The Courts of Heaven is the highest place of authority on Heaven and Earth. Would you go into an earthly court without being able to hear what the judge is saying or hearing your lawyer’s instructions? It is the job of a seer in the CoH to receive information from God who is the Judge and Jesus who is our lead Advocate. We should be able to hear the accusations against us. The Holy Spirit is our Counselor who brings revelation. What we hear should be discerned and interpreted.
Much of the Church has ignored those who operate in the gift of prophecy, the gifts of receiving information from the spiritual realm (“seers”), and the actions of those who are called prophets. The lack of information on this subject has caused confusion and misunderstanding. We need to discover the truth so that the body of Christ can operate as He intended. What is the difference between these vital members of the body?
“All true seers are prophets, but not all prophets are seers.”
Perhaps you have heard this and taken it as a quote from the Bible. This is actually a quote from a well-known prophet of this generation. Unfortunately, the Word of God does not support this conclusion. To fully understand why we must look at three of the most misunderstood members of the body of Christ, often linked together in their application and mistaken for one another. Perhaps this is because individually, these can be hard to understand without knowing about the others.
There are two Hebrew words, ro’eh and chozeh. Both mean “seer.” Two Bible verses will fully explain the differences in these two words:
…Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was before time called a Seer. (1 Samuel 9:9 AKJV)
This “seer” is ro’eh and was used at this point in the Word of God to refer to both seers and prophets. The word nabiy’ has just one meaning—“prophet” and can refer to either a false or true prophet.
Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers... (2 Kings 17:13 AKJV)
In this verse, we see that there are two kinds of people mentioned: a prophet (nabiy’) and a seer (chozeh). Ro’eh is no longer used after this verse. It is clear that not ALL seers are prophets because they are mentioned as two separate groups. If all seers were prophets, it wouldn’t have been necessary to mention seers at all.
Seers
The gift of seeing into the spirit realm often causes individuals to be labeled as prophets when they are really operating in the gift of the word of wisdom or the word of knowledge. We refer to them as “seers,” but this title is misleading, for information received from the spiritual realm isn’t simply limited to seeing.
This gift, allows someone to see, hear, smell, taste, and feel things that are happening in the spirit realm. For them, the veil between this world and Heaven is very thin, and they can peer into it. This shouldn’t be confused with those referred to as “seers” in the Old Testament before there were prophets. Those were men and women called by God as prophets before there was a nation of Israel and distinct titles given to different jobs.
Psychics, witch doctors, shamans, and mystics are often born with this gift. If it appears at birth, it may indicate something from a past generation that needs to be dealt with in Intercession. It is from whom we receive the gifts that make the difference. Without Jesus in the picture, providing us with a bridge to God, seers hear from demons instead of the Holy Spirit. For this reason, it is imperative to know how to “test the spirits.”
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know you the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God… (1 John 4:1-3 AKJV)
While having a conversation with someone you can see or not see, you should always ask, “Do you confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh?” If it is the Holy Spirit or another one sent from God, they will excitedly agree. Spirits sent from the enemy will ignore the question, hedge around it, or flee because if they admit this, then they are admitting that He has authority over them. You can also test to see if what you are receiving is from the soul. How to do that is addressed in the Narrow Path class: Our Mind or the Holy Spirit?
Seeing and hearing aren’t the only ways God communicates with seers, but all seers will be able to view things in the spirit realm. It takes time to become a mature seer because all five senses are involved. You will have to learn how to discern your feelings because there will be times when feelings come to you as you operate as a seer, and they’re not your feelings. If you take them personally, it can cause you much trouble.
The one thing the Church has taught against is relying on feelings, and for good reason. Even if you are a Christian, you can pick up signals from the enemy rather than the Holy Spirit. You should be watchful and take foreign feelings as a “head’s up,” but not as gospel. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit for more information. (See Identifying the Enemy in the Removing Attacks course for more information about how the Holy Spirit may be speaking to you).
