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THE SEER AND THE PROPHET: SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES
Jim W. Goll
Apr 13, 2000
Note from Steve Shultz,
I've been wanting to send this OUTLINE out for some time and have
been trying to get it formatted for email. Several articles have now appeared about the differences and similarities between the prophetic and seer gifts. When you study several approaches, then the full tapestry of the similarities and differences emerge. I believe you can contact Jim Goll's ministry at the web site below for the complete study guide found at: http://www.ministrytothenations.org/bookstore_3a.htm
THE SEER AND THE PROPHET: SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES
The below taken from: "Prophetic Maturation"
http://www.ministrytothenations.org/bookstore_3a.htm
USED BY PERMISSION OF JIM GOLL
Note from Steve Shultz, Publisher, THE ELIJAH LIST
JIM AND ANN GOLL HAVE SEVERAL GREAT BOOKS (and more besides these)
1) "Father Forgive Us" By Jim Goll
2) "Kneeling on the Promises" By Jim Goll
3) "Encounters with a Supernatural God--Angelic Visitation in the Night" -- By Jim and Michal Ann Goll (I can't wait to get my own hands on this book! --Steve Shultz)
4) "Women on the Front Lines" By Michal Ann Goll (My wife, Derene, LOVED this book!!--Steve Shultz)
I. DEFINING OUR TERMS
A. Three Hebrew Words
The word "prophet" is used 300 times in the Old Testament and 100 times in the New Testament.
1. Nahbi
(naw-bee) is translated prophet. a. Young - "the function of a Nahbi was to speak a message on behalf of a superior. In the case of Aaron, this superior was Moses, although ultimately, of course, it was God. As far as the prophets were concerned, the superior was God Himself. It was He with whom the word to be spoken originated. He placed that word in the mouth of the prophets, and they in turn declared it unto the people...we conclude then, that upon the basis of Old Testament usage, the Nahbi was a speaker who declared the word that God had given him."11 b. Scriptures: i. Dt. 18:18. ii. Ex. 7:1. iii. Ex. 4:15-16. iv. Jer. 1:5,9.
2. Ro'eh
(raw-aw) and hozeh (khaw-zah) or chozeh is translated "seer". a. Young - "The word Nahbi stresses the active work of the prophet, in
speaking forth the message from God. The word Raw-aw on the other
hand, brings to the fore the experience by means of which the prophet
was made to "see" that message. One word lays the emphasis upon the prophet's relation to the people; the other upon his relation to
God."12 b. Hengsteuberg - "These were not so much chronological
historians so much as describers of pictures."13 c. Scriptures: i. I
Sam. 9:9. ii. II Chr. 29:30 - Asaph. iii. II Sam. 24:11 - Gad. iv. II Sam. 7:2 - Nathan.
3. General Conclusion:
a. Prophecy is God communicating His will by word (sometimes by action) through chosen persons. It includes whatever God desires to say about past, present, and future. Some have inclined to confine it to the future, but this is inaccurate.
The prophet was, and is, a forth teller as well as a foreteller.
Indeed, he speaks whatever God wants said!
b. The "Seer" is the receptive dimension and the "Prophet" is
the communicative dimension.
c. Bill Hamon, founder of Christian International made a statement
about two prophetic streams in the 1940's-50's that have re-emerged a
generation later. "Two streams of restoration came forth in 1947-48.
One was the Latter Rain Movement, which restored the practice of...the laying on of hands...as well as extensive congregational
prophesying... They emphasized moving into the prophetic realm by
faith, grace and gifting. The other restoration stream was what was
termed "The Healing and Deliverance Movement." Their restorational
emphasis was laying on of hands for healing, deliverance and world
evangelism by preaching with signs and wonders. Both groups were of
God and were valid ministries."14
B. Words Describing How the Prophetic Comes
1. Nataf - This means "to let drop like rain." It comes upon us little by little and is accumulated in our buckets over a period of time. 2. Massa - This is used to refer to the "hand of the Lord" that releases the "burden of the Lord." When God's hand comes upon us, it imparts something to us. When His hand lifts His burden remains. 3. Nahbi - This word refers to the action of "flowing forth." It also carries with it the thought "to bubble forth like a fountain, to let drop, to lift up, to tumble forth, and to spring forth." 4. Propheteia - This New Testament Greek word means "speaking forth the mind and the counsel of God." It simply means "to speak for another."
C. Levels and Terms of "Seeing"
1. Visual - Insights, revelations, warnings, and prophecies from the
Spirit of God may come in supernatural visual dreams. Herein one sees
God's revelation while his spirit simply observes and receives the
message. One might even see the heavens opened, as Ezekiel did (in
Ezekiel 1:1), even though he's asleep. In an open heaven type of a
vision, the higher ethers (celestial realms) are disclosed, and views,
patterns, and heavenly sights of God become seeable. 2. Actual -
Supernatural actual dreams are those in which God's tangible presence
is evident. To see the Lord in a dream is visual, but for the Lord to
manifest Himself to you in a dream is actual.
II. SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES OF THE STREAMS
A. The Prophet - Nahbi
1. Often uses plurality of eldership or seasoned, gifted individuals
(men and women) with the "laying on of hands" to minister. 2. Will
utilize giftings of tongues and interpretation of tongues. 3. Spontaneous, faster flow with inspiration being the tone. 4. Often
"hears" and repeats as spoken to. 5. Steps out to prophesy according
to his portion of faith. 6. The prophetic presbytery is a common
approach.
B. The Seer - Ro'eh
1. Tends to be more single in ministry versus the plurality of a
team. 2. Emphasizes visions and the revelatory gifts versus the
audible, speaking gifts. 3. Often operates at a slower pace due to
describing pictures in their own words. 4. Is dependent upon the
angelic and the manifested presence of God. 5. These prophetic
vessels appear to have limitations until they sense the anointing. 6.
Often gets information ahead of time and tells it later.
III. CONCLUSION
A. A Word in a Dream
In a clear dream, Paul Cain came to me and said: "The seer hears as much as he sees; it's just a different deep touch from the same dear Jesus."
B. The Manifold Purpose
The purpose of both the Prophet and the Seer is to reveal the glorious wonders of Jesus Christ, God's purpose in a generation, eternity, heaven and hell, and the Father's great presence.
C. Prayer
Pray for your eyes to be opened. According to Eph. 1:17-19 and II Ki. 6:17a - O Lord...open his eyes that he (the servant) may see...
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