The Seer – The Prophetic Power of Visions, Dreams, and Open Heavens

Jim W. Goll

Publisher: Destiny Image Publishers, Inc.

Date Published:  2004

Reviewed by Suzanne Collins

The reason I was keen to read ‘The Seer’ was the heightened awareness I felt that I needed to give to the realm of  Prophetic Revelation. I know that there is a gifting on my life in this particular area and I’ve become increasingly hungry to have a greater level of understanding and a breaking through to new anointings of the Spirit. Every thing that we receive is by the Spirit of God ... these are days of  “In Him we move and live and have our being”. The brighter it gets (that’s our path) then the level of “Seeing” is heightened.

Jim Goll is the co-founder of Encounters Network, which has a vision to unite and mobilize the body of Christ by teaching and imparting the power of intercession, prophetic ministry, and life in the Spirit. Jim and his wife, Michal Ann, travel extensively and resource the church through events and training materials.

Reading Jim Goll’s work has confirmed the many ways that God has spoken to me. For example, through personal dreams and visions that I’ve seen over the years, hearing His voice, and being able to discern the ways of the Spirit. ‘The Seer’ has further confirmed  my own gifting in this area.

‘The Seer’ presents God as the “answer man” to an open heaven, which  we all desire to see in a greater level over our own lives and the lives of those we minister to. I get this out of Hosea 2: 19-22 ... in the day when we shall know God, He promises to answer. He’ll answer the heavens and they shall answer the earth and the earth shall answer with grain, new wine and oil. Mercy will found and He will be our God.

 Three portions from ‘The Seer’ that stand out are

1. 1.The story of Jacob and his encounter out of Genesis 28:11-15. It was just one night, just one dream, revealing the presence of God and that impartation changed Jacobs life forever. It’s the same for us, to have one impartation of revelation and we are changed. In turn, other lives are changed through our testimony. An open heaven changes our view to the activities of that realm. Once our eyes are lifted it becomes easy to see our inheritance and the affect that it has on and in our lives.
   

2. 2.On Intimacy. I love what Jim Goll writes regarding this for I know from personal experience revelation comes from sitting in His presence. Quote -  “Prayer brings us into His presence and in His presence is the Spirit of Revelation”. We have with us today and from times past, for example, the Desert Fathers, men and women who spent time in communion with God.  He has to become the strength of our lives for that is what prepares us in our outer life. I remember gleaning so much from Richard Fosters book, ‘The Celebration of Discipline’ and again here the author reminds us that God is the goal of our journey.
   

3. 3.I can’t help but note here the practicality of this book. It gets you into the Bible, uses examples from the lives of so many, it teaches you how to discern, test, operate and what guide lines are needed  in the revelatory realm. We all know that a clanging cymbal is not a good sound.
   

The book is complied in 4 sections that have between 1 to 4 chapters in each section. 

Section 1: Understanding the Seer Realm; dealing with Seer and Prophet, Dimensions of the Prophetic anointing, Vision, The diversity of the Visionary States.

Section 2: Spiritual Discernment; dealing with Wisely Judging Revelatory Encounters, Discerning Spirits.

Section 3: Dreams, Visions, and Other Heavenly Realms; Dream language, Levels of Supernatural Visions, The Ecstatic Realms of the Spirit.

Section 4: The Goal of All Things; Standing in the Council of God, Hidden Streams of the Prophetic, The Key of Intimacy to Open Heaven.

Jim Goll writes … “ Prophecy means the expressed thoughts of God spoken in a language that no man in his natural gift of speech could articulate on his own. The substance and nature of prophecy exceed the limits that the human mind is capable of thinking or imagining.  It’s purpose is to edify, exhort, and comfort either individuals or the corporate Body of Christ. Although prophecy come through the mouth or pen of man, it comes from the mind of God.“

I recommend ‘The Seer’ as excellent inspiring and instructing reading for anyone. The reason being is that we are people of the Spirit. The Spirit shows us things, helps us, reminds us, guides us, quickens us, comforts us, for it’s not by might nor by power but by the Spirit of God.

I especially recommend Goll’s book because it is more than just a book to read, it’s a book to be studied. The author has spent time looking thoroughly into the meanings and the diversity of the revelatory realm. For example, one chapter alone deals with eight different words that are used when it comes to visionary states.  I love the personal examples, and testimony from many others that are given to help explain and testify of the movings of the Spirit.

Hunger and thirst after His presence for we need that open heaven from above on our earth below.