At times you may sense how other people are feeling and know exactly how to minister to them. What emotions are at the root of their issue: depression, self-rejection, joy, anger, happiness? You can feel where they’re coming from and know exactly what to ask for as you pray for them. You’ll know where there is self-rejection because of what you feel. If you’re ministering to somebody who has self-rejection, you’ll feel it coming at you, and you must never take any of these things personally.
A seer may be able to feel the strongholds of any given town. If you enter a town and feel a sense of lust, lust owns that town. If you feel depression, then depression owns that place. As you come to a particular place, you’ll take on the feelings of that town, country, or even a person, whether they are good or bad. One of the hardest things to minister to is the spirit of self-rejection. Suicidal thoughts come through these spirits. A seer will feel these things. If you think they are coming from yourself, you will be totally unproductive. You need to have all these senses attuned to the Holy Spirit and be able to recognize and say, “This is not me. I am not in self-rejection. I love myself. I can taste and see that He is good.”
You can also smell what’s happening. You can discern what’s wrong with a person, church, city, or even a nation because you can smell it. You can smell sin, corruption, and holiness. That’s what 2 Corinthians 2:14 says: “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.” So, you can smell the sweet incense of the Lord. You can smell His presence when He “comes out of” people, for the kingdom is inside us. You can actually smell when a person really yields to God. You may also smell rotten eggs, ammonia, or other odors that reveal demonic activity.
Sharing your revelation and dreams and the way God communicates with you should be done with guidance from the Holy Spirit. If we act out of the flesh, the information may not be received well. Most dreams and visions are metaphorical and need to be interpreted. Not all seers have the gift of interpretation, so it is important to find someone who does if you are a seer. If you give a literal interpretation of a dream or a vision that is metaphorical, it will not come to pass, and then your reputation will be tarnished.
Whenever you receive information, you should always put it to the test of scripture. If it doesn’t line up with the Word of God, don’t accept it. Many are being led astray by following signs and revelations that are not biblical in any way. (See examples of this in the free book, “Roadmap to Heaven.”)
What is the difference between a seer and a prophet? Being able to discern things in the spirit realm, even things of the future, does not make you a prophet. Prophets are a part of the five-fold ministry.
And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ… (Ephesians 4:11-12 AKJV)
Prophets are on the list of people called by Jesus to edify the body, yet most Christians know nothing about this office. Many times, those who frequently use the “gift of prophecy” are incorrectly labeled as a prophet. It is mentioned in the list of gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12). Paul tells us that we should all seek this gift (1 Corinthians 14:5), and it should be used to edify the body of Christ. Perhaps because there is a gift of prophecy, many believers think there is no need for prophets. There are some important differences between the two:
The Gift of Prophecy
The gift of prophecy takes place as the Holy Spirit moves upon a believer. It is a declaration about an event or person that God reveals. It is to edify and build up the body of Christ. Anyone who is born again can operate in this gift of the Holy Spirit, who resides inside of us. Someone operating in this gift should always be uplifting. The Holy Spirit brings hope and not despair.
Prophets
Prophets are called by God in a clear and specific event. They hear God’s voice and are referred to as the “mouthpiece of God,” which means their words are filled with God and His power. Prophets are sent with revelations, corrections, and information about future events and sometimes about people. Often, they operate as teachers concerning the words they are given from God.
What’s the harm in labeling the prophetic gift as the ministry of prophet? When we confuse the two, we may forget that there are blessings for supporting a prophet, and these are seen throughout the Bible. For example:
1 Kings 17:8-24 tells the story of the widow woman who met the prophet Elijah who was sent by God to her so she could support him. To summarize the history of events, the prophet Elijah gives the widow woman an instruction. It is through her act of obeying and supporting God’s prophet that she is blessed miraculously, enabling her to sustain her life and the lives of Elijah and her household.
Blessing: Provision
We can be sustained even if there is a famine with ongoing, life-sustaining provision because of our obedience and acceptance of a prophet’s message through the prophet’s close relationship and connection to God.
