(Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he used to say, “Come, and let us go to the seer”; for he who is called a prophet now was formerly called a seer.)

1 Samuel 9:9

A seer is a prophet.  A seer is one who sees; a “see”-er.  Particularly, they see into the realm of the Spirit.  While some people in the Kingdom of Heaven may never see angels, demons, and the other things of the Kingdom, a seer sees these things, depending on their level of ability, as subject to the will of God.

When seeing in the Spirit, we always see in part, as we know and prophesy in part, according to 1 Corinthians 13.  Yet, Jesus indicated a few things about seeing that seem true throughout the whole of scripture.

Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that.” He then added, “I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

John 1:50-51

Nathanael was a man without guile.  He didn’t have duplicity, falsehood, hidden motives.  He was straightforward.  And, he believed.  When Jesus commended Him for this quality by way of a word of knowledge and insight, Nathanael believed with the delivery of only one word.  Jesus, in response, said that he would see angels ascending and descending upon the Son of Man, Himself.

I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?

John 3:12

In contrast, when Jesus spoke to Nicodemus, Nicodemus had trouble believing when Jesus talked about being born again.  Jesus’ response was, if you have trouble with this, how could you believe in the other?

Nathanael had an uncomplicated heart, and believed at a single word.  Nicodemus also believed that Jesus was a teacher from God (John 3:2), but struggled to understand about being born again.

To see in the Spirit is the right of every believer who is in the Spirit of Christ.  Yet, just as it is the pure in heart that will see God, it takes a heart submitted to the Lord, and willing to believe for God to begin to reveal His mysteries.

Seeing in the Spirit is wonderful, yet it is not an end in itself.  As with any revelation, it often must be correctly received, understood, and interpreted.  Even some well known, reputable prophets report that they do not understand a sizable portion of what they receive.  Yet, you can be sure they treasure every part, even the hidden things.  God’s mysteries are still precious, even if we do not understand them yet.

When John was on the Isle of Patmos, he had a vision.  This is also the seer realm.  John saw visions, saw angels and doors, scrolls and thrones.  He saw the Lamb, and he saw a dragon.  He was a man like us, equipped with the same Spirit as us, and of the same body as us.  The only major difference is, that, according to Isaiah 9:7, there is more government and peace of the Kingdom now than there was then for Him, so the potential for seeing is GREATER!

Yet, without a pure heart, without a right heart, and a heart that desires to know the source of the revelation more than the revelation, it is all in vain.  It is a heart satisfied in the love of God, in the Kingdom of Heaven, that can properly steward revelation.  When we see Him, we worship Him.  When we lose sight of Him, we could wander through all the heavens ever created, and they would be empty, vain, and worthless, both now, and eternally.

It is only His love that makes anything worth it.  It is only His love that is our reward.  If, in the course of our walk, we steward His wonders, because we are His servants, they are fun, and they help us see who He is more.  We truly become partakers of His divine nature by His precious and magnificent promises (2 Peter 1:4).

For many people, trained to see only the things of this world, to get one’s eyes off the material, onto that which is invisible, is to give them a freedom, and a perspective over this world that they have never before known.  Like going from a black and white existence to full color.

It is our inheritance to see, in whatever level and capacity that He allows.  But, as Paul wrote, earnestly desires the greater gifts, especially that you may prophesy.