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PROPHETS, SEERS AND RULERS

     - Lloyd Phillips       http://www.flintnet.org

(All scripture is NKJV except where noted)

There is currently a lot of interest in the prophetic gift of the seer, but not an equal amount of understanding. I believe that the Lord is beginning to raise the level of understanding concerning this gift to the Body in order to take us to another level of maturity. The scripture is our best source for understanding what the Spirit is accomplishing. It can bemisleading to people when terms are used hap-hazardly, and even interchangeably, for different manifestations of God's spirit through the prophetic. Word of knowledge, (1 Cor 12:8) , is the ability to receive information through the Spirit which could not be known or ascertained by the senses. There are even those who operate at a level of ministry of word of knowledge. There is likewise the manifestation of a word of wisdom, also in 1 Cor 12:8. This is the supernatural ability to receive information of what action may or may not be taken about a particular situation which is known by the Spirit, and not by the senses. Likewise there are those who walk at a ministry level in word of wisdom. Perhaps this empowerment is more needed in the Church today than ever before. It is often associated with those who rule well, as it is most needed in order to govern and guide.

While both of these manifestations may be functioning fluently in theprophetic ministry, they are not to be confused as one and the same. While a ministry of word of knowledge and the ministry of a prophet may over-lap, one may have a ministry of word of knowledge and not of a prophet, and vice versa. Also we may receive words of knowledge, or prophecy for that matter, and not have a ministry in either area. The Sprit of Christ makes this available in the New Testament administration. Biblically there are different categories of prophets, and even different categories of the seer ministry. There is one type of seer who is fluent in visions and discernment, which is word of wisdom. If I may suggest it as such, I believe this is an apostolic level of seer, very much needed in the Church today if we are to approach the level of perfection that the Lord wants to require of us. Is 29:10 For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered. (KJV)

The word translated ruler here, and head in other translations, literally means to "shake ones head", as in yes, or no. It is always used in light of those in leadership authority. When the apostle Paul said in 1 Cor 3:10 that he was a wise master builder he was referring to this anointing. The word translated as master builder in this verse is architekton from the Greek words arche and tecton. We get our English word architect from this Greek word. The architect being the one builder who must have a vision of the completed building even before it's foundation is laid. He or she must have the ability and wisdom to see the project through from beginning to end and even assign work to those who are specialized in a particular field. An architect must have the ability to see the vision of the completed project even before the first shovel is placed in the ground.The Greek word arche is recognizable as the word translated chief, ruler, and principality. Paul was pointing out that the apostolic ministry in God's Kingdom parallels what principalities are in the devil's Kingdom. Hence the importance of seeing the seers being raised up, so that those called to apostolic authority will pull down principalities and powers and replace them with God's authority on the earth. Please do not misunderstand me as saying that every seer has an apostolic anointing, or vice versa. But I am trying to communicate that there is a level of seer with word of wisdom that is being released into the apostolic these days, as well as other seers who walk in word of knowledge. Both are needed, and both are being raised up today, but we must understand the differences in order that we may mature according to the will of the Lord.

I am one who feels it is counter productive to redefine Biblical terms with non Biblical descriptions or definitions. Biblically a seer simply is a prophet who "sees". Early on all prophets were called seers, but due to the false prophets misusing the term, the people of God used the word prophet, and seer was a specific term for those prophets who saw visions. 1 Sam 9:9b "for he who is now called a prophet was formerly called a seer." 2 Chron 9:29 Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, are they not written in the book of Nathan the prophet, in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer concerning Jeroboam the son of Nebat? Iddo was called a seer simply because he had visions, in opposition to Nathan who also was a prophet, but not a seer. Seers have visions and when God spoke to Jeremiah, who was a seer, He asked him,"Jeremiah, what do you see?" And I said, "I see a branch of an almond tree." (Jer 1:11) He did not ask Jeremiah "what do you feel", or "what do you think". What do you see is a question for a seer. Jesus also was a seer. "Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." (John 1:48), "And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven." (Luke 10:18) Some understand a gift where you sense through touch as a "seeing" gift, but others see the seeing gift more accurately described Biblically as one who "sees" things. Despite current ideas, the Bible should be our source for describing the prophetic. Biblically there are three Hebrew words that are translated as a prophet, two of which are translated as a seer. There is raah which is translated seer, meaning someone who sees open visions. That same word is used for someone who sees with natural eyes. Then there is chozeh. This word emphasizes spiritual apprehension, of internal visions. And lastly nabiy which is the most common biblical word in terms of the prophetic. It means someone who has the Spirit working within them. It is a word for inspiration. Every prophet receives this type of inspiration. Every prophet will be the nabiy kind, but not every prophet will be the raah or chozeh kind. I'll have more to say on this shortly.

Having the ability to prophesy or to receive a word of knowledge for that matter does not make one a prophet in light of the ministry of a prophet. To confuse these things, confuses comprehension and may lower the Biblical standard, as well as the understanding of the true ministry of a prophet and seer. There does seem to be a lot of interest in the prophetic, and in the calling of a seer. But inaccurate information, no matter how well intended will only confuse the issue and cause the equipping of men and women to become that much more difficult.