In 1 Kings, verse 22, this same woman’s son dies, but because she had supported God’s prophet, he brings the son back to life. Here we see that Elijah was being supported by the widow. This allowed him time to pray, concentrate, and continue to cultivate a relationship with the Almighty God Jehovah, from whom all blessings flow. He did not have to worry about a place to stay or about food to eat. Instead, this allowed him to do what prophets do: Stay close to God and receive instructions from God for His people so that they could be encouraged, comforted, and strengthened.
Blessing: Healing, Even from Death
2 Kings 4 tells the story of a Shunammite woman who provides for the prophet Elisha, first with food then with a room dedicated for his use. After some time, Elisha asks her what she wants. She asks for a son since she is barren. Not only is her request fulfilled, but when her son becomes sick and dies, Elisha prays for him and brings him back to life.
Blessing: Answered Prayers
When joined with a prophet by supporting their physical needs, God honors this contribution by responding quickly to requests made.
Despite all these benefits, most Christians have never heard about modern-day prophets, perhaps because most churches are hesitant to acknowledge them. There is a good reason that this calling has been pushed aside by our leaders. Back in the “Jesus Movement” of the 1970s, many who had a prophetic gift and offered words of wisdom or words of knowledge would automatically proclaim themselves as prophets.
Some would then share things (often by listening to familiar spirits) in order to convince Christians that they were hearing from God by revealing things that only that person would know. Then these unscrupulous men would demand monetary support. This is not how God’s system works. Nor should anyone ever suggest, hint, or tell you what to give. That is the job of the Holy Spirit.
Is it any wonder that when these actions started taking place, prophets were pushed out of churches? Satan took some valuable ground, but it is time to take it back! Seers and prophets need to come forward and use their gifts to help guide the body of Christ.
Gifts of the Spirit
When we take time to learn about God’s ways and begin to operate in the Courts of Heaven to help our brothers and sisters, the Holy Spirit is faithful to give us what we need. The Bible is clear about this:
But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men (Ephesians 4:7-8 ESV)
Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are diversities of ministrations, and the same Lord. And there are diversities of workings, but the same God, who worketh all things in all. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit to profit withal. (1 Corinthians 12:4-7 AKJV)
There are gifts of the Holy Spirit that came after Jesus ascended to Heaven. The words “profit withal” is the Greek word sympherō which means “contribute in order to help.” The gifts of the Spirit are given so that we can contribute and help the body of Christ.
In the Courts of Heaven, there are procedures to follow, but we need to remain flexible and follow the leading of our Counselor, the Holy Spirit. Let's look at the gifts He brings and see which ones are used to hearing from Him in the Courts:
To one is given in and through the [Holy] Spirit [the power to speak] a message of wisdom, and to another [the power to express] a word of knowledge and understanding according to the same [Holy] Spirit; To another [wonder-working] faith by the same [Holy] Spirit, to another the extraordinary powers of healing by the one Spirit; To another the working of miracles, to another prophetic insight (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose); to another the ability to discern and distinguish between [the utterances of true] spirits [and false ones], to another various kinds of [unknown] tongues, to another the ability to interpret [such] tongues. (1 Corinthians 12:8-10 AMPC)
A few of these gifts are necessary if we are going to be led by the Spirit in the Courts:
Message of wisdom
Word of knowledge
Distinguishing (discerning) between spirits
In our Intercession appointments which can lead to the Courts of Heaven, those we refer to as “seers” receive knowledge from the spirit realm using these gifts. The words and visions we receive are a message of wisdom or words of knowledge from the Holy Spirit. Demons are revealed with the gift of discerning spirits.
All these [gifts, achievements, abilities] are inspired and brought to pass by one and the same [Holy] Spirit, Who apportions to each person individually [exactly] as He chooses. (1 Corinthians 12:11 AMPC)
The Holy Spirit brings the gifts when we work for the Kingdom of God, serving one another. Which gifts we receive is up to the Holy Spirit; He chooses what to bring and when to bring it.
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