking up on something they couldn't know in the natural are quite possibly naturally attuned to the spiritual but not doing anything wilfully wrong if they aren't born again. I have has people pick up on things and tell me something I needed to hear who weren't Christians, but I have also had people speak deception from the enemy with the same kind of knowledge (some not Christian, some Spirit filled Christians). Which is where discernment comes in. The wise men who were directed by God where to find Jesus, came to worship Him and were instructed to take a different way home... how did God direct them? And Balam's Donkey... 'nuff said. God will use whoever and whatever he chooses, but when we have a closer relationship to Jesus, we can expect that He will guide us and develop in us the Gifts that are going to glorify Him.

Re: Prophets & Seers:
 

The primary Spiritual gifts as I understand them are:

Word of Wisdom - Divine wisdom about a situation that is delivered straight from God.

Word of Knowledge - The impartation of knowledge pertaining to a person, situation, or chain of events that the gift holder could not have known by any natural means.

Discernment of Spirits - The ability to supernaturally know the motive of a human spirit or the presence and nature of a demonic spirit.

Gift of Faith - The impartation of supernatural faith that defies all logic in a given, seemingly hopeless, situation or circumstance.

Gifts of Healing - The impartation of the power to heal various maladies in the body, soul, or spirit.

Gift of Miracles - The impartation of the power to pray and have prayers answered, even if the outcome requires supernatural means that defy the laws of science.

Gift of Tongues - The impartation of the ability to speak a message directly from God "in the Spirit" or to supernaturally "pray in the Spirit".

Gift of Interpretation of Tongues - The impartation of the ability to "interpret" (not translate) unknown tongues spoken under the "Gift of Tongues" before listeners.

Gift of Prophesy - The impartation of the ability to speak a message directly from God concerning the future or a present spiritual reality or situation ("Thus saith the LORD...").

When these gifts are operating within the lives of believers as they should... Satan's counterfeits are confronted with the power of God. I believe the "Seer" operates in combination with the Word of Wisdom, Word of Knowledge, and the Gift of Prophecy.

Re: Prophets & Seers:
 

With the growing interest in the supernatural in our society, I believe the Seer is greatly needed in our day.

Re: Prophets & Seers:
 

Actually, it can function on demand. I recall while being a member of a “conservative” forum, I began interacting with a missionary. The missionary asked that I keep him in prayer, but he could not disclose the issue at hand. I replied with, “I’ll inquire of the Lord for you.” That night I went to church and laid on the pew and began to pray. I asked God to show me that missionary’s situation, and boy, he showed me. Whether the missionary was guilty, I did not want to know! I went home and logged onto the website. He was online and I told him his situation. He became very defensive and suggested that I speak to his elders regarding his innocence, and I then replied, “for your sake, I hope you’re innocent!”

It’s occurred various times where I stand before someone and look into their eyes. I then petition the Lord and I begin to see their situation as if it were a movie being projected on a screen. So yes, it can happen on demand.


Regards,
Jacob's Ladder

Re: Prophets & Seers:
 

Amen. Great post.

I've also experinced the gift being "turned on" and functioning over a period fo time. For example, when me and my girlfriend were out witnessing with church friends and passing out tracts, I pressed very deep into prayer and I felt the gift begin to flow. For the next three hours or so I was able to just "know" who to talk to and zeroed in on a number of backsliders from the church who had been Holy Ghost filled, including a back slidden daughter of a Pentecostal pastor. Several times when I was talking to them I got the "impression" that they had been hurt, sinned and were ashamed, or became disillusioned about the Christian faith. I was then able to respond to their need without knowing them from Adam.

As the feeling of this gift lifted we decided to shut it down and head home rejoicing.

The gift can work on demand. It can also be entered into and allowed to flow over an extended period of time. One simply has to be prayerfully in alignment with God's will for that time and place.

I'm not doubting that at all and thanks for sharing...very interesting....I guess I am just speaking of my own personal experience. What happens to me is like I gain knowledge and understanding about specific situations....sometimes I've heard conversations in my mind with the person before they actually happened and in that conversation I am speaking a Word to them and....happened to me the first time when I was 17 and I thought it was my imagination so I kept my mouth shut...until the next day when she started speaking her side of the conversation I had heard the previous day...I took her aside after I recognized what it was...she had suffered horrible abuse her and her daughter involving her husband and also a pastor... it was a message of love and healing and the next church service I got to bring her daughter and her to church and watch God renew and restore a broken life.Other times its a sudden knowing...no words spoken...but the knowledge feels as absolute as 2+2=4. What I meant in my previous post is that I've never just looked at some random person intending to flip the "thus sayeth" switch just for giggles cause I could.

Tsk tsk..shoulda shelled out more for the premium package....mine came with a free toaster.....ahhhhh.....toast. :-)

Re: Prophets & Seers:
 

I've gotten "impressions" like that too. Don't get me wrong, I've had the experience of a vision about things... but many times it's just an impression.

I've even missed it before. Not because the Holy Spirit was wrong... but I misinterpreted what was being shown to me.

Re: Prophets & Seers:
 

:ursofunny

Re: Prophets & Seers:
 

Nothing but cheap Jedi mind tricks. . . .

"These aren't the droids your looking for."

"Move along."

:)

Re: Prophets & Seers:
 

I remember having my first vision at age seventeen, I think. My pastor had passed away from cancer and his son-in-law became the new pastor. During that time, I had been experiencing panic/anxiety attacks, so I was occasionally taking anxiety medication. I remember laying one my bed one night and feeling the necessity of praying. I did not feel like praying so I turned on a sermon to substitute prayer and get some sleep. I laid there and finally gave in to prayer after not being able to sleep.

As I was kneeling, here is what I began to see: There was a young man and he held a staff with his right hand. This young man then walked onto the entrance of this large field of wheat. This field of wheat expanded beyond what the eyes could capture.

I then asked the Lord, am I this young man? I then heard, “the name of Jesus shall be your staff.” I then proceeded to lie down and immediately fell asleep. In the morning, I awoke and sought the definition of “staff.” A staff defines as a weapon, an aid for walking, or symbol of authority. I then said to myself, self, Jesus is all three.

I immediately called my pastor to tell him, and he asked if was still taking my medication. That was his only question. Anyway, he is a good man, but it did hurt. I later left that church.


Regards,
Jacob's Ladder

Re: Prophets & Seers:
 

Good stuff JL :thumbsup

Re: Prophets & Seers:
 

:thumbsup