And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, like the vision that I saw in the valley. – Ezekiel 8:4

But if you refuse to surrender, this is the vision which the LORD has shown to me: – Jeremiah 38:21

The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord GOD… – Obadiah 1:1

The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh. – Nahum 1:1

The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz… – Isaiah 1:1

Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. – Daniel 2:19

Habakkuk 2

English Standard Version (ESV)

I will take my stand at my watchpost
and station myself on the tower,
and look out to see what he will say to me,
and what I will answer concerning my complaint.

The Righteous Shall Live by His Faith

2 And the Lord answered me:

“Write the vision;
make it plain on tablets,
so he may run who reads it.
3 For still the vision awaits its appointed time;
it hastens to the end—it will not lie.
If it seems slow, wait for it;
it will surely come; it will not delay.

What does a Prophet see?

Who does God make a Prophet? (And what false prophet does declare himself?)

What is the message of the Seer? Is it the message from God Almighty?

You may have asked yourself these questions of the varying circumstances and applications which differ in the Old Testament, the New Testament and certainly in the post-Biblical claims of prophets from the time of Christ Jesus up to and beyond this very day.

The questions of TRUTH as related to God are not unimportant. Many have been and are misled by the messages of false prophets and we dare not be included with those believers of false prophets led in the direction of destruction.

Without taking on in detail the questions of truth as posed to us of the Bible and by the Bible, I would like to address prophesy as the Bible presents: first in the Old Testament and in a post to follow prophesy in the New Testament.

• What does a Prophet see?
• Who does God make a Prophet?
• What is the message of the Seer?
• Is it the message from God Almighty?

 What does a Prophet see?

1 Samuel 3:1 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD in the presence of Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.

Samuel did not ‘see’ the LORD, Samuel heard the voice of the Lord. (No one else had; not even God’s High Priest.)

Other Prophets also heard the voice of the Lord. Some Prophets also had visions; visions not of the Face of the Lord or the Presence of the Lord or the glory of the Lord, but visions of things to come given to the Prophet (or seer) by the Lord.

Some Prophets saw the Lord! Some prophets saw events. Some seers saw souls departed and angels and creatures unknown in the experience of man. Some seers saw what was NOT to be seen or revealed. (This is another topic which I also will not take on now.)

Who does God make a Prophet?

God occasionally gives prophesy to those who are not godly. Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar would be examples of these. The dreams were of Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar, yet the interpretations were by the knowledge of God through the godly men: Joseph and Daniel.

Think of God as a Person. God wants to tell someone a particular word.

Here is the dilemma of God the Person, the Holy Person Who IS Creator of the universe:

Who is worthy to come into the Very Holy Presence of the LORD, Ruler of all creation?

The Person of God speaks His Holy Word through those faithful to bow down in humility to anything the LORD will say… regardless of their own personal dilemmas of this mortal life.

When a Prophet speaks: “Thus says the LORD,” this mortal man does so at the peril of his eternal soul!

Do NOT prophesy, o man, unless it is from the LORD.

You may read about any of the men God chooses as Prophet and see the character of their humility before the Lord God. Here is just one example of why God chose Daniel. [see Daniel 2:17-24]

What is the message of the Seer?

As with the message of ANY person given to any other person, the Message of God is personal and call for a response.

Usually the response sought after by the Lord God Almighty, our loving heavenly Father, is one of repentance.

Repent of your sins: personally, corporately, as worshipers, as a nation, as a leader… you name it: something is wrong enough in the Holy eyes of God. LISTEN and obey: do something to return to the LORD your God.

What is your prayer?

YOU want GOD to listen to you; now, therefore, listen to HIM.

The LORD IS God your Father and Maker.

The LORD IS God! It is the LORD who numbers your mortal days and will judge your eternal soul!

God uses His Prophet to speak to those who have NOT been listening. Whatever HIS message, the godly MUST LISTEN.

Is it the message from God Almighty?

NOT all prophets are from God. Some seers and prophets (through powers and principalities unfamiliar to our human witness) speak of what will come, yet not for the purpose of the glory of God. Beware.

One such testimony of the Bible is even of a failing King of Israel seeking to speak with the spirit of a Prophet after his death!

1 Samuel 28: 6 And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets. 7 Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a medium at En-dor.”

8 So Saul disguised himself and put on other garments and went, he and two men with him. And they came to the woman by night. And he said, “Divine for me by a spirit and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you.” 9 The woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the necromancers from the land. Why then are you laying a trap for my life to bring about my death?” 10 But Saul swore to her by the Lord, “As the Lord lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.” 11 Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” He said, “Bring up Samuel for me.” 12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul.” 13 The king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.” 14 He said to her, “What is his appearance?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe.” And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage.

15 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?”

 

Supernatural? Yes. Of God? No. Even the eternal soul of Samuel, which answered Saul, spoke to the evil he had done.

In another encounter, a battle staged between the evil leaders of the country represented by their false prophets of the cults and the Prophet of God, Elijah: the Lord God demonstrated His Almighty Power. Read about it in  1 Kings 40:20-40.

Is the message of the man (or woman) who says: “Thus says the LORD,” from the Lord?

It is a question we must ask (and will explore in more detail next as we look at some examples from the New Testament). For now, we would do well to reread the warnings of the much-neglected books of the Prophets from our too-little read Bibles.

Let you with ears to hear, hear what the Lord is saying through the Prophets.

To be continued…