There are different stages of revelation. Any prophecy or prophetic word has three parts to it. The first part is the revelation, dream, or vision itself. The second is the interpretation, answering the question "what does the revelation mean?" The interpretation can come in increments, over a period of time. And the third part is the application. It can be immediate or it can be long term. In regards to dreams or visions, God might use dark sayings or He may show us plainly face to face. In Numbers 12:6 God said,"Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream. (7) Not so with My servant Moses; He is faithful in all My house. (8) I speak with him face to face, Even plainly, and not in dark sayings; And he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid To speak against My servant Moses?" There are a diversity of ways that God speaks. He spoke to Moses face to face. Although we 'see through a glass darkly', if we will submit ourselves to those dreams and visions and dark sayings, if we will pursue God, He will reveal their meaning to us. He wants us to come to Him for the interpretation. He wants us to come to Him for the information. He wants us to come to Him for the application. He wants us to be dependent upon Him. A word of knowledge or a prophecy can change a life. None of us will ever prophesy all things or have all knowledge. It will not happen. We know in part and we prophecy in part. (1 Cor 13:9) We are a body. He will give one of us a part, and then He will give a part to another one. He wants us depending upon Him. As we train ourselves to come back to Him, we will begin to see God more and more face to face.

How does He communicate with you? Different than how He speaks to me because you are you. He speaks to you in a language that you understand. One that touches your heart. In Isaiah 30:21 it says, "Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it, whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left'". Mostly He directs us by His peaceful voice that says, "This is the way." In Jeremiah 32:6 Jeremiah said, "The word of the LORD came to me, saying", (it told him what to do and he carried it out). Then in verse 8 it says, "and then I knew that this was the Word of the Lord". Jeremiah received the word and was obedient to carry it out and believe it, but only after he obeyed did he know it was the Lord. If Jeremiah sometimes was not clear until after he had obeyed, what about us?

God spoke to Moses and said for him to go down to Egypt and tell Pharaoh to let My people go, and that he would do many miracles. Moses asked for a sign to know if these things were true. God said after you go down there and all these miracles happen, Pharaoh will resist you but he will eventually let the people go and you are going to bring them back here and you are going to worship Me on this mountain. Then you will know it was Me. (Ex 3:12) That was his sign. Go do it. When you come back that will be the sign. This is not the kind of sign we like, is it? However, this is often God's way. He expects us to walk in faith, and rewards us for doing His will. Confirmation is according to His will, and if we always require confirmation before obeying, we will one day find our selves missing God. The Lord once spoke to me "you do not need to understand in order to obey. If you wait until you understand before obeying, you will remain behind while others go forward." God will always confirm His word, often by the fruit it produces after it is carried out and not before.

I like to describe understanding as the louvers in a blind. From one angle you cannot see out. As you change your position the view becomes unobstructed. From the new angle you can look outside and can see everything clearly. What has changed? Nothing but your position. When we go out in faith we have changed our position. We can receive from the Lord and we can say like Jeremiah did, "Now I know it is the Lord." One of the three Hebrew words that are translated as a prophet in the Bible, raah is one that has the calling of a seer. Someone with this anointing will be someone who sees open visions and is also able to interpret them. That same word is used for someone who sees with natural eyes and understands. This level of prophet sees in the spirit with deeper understanding. There are not that many prophets in the scriptures who see open visions in proportion to the other types listed. The second type is called chozeh. This meaning emphasizes spiritual apprehension, of internal visions. The word chozeh is translated as prophet or seer but appears to be subordinate to the raah type of seer,because of the authority that comes through understanding available at to the raah seer. I believe that this view is contained in the verse Is 29:10 For the LORD has poured out on you The spirit of deep sleep, And has closed your eyes, namely, the prophets (chozeh); And He has covered your heads, namely, the seers (raah). Those considered seers in he higher sense, raah, are usually given a preeminence over the other types of prophets. Samuel a raah type of seer was regarded above other prophets and seers of his day. He was not only a prophet sent with a message, but often had a deeper understanding and insight to go along with the vision he carried. Daniel was esteemed above all the other prophets and wise men of his time because of the understanding which accompanied his prophetic gifts. Dan 1:17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. Seers have visions.

Lastly there is the Hebrew word nabiy which is the most common biblical word in terms of the prophetic. It means someone who has the Spirit working within them. It is a word for inspiration. Every prophet receives this type of inspiration and in the New Testament all believers can and should operate at this level at least in its elementary levels. Every prophet will be the nabiy kind, but not every prophet will be the raah kind. 1 Chron. 29:29 contains all three of these Hebrew words: "Now the acts of King David, first and last, indeed they are written in the book of Samuel the seer (raah), in the book of Nathan the prophet (nabiy), and in the book of Gad the seer (chozeh)".

Any given prophet will have different longsuits in regard to these three types of inspiration. Some will see open visions, some will have angelic visitations, some dreams, visions and trances, and some or all will have inspirations and leadings of the inner witness. Those who walk with authority in the empowerment of words of knowledge, usually fall into the category of a chozeh prophet or seer. Those that walk powerfully in words of wisdom generally fall into the category of the raah prophet or seer. Also many times operating as a prophet to prophets, because of the wisdom and understanding which is manifested through this type of ministry. All who walk in the prophetic must learn nabiy inspiration. This is generally the first that we should become proficient with. I like to call this category of the prophetic, the still small voice. 